Concrete Delivery Preparation Checklist

Getting your site ready before the concrete truck arrives is the single biggest factor in a successful pour. Most failed pours in Sydney trace back to rushed preparation, not bad concrete. This checklist covers everything from truck access to formwork to day-of-pour essentials.

Construction site with formwork and reinforcement ready for a concrete pour
MixHub TeamUpdated 22 March 2026

1. Site Access: Complete 48 Hours Before

Truck access is non-negotiable. A standard ready-mix truck weighs 32 tonnes loaded and is 2.5m wide with a turning radius of 12m. Get this wrong and the driver will leave, and you still owe the short-load fee.

  • Measure truck access width. Minimum 3.5m wide clearance for the full truck path. Measure at the narrowest point: gate, fence posts, parked cars. Even 3.4m will stop a truck.
  • Check overhead clearance. Minimum 4.5m vertical. Watch for pergolas, verandah beams, and tree branches. The chute adds 1–2m when extended. For power line clearance requirements, see the table below.
  • Check ground load capacity. The truck must travel on firm ground. If the path crosses clay soil, lawn, or recently watered ground, use steel plates or crane mats (hire from Kennards, ~$50/day each). A bogged truck costs $1,000–2,500 to extract.
  • Remove obstacles from truck path. Move vehicles from the driveway and street. Notify neighbours if the truck needs to park in front of their property.
  • Plan chute reach or arrange pump. Standard chute reach is 3–4m from the truck. For pours beyond 6m, hire a line pump ($550–800) or boom pump ($800–1,500+). Book 48+ hours ahead.

Power Line Approach Distances

Concrete trucks and pump booms must maintain minimum approach distances from overhead power lines. Tap a row for details.

RED ZONE: 0–0.9mNO GO — all voltages
ORANGE ZONE: 0.9–3.0mSpotter required (up to 132kV)
GREEN ZONE: 3.0m+Open area (domestic lines)

Source: Boral Australian Concrete Guide (2023 Edition 2.1), Section 9. Always confirm with your local network operator (Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy, Essential Energy in NSW).

2. Formwork: Complete 24 Hours Before

Concrete exerts approximately 24 kPa of lateral pressure on your forms at typical pour heights. That's 2,400 kg per square metre. Formwork that looks stable can fail when you start pouring. Brace everything.

  • Set forms to correct level and grade. Check levels with a spirit level and string line. For driveways, set a 1:80 crossfall (12.5mm per metre) for drainage.
  • Stake and brace formwork at 600mm centres. Drive pegs every 600mm for forms up to 200mm high. Add diagonal knee braces for corners. Shake the form; it should feel completely rigid.
  • Apply form release oil. Coat all interior faces with form release oil or spray oil. Without this, stripping timber will chip and spall the concrete edge.
  • Mark control joint locations. For slabs over 3m in any direction, plan control joints every 3m. Cut or tool within 24 hours of pour.

3. Base Preparation: Complete 24 Hours Before

  • Compact subgrade to 95% density. Loose base is the #1 cause of cracked slabs. Run a plate compactor or wacker at least 2 passes in perpendicular directions. Jump on it; you should not feel any movement.
  • Lay crushed rock base if required. For driveways and heavy slabs, lay 75–100mm of compacted 20mm crushed rock (DGB20). This improves drainage, reduces moisture movement, and adds sub-base support. Sydney clay soils especially benefit.
  • Lay plastic membrane (if required). 200µm polyethylene sheet for all ground-bearing residential slabs. Overlap joins 300mm and tape. Turn up 150mm on all edges.

4. Reinforcement: Complete Day Before

  • Lay mesh or reo to correct specification. SL72 mesh for residential floor slabs. F72 for light driveways. 12mm N-bar at 200mm centres for structural slabs or driveways with heavy vehicle access.
  • Set bar chairs for correct cover. 40mm bar chairs for 100mm slabs, 50mm chairs for 125mm slabs. Place chairs at 800mm max spacing for mesh. Reo sitting on the ground provides zero tensile benefit.
  • Check laps and tie wire at joins. Overlap mesh by at least one full square (200mm min). Tie laps with wire. Unsecured mesh shifts when concrete is poured and vibrated.

5. Day of Pour: Morning of Delivery

  • Final walkthrough. Walk the entire pour zone. Check that bar chairs haven't been dislodged, formwork hasn't moved, and base is still firm. Five minutes of checking saves hours of remediation.
  • Have tools staged and ready: screed boards, bull float, hand float, edger, broom (if broom finish), knee boards, and curing compound. Have the pump connected and primed before the truck arrives.
  • Have crew on site before the truck arrives. Minimum 3 people for any slab over 5m². You have 90 minutes from first discharge (60 in hot weather). Every delay costs.
  • Check weather forecast. Final check on the morning of pour. Rain within 4 hours of pour time? Reschedule. Above 35°C? Use retarder and shade. See the rain guide and hot weather guide.
  • Lightly moisten the base. Dampen the subgrade to prevent it drawing water from the mix. Never pour on standing water or puddles.

The Three Things That Ruin Pours

  1. Formwork blowout: stakes not close enough, no diagonal bracing. Concrete escapes, pour is ruined.
  2. Soft base: subgrade not compacted. Slab settles and cracks within months.
  3. Too few people: concrete sets while you're still screeding. Hot weather makes this worse.

Every one of these is preventable with preparation. The checklist above covers all three.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to do before concrete is delivered?
Confirm truck access (3.5m width, 4.5m overhead clearance), set and brace formwork, lay reinforcement on bar chairs, compact the base, and have screed boards and 3+ people on site.
How much notice do I need to prepare my site?
Allow 48–72 hours before the pour to complete formwork and compaction. Rushing prep is the most common cause of failed pours and costly remediation.
Can the concrete truck drive onto my lawn or soil?
Only on firm, dry ground. Wet or clay soil can bog a 32-tonne truck. Use crane mats, steel plates, or extend the chute. Always agree with the driver before he drives on.
Do I need a concrete pump?
If the pour is more than 6m from truck access, or volume exceeds 5m³ and you’re pouring fast, a line pump ($550–800) or boom pump ($800–1,500+) saves time and labour. Under 3m³ in close access, chute delivery works fine.
What happens if my formwork fails during the pour?
Concrete will flow beyond the pour zone and is nearly impossible to retrieve. You’ll waste material ($200–400/m³) and may face cleanup costs. Brace every 600mm. No shortcuts.
How do I prevent concrete sticking to formwork?
Apply form release oil or spray cooking oil to all internal formwork faces before pouring. Without release agent, stripping timber can chip the concrete edge.
What is the minimum slab thickness for a driveway?
100mm for passenger vehicles, 125–150mm for utes and SUVs. Thinner slabs crack under load. For heavy vehicles, specify N32 or above and engineer the base.
Should I wet the base before pouring?
Lightly moisten dry soil to prevent it from sucking water from the mix. But never pour on standing water or puddles. This dilutes the cement and weakens the pour.
What is bar chair spacing for mesh?
Place bar chairs at maximum 800mm centres for SL72 mesh. Use 40mm chairs for 100mm slab (gives 40mm cover), or 50mm for 125mm slabs.
How long do I have once the truck arrives?
90 minutes from first drum rotation is the standard. In Sydney summer (above 30°C), this may reduce to 60 minutes. Have your team and tools ready before the truck rolls in.

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