Every field on your concrete delivery docket — what it means and why it matters
Understand your ready-mix delivery docket in full. From batch plant data and mix design fields to on-site checks, legal obligations, dispute protection, and what to do if your docket is wrong — the complete UK guide for 2026.
The delivery docket is your legal record — know it before the truck arrives on site
A ready-mix concrete delivery docket (also called a delivery ticket or batch ticket) is the official document that accompanies every load of ready-mixed concrete from the batching plant to your site. Under BS EN 206:2013+A2:2021 and BS 8500, suppliers are legally required to provide this document with each delivery. It records the mix specification, volume, batch times, plant data, and on-site readings — forming your primary evidence of what was delivered and when.
Most concrete disputes on UK sites — wrong grade delivered, slump failures, added water at site, delayed discharge — come down to what is or is not recorded on the docket. If you sign it without checking, you legally accept the load as delivered. Checking every field before signing protects you against non-conforming concrete, supplier billing errors, and costly structural remediation work later. A five-minute check on site can save thousands of pounds in 2026.
Every ready-mix delivery to a UK site — whether a domestic slab, commercial foundation, RC frame, or infrastructure pour — must come with a compliant docket. This applies to all concrete supplied to BS EN 206 and BS 8500 designated or designed mixes. Self-compacting concrete, fibre-reinforced mixes, and air-entrained mixes each have additional fields. Retain all dockets for a minimum of 10 years as part of your construction quality records.
Figure 1 — Typical ready-mix delivery docket layout showing all six key sections and the three required signature fields
The top section of every ready-mix delivery docket identifies the parties and the pour location. It will include the customer or contractor name, the full site address, the purchase order or contract reference number, and the name of the person authorised to receive concrete on site. Always check this section first — if the site address is wrong, there is a risk the load has been diverted from another job, meaning the mix specification may not match your order.
For larger projects with multiple pours on the same day, also verify the order reference number against your delivery schedule. A mismatch here is the most common source of billing disputes between contractors and ready-mix suppliers on UK commercial sites in 2026. Internal links to your project file and the original purchase order should be cross-referenced at this point.
Confirm the site address and order number match your purchase order before allowing the truck to discharge. Once concrete is poured, accepting a wrong-site load becomes your liability.
The batch plant section records where and when your concrete was made. It includes the plant name, plant location, truck or mixer registration number, batching time, and dispatch time. Under BS EN 206, the clock starts from the time water first contacts cement — this is your reference point for the maximum permitted time from batching to discharge, which under standard UK conditions is 90 minutes or 300 drum revolutions, whichever comes first.
Standard BS EN 206 / BS 8500 limit is 90 minutes from time of batching to completion of discharge on site. Some suppliers specify 120 minutes for retarded mixes — check your mix spec and order confirmation. Exceeding this limit voids the strength guarantee.
No more than 300 total drum revolutions are permitted from the point of charging to discharge. The docket should record revolutions at batching and at site. High revolution counts at plant (e.g. during long transport) reduce the revolutions available for mixing on site.
The plant reference allows you to trace the batch records, aggregate source, cement certificate, and admixture batch back to the plant's own QC records. This is essential if a cube test fails and you need to investigate the cause. Always retain dockets with cube test records together.
This is the most technically important section of the ready-mix delivery docket. It defines exactly what concrete you ordered and should have received. Key fields under BS 8500-1:2015+A2:2019 include the designation (e.g. RC32/40), strength class (e.g. C32/40), cement or combination type (e.g. CEM II/A-L or GGBS blend), minimum cement content (kg/m³), maximum water-cement ratio, target slump or flow class, and maximum aggregate size (mm). Each of these must match your specification exactly.
| Docket Field | What to Check | BS 8500 Reference | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength Class | Matches spec (e.g. C25/30, C32/40) | BS EN 206 Cl. 4.3 | MUST CHECK |
| Designation / Mix Ref | Matches your purchase order exactly | BS 8500-1 Table A.1 | MUST CHECK |
| Cement Type | CEM type and any additions (GGBS, PFA %) | BS 8500-1 Cl. 4.3 | MUST CHECK |
| Cement Content (kg/m³) | At or above specified minimum | BS 8500-1 Table A.5 | MUST CHECK |
| Max w/c Ratio | At or below specified maximum | BS 8500-1 Table A.5 | MUST CHECK |
| Target Slump / Flow Class | Matches ordered consistency class | BS EN 206 Table 3 | CHECK ON SITE |
| Max Aggregate Size (mm) | Suitable for element dimensions and cover | BS EN 206 Cl. 5.4.2 | CHECK ON SITE |
| Admixture Type / Dosage | Matches order — retarder, plasticiser, air-entraining agent | BS EN 934-2 | RECORD |
| Air Entrainment (%) | Required for freeze-thaw exposed elements | BS 8500-1 Table A.5 | RECORD |
The volume fields show the volume ordered (m³), volume loaded on this truck (m³), and cumulative volume delivered to date for the pour. These are critical for billing accuracy and pour continuity. For multi-truck pours, each docket carries a load number (e.g. Load 3 of 7) so you can track the pour sequence and identify if a truck has been delayed or rerouted.
