Decode every field on your concrete delivery docket with confidence
A complete 2026 guide to reading and understanding your ready-mix concrete delivery docket — batch time, mix design, water-cement ratio, slump, load volume, compliance codes, and your legal rights on site.
Your authoritative reference for understanding concrete delivery documentation on any project in 2026
A ready-mix concrete delivery docket (also called a batch ticket or delivery slip) is the official document that accompanies every load of concrete from the batching plant to your site. It records the mix design, quantities of each ingredient, batch time, truck number, and compliance information. Under standards like AS 1379 in Australia and EN 206 in Europe, the docket is a legally required document that forms part of the concrete supply contract.
The delivery docket is your only written record of what concrete was delivered and when. It is essential for verifying mix compliance, calculating water additions on site, recording slump test results, and resolving disputes about strength or workability. Inspectors, certifiers, and structural engineers may request dockets months or years after a pour, so filing them correctly is critical for every project in 2026.
Work through each section to understand every field printed on a standard docket. We cover the header fields (plant, truck, time), mix design fields (cement, aggregate, water, admixtures), compliance fields (strength grade, exposure class, slump), and the on-site fields where you or the driver record actual site conditions. A visual docket diagram and reference table are included for quick lookup.
↑ Example docket layout — actual format varies by supplier. Fields shown are standard across most Australian ready-mix plants.
The top section of every ready-mix delivery docket identifies the origin of the load and creates the audit trail used for compliance verification. These fields must be checked by the site supervisor before the truck discharges. If any header field is missing or illegible, the load should be held pending clarification from the batching plant.
Identifies the specific batching plant that produced the load. Each plant holds its own calibration certificates and quality records. If a dispute arises about material quality, this field determines which plant's records are relevant. Always confirm the plant listed matches your approved supplier for the project.
The exact moment the concrete was mixed at the plant. This is the most critical time reference on the docket. Under AS 1379, concrete must be discharged within 90 minutes of batching OR before the drum has completed 300 revolutions — whichever comes first. Always calculate your allowable discharge window from this timestamp.
The truck identifier links this docket to the vehicle's maintenance and calibration records. The drum revolution counter confirms the concrete has received adequate mixing and that the 300-revolution limit has not been exceeded at point of delivery. High revolution counts on arrival may indicate the truck has been in transit too long or has been over-mixed.
The volume of concrete in the drum, expressed in cubic metres. Verify this matches your order confirmation. Short loads are a common site dispute — if you ordered 7.0 m³ and the docket reads 6.5 m³, raise this with the plant before signing. Assess your concrete structures accurately by keeping docket volumes matched to pour records.
A unique sequential number assigned by the batching plant. File dockets in docket-number order alongside your pour records and test cylinder logs. In multi-truck pours, the docket sequence tells you the order loads arrived, which is essential when plotting slump or temperature trends across a single pour event.
The truck driver's name or employee number. The driver is responsible for recording on-site additions of water and obtaining the authorised site representative's signature confirming receipt. Their signature at delivery is your acknowledgement that the load arrived and was accepted — do not sign if you have not physically inspected the load.
The mix design section of the delivery docket is the technical core of the document. It records the actual batched quantities of every ingredient used to produce this specific load. These figures are what the batching plant's automated system recorded at the time of production — they may differ slightly from the approved mix design due to aggregate moisture corrections and admixture dosing.
A standard Australian mix code such as N32/20/100 is read as:
Special class concrete uses the prefix S and requires additional specification parameters. Always confirm the mix code on the docket matches exactly what was specified in your project documents.
Expressed in kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m³), this is the mass of cementitious material batched into the load. It includes Portland cement plus any supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash, slag (GGBFS), or silica fume. Higher cement contents generally produce higher strength but increase heat of hydration and cost. Typical structural mixes range from 280–400 kg/m³.
This is the total water available for hydration, expressed in litres. It accounts for mix water added at the plant minus the water already absorbed by the aggregates, calculated from aggregate moisture tests taken that morning. The free water content directly governs the water-to-cement ratio — the single most important factor controlling concrete strength and durability.
A lower W/C ratio = higher strength and lower permeability. Maximum permitted W/C ratios are specified by exposure class — e.g., AS 3600 specifies max 0.50 for B1 exposure.
Coarse and fine aggregate masses are listed separately in kg/m³. The maximum aggregate size (MAS) printed in the mix code determines the largest particle permitted. MAS must not exceed one-third of the minimum member dimension, three-quarters of the minimum clear bar spacing, or the cover to reinforcement — whichever is smallest. If the docket records a 20 mm MAS but your specification required 14 mm, reject the load and contact the plant immediately.
Chemical admixtures — plasticisers, superplasticisers, retarders, accelerators, and air-entraining agents — are listed by product name and dosage in litres or millilitres per cubic metre. These have a direct effect on workability, set time, and air content. If a plasticiser has been added to achieve a higher slump than the original mix design target, this must be noted and the total free water content must still comply with the maximum W/C ratio. For guidance on air-entrained concrete uses and benefits, see our dedicated guide.
Compliance fields confirm that the concrete meets the specification requirements agreed between the purchaser and the supplier. These fields link the docket to the standards and project specification, and they form the basis of any conformity assessment.
The specified compressive strength in MPa, typically the 28-day characteristic strength. This is the value used in structural design — e.g., 32 MPa means 95% of test results must exceed 32 MPa. The docket records the specified grade; actual strength is verified by cylinder testing at 7 and 28 days.
Defined in AS 3600 / NZS 3101 (or EN 206 in Europe), the exposure class governs the minimum cement content, maximum W/C ratio, and minimum cover requirements needed to protect reinforcement from corrosion. Classes range from A1 (interior) through to U (aggressive chemical environments). Confirm the docket's exposure class matches your engineering drawings.
