A blue-tinged smoke from a truck or the mat that tells experienced hands the mix came out of the plant too hot. Overheated binder gives off light oils and oxidizes, which stiffens it before it ever reaches the road and shortens pavement life. White vapor is a different thing: it is usually steam from moisture left in the aggregate.
Heard on the job
Blue smoke boiling off that truck, shoot it, I bet the plant's running 340 and cooking the oil.
Insider tip
Steam drifting off a truck on a cool morning is normal; blue smoke means somebody at the plant needs to turn the burner down.
Also heard as
- blue haze