Dump truck drivers need certain requirements such as a Class B commercial driver’s license. It’s also a wise move to attend a truck-driving school so you get properly trained and some experience. Once you have your license, then you can start earning! Learn here all about how much do dump truck drivers make and how much you can make as a dump truck owner operator.
You may be wondering why to become a dump truck driver in the first place. One main reason is that it’s a career that is in demand and you have the potential to earn good money as time goes on. Although repetitive at times, this job is always also quite rewarding.
Every day will be different when you’re out on the road and visiting a variety of job sites and locations. One of the most attractive aspects of this type of trucking job is that you can come home when your shift ends. Generally speaking, you have the benefits of regular hours, steady work, and the potential for advancement which also means higher earnings.
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The good news is that you have the potential to make good money driving a dump truck. The annual salary can range from anywhere between $40,000 to $197,000.
While owner-operators will also have to cover some additional expenses, you have the chance to earn more if you are a business owner and have steady clients. You can earn the most living and working in areas such as:
South Carolina
Minnesota
Arizona
Colorado
North Carolina
You can check out what your potential responsibilities will be to see if you feel like it’s a right fit for you and feel as if you’ll be appropriately compensated for your efforts. You’ll be in charge of moving loads as well as properly operating your truck, for example.
On average, in the US, a dump truck driver is going to make roughly $55,000 a year. It doesn’t matter if you’re a dump truck driver or owner-operator, both are good and steady career paths to take.
Truckers are in short supply so there will continue to be a demand for them in the future and this demand doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Therefore, it’s a good career path to take no matter if you want to be a dump truck driver or a dump truck owner operator.
In the US, as a dump truck driver, you can expect to bring in about $26 an hour. But note that on the higher end of the spectrum, the pay can be as hefty as $50 per hour. Experience, driving habits, business industry, and contract agreement are some of the factors that affect how much do dump truck drivers make an hour.
You can try to make more based on gaining new skills and ensuring you have the right experience under your belt. Be picky about which employer you choose and the location where you decide to become a dump truck driver as well.
GoLoadUp is a junk removal company where dump truck owner-operators can work as independent hauling contractors. How much you make per hour working for this company depends on the number of trips. Have 4-6 trips and you’re guaranteed to earn $40 an hour. It’s best if you go full-time and finish 10 or more trips as it will generate $97.50 an hour.
Keep in mind that although you can make between $700-990 a week as a dump truck driver, the job does come with some demands. It can be physically demanding but also mentally draining since you will likely be working long days and hours. There may also be times when you have to navigate and maneuver the truck in tight spots.
As far as gravel truck drivers go, you can expect to make about $43,000 a year. There are some top earners that will make up to $60,000 annually.
Consider gaining experience and the right licenses and training and then think about where you want to work. For example, Texas is considered to have the most gravel truck driver jobs, followed by California.
Most have a high school diploma, if not also a bachelor’s Degree and in some cases a certificate.
You will want to have your CDL but also soft skills such as good hearing ability and good hand-eye coordination. Safety should always be your top concern and this not only includes understanding how to work and drive the gravel truck but also securing the right insurance policies so you’re protected if there are injuries or damage.
The average annual salary for a dump truck owner operator in the US is $130,000. The best part is that you choose which jobs you take and when you want to work. You’re in charge of your schedule and will likely have the flexibility to be picky about which clients you want to work with based on who will pay you more.
You will have outgoing expenses to account for but the outlook of what you can earn is positive. It depends on how successful of a business you’re able to run and maintain. One expense you must budget for and can’t afford to ignore or overlook is insurance. There are different types of insurance policies you’ll need in place to protect you, your business, and your drivers.
A single dump truck unit can yield an annual income of $150,000 provided that’s in a good condition. On the other hand, a dump truck unit that constantly experiences breakdowns yield half the amount. That said, maintenance is necessary for owner-operators to ensure their dump truck units yield a lot of income.
Another way to look at the average dump truck driver salary is to take into account the type of loads transported. Transporting debris will cost $3 per mile. How much does a dump truck driver make per load of hazardous substances such as sludge and factory by-products? In this case, earnings can be as high $250-$500. Aside from the type of load, the weight of the things to be transported is another factor that affects how much do dump truck drivers make per load.
Dump truck owner-operators that get hired by coal mines to take extra loads of coal earn $500-$1,000 per load.
A dump truck owner can charge $100-$110 per ton of garbage to be transported to disposal sites. This only applies to residential garbage. Garbage coming from hospitals and factories are costlier to transport. So how much can a dump truck owner make in this case? Owners can set the pricing at $130 per ton.
