Dump Truck Question

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by CATfan, Apr 27, 2014.

  1. CATfan

    CATfan Bobtail Member

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    Apr 27, 2014
    Tracy City, TN
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    Hey sorry if this is in the wrong section, I've got a question about buying my own Tandem axle dump truck. I live in middle Tennessee (between Nashville and Chattanooga) and was wondering if it would be worth getting into O/O dump trucking? Does anyone know where I might could lease on hauling Asphalt, Gravel, Sand or just anything that pays decent in my area? Anyone know what kind of pay would be average for a dump truck owner? I'm willing to run it anytime, Day or night. Even if you don't leave near me I would like to hear your opinion on owning your own dump truck and hauling for someone else, Any tips or information would be appreciated, Have a nice day!
     
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  3. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
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    Hi xxxfault, I've done a lot of dump truck work in my career, and it is probably the closest thing you'll find to a "regular" job in trucking. Most gravel pits and asphalt plants open at 6 am and shut down at 4 pm. Generally, dump trucks get paid by the hour, or by weight, depending on what you do. Asphalt is by the hour, and I'm out of the loop as to how much. It used to be $50-$60 an hour, but have heard it could be as much as $80 or more. Sand and gravel are usually by the ton, so you'd want the biggest truck your state will allow. In Wis. it's quad axle, or a trailer dump.
    The up side, like I said, is you have somewhat regular hours, don't burn a lot of fuel and are usually close to home. The down side, is dump trucking is very competitive and cut throat, it is very demanding on the truck, and it is seasonal. I believe we are just around the corner for major road projects to begin, because our roads and bridges are in such disrepair, the gubment will have no choice but to repair our roads, and dump trucking could be a good place to be. Hope this helps, Good luck, "semi" retired
     
    CATfan Thanks this.
  4. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    high plains colorado
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    Oh, something else to consider, It can be an incredibly boring job. Once I stockpiled at a gravel pit(moved material from one side of the pit to the other) and did like 27 loads. THAT was a long day. Also, you may be required to operate a front end loader, as many gravel pits have done away with the operator and it is a load yourself kind of deal.
     
  5. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
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    I've done asphalt/sand/gravel/dirt in So. Ca. as a company driver. The work pays good, however, you have to travel to job sites on your own, which could be 20,30,50 miles or more, which don't pay. Asphalt pays the best. Pay can be by the ton, hour or load. Depends on the agreement with the contractor. In a perfect world, you get your truck, drive 2 miles to the quarry to load, then 2 miles to the job site to unload, however, it's not a perfect world out there, right ? Then, the work is seasonal also. No one paves in 10 degree weather. You do need to make your truck available for any kind of hauling. As an example, I lived in Nampa, Id. early eighties. A truck company had the sugar beet contract forever, using flatbeds with sideboards to haul sugar beets to the "factory". So, an asphalt company from Ogden, Ut. decided to bid on the contract, using bottom dumps to haul the beets and won the contract. All they had to do was build a ramp over the pit to dump the beets. They didn't need to make a huge profit, since their equipment would have been sitting thru the winter months anyway. The end result was drivers could work thru the winter and no one had to go on un-employment.
     
    "semi" retired and CATfan Thank this.
  6. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    high plains colorado
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    Hi Allow Me, couple of good points, however, in Wisconsin, the gravel pits are usually not too far from the job site, where in Cal. I know the pit can be quite a hike sometimes. Another good point, with a dump truck, you never know what you might be hauling. One day, I hauled 5 loads of dead chickens in a tri-axle from an egg farm that had a big die-off over a weekend. That was the most disgusting thing I ever did with a dump truck. The stench was overpowering. You should have seen the reaction of the crew on the asphalt spreader, when I went back on hauling blacktop! Another time, I saw a grain hauler with a load of chips, and he had to open the hopper and drive around to empty the wagon.
     
  7. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    high plains colorado
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    Another time, I was pulling a dump trailer, and hauled a load of corn from one of those huge grain elevator places. So I line up under the chute, get out to watch, and the guy loading me says, "you better get back in your truck, it comes out fast". He hits the switch, I hear it coming from far away, WHAM, it hits the trailer, "GO, GO, GO" the guy yells. So I pull ahead just in time, boy he wasn't kidding, it comes out fast!
     
  8. CATfan

    CATfan Bobtail Member

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    Apr 27, 2014
    Tracy City, TN
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    Thank you very much "semi" retired! I appreciate all the information, I found a good deal on an older Kenworth w900B and was looking at my options, There is I would say 20 different Rock crushers within a 50 mile radius of me, 10 sand plants, and there is all kinds of Pavement crews around here as well, They usually work of a night here on the Interstates, I thought I would ask some of you experienced guys and see if you thought it would be worth my time to get into it. Again, Thank you!
     
  9. CATfan

    CATfan Bobtail Member

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    Apr 27, 2014
    Tracy City, TN
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    I appreciate the information Allow Me. Around here we have quarrys almost everywhere you look, I was expecting to not get any work in the cold months. Thank you very much for taking the time to reply!
     
  10. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    high plains colorado
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    Your welcome, CATfan( new handle?) Can't go wrong with a K-Whopper, although, I've had my best luck in dump trucks with Mack. They rarely break, but expensive when they do.(and they will break)K-W is a darn good truck, always have been, but remember, dump trucking is about as hard on a truck as you're going to get. Be advised, while Cat motors are the best, they too are very expensive to repair. I've always had Cummins motors, and put hundreds of thousands of miles on them. I drove a truck with a new style Detroit and it had like 900K on it, and was never opened up. Also, if you're going to be hauling broken concrete, I'd make sure you have a liner(thin plastic ones work ok) in the box, as I've seen jagged concrete put holes in the floor and sides. Good luck
     
  11. banyarmyint

    banyarmyint Bobtail Member

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    Mar 23, 2014
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    Can somebody please let me know how to find a broker for dump truck in San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles areas. I cannot find online. Please let me have some information.
     
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