Memphis, TN · Steady demand

How to start a dump truck business in Memphis

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

Tandem hourly rate
$95–$135/hr
Insurance (single tandem)
$5,000–$9,500/yr
Market demand
Steady

Why Memphis pays what it pays

Logistics and distribution construction anchored by the FedEx hub plus the Ford BlueOval City corridor.

BlueOval City in Haywood County is pulling trucks from three states — rates there run above the Memphis metro band.

Memphis dump truck rates by truck size (2026)

TruckHourlyTypical per load
Single-axle$75–$110/hr$190–$270
Tandem-axle$95–$135/hr$250–$350
Tri-axle$115–$165/hr$320–$460
Quad / super dump$135–$190/hr$390–$550

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 Memphis

  • Sand & gravel
  • Fill dirt
  • Aggregate
  • Asphalt

Who's buying hauling

  • Grinder Taber & Grinder
  • Montgomery Martin
  • Ford BlueOval subcontractors

Memphis Stone & Gravel supplies most of the region.

Insurance in this market

$5,000$9,500 per year for a single tandem with $1M primary liability, cargo, and physical damage. Most GCs in Memphis require you to name them as additional insured before your first load.

Estimate your premium →

Tennessee legal steps

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

Full Tennessee setup guide →

Your first 30 days in Memphis

  1. 1Form your LLC and get an EIN — see the Tennessee 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 $5,000–$9,500 range and get your COI template ready
  4. 4Visit Grinder Taber & Grinder 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 (Memphis Stone & Gravel supplies most of the region.) to get on their hauler call list
  6. 6Quote your first jobs at $95–$135/hr with a two-hour minimum

Get the whole playbook for Memphis

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

Enroll for $39

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