Slump is the primary measure of workability on site. The docket records the target slump set by the mix design. Permitted tolerances under AS 1379 are typically ±30 mm for slumps up to 100 mm, and ±40 mm for higher slumps. A slump test must be performed on site when directed by the specification or when the load appears non-compliant.
Recorded at the plant and sometimes again at point of discharge. AS 1379 requires concrete temperature at delivery to be between 5°C and 35°C. In hot weather concreting, chilled water or ice may be used at the plant; in cold weather, heated water is used. Out-of-range temperatures affect hydration rate, set time, and final strength — reject loads outside the permitted range.
Use the table below as a quick on-site reference for every standard field found on a ready-mix delivery docket, what it means, and what action to take if the value is non-compliant.
| Docket Field | What It Records | Typical Value / Range | Action if Non-Compliant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batch Time | Time concrete was mixed at plant | HH:MM (24-hour) | Reject if >90 min elapsed before discharge |
| Load Volume | Volume of concrete in drum | 0.5 – 8.0 m³ | Query short loads before signing |
| Strength Grade | Characteristic 28-day compressive strength | 20 – 65 MPa (typical) | Reject if grade doesn't match specification |
| W/C Ratio | Free water ÷ cementitious content | 0.35 – 0.65 | Reject if exceeds exposure class maximum |
| Max Aggregate Size | Largest particle size in mix | 10, 14, 20 mm | Reject if exceeds specified MAS |
| Target Slump | Designed workability at plant | 60 – 180 mm | Slump test on site; reject if outside tolerance |
| Cement Content | Total cementitious material per m³ | 280 – 420 kg/m³ | Check against mix specification minimum |
| Free Water | Total water available for hydration | 140 – 210 L/m³ | Verify W/C ratio is within permitted limit |
| Admixture | Chemical admixture type and dose | Varies by product | Confirm admixture is on approved list |
| Exposure Class | Durability environment category | A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, U | Reject if class does not match drawings |
| Concrete Temp. | Temperature at point of delivery | 5°C – 35°C | Reject outside this range; note conditions |
| Drum Revolutions | Total drum rotations since batching | <300 revolutions | Reject if counter exceeds 300 |
Most delivery dockets include a section for recording events that occur after the truck arrives on site. These on-site fields are as legally significant as the plant-batched data — particularly the water addition record and the authorised signature. Ignoring or incorrectly completing these fields is one of the most common sources of concrete disputes.
Adding water to concrete on site increases the W/C ratio, directly reducing strength and durability. Under AS 1379, any on-site water addition must be: (1) requested in writing or verbally by the authorised site representative, (2) recorded on the docket in litres, (3) within the maximum water addition permitted by the mix design, and (4) followed by a minimum of 30 additional drum revolutions at mixing speed before discharge. Never allow a driver to add water without recording it on the docket.
By signing the docket, the site representative confirms that the load was received and accepted at the time of delivery. This signature does not waive your right to reject on test results later, but it does confirm the load was discharged. If you have concerns about any field — slump, temperature, time — note them on the docket in the remarks field before signing. A signed docket with noted objections preserves your legal position far better than a disputed unsigned docket.
When a delivery docket shows values outside specification — or when site testing contradicts the docket — you have a defined process to follow. Acting quickly and documenting everything is essential. Assessing existing concrete structures after a disputed pour requires thorough docket records as a baseline. The steps below apply to most Australian and international jurisdictions in 2026.
The primary Australian standard governing ready-mix concrete production and delivery documentation is AS 1379:2007 – Specification and supply of concrete. This standard defines mandatory docket content, permissible tolerances, and supplier obligations. You can purchase a copy directly from Standards Australia (standards.org.au). For European projects, refer to EN 206:2013+A2:2021.
Standard N-class concrete dockets follow a predictable format. However, special class (S-class) and performance-specified mixes include additional fields that require careful attention. Understanding these extra fields is important for infrastructure, marine, high-rise, and industrial projects where standard mixes are not sufficient.
Required for air-entrained concrete used in freeze-thaw environments, exposed slabs, and pavements. The docket records the target air content as a percentage of the total mix volume — typically 4–7% for freeze-thaw exposure. On-site air content must be verified with a pressure meter test within 5 minutes of discharge.
Mass concrete pours (e.g., raft foundations, bridge piers) specify maximum peak temperature and maximum differential temperature across the pour. The docket may record the pre-cooling measures taken — ice additions, chilled water, or liquid nitrogen dosing — along with the concrete temperature at point of delivery.
Supplementary cementitious materials reduce Portland cement content, lower heat of hydration, and improve long-term durability. The docket records SCM type and mass separately from Portland cement. For projects specifying maximum Portland cement replacement limits, verify the SCM percentage against the approved mix design before accepting the load.
For reinforced concrete in marine or de-icing salt environments, the docket may record the calculated chloride ion content of the mix in kg/m³ or as a percentage of cement mass. AS 3600 specifies maximum chloride limits by exposure class. Excess chloride content accelerates reinforcement corrosion and is a basis for rejecting a load.
The primary Australian standard governing the specification, production, and delivery of ready-mix concrete. Defines mandatory docket content, permissible tolerances, and supplier obligations for 2026 projects.
Visit Standards Australia →The CIA publishes recommended practice notes on concrete production, testing, and documentation. Their Z7 series covers mix design, durability, and quality assurance for ready-mix concrete supply in Australia.
Visit CIA →When docket records are incomplete or pour quality is in doubt, a structured assessment of the existing structure provides the evidence base for remediation decisions or structural sign-off.
Read the Guide →