Phoenix, AZ · Very high demand

How to start a dump truck business in Phoenix

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

Tandem hourly rate
$105–$150/hr
Insurance (single tandem)
$6,000–$11,200/yr
Market demand
Very high

Why Phoenix pays what it pays

Semiconductor fabs in north Phoenix, master-planned communities in Buckeye and Queen Creek, and solar-farm site prep.

Summer heat is a maintenance tax — budget for tires and cooling-system service June through September.

Phoenix dump truck rates by truck size (2026)

TruckHourlyTypical per load
Single-axle$85–$120/hr$210–$300
Tandem-axle$105–$150/hr$270–$390
Tri-axle$130–$185/hr$360–$510
Quad / super dump$145–$210/hr$430–$620

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 Phoenix

  • Decomposed granite
  • ABC base
  • Fill dirt
  • Concrete millings

Who's buying hauling

  • Sundt
  • McCarthy Building
  • DPR
  • Meritage Homes

CalPortland, Vulcan, and Salt River Materials.

Insurance in this market

$6,000$11,200 per year for a single tandem with $1M primary liability, cargo, and physical damage. Most GCs in Phoenix require you to name them as additional insured before your first load.

Estimate your premium →

Arizona legal steps

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

Full Arizona setup guide →

Your first 30 days in Phoenix

  1. 1Form your LLC and get an EIN — see the Arizona 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 $6,000–$11,200 range and get your COI template ready
  4. 4Visit Sundt 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 (CalPortland) to get on their hauler call list
  6. 6Quote your first jobs at $105–$150/hr with a two-hour minimum

Get the whole playbook for Phoenix

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

Enroll for $39

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