To buy hot mix asphalt for plant pickup, you need five things settled before you call: the mix, the tonnage, the day and window, the trucks, and a plan for weather. Get those right and your trucks load quickly, the mix reaches the paver hot, and the crew is not standing around waiting.
Use this checklist for jobs supplied from our Vero Beach plant at 500 2nd St SW. It works for a single patch truck or a multi-day parking lot.
1. Confirm the mix
The mix is the first thing the plant will ask about, and getting it wrong is expensive to fix in the field.
- Check the plans. Engineered and agency jobs usually name a Superpave gradation such as SP-9.5, SP-12.5 or SP-19, and a binder grade. Order exactly what is specified.
- Know the layer. Base, structural and surface courses often call for different mixes on the same job.
- Match the traffic if the job is not specified. Heavy or slow-moving loads point toward a coarser structural mix or a polymer-modified binder. Residential and light traffic usually suit a fine surface mix.
- Ask for a recommendation if you are unsure. Our team can recommend the mix type, grade and tonnage when you describe the application.
Our specifications page lists the gradations, binders and specialty mixes we offer. Availability is confirmed per project, so always confirm on the call.
2. Calculate the tonnage
Order on compacted thickness. A rough tonnage estimate is length times width times thickness in feet, times compacted density, divided by 2,000. Our asphalt tonnage calculator does the math and uses a standard density of about 145 pounds per cubic foot, which you can adjust for your mix.
- Measure each area separately and add them up.
- Account for low spots and uneven base, which eat extra mix.
- Add a sensible waste allowance for your crew and equipment.
- Confirm the final quantity with the plant before ordering.
Running short at the end of the day means a cold joint or a second trip. Over-ordering means paying for material you cannot use. A careful takeoff saves money either way.
3. Pick the day and pickup window
Plant pickup runs Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, and orders are filled first come, first served. Weekend and after-hours loading is by request. Ordering ahead lets us schedule production so your mix is hot and ready when you arrive.
- Call early. Lead time depends on the mix and the production schedule. Specialty and polymer-modified mixes can need more notice.
- Stagger trucks so the paver gets a steady supply instead of three loads at once and then a gap.
- Tell the plant your total for the day, not just the first load, so production can plan the run.
- Ask about minimums. They vary by mix type.
4. Line up the trucks
The number of trucks you need comes down to haul time, load size and how fast the paver lays mix. A short run from Vero Beach to a job in Indian River County needs fewer trucks than a longer haul into Brevard or Martin County.
- Clean beds and use an approved release agent so mix does not stick.
- Tarp every load. A covered bed holds heat and keeps rain off the mix.
- No trucks? Delivery can be arranged through local trucking partners, and we can connect you with haulers.
Every truck is weighed over FDOT Certified scales, so the ticket shows exactly what it is carrying. Keep tickets together for job costing and any agency documentation.
5. Brief your drivers on plant safety
All drivers and visitors must follow plant safety rules while on site. Send drivers with:
- Hard hat, vest and boots
- Eye protection
- Instructions to follow plant signs and loader directions
- Instructions to stay in designated truck lanes and follow truck-line rules
A driver who knows the rules before arriving loads faster and keeps the line moving for everyone.
6. Plan around Florida weather
On the Treasure Coast, summer storms build fast and usually in the afternoon. Hot mix placed on a wet base or in rain will not bond or compact properly.
- Schedule pickups earlier in the day during the rainy season.
- Watch the radar and call the plant if weather is moving toward the job.
- Keep loads tarped from the plant to the paver.
- Have a plan for a load that cannot be placed, so it is not dumped cold on a wet base.
Heat is the other side of Florida paving. High air and surface temperatures give you more working time, but fresh pavement also stays soft longer, so keep traffic off it until it has cooled.
7. Get pricing and account details sorted
We quote pricing by phone because it depends on the mix and quantity. Call or text (772) 494-6077 for current pricing and availability. For accepted payment methods and account setup, ask the plant team on the same call so nothing holds up your first load.
Quick checklist
- Mix and binder confirmed against the plans
- Tonnage calculated and confirmed with the plant
- Day, pickup window and total tons booked
- Trucks lined up, clean, with tarps
- Drivers briefed on PPE and plant rules
- Weather plan in place
- Pricing and payment settled
Ready to order
Call or text (772) 494-6077 to book your pickup, or send project details through our contact page and we will follow up promptly. Engineered Asphalt Materials, 500 2nd St SW, Vero Beach, FL 32962.