Concrete Pour Day Checklist: Truck, Crew, Forms and Ticket
Answer first: do not send the truck until forms, base, access, crew, tools, weather, washout, ticket terms, and backup placement are ready.
Go/no-go check
Forms, access, ticket
Do not dispatch until crew, tools, weather, washout, and ticket owner are ready
Answer first: a concrete pour day checklist is the final stop before dispatch. Do not send the ready-mix truck until forms, base, reinforcement, access, crew, tools, weather, inspection, washout, ticket authority, and backup placement are ready. Most expensive pour-day surprises start before the truck arrives.
Use this readiness rule:
pour day ready =
forms ready
+ base ready
+ access ready
+ crew and tools ready
+ weather / inspection ready
+ washout and surplus plan ready
+ ticket and load-acceptance owner ready
Build the order with the Ready-Mix Concrete Order Checklist, then run this page the morning of the pour. If any line is not ready, use the Concrete Cancellation Fee Guide before the truck leaves the plant.
Sources and checks
This page is a jobsite planning checklist, not a replacement for engineering, inspection, safety, code, testing, or contractor supervision.
| Check | Source | How it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Ordering and site readiness | NRMCA ordering and scheduling guide | Keeps dispatch tied to actual site readiness and communication. |
| Ready-mix order details | NRMCA CIP 31 Ordering Ready Mixed Concrete | Supports written mix, quantity, placement method, and job contact details. |
| Field water notes | NRMCA CIP 26 Jobsite Addition of Water | Flags who can approve water changes and how the ticket records them. |
| Yield questions | NRMCA CIP 8 Discrepancies in Yield | Helps separate form volume, ticket yards, waste, and returned material. |
| Pumped-concrete coordination | NRMCA CIP 21 Loss of Air Content in Pumped Concrete | Keeps pump placement tied to mix and responsibility questions. |
Concrete Estimator Hub is independent and is not affiliated with these organizations or suppliers.
Pour day answer in one screen
Use this first. If one line is not ready, do not treat it as a small detail.
| Area | Ready question | If not ready |
|---|---|---|
| Forms and grade | Are dimensions, depth, slope, edges, and forms locked? | Delay dispatch or accept yield and finish risk in writing. |
| Base and reinforcement | Is subgrade compacted, base placed, rebar/mesh/chairs set? | Do not send truck before inspection or correction. |
| Access | Can truck, chute, pump, buggy, or wheelbarrows reach the forms? | Recheck chute reach, driveway access, or pump vs wheelbarrow. |
| Crew and tools | Are enough people and tools on site before arrival? | Wait-time and rejected-load risk rises fast. |
| Weather and inspection | Is the weather call made and inspection approved? | Use cancellation and reschedule terms before batching. |
| Washout and surplus | Is legal washout, cleanup, and leftover concrete plan ready? | Returned concrete, disposal, or cleanup costs can appear. |
| Ticket owner | Who signs, records times, approves water, and accepts load? | Ticket disputes become much harder later. |
Morning-of-pour checklist
Print or copy this into the job record.
| Check | Done? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Final yards after waste match order | Compare calculator, forms, and supplier order. | |
| Forms are staked and braced | Include edges, thickened areas, steps, and slopes. | |
| Base is compacted and dry enough | Soft or muddy base changes volume and finish risk. | |
| Reinforcement, vapor barrier, embeds are set | Confirm before inspection or dispatch. | |
| Access path is clear | Truck, chute, pump, buggy, or wheelbarrow route. | |
| Crew count is confirmed | Loading, placing, screeding, finishing, cleanup. | |
| Tools are staged | Screed, rakes, shovels, floats, edgers, broom, saw plan. | |
| Weather decision is made | Rain, heat, cold, wind, lightning, curing plan. | |
| Inspection is approved | If required, do not dispatch before approval. | |
| Washout and surplus forms are ready | Truck chute, pump, tools, and extra concrete destination. | |
| Ticket signer is assigned | Arrival, batch, unload, water, wait, returned yards, signature. | |
| Backup plan is known | Pump, buggy, extra crew, cancellation, or reschedule trigger. |
For a reusable interactive version, use the Concrete Pour Planner. For ticket records, use the Ready-Mix Delivery Ticket Checklist. If the crew count or role ownership is still vague, run the Concrete Pour Crew Size Checklist before dispatch.
