Earthwork daily report template
Earthwork is measured in loads, lifts and tests, and the ground rarely matches the geotech report exactly. The daily report is where an earthwork contractor records quantities, test results and the conditions that justify a change order.
Who fills it out
Grading foreman or site superintendent for the earthwork contractor, reviewed by the general contractor's superintendent.
Every report covers
- Date, project, location and report author
- Weather (morning and afternoon) and its impact on work
- Manpower and hours by company and role
- Work completed by area or location
- Delays, issues and hours lost
- Deliveries and equipment on site
- Inspections and visitors
- Safety notes (safety meeting held, incidents, near misses)
- Photos with captions
- Foreman sign-off
Earthwork fields to add
| Field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Areas worked and operation | Cut, fill, grading, over-excavation or stockpiling by area or station. |
| Haul counts | Loads in and out, truck size, material type and destination. Backs up quantities. |
| Lifts placed and compaction tests | Lift thickness, test locations and results from the testing agency. |
| Proof rolls | Areas proof rolled, who observed, pass or fail. |
| Unsuitable soils or unexpected conditions | Location, extent, photos and who was notified. The start of a differing site conditions claim. |
| Dewatering | Pumps running, hours and discharge location. |
| Equipment on site and hours | Machines by type with operating and standby hours. |
| Erosion control and SWPPP | Inspections, BMP repairs and rain event documentation. |
Inspections and tests to log
- Compaction testing by the testing agency
- Proof roll observation by the geotechnical engineer
- Subgrade approval before base or concrete
- Stormwater (SWPPP) inspections per the permit
Weather
Rain shuts down earthwork and can trigger stormwater inspection requirements under the site's permit. Record rainfall, work stopped, and days the ground was too wet to work.
Disputes this record helps settle
- Unsuitable soils and over-excavation quantities
- Import and export volumes
- Weather days and wet ground
- Standby time for equipment
Sample entry
Sample entry (illustrative, not a real project)
SAMPLE ENTRY (illustrative). Crew of 5 operators, 2 laborers, 10 hours. Building pad: fill placed in 2 lifts, area 1. Testing agency took 6 compaction tests, all passing per their field report. Over-excavated soft material at southwest corner, roughly 30 ft by 40 ft, geotech observed and directed removal to firm ground, photos attached. Export: 46 loads to approved disposal site. 0.4 in of rain overnight, SWPPP inspection done 7 AM, silt fence repaired at north gate.
Or text it in
5 operators 2 laborers 10 hrs. Pad area 1 two lifts, tester did 6, all passed. Soft spot SW corner about 30x40, geotech said dig it out, pics. 46 loads export. Rained .4 overnight, did SWPPP check, fixed silt fence north gate.
Superintendents and foremen text their day and Cascade Technology turns it into the daily report. Subcontractor access is free.
Print it
A blank one-page earthwork daily report with every field above. Free, no email needed. For the full PDF and Excel version, get the free daily report template.
Frequently asked questions
How do daily reports support a differing site conditions claim?
Contemporaneous records carry weight: the location and extent of the condition, photos, who was notified and when, and the equipment and labor used to deal with it. Record it the day it is found.
Should haul counts be on the daily report or a separate log?
Either works, as long as the daily report carries the day's totals and references the log, so quantities can be reconciled later.