Construction sites
Dirt, fill and base rock in and out of sites. Steady during building season, often paid hourly.
Dump truck dispatch that prices the whole day
Hourly, per ton or per load, the right pay model depends on the haul. We find contractor, quarry and broker work near you, price it against how the day will really run, and bring each job to you to approve.
MILE02PAY MODELS
Same day, three ways to get paid
Set an example day: hours on the clock, loads hauled and tons per load. Then enter the hourly, per-ton and per-load rates you're being offered. The bars show which model pays best for that kind of day.
- Hourly$1,080
9 hrs at $120 · BEST FOR THIS DAY
- Per ton$1,008
7 loads x 18 t at $8
- Per load$1,050
7 loads at $150
Work out what you need per hour to cover your costs with the dump truck hourly rate calculator.
MILE03HOW PAY MODELS COMPARE
When each model wins
| Model | Wins when | Loses when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | Long waits at the pit or site, slow loading | Fast turns on short hauls | Minimum hours, when the clock starts and stops |
| Per ton | Short hauls, quick loading, full loads | Long waits, light material | Scale tickets on every load |
| Per load | Short, predictable round trips | Long waits, unexpected distance | What counts as a load, partial loads |
The same job can be a great hourly job and a bad per-ton job. We ask how the pit runs, how far the dump site is and how long the line usually is before we bring it to you.
MILE04WHERE THE WORK IS
Where dump truck work comes from
Quarries and pits
Aggregate, sand and gravel to plants and sites. Often per ton, with fast turns.
Demolition
Concrete, asphalt and debris to recyclers and landfills. Often hourly or per load.
Municipal and paving work
Public projects through contractors or brokers; paperwork and certified payroll can apply.
Dump truck brokers
Brokers who fill contractor jobs with independent trucks. A good way to get on regular lists.
Direct contractors
The best long-term work, built on showing up on time with clean tickets.
MILE05THE DUMP TRUCK NUMBERS
Your truck's numbers
| Setup | Typical capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-axle straight dump | About 15 to 22 tons, by state | The most common independent dump truck |
| Quad-axle straight dump | About 20 to 26 tons, by state | Allowed heavier in some states |
| End dump trailer | About 20 to 25 tons | Long hauls, bulky material |
| Side dump trailer | About 20 to 25 tons | Fast unloading, needs room on site |
| Transfer (truck + pup) | About 25 tons combined | Common in western states |
SOURCE: Capacities are typical ranges; legal weights depend on axle spacing and state rules. See FHWA size and weight overview (checked Oct 2026). Check yours with our truck weight limit checker.
MILE06YOUR CALL
Every job is your call
Dump offers show the material, the pit or pickup site, the dump site, the haul distance, the start time, the pay model, the rate and who pays. We never commit your truck to a job you haven't approved.
When you say yes, the job terms, rate confirmation or ticket instructions come straight to you, in your name. If the job changes on site, like a longer haul or a different material, it's a new decision for you. Passing on a job costs nothing.
LOAD OFFER
- EQUIPMENT
- Tri-axle dump
- PICKUP
- Quarry, Austin, TX · 06:30
- DELIVERY
- Site, Round Rock, TX
- LOADED MI
- 28 mi round trip
- WEIGHT
- Base rock, by the hour
- BROKER
- Contractor, pays in 30 days
- TERMS
- 9 hrs at $120/hr
- RATE
- $1,080 (day total)
YOUR CALL. NOTHING IS BOOKED UNTIL YOU SAY YES.
MILE07WHERE DUMP MONEY LEAKS
Four leaks we close
Missing tickets
No ticket, no pay. We remind you to keep every scale and load ticket and check them against the payment.
The wrong pay model
Per-ton pay on a job with a long line at the pit can pay less than minimum wage for the truck.
Unpaid waiting
Hourly jobs where the clock only starts at the pit. We confirm when the clock starts before you accept.
Slow-paying customers
Some contractors pay in 60 days or more. We confirm terms and screen known slow payers.
MILE08HOW WE PLAN
How we plan a dump truck week
- Know your radius. Dump work is local. We search within the distance you want to drive each day.
- Book the next day early. Contractors line up trucks the afternoon before. We confirm tomorrow's job while you're still working today's.
- Build a regular list. Clean tickets and on-time starts get you called back. We track which customers keep calling and steer toward them.
- Fill the gaps. When a site shuts down for rain or delays, we look for fill-in work so the truck doesn't sit.
