Super Dump Truck: Capacity, Costs & Hourly Rate
A super dump truck typically carries 24–26 tons and 16–20 cubic yards. At example costs it costs $108.20/hr to run.
Capacity and running costs
| Spec | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Payload | 24–26 tons | Typical range (source below) |
| Bed volume | 16–20 yd³ | Typical, varies (not yet verified) |
| Fuel use | 5.5 gal/hr | Site estimate, varies |
| Maintenance | $9.00/hr | Site estimate, varies |
| Tires | $3.50/hr | Site estimate, varies |
Typical. Check your state's limits and your registration.
What to charge
At this site's example costs ($3,000 truck payment and $900 insurance a month, 160 billable hours a month, diesel at $6.13/gal), a super dump truck costs $108.20/hr to run. A 20% markup gives $129.84/hr. Enter your own numbers:
Example numbers. Enter your own. Fuel, maintenance and other costs use typical values for the truck.
Charge at least
$129.84/hr
- Your cost per hour$108.20/hr
- Profit per hour$21.64/hr
Loads for common jobs
| Job | Loads | Limited by | Days, 1 truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 tons of gravel | 4 | Weight | 1 day |
| 50 yd³ of topsoil | 3 | Volume (bed fills first) | 1 day |
| 500 tons of fill dirt | 24 | Volume (bed fills first) | 4 days |
| 25 tons of asphalt | 1 | Weight | 1 day |
| 40 yd³ of mulch | 3 | Volume (bed fills first) | 1 day |
Using a 25-ton payload, a 18 yd³ bed, approximate material weights, a round trip of 10 minutes loading, 30 hauling,10 dumping and 30 returning, and a10-hour day.
Calculators for this truck
Guides for this truck
Questions
How many tons can a super dump truck carry?
Typically 24–26 tons, depending on configuration and state law (source). Your registration and state rules decide your legal load.
How many cubic yards does a super dump truck hold?
About 16–20 cubic yards. This is the typical range this site uses; it has not been checked against a published source yet, so treat it as an example and check your registration.
What does a super dump truck cost to run per hour?
At this site's example costs it comes to $108.20/hr. That includes a $30.00/hr driver wage, so it's the break-even if you drive it yourself. Your own payment, insurance and hours change this a lot: use the cost per hour calculator.
What should I charge per hour for a super dump truck?
At the example costs with a 20% markup, $129.84/hr. For comparison, one industry source puts average dump truck hourly service rates at $85–$130 per hour, varying by region (Dump Truck Dispatcher). Start from your own costs in the hourly rate calculator.
How many loads is 100 tons of gravel?
4 loads at this site's typical payload of 25 tons. See the table above for more jobs, or use the loads calculator.
Sources
- Payload range: https://www.jimelliscommercial.com/commercial-vehicle-research/how-much-can-a-dump-truck-carry/
- Dump Truck Dispatcher: how to calculate the cost of a dump truck company start-up
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: weekly U.S. No. 2 diesel retail price
- Example diesel price (August 2026): FleetMaintenance.com on ATRI trucking costs
- Starting costs (truck payment, insurance, permits, fuel use, maintenance, tires, driver pay) are DumpTruckRates examples, not survey data. Enter your own.
- Truck capacities and material weights marked "typical" are approximate and vary. Check your registration, your state's limits and your supplier.
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