Always record the start and finish discharge time on site against each docket. If a truck arrives late and the cumulative pour time is being extended, this is your evidence for any cold joint risk assessment. A useful internal reference is your concrete structure assessment guide if pour delays raise questions about in-situ quality after placement.
If the delivered volume appears less than the docket states, do not sign until the discrepancy is noted in writing on the docket itself. Add "volume in dispute — see site records" and have both parties initial. This preserves your right to contest the invoice and request a return load or credit.
The on-site readings section is completed at the point of discharge by the site receiver or designated quality person. It records arrival time, discharge start and finish times, slump test result (mm), concrete temperature (°C), and ambient temperature (°C). Under BS EN 206, concrete temperature at discharge should be between 5°C and 35°C. In cold weather pours below 5°C or hot weather above 30°C, additional precautions and records are required by your specification.
Note the exact time the truck arrives at site. This starts the discharge clock against the 90-minute batching limit shown on the docket.
Before discharge begins, confirm strength class, designation, cement type, and slump class match your order confirmation exactly.
Carry out a slump test to BS EN 12350-2. Record the result on the docket. Reject the load if the slump is outside the specified consistency class tolerance.
Take test cubes to BS EN 12390-2 where required by spec. Record the cube reference numbers on the docket for traceability back to the batch.
Measure concrete temperature at discharge using a calibrated probe. Record on docket. Flag any reading outside 5°C–35°C before signing off.
Sign only after all checks are complete and any discrepancies are noted on the docket. Retain your copy — never let the driver take the only copy.
One of the most critical — and most abused — sections of the ready-mix delivery docket is the additions at site field. BS EN 206 and BS 8500 are explicit: water must not be added to the mix on site without the supplier's authorisation and must be recorded on the docket. The docket will show the maximum water allowable at site (calculated to remain within the specified w/c ratio), and any water added beyond this immediately invalidates the supplier's strength guarantee.
Any water added above this figure increases the effective w/c ratio, reduces strength, and increases permeability. The docket must record the exact volume added, who authorised it, and at what time.
Admixture additions at site (e.g. re-dosing with superplasticiser) must similarly be recorded with the product name, batch number, dosage in ml/kg cement, and the name of the person authorising the addition. For air-entrained concrete used in freeze-thaw exposed elements — see our air-entrained concrete guide — the air content must be re-checked after any admixture addition at site as dosing affects entrained air levels.
A fully completed ready-mix delivery docket carries three signatures: the batching plant operator (confirming the mix was batched to specification), the truck driver (confirming safe transport and delivery of that load), and the site receiver or contractor's authorised representative (confirming receipt of the stated volume in acceptable condition). By signing, the site receiver confirms acceptance of the concrete as delivered.
If any field on the ready-mix delivery docket does not match your order or falls outside acceptable limits, you have three options: reject the load, accept with a written qualification noted on the docket, or hold the load pending a decision. For strength class or cement type errors, rejection is usually the correct response — especially for structural pours. For minor slump variations within the same consistency class, a noted acceptance may be appropriate if the concrete is workable and the pour can proceed safely.
Always photograph the docket before the truck leaves site. Document any verbal communications with the batch plant or supplier in writing immediately. For foundations and structural elements, consider the guidance in our existing concrete structures assessment guide if there is any doubt about the quality of concrete that has already been placed. Backfilling operations around foundations should only proceed once docket records confirm the correct concrete was placed — see the backfilling around concrete foundations guide for related sequencing advice.
Delivery dockets are primary quality records under the Construction Products Regulation and form part of the conformity evidence required by BS EN 206 and BS 8500. For UK projects subject to Building Regulations, dockets must be retained for a minimum of 10 years from the date of practical completion. For infrastructure, highways, and civil engineering projects, retention periods may extend to 25 years depending on the contract specification.
Store each delivery docket together with the corresponding cube test result sheet, pour record (location, element, pour date), slump test record, and any site addition authorisation forms. Cross-reference by load number and pour date so records can be retrieved quickly if a cube failure occurs weeks later.
Many UK ready-mix suppliers now issue electronic delivery dockets via SMS, email, or supplier portal. These carry the same legal status as paper dockets provided they include all required BS EN 206 fields and a verifiable digital signature. Download and archive digital dockets immediately — do not rely on supplier portals for long-term retention.
In the event of a structural defect, cube failure, or billing dispute, the delivery docket is the first document requested by structural engineers, solicitors, and insurers. Dockets with site-recorded slump, temperature, and addition data substantially strengthen your position. Missing dockets leave you unable to prove what was actually delivered.
The primary UK standards governing concrete specification, production, and conformity. BS 8500 is the complementary British Standard that adds UK-specific designated mixes, exposure class guidance, and docket content requirements for 2026.
View BSI Standards →The Quality Scheme for Ready Mixed Concrete (QSRMC) is the UK's leading third-party certification scheme for ready-mix producers. QSRMC-certified suppliers are audited against BS EN 206 requirements including docket content, batch records, and QC processes.
QSRMC Website →The Concrete Society publishes technical guidance reports, good practice guides, and training materials covering ready-mix specification, docket interpretation, cube testing, and conformity assessment — highly recommended for UK concrete practitioners in 2026.
Concrete Society →