All services
52 services in 9 categories · all live now
Local plants name and price these differently, so the list below is the structure to look for rather than a price list. Any plant will confirm its own schedule before you order.
Every plant has a minimum order that covers the cost of sending a truck and a batch. Below that minimum, the plant bills a short-load fee because a partly full truck costs nearly as much to run as a full one. This single rule explains why a small patio can cost more per square foot than a large driveway (see what a yard of concrete costs), and why "I only need two yards" is the sentence that starts a fee conversation.
Ask two questions when you request the quote: what is the minimum order, and how is the short-load fee calculated. If the answer is "we don't charge it", get that in writing on the quote. If it applies, compare the cost of ordering slightly more against the fee for ordering less; the difference is often smaller than homeowners expect.
Ready-mix has a limited window before it sets. The truck cannot leave the site with the load, so when the crew is not ready, the plant charges for the truck's time. A free window is common, followed by a per-interval charge after it.
The fix is scheduling, not negotiation. Have the sub-base compacted, the forms finished, the reinforcement placed and the crew present before the truck arrives. On larger pours, agree who signals the next truck and keep that person out of the finishing work.
Access decides whether the pour needs extra equipment. Walk the site before ordering and describe it honestly to the plant; a truck that cannot reach the pour is the most expensive surprise in concrete.
| Site condition | Likely method | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Truck can back up to the form | Chute | Nothing extra |
| 10 to 30 feet from the truck, clear path | Chute extensions or buggies | Labour time, sometimes a small equipment charge |
| Back yard, tight side gate | Conveyor or wheelbarrow | Equipment or crew hours, and a slower pour |
| Long distance, tall barrier or multi-level | Pump | A pump fee plus setup time, often the largest single add-on |
Two quotes can look different and cost the same, or look the same and differ by hundreds. Normalise them before comparing.
| Normalise | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Same mix and PSI | A cheaper per-yard price for a weaker mix is not a cheaper quote |
| Same volume delivered | Fees depend on volume and minimums |
| All fees included | Compare the out-the-door total, not the per-yard headline |
| Distance and access | A quote from a closer plant may beat a lower per-yard price |
| Payment terms | Cash on delivery, account terms and card fees change the real cost |
The cheapest way to handle wait time is to plan the pour so the truck never waits. That means a checklist finished the day before: sub-base compacted and inspected, forms set and oiled, reinforcement tied, access path clear, and a named person whose only job is to meet the truck and direct the pour.
On a multi-truck pour, the gap between trucks matters as much as the first arrival. If the crew cannot finish a load before the next truck arrives, the second truck waits at the gate. Stagger the order with the plant, and tell the plant who will call for the next truck.
A delivery quote is usually an estimate based on the volume and the schedule you describe. The final bill follows what happened: yards actually delivered, minutes actually waited, equipment actually used. The gap between the two is normal when the pour took longer than planned, but it should never be a surprise line item you have never heard of.
Before the pour, ask what can change the total and how it will be documented. The delivery ticket from each truck is the record of yards delivered and time on site, so ask for the tickets with the invoice. If the bill includes a fee that was not on the quote, ask for the written fee schedule it comes from.
Work out the yards first, then compare the delivered total with an installed quote.
It is a charge for ordering less than the plant's minimum load. The plant still sends a truck and a batch, so it recovers part of that cost, usually per yard short of the minimum. The amount is set locally, so ask.
Sometimes, within a delivery zone. Outside that zone, or for small loads, a delivery or short-load charge is added. Ask for the total delivered price, all fees included, rather than the per-yard headline.
Sometimes it is cheaper to order closer to the minimum than to pay the fee. Compare the fee for your actual volume with the cost of a few extra yards, remembering that extra concrete still needs somewhere to go.
Plants commonly allow a short free window and then charge per interval. The exact window and rate are set by the plant, so confirm both when you order and have the crew ready before the truck arrives.
Usually no. Ready-mix is batched to order and begins to set, so a plant will not take back mixed concrete. Order the right volume using the calculator, and keep a small allowance for grade variation rather than a large one for safety.
Not always, but often. If the truck cannot chute to the pour and the distance is too long for buggies, a pump or conveyor is the practical option. Ask for the pump fee and setup time before deciding.
See what the material alone costs before charges, labour and finishing.
Estimates, not quotes. Based on our October 2026 price index. See the full index.
Estimates, not quotes. Fees are set by each plant and change over time.