Hampton Roads, VA · Steady demand

How to start a dump truck business in Hampton Roads

Local hourly rates, insurance costs, the general contractors and quarries actually buying hauling in Hampton Roads, and what the Virginia rules require before your first load.

Tandem hourly rate
$100–$142/hr
Insurance (single tandem)
$5,400–$10,200/yr
Market demand
Steady

Why Hampton Roads pays what it pays

Naval facility work, port expansion, and the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel program.

Base access requires credentialing — get it early and you'll face far less competition.

Hampton Roads dump truck rates by truck size (2026)

TruckHourlyTypical per load
Single-axle$80–$115/hr$200–$280
Tandem-axle$100–$140/hr$260–$370
Tri-axle$120–$175/hr$340–$480
Quad / super dump$140–$200/hr$410–$580

Per-load figures assume a 45–75 minute cycle. Use the cycle-time calculator to convert any per-load offer into a real hourly number before you accept it.

Materials moving in Hampton Roads

  • Aggregate
  • Dredge spoils
  • Fill dirt
  • Asphalt

Who's buying hauling

  • W.M. Jordan
  • Branch Civil
  • Skanska (HRBT joint venture)

Barge-served aggregate terminals along the Elizabeth River.

Insurance in this market

$5,400$10,200 per year for a single tandem with $1M primary liability, cargo, and physical damage. Most GCs in Hampton Roads require you to name them as additional insured before your first load.

Estimate your premium →

Virginia legal steps

LLC, EIN, USDOT number, state motor carrier registration, and permits are all state-level in Virginia.

Full Virginia setup guide →

Your first 30 days in Hampton Roads

  1. 1Form your LLC and get an EIN — see the Virginia filing costs and office
  2. 2Apply for your USDOT number (and MC authority only if you'll haul for-hire across state lines)
  3. 3Bind insurance in the $5,400–$10,200 range and get your COI template ready
  4. 4Visit W.M. Jordan and two other job trailers in person with a COI, W-9, and a printed rate sheet
  5. 5Open an account with a local supplier (Barge-served aggregate terminals along the Elizabeth River.) to get on their hauler call list
  6. 6Quote your first jobs at $100–$142/hr with a two-hour minimum

Get the whole playbook for Hampton Roads

The full course covers the LLC/USDOT/insurance sequence, the GC outreach scripts, and pricing math for every material moving in Hampton Roads right now.

Enroll for $39

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