Chicago Dump Trucks- Answering all questions!

Hey guys, I have a few years of experience in hauling construction materials in Chicago (Dirt, stone, sand, clay, etc)

If you're in the area and have any questions about the industry, pay, companies, etc Let me know and I'll answer! IMO Chicago dump truck drivers have the best pay out of ALL trucking jobs. Only jobs @ companies like Old Dominion, UPS, Saia have comparable wages

Ask away, I'm here to help!

Edit: if you also work in Chicago hauling dumps, stop by and say hi! Would like to network

 

I can only speak on the construction side of things
it's either out of laziness or they're just in a hurry and taking it on/off is just a hassle and slows the $$$ making process

Zero need for a tarp if you're hauling something like dirt/clay

Don't tarp a load of sand? You're going to cause a sand-storm on the e-way - def necessary

Stone is usually loaded in a heaping pile, so it's practically impossible to unroll a manual tarp over it (electric tarps will work by going over the load)

 

5 years ago, $85 was very common after commission (10% commission paid to company providing dispatch for the work)
Today $100/hr is normal, and if you're working directly with an excavation, construction, or demo company you can see as high as $115.A company I know managed to seize union construction jobs, and they were getting paid $150/hr per truck (insane) while the trucks just sat around all day and maybe did 1-2 short 50 mile runs.

Only in one Chicago suburb, specifically Thortons, you can and will be ticketed. Everyone tarps when going there, as that's really the only place that is known for enforcing it.

This is an example of the manual tarps you see around here. Cheaper, and allow for clearance of electrical lines as they roll out, as opposed to electric tarps which are raised an easy 10+ feet in the air

I'm familiar with the area but not Harry's

 

That's unfortunately way before my time
so....i wouldn't know

Yea, you'll find some of the worst maintained trucks here. I wouldn't be caught driving next to & matching speeds with a dump truck on the highway here! The vast majority are **** boxes!