Day cab vs flat top & midroof - Which is best for End Dump work

The old saying, that you get what you pay for applies to just about everything, including trucks.
Would I use a light duty highway truck, that depends on what and where I would be hauling.
I don't know what state you are planning on working, but with a 28 foot trailer, you will be limited to 73,280, or even less for max weight, so that figures in to what you need to drag it around too.

 

I don't know much about the end dump business, but I don't know why in the world you'd want a sleeper if you aren't spending the night in the truck.

Just observing people in the dump business, I'd say it would depend on what kind of work you are doing as to what truck you can get by with. I know one local guy that does nothing but haul from the rock quarry or sand pit to local concrete plants. He never gets off-road, just up and down the hwy. He runs regular road tractors and light trailers. On the other hand, I know another guy that does general construction hauling. He goes places a billy goat would struggle and hauls shot rock, and runs heavy spec trucks, and still trashes them in short order.

 

I have never seen a dump with a sleeper because you will be supporting a ready mix plant with rock and sand for 16 hours of your day hourly. You will go home to sleep. Just be on time at 5 am the next day with your first dump load of rock.

The sleeper berth would have to be tiny. say 36 inches and is a liability without a back window inside a small ready mix plant. You wont have time to be fooling with that berth. So dispose of it and carry the stone by day. Just be early with your first load, they are waiting on you.

The brand is less important. As long you have the specs to do the job. It's going to be at least a 3.80 rear, 42000 pound or heavier tandem back there, a fixed 5th wheel, short 35 foot dump bed and a locking gate plus a PTO and fluid tank etc to lift the bucket. The engine will be non emissions older with at least 515 horses. Anything less is BS, trans will be 18 speed. You might have to deal with terrain or conditions off highway with that bucket that requires a form of finesse.

We would deliberately buy old iron. None of the computer crap. Just reliable natural breathing fuel engine. With air start etc. We aint got time to sit in the shop while the coolant tank is a pint low. None of that bs.

This kind of work is not complicated. Just be early before sunrise with your first load of stone and punch into the time clock. Have the stamina to pace yourself you will be running past sundown most days feeding plants. Its the best job in the world if there isnt anything complicating it.

 

Most end dumps i see are sleepers here in TN/NC. Lots of feed and lime hauling in the south. Theres no need for a daycab. I get a 260" exhd midroof with a 48 spread into every quarry around. The pulp haulers are in sleepers too and they get into all the timber cuts.

Daycabs are for people who dont have to work night and day like the rest of us!