MILE09PAPERWORK
Paperwork contractors ask for
- USDOT number, plus state authority where your state requires it
- Certificate of insurance naming the contractor, often with higher auto liability on public work
- W-9 and, on some jobs, workers' comp or an exemption certificate
- Truck registration and a current annual inspection
- Drug and alcohol testing program if you need a CDL to drive the truck
- Load and scale tickets for every load, kept until you're paid
Requirements vary by contractor and state, and public projects usually ask for the most. We get the list for each customer before your first job with them so nothing holds up your start.
Contractor pays in 45 or 60 days?
Factoring can turn approved tickets into cash much sooner. We refer carriers to a factoring partner and may be paid for referrals. Read how freight factoring works first.
MILE10FEE
5% of what you earn
One dump truck with authority older than 6 months runs at 5% of the gross on work you complete. New authorities pay 7% until month six. Two or more trucks pay 4%. No setup fee, no minimums, no fee on jobs you turn down. Every rule is on rates and fees.
DUMP WEEKNO. 0018
EXAMPLE
- Mon-Tue, hourly site work
- $2,160
- Wed-Thu, per ton, quarry
- $2,016
- Fri, demo debris, per load
- $1,050
- Gross
- $5,226
- Fee 5%
- $261
Kept before costs$4,965
MILE11OBJECTIONS
What dump truck owners ask us
- "Dump work is all about who you know."
- Mostly true. That's why we put effort into getting you on regular lists, not just one-off jobs. The relationships stay yours, under your name.
- "A dispatcher can't know my local market."
- We learn it the way you did: which pits run fast, which sites make you wait, which customers pay. You tell us what you know on the first call, and it shapes every job we bring.
- "Rain days kill my week."
- They do on site work. When a site shuts down, we look for quarry runs, recycling hauls or other work that can run in the wet, and tell you early so you're not sitting in the yard waiting for a call.
- "I don't want jobs too far away."
- Then they never reach you. You set the radius and the start-time limits; we stay inside them.
MILE12FAQ
Dump truck dispatch FAQ
Q01Do you dispatch end dumps and side dumps?
Yes, along with tri-axle and quad-axle straight dumps and transfer trucks. Each body type fits different material and sites: end dumps for long hauls and bulky loads, side dumps for fast unloading on long runs, straight dumps for tight job sites.
Q02How does dump truck dispatch work?
We find the work: contractors, quarries, dump truck brokers and public-works jobs on your area. We confirm the material, the haul, the pay model and the start time, then present the job. You say yes or pass. Accepted jobs come with written terms or a ticket system you sign off on.
Q03Can you find steady dump truck contracts?
Sometimes. Steady work comes from being dependable on the first jobs, then getting on a contractor's or broker's regular list. We don't promise contracts up front; we work toward them with you.
Q04Does a dump truck need an MC number?
Most need a USDOT number. An MC number is needed when you haul for hire across state lines; many dump trucks only work inside one state, where state authority rules apply instead. Check your state's requirements before you start.
Q05Is dump truck work paid hourly or by the ton?
Both, and sometimes by the load. Hourly pays for waiting time; per ton and per load reward fast turns on short hauls. The comparison tool on this page shows how the same day pays under each.
Q06How much does dump truck dispatch cost?
5% of the gross on work you complete for one truck with authority older than 6 months. New authorities pay 7% until month six, and fleets of two or more trucks pay 4%. No setup fee.
Q07Do I approve every dump job?
Yes. Each job shows the material, pickup pit or site, dump site, haul distance, start time, pay model and rate, and who pays. You say yes or pass. Passing costs nothing.
Q08Do you track load tickets?
We remind you to keep every scale and load ticket and match them against what the customer pays. Missing tickets are the most common reason dump trucks get short-paid.
Q09Is dump work seasonal?
In much of the country, yes. Construction and paving slow down in winter in the North, while southern markets often stay busier. We plan around your season and look for winter work like demolition and snow-related hauling where it exists.
Q10What should I check before an hourly dump job?
When the clock starts and stops (at the yard, the pit or the first load), the minimum hours paid, whether lunch is paid, and how waiting at the pit or site is counted. We get those answers in writing before you accept, because they decide what the day really pays.
Q11Can a new authority get dump truck work?
Yes. Many contractors care more about your truck, insurance certificate and showing up on time than about authority age. We start there and build your list of regular customers.
See also how we dispatch, dispatch for small fleets and dispatch for new authorities.