A full-size ready-mix concrete truck (the rotating-drum trucks you see on highways) has a maximum legal capacity of about 10–11 cubic yards. Most truckloads are 8–10 cubic yards in practice — weight limits on local roads sometimes cap loads below the truck's physical capacity.
If your job needs less than 10 yards, you're charged for the full truck OR get hit with a "short load fee" of $50–$150. The break-even point varies by supplier, but ordering at least 6 yards usually avoids the fee.
For jobs over 10 yards, you'll need multiple trucks. Schedule them in 30-minute intervals so the first batch doesn't set before the next arrives.
Smaller trucks exist: • Mini-mix trucks: 2–4 cubic yards (urban or driveway-constrained sites) • Volumetric trucks ("mobile mixers"): mix on-site, deliver only what you use, from 1 to 8+ yards