Ordering a Concrete Truck and Pump for the First Time: A Practical Checklist
By PumpX Team ·
Ordering concrete and a pump for the first time can feel like a lot of moving parts: a mixer truck, a pump, a crew, a deadline and a lump of concrete that will not wait. Here is a practical checklist to work through from planning to pour day.
1. Calculate the volume
Concrete is ordered in cubic metres. Multiply length by width by thickness (all in metres). For example, a 5 m by 4 m slab that is 0.1 m thick is 2 cubic metres. Add a small allowance for waste, uneven ground and spillage. Many people add around five to ten percent, but ask your supplier or builder what they recommend. Running short on the day is far worse than ordering a little too much.
2. Decide how the concrete will reach the pour
Will the mixer's chute reach, or do you need a pump? If the truck can not get close, or you are pouring a large area, you probably want a pump. Our guide to pump vs chute vs wheelbarrow explains the trade-offs. Then decide between a boom pump and a line pump based on access and distance.
3. Choose the mix
Ask your builder, designer or engineer for the required strength grade and any special requirements. Tell the ready-mix supplier:
- the strength and slump you need
- that the mix will be pumped
- any additives (for example, for hot weather or faster or slower set)
- the placement method and finish
Do not add water on site to make concrete easier to work. It weakens the final result.
4. Book the pump and the trucks together
These are normally separate bookings. Make sure:
- the pump arrives first, to set up and prime
- the first mixer truck arrives after that
- trucks are spaced so the pump is never waiting, and concrete never sits in a truck for too long
- everyone has the same address, access point and phone numbers
Ask the pumping company about minimum hire, call-out, hose charges and what happens if delays occur. The rate calculator can help you see how those fit together.
5. Site prep checklist
- Formwork is straight, braced and set to level.
- Reinforcement is in place, tied, and on chairs at the correct cover.
- Any required inspections are signed off.
- Subbase is compacted and damp but not waterlogged.
- Services and penetrations are set out.
- Access is clear for trucks and pump: no parked cars, low branches or overhead lines in the way.
- The ground where the pump will park is firm and level.
- A water supply is available.
- A washout area is ready, away from stormwater drains.
- There is enough room and flat ground for the crew.
6. Get enough people
Pumped concrete arrives fast. Typically you need someone to guide the hose, someone to screed and someone to finish, plus a person to coordinate the trucks. If you have too few people, you are paying the pump to wait.
7. Check the weather
Hot, windy days cause concrete to dry too fast; rain can ruin a surface. Check the forecast and have a plan, such as covers and extra hands for curing, and agree what happens if you need to postpone.
8. The day before
Confirm all times with the pump and the supplier, tell neighbours, clear the access and make sure someone will be at the street to direct trucks.
9. Pour day
Be there early. Walk the pump operator through the plan, then keep the process simple: one person in charge, clear communication and no rushing the finish. Cure the slab afterwards by keeping it damp or covered, as advised.
What to do if something goes wrong
Even well-planned pours hit snags: a truck stuck in traffic, a pump blockage or a sudden shower. Keep phone numbers for the supplier, the pump operator and your builder handy, and decide in advance who makes the call to pause or carry on. If concrete is delayed, do not let the crew add water to older loads. Ask the supplier about options, and if a pour has to stop, ask your builder or engineer where a construction joint can safely go. Staying calm and sticking to the plan usually costs less than rushing a fix.
Key takeaways
- Order the right volume plus a sensible allowance.
- Tell the supplier it will be pumped.
- Book pump and trucks to arrive in sequence.
- Have formwork, steel, inspections, access and washout ready.
- Plan for enough people and for the weather.
Find a local pump operator in the PumpX concrete pumping directory, or post your pour on the jobs board.
Original question on Reddit: r/HomeImprovement: Any words of wisdom about ordering a concrete truck and pump?