This depends on the type of constructions supplies to be transported. Steel and other materials needed for structure work earns an income of $60-$70 per mile. On the other hand, sand is $80-$90 per mile. As for transporting rocks, a dump truck owner can charge $100 per mile.
Now that you know how much do dump truck owner operators make, let’s talk about how you can earn more. If you’re an owner operator, then your first order of business should be to figure out how to get more loads. The truth is that there are some gaps between the lowest and highest earners. Here are some tips you can apply to get started on the right path:
Pay a dispatching service
Get out there and prospect for loads
Use load boards to find work
Lease-on with a company
Build your network and make sure people know what you do and think of you first when they need dump truck services. Here are some key factors that can influence how much money do dump truck drivers make as well as companies in the long run:
Truck ownership costs
Your skill level and years of experience
Location
You’ll also need to effectively navigate the downsides and disadvantages that come with dump truck ownership. For example, there are certain regulations in place that are out of your control, some project lengths that will be shorter than others, and there is a seasonality component.
All in all, don’t only strive to become a worker but a business owner. There’s no limit to how much can you make owning a dump truck service company. It’s possible for you to earn millions with 10 or 20 dump truck units working for clients.
As a dump truck driver or dump truck owner operator you will want to secure the right types of insurance policies. Some good reasons to get insurance are that dump trucks are often involved in accidents such as overturns. Get covered today by clicking the “Get Quotes” button on this page and comparing the offers of different insurance companies.
You don’t only need to know how much can you make with a dump truck. It’s also important to get an idea about the types of insurance to have. Here are some of the policies to consider having:
General liability insurance–You can use this policy if your dump truck business operations results in bodily injuries or property damage to third parties as caused by spillage of loads or commercial auto accidents
Commercial auto insurance–You can use this policy to cover expenses in case the dump truck collides with a vehicle whose passengers sustain an injury or even become dead. Commercial auto insurance also comes with add-ons that cover the repair of your dump truck in case it gets damaged due to theft, fire, vandalism, and other covered perils
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This place is an absolute joke of a company and should be ashamed of the way they conduct business. I was hurt on the job at the end of July and it took them just shy of 7 weeks to issue out a paycheck to me. Yes the amount was back dated but still. Not many have the luxury of not receiving a paycheck for almost 2 months. To top it all off, the original adjuster marked me down for the wrong state which caused a problem from the get go, I've had 3 different adjusters now since each one can't seem to figure out the simplicity of my claim. All my paperwork which includes, my job, house, and drs visits all are from the same state and city but yet some how I have been filed under a completely different state 1500 miles away. They do not answer your phone calls or emails no matter how many you leave. I've had to escalate my frustrations to the supervisors of each of these individuals in order to even get some kind of response. I've had more communication and information given to me about my claim from the customer service representatives then the actual adjusters.......... please tell me how that works?! A serious overhaul needs to happen here in order to serve your clients the way they deserve to be taken care of. 10/10 do not recommend this company to a single soul on earth
I have never had the displeasure of working with a more incompetent and disrespectful person in my life. I’m an injured worker and the adjuster that was assigned to my case was named Carrie Furgeson. In the past 6 weeks that I’ve been injured and out of work I have only been able to get ahold of her twice, not for lack of trying. I have left countless voicemails, countless emails, and she ignores them all. When I am finally able to get ahold of her I’m greeted with terrible customer service. She is rude, she talks over me and I’m hardly able to get a word in edgewise. She spelled my name wrong on my documents even after I spelled it for her properly countless times, this caused a whole new issue with my bank. I have bill collectors from the hospital calling me demanding payment and Carrie Furgeson won’t do a single thing to help, or to get them paid. All of my documentation is in Colorado, my job is in Colorado, my address is in Colorado, all my Dr offices and appointments have been in Colorado and Carrie still managed to hold my claim because she wasn’t sure what state she needed to file it under. It’s been 6 weeks since my Injury and my company still hasn’t received the wage paperwork to fill out so they can get me my correct wages. When she’s not ignoring me she’s answering my questions with “I don’t know” well I don’t know how she got this job, because apparently she doesn’t know anything about it. She is a disgusting morose individual inside and out and I genuinely wish her the worst in all of her future endeavors. I highly recommend you don’t use this company. Please if you are a business owner and your looking into this company please don’t use them. I’m sure they have the cheapest payment and that’s why companies use them in the first place, but you will be doing your employees a grave disservice by forcing them to venture into this absolute dumpster fire of a company. I would rate 0/5 if possible but 1 was the lowest I was allowed.
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