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Communicate, communicate, communicate

Ready-mix suppliers are not mind readers. They want their customers to communicate clearly with them so they can be sure customers are getting the best product for the job.

"The better job that they do in describing what they're trying to accomplish, the better job we can do in supplying the right mixes that help them complete their job in a profitable way," explains Frentress. "If you need a 3,000-lb. mix, how are you going to place it? Maybe we have mixes that are more economical if you're going to pump it. We have a lot of technology that didn't exist 20 years ago. It's important to get that communication going, which goes back to architects and owners beyond the contractor. We don't just have plain old concrete; we have what you're looking for. If you don't talk to us, you may not know what you're looking for."

Kline stresses, "The contractor and the supplier should always look at a project as if they're partnering to do it. You rely on one another for the success of that job. And the ones who have that feeling are the ones who seem to be the most successful."

Remaining in constant communication with the ready-mix company as the job proceeds is equally important. "We all know a jobsite is a dynamic, continually changing place," says Hannon. "When they are able to communicate changes in their schedule, we can make changes in our schedule that ultimately allow us to respond better to everyone's delivery needs." He recommends that contractors invite the supplier to preconstruction and preslab pour meetings and approach each project as a collaborative effort between themselves and the supplier.

And if there is a problem, the contractor needs to tell the supplier. "We can usually solve those disappointments as long as the contractor communicates well," Kline says. Feedback on driver performance is also beneficial to ready-mix suppliers.