UK ready-mixed concrete industry seeks reform
Urgent call for independent governance in ready-mixed concrete sector to boost safety and fair competition
THE British Concrete Transport Association (BCTA) is set to publish a comprehensive industry paper outlining significant challenges within the UK’s ready-mixed concrete sector – a critical component of national construction and infrastructure delivery.
The forthcoming paper identifies several systemic issues, including frequent overrides of safety decisions, inadequate driver training, and regular overloading practices.
These factors continue to contribute to avoidable incidents such as concrete mixer rollovers, with an estimated 25–40 cases reported each year. According to the BCTA, the sector’s current self-regulatory approach is no longer sufficient, with commercial pressures too often taking precedence over safety and compliance.
The Association is already in active dialogue with government ministers, the Department for Transport (DfT), the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), and the Office of the Traffic Commissioner (OTC) to push for meaningful reform. Alongside this, the BCTA is delivering specialist training to Police Commercial Vehicle Units (CVUs), roads policing teams, and collision investigators nationwide to strengthen understanding of concrete mixer operation and associated risks.
These efforts reflect the BCTA’s commitment to raising industry standards through education, collaboration, and evidence-led advocacy. The Association is also working closely with BSI to review BS EN 12609:2021 – the truck mixer safety requirements standard published on GOV.UK – to use the standard as a foundation for improving safety across the UK ready-mixed concrete sector.
Lindsey Rudd, BCTA chair, said: 'These aren't isolated problems; they're embedded in a system that doesn't fully address the sector's distinct operational realities.
‘We've seen repeated cases where generic training fails to cover critical risks like vehicle stability, which could lead to disqualifications for transport managers who are overruled on safety matters. It's time to shift from reactive fixes to proactive, independent oversight that protects everyone involved.’
Rather than focusing solely on past shortcomings, the BCTA is advocating proactive reforms to raise standards and secure the sector’s long-term sustainability. At the heart of this initiative is a call for standalone, independent governance for the UK’s ready-mixed concrete sector – a dedicated framework designed specifically to address its unique challenges in transport logistics, safety, and regulatory compliance.
Key proposed solutions include:
National Benchmarks: Adopt DVSA Earned Recognition Concrete Operational Audit Standards as a baseline, covering driver and transport manager training, weight compliance, maintenance, load security, and health & safety – helping reduce incidents such as rollovers.
Concrete Supply Chain Taskforce: Create a collaborative body to develop National Concrete Haulage Standards (NCHS) with KPIs, mandatory mixer-specific vocational qualifications, and enhanced training for all operators.
Maintenance and Transparency: Require full service and repair histories when vehicles change hands, prevent defects from being masked by concrete/slurry, and align with BS EN 12609:2021 for truck mixer safety.
Fair Competition Measures: Introduce tiered support for smaller operators, including grants and training subsidies, to ensure a level playing field and encourage sustainable innovation.
‘The ready-mixed concrete industry powers major projects across the UK – from homes to high-speed rail,’ said Mr Rudd. ‘Independent governance isn't about adding bureaucracy; it's about creating agile, focused regulation that saves lives, protects professionals, and drives fair growth. We're ready to partner with government, regulators, and stakeholders to make this a reality.’
The full industry paper will be available for download at www.britishconcrete.org upon release