Before the truck leaves the plant
Ask the supplier or contractor these final questions:
Is the truck loaded or still schedulable?
What exact mix and yards are on the order?
What arrival window should the crew plan around?
How many unload minutes are included?
Who can approve water adjustment, partial acceptance, or rejection?
What happens if inspection, weather, access, or site readiness stops the pour?
Where will truck, pump, buggy, and tools wash out?
If the answer changes the order, record it before dispatch. If the truck is already loaded, check the Rejected Concrete Load Fee Guide and Returned Concrete Fee Guide before assuming the change is free.
Access and placement check
Access is where many ready-mix orders fail.
| Access plan | Confirm this | Supporting page |
|---|---|---|
| Direct chute | Safe truck position, chute reach, slope, and discharge point | Concrete Truck Chute Reach |
| Wheelbarrow | Route distance, trips, crew, unload time, route protection | Concrete Wheelbarrow Distance |
| Pump | Pump type, setup, hose route, mix suitability, washout | Concrete Pump Cost Calculator |
| Pump vs wheelbarrow | Written placed total and time-risk comparison | Concrete Pump vs Wheelbarrow Cost |
| Driveway access | Weight, slope, pavement risk, overhead clearance | Concrete Truck Driveway Access |
Do not let the truck arrive before the placement method is decided. A loaded truck is a bad place to start the access debate.
Ticket checklist
Record these items while the truck is on site.
| Ticket item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Supplier, truck, driver, and batch plant | Identifies the load. |
| Ordered yards and delivered yards | Supports quantity and yield checks. |
| Mix design, strength, slump range, aggregate, air, fiber, color | Confirms what was ordered. |
| Batch time, arrival time, unload start/stop, departure | Supports wait-time and timing questions. |
| Water added and who approved it | Prevents memory-only disputes. |
| Returned yards or surplus handling | Connects leftover concrete to the quote terms. |
| Signature and printed name | Shows who accepted, rejected, or disputed the load. |
Use the Concrete Yield Calculator Guide before treating a quantity mismatch as supplier error. Forms, subgrade, thickness, waste, and returned material all need to be separated.
Weather, inspection, and cancellation
Three final blockers deserve a clear owner.
| Blocker | Owner question | If unclear |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | Who makes the rain, heat, cold, wind, or lightning call and by what time? | Use written cancellation terms before dispatch. |
| Inspection | Who confirms approval before batching? | Do not send truck until approved or risk is accepted. |
| Site readiness | Who signs off that forms, access, crew, and tools are ready? | Wait-time, standby, or rejection cost can shift to the owner. |
The Concrete Cancellation Fee Guide and Concrete Truck Wait Time Fee Guide turn these risks into simple worksheet numbers.
Red flags
| Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Crew arrives after the truck | Wait time starts before placement is ready. |
| Inspection is "probably fine" | A failed inspection can stop the pour after dispatch. |
| No one owns the ticket | Acceptance, water notes, returned yards, and times become disputed. |
| Chute reach is guessed | A pump or wheelbarrow route may be needed with no time to price it. |
| No washout plan | Cleanup or environmental fees can appear after placement. |
| Extra concrete has no approved place to go | Returned or disposal costs may be unavoidable. |
FAQ
What should be ready before a concrete truck arrives?
Forms, base, reinforcement, access, crew, tools, weather decision, inspection, washout plan, surplus plan, ticket signer, and backup placement method should be ready before dispatch.
Who should sign the ready-mix ticket?
The person with authority to accept the load, record times, note water changes, and flag disputes should sign. Do not leave ticket signing to someone who does not know the order terms.
Should I cancel if inspection is not approved?
Usually, do not dispatch ready-mix until inspection approval is confirmed or the responsible party accepts the risk in writing. Cancellation and reschedule terms should be clear before batching.
Does this checklist replace a contractor or engineer?
No. Use qualified professionals for structural design, code, safety, testing, and inspection. This checklist helps buyers avoid common ordering and dispatch gaps.
Next step
Save the completed checklist with the Concrete Pour Planner and compare final invoice lines in the Concrete Quote Reviewer before payment.
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Quote planning next step
Turn this guide into a concrete buying check
Run the matching calculator, then compare ready-mix, bagged concrete, delivery fees, access needs, and quote gaps before you buy materials or approve a contractor number.