San Antonio, TX · High demand

How to start a dump truck business in San Antonio

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

Tandem hourly rate
$105–$140/hr
Insurance (single tandem)
$6,000–$10,800/yr
Market demand
High

Why San Antonio pays what it pays

Military base work, medical center expansion, and steady far-north-side subdivisions.

Caliche hauling for pad prep is the bread-and-butter first contract for new operators here.

San Antonio dump truck rates by truck size (2026)

TruckHourlyTypical per load
Single-axle$85–$110/hr$210–$280
Tandem-axle$105–$140/hr$270–$360
Tri-axle$130–$170/hr$360–$480
Quad / super dump$145–$195/hr$430–$570

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 San Antonio

  • Limestone base
  • Caliche
  • Fill dirt
  • Asphalt

Who's buying hauling

  • Zachry
  • Joeris General Contractors
  • Lennar

Capitol Aggregates and Vulcan run the major pits on the north side.

Insurance in this market

$6,000$10,800 per year for a single tandem with $1M primary liability, cargo, and physical damage. Most GCs in San Antonio require you to name them as additional insured before your first load.

Estimate your premium →

Texas legal steps

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

Full Texas setup guide →

Your first 30 days in San Antonio

  1. 1Form your LLC and get an EIN — see the Texas 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–$10,800 range and get your COI template ready
  4. 4Visit Zachry 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 (Capitol Aggregates and Vulcan run the major pits on the north side.) to get on their hauler call list
  6. 6Quote your first jobs at $105–$140/hr with a two-hour minimum

Get the whole playbook for San Antonio

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

Enroll for $39

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