CONCRETE: Dispatch / Sales

Our normal hours of delivery are from 7:00am through 4:00pm Monday through Friday. Beginning in Spring, depending on weather and business demand, we will open on Saturdays from 7am through noon. Our Saturday delivery schedule normally goes until the start of bad weather in late October or later. Make sure you call ahead in early Spring and late Fall to check on the schedule. Earlier and later times are available Monday through Friday with notice. Additional charges may apply.

Ordering concrete for the first time can be a little difficult. Spend some time here if you have questions about concrete or feel free to call our dispatch team at AVR and AME if you prefer live answers.

How much concrete does your project require?

Are you ready?

Make sure you are ready when the truck arrives. We charge extra for longer deliveries (in excess of 7 minutes per yd), so it is important to have enough help and be ready. We try our best to get as close to your desired delivery time as we can. We're usually within fifteen to thirty minutes of the requested time.

Time and temperature affect the performance and ability to pour the concrete from the truck, so please understand the need for an organized job. Using our Quality Concrete will help produce a quality result.

Is your project accessible?

Our trucks are big vehicles (see the Truck Specs section below), often weighing up to 80,000 lbs when fully loaded. We try not to leave the street and curb line unless absolutely necessary and then only with your permission. Carefully plan how the truck can access the job. Electrical overhead wires and trees and a narrow driveway can make the process very difficult. Soft terrain or landscaped yards also present a real problem when an 80,000 lb vehicle tracks across it. Think Safe! Be Safe!

Can we get there?

Each spring thoughout Minnesota, roads are posted due to spring thaw. This could pose a problem for delivery. If posted, at best we will be forced to haul smaller loads requiring additional delivery charges. Some will be posted to a point that delivery is not possible.

Talk to us...

Talking to our dispatchers can be a big help with any of these questions. Overworking the mix is also a problem that creates issues for our products. The easier concrete can be placed and worked, the better the long-term durability. There are retarding chemicals that can slow the set if you need more time and there are accelerating chemicals that can speed it in the cold. These are all issues you should consider before ordering. Water is concrete's worst enemy when it is first mixed. Adding water past the normal designed amount can reduce nearly all the strength and wear potentials of the mix. We have other products called super plasticizers that can give you more workability without the damage that water can bring to the mix.

Once you're ready to go, it's easy. Simply call the dispatch office and start the order. Our dispatchers are able to answer any additional questions to make this all go very simply. Delivery schedules fill up quickly so it is very important that you place your order at least 1-2 days in advance. When you call to place an order it is extremely important for you to be able to provide dispatchers with as much information as possible. When placing your order, the dispatcher will want to know:

1. CONTACT INFORMATION
   • Name
   • Company
   • Phone Number(s)
2. DATE AND TIME
   • Delivery schedules can fill up fast. It works best to place order 1-2 days in advance although we will try to accomodate same day orders.
3. DELIVERY INFORMATION
   • Job Site Address
   • Nearest Intersection
   • Zip Code
4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
   • Sidewalk, Garage Floor, Patio, Etc...
5. MIX AND SLUMP
   • AVR, Inc's friendly dispatchers can help you determine the proper mix and slump based on your project type.
6. QUANTITY
   • Make sure to double check your figures and always order 10% extra concrete to compensate for settling, an uneven sub-base, and spillage. Then round your order up to the nearest 1/4 yard.
7. TRUCK INTERVALS
   • If your project needs more than one truck load, you will need to determine how long it will take you to unload each truck. Dispatch can help if you let them know how you are planning to place the concrete.
8. VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS
   • Color, Fibers, Re-bar, Etc...
9. ORDER STATUS ('GO' or 'WILL-CALL')
   • A 'GO' order means that a truck will deliver your order at the specified time. If you have to cancel, you need to let dispatch know at least 1 hour before your delivery time.
   • A 'WILL-CALL' order means that a delivery time has been scheduled for your order. You must call to confirm at least two hours before your scheduled delivery time or a truck will not be sent.

Ever wonder how big those concrete trucks really are? Well here are some specs you will want to keep in mind when ordering concrete, to ensure AVR's trucks will fit on your site.

• Length: 35 feet
• Width: 9 feet-6 inches
• Height: 13 feet
• Weight (with 10 yard load): 72,500 lbs.
• Weight (empty): 32,500 lbs.
• Turn Radius: 37 feet
• Maximum chute length: 16 feet