Abstract: A control system for a front discharge concrete truck including a joystick positioned within a cab of the truck. In one embodiment, the joystick to connect to both a secondary shift selector and a chute controller. The secondary shift selector is connected to the truck's transmission. By actuating the secondary shift selector, the operator of the truck is capable of placing the truck's transmission in one of a forward condition, a reverse condition, and a neutral condition, without removing the driver's hand from the joystick. Similarly, the chute controller is connected to a discharge chute of the truck to direct the placement of concrete being offloaded from the truck. Thus, substantially concurrently with placing the transmission into one of a forward condition, a reverse condition and a neutral condition, the operator may actuate the joystick to correspondingly actuate the position of the discharge chute via the chute controller.

Abstract: A concrete mixing truck having an apparatus for mixing materials used to make concrete includes a mixing product receiving and delivery assembly, a platform, which is located proximate the mixing product receiving and delivery assembly for providing operator access thereto, and a repositionable safety rail. The safety rail is located on and partially encloses the platform and is positionable, via a hinge or other suitable means, between an upraised position and a lowered position. With the safety rail in the upraised position, an operator present on the platform is provided with an added measure of safety to prevent against accidental falling and resulting injury. With the safety rail in a lowered position, the platform is essentially inaccessible to operators and the mixing product receiving and delivery assembly is unobscured and completely accessible to machinery such as associated with a ready-mix concrete plant.