Dump Truck Rate Per Hour: 2026 Benchmarks by Region

March 3, 2026·9 min read
Short answer

Local hourly rates: single-axle $85/hr–$120/hr, tandem $105–$150/hr, tri-axle $135–$165/hr. Rates run 15–25% higher in the Northeast and Bay Area; 10–20% lower in the Southeast and rural Midwest.

The hourly rate you'll actually get is a function of truck size, material, region, and how tight the local job pipeline is that week. There's a floor — and if you're being offered below it, someone is trying to eat your margin.

National rate ranges (2026)

TruckNortheast/MetroMidwest/SouthRural
Single-axle$110–$135$95–$120$85–$105
Tandem-axle$130–$165$115–$140$100–$125
Tri-axle$155–$195$135–$165$120–$145
Quad$180–$220$155–$185$140–$170

Hourly vs per-load: when to switch

Hourly wins on short cycles and dead-time-heavy sites (waiting for the loader, waiting for the paver). Per-load wins on long, predictable cycles like quarry-to-site runs. Rule of thumb: if your cycle is under 45 minutes, quote hourly; over 90 minutes, quote per load with a minimum.

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