Abstract: A dowel basket includes a metal frame with a plurality of non-metallic dowel bars having weld members secured to the dowel bars and welded to the metal frame. The dowel basket may provide wherein the weld members include weldable metal though pins extending through through-holes provided on opposed ends of each dowel bar and welded to loop wires of the metal frame, or weldable metal caps on opposed ends of each dowel bar welded to the metal frame, or weldable metal caps with at least one lug on opposed ends of each dowel bar welded to the metal frame. A method of forming a dowel basket including a metal frame with a plurality of non-metallic dowel bars comprises the steps of securing weld members to opposed ends of each of the dowel bars and welding each of the dowel bars to the metal frame via the weld members.