How should a transportation inspector respond if the delivered concrete exceeds the maximum allowable time between batching and placement?

• A. Do not place the concrete; document the delay, notify the producer and the customer, and follow contract procedures for disposition.
• B. Proceed with placement after a short delay
• C. Divert the load to another job without notification
• D. Re-batch on site

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that there is a strict maximum time allowed between when concrete is batched and when it is placed, and once that window is exceeded you cannot place the concrete. If the delivered mix sits beyond that limit, its workability, slump, air content, and ultimately strength can be compromised, so placing it would produce a nonconforming product.

The proper response is to stop further handling of that batch, document the delay, notify the producer and the customer, and follow the contract procedures for disposition. This approach preserves traceability, keeps all parties informed, and ensures the concrete is dealt with according to approved procedures—whether that means disposal, rework, or other contract-approved action.

Wet the other options: proceeding with placement after any delay would violate the time limit and risk a nonconforming result; diverting the load to another job without notifying anyone bypasses required communications and quality controls; re-batching on site bypasses the established plant mix design and timing controls and isn’t a standard remedy for a batch that has already exceeded the time window.