Ready-Mix Short Load Fee Guide
Ready-mix concrete is often priced by the cubic yard, but small orders can include extra charges. A short-load fee is a common charge for deliveries below a supplier's minimum truckload. The exact rules vary by supplier and region, so this guide explains the questions to ask rather than claiming a universal current price.
What is a short load?
A ready-mix truck has fixed operating costs whether it carries a full load or a small amount. Fuel, driver time, batching, dispatch, washout, and scheduling all matter. If your project needs only one or two cubic yards, the supplier may add a fee to make the delivery practical. Some suppliers use a minimum order, some charge a fee below a threshold, and some recommend pickup or bagged concrete for very small jobs.
Why the calculator estimate is only part of the quote
The calculator can estimate cubic yards from your dimensions. It does not know local delivery zones, minimums, wait time rules, weekend premiums, fuel surcharges, environmental fees, or whether a pump is needed. Two projects with the same concrete volume can have different delivered costs if one has easy truck access and the other needs wheelbarrow placement from the street.
Questions to ask suppliers
- What is the minimum order size before a short-load fee applies?
- Do you sell in quarter-yard, half-yard, or full-yard increments?
- Is delivery included, or is it listed separately?
- How much unloading time is included before waiting charges start?
- Are there fuel, environmental, weekend, or remote-area charges?
- Can the truck reach the forms, or will a pump or wheelbarrow crew be needed?
- What happens if the project needs slightly more or less concrete than ordered?
Small order example
Suppose a patio landing needs 1.4 cubic yards before waste allowance and 1.55 cubic yards after overage. A supplier might quote the concrete per yard, then add a fee because the load is below its minimum. Another supplier might have a different minimum or a different delivery zone. Bagged concrete could avoid truck fees, but it may require many bags, mixing equipment, and more labor. The better option depends on total delivered cost and how quickly the concrete must be placed.
Planning around delivery
Ready-mix concrete is time-sensitive. Before scheduling a truck, forms should be set, base prepared, reinforcement ready, tools staged, and enough help available. If the crew is not ready, waiting time can increase cost. If the truck cannot get close enough, placement may take longer than expected. Discuss access before the delivery date rather than discovering the problem when the truck arrives.
How to reduce short-load surprises
Measure carefully, add realistic overage, and ask for an itemized quote. Compare ready-mix with bagged concrete using total cost, not only price per cubic yard or price per bag. For several small projects on the same property, it may be cheaper to schedule one coordinated pour, but only if the crew can place and finish all sections before the concrete becomes difficult to work.
What to prepare before calling
Have the project dimensions, calculated cubic yards, overage allowance, requested strength, and delivery address ready before calling. Explain whether the truck can back up to the forms, whether concrete will be placed by chute, wheelbarrow, buggy, or pump, and how many people will be on site. If access is tight, ask whether the supplier wants photos or measurements before confirming the order.
Also ask how changes are handled on pour day. Some suppliers can adjust within limits before batching, while others need final quantities well ahead of dispatch. Knowing that deadline helps avoid rushed decisions.
Short-load fees are supplier-specific. Use this page as a quote checklist and confirm all charges directly with local ready-mix companies before ordering.