How Many Dump Truck Loads Do I Need?

Enter the tons or cubic yards to move and see the loads, days and trucks the job needs.

Truck type
Amount of material in
In tons.

Approximate. Ask your supplier for the exact weight.

Work out
In trucks.
More options
In tons.

Typical for this truck, varies. Check your state's limits and your registration.

In cubic yards.

Typical for this truck, varies. Check your state's limits and your registration.

In tons per cubic yard.

Approximate. Ask your supplier for the exact weight.

In hours per day.
In minutes.
In minutes.
In minutes.
In minutes.
Enter total tons to see your result.

How this is calculated

  • Tons = the tons you enter, or cubic yards × material weight per yard.
  • Each load carries the truck's payload, or less if the bed fills first: the smaller of payload and bed volume × material weight.
  • Loads = tons ÷ tons per load, rounded up.
  • Full loads per truck per day = work day ÷ round trip, rounded down.
  • Days = loads ÷ (trucks × loads per truck per day), rounded up. Trucks = loads ÷ (days × loads per truck per day), rounded up.

Worked example: 40 cubic yards of mulch at 0.3 tons a yard is 12 tons. A tri-axle rated for 21 tons with a 16-yard bed holds only 4.8 tons of mulch, so the job takes 3 loads, limited by volume.

500 tons at 22 tons a load is 23 loads. With a 2.5-hour round trip, each truck does 4 loads in a 10-hour day: 2 trucks finish in 3 days.

Questions

How many tons does a dump truck hold?

Typical legal payloads are 6–8 tons for a single-axle, 12–16 tons for a tandem and 18–25 tons for a tri-axle, depending on configuration and state law (The Upfit Insider). Check your own registration.

How many cubic yards does a tri-axle hold?

Tri-axle dump trucks typically hold 12–18 cubic yards (Matrack). The calculator starts at 16 and you can change it under More options.

Why is mulch "limited by volume"?

Light materials fill the bed before they reach the weight limit. 40 cubic yards of mulch at about 0.3 tons a yard is only 12 tons, but a tri-axle bed of 16 yards holds just 4.8 tons of it, so the job takes 3 loads, not 1.

What is the legal weight limit for a dump truck?

The federal gross vehicle weight limit on Interstate highways is generally 80,000 lb; bridge formulas and state rules can be stricter (Matrack, citing FHWA). Your registration and state rules decide what you can carry.

How are the days or trucks worked out?

Each truck finishes as many full round trips as fit in the work day. A 500-ton job at 22 tons a load is 23 loads; with a 2.5-hour round trip and a 10-hour day each truck does 4 a day. Two trucks need 3 days. To finish in 1 day you need 6 trucks; in 2 days, 3 trucks.

Sources

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