Getting the Team on the Same Page (Prime, Sub, Supplier)
Customer name
Who is placing the concrete
Concrete type/Mix Type
Quantity (cubic yards ordered)
WHAT SLUMP? We will ONLY bring what is on the tag.
Start time
Address and directions from nearest main cross street.
Any special delivery instructions?
How is the access? Are there special instructions for entering/exiting the site?
Truck Positioning:
Will there be a spotter guiding trucks into position?
Are there hazards drivers need to be aware of?
Who is collecting truck tags?
If you don’t have the above sample questions answered prior to beginning a concrete pour, then you are asking for issues to arise. A simple twenty to thirty minute pre-pour meeting involving the Prime Contractor, the Concrete Sub-Contractor, and yes the Concrete Supplier, can be the difference between a successful concrete pour(s) and one riddled with problems. The bill for issues on a concrete pour increases exponentially for every small mistake, so to eliminate problems, this article strongly advocates the three components of the concrete team to meet prior to beginning concrete pouring to go over key (but often overlooked) job site items.
Many times the job site pre-pour meeting consists of the Prime and Sub meeting to discuss pour scheduling, and little else. While this is indeed important, the invite to the meeting should always include the concrete supplier. There are many basic questions that are often overlooked, such as slump, truck access, production (yards/hr), hazards on site, lighting (for night pours), and who is authorized to make adjustments to loads (if needed). Even something as seemingly trivial as the site address can turn into an issue once a pour begins. Established businesses and residences may be easy to find, but new housing projects, business expansions, or rural locations may be difficult for trucks to find; especially at night.
The more items that are discussed at the pre-pour meeting, the more successful the concrete pours will go. We all want the pours to be placed fast, smoothly, and without injury or issue. The cost of rejected loads, low breaks, replacing concrete, lost production time because trucks couldn’t find the correct site, or scheduling a pour and canceling late, can all lead to increased costs. No part of the team wants to incur such costs as it increases the cost of doing business, as well as lost time, pushing schedules off. A simple meeting can address these issues, and prevent most problems that can occur on a concrete job site, decreasing costs and keeping construction schedules on time.
Included in this article is the 7/11 Material Inc. pre-pour checklist. This is a good guide to go over before concrete is ordered, and it allows the team to get on the same page so that pours may be performed with as few problems as possible. Concrete is a perishable good, and once batched, must be placed within a set time, or the costs of construction increase. Like the phrase goes “Failure to plan, is planning to fail”, so take the time to review this included agenda and ensure that your future concrete pours are successful, timely, and cost efficient.
*For smaller concrete jobs like: driveways, backyards, sidewalks, or other residential/commercial pours less than 30 cubic yards, a pre-pour meeting might night be feasible or time-efficient. However, it is strongly advised that contractors review the included pre-pour checklist and go over the items with Dispatch when ordering concrete. Job site issues with concrete are largely the same for large pours as well as smaller ones. Getting this information to dispatch will save all contractors time and money, producing the best possible concrete pour results.
LINK: Pre-Pour Checklist