TX · Owner-operator guide

How to start a dump truck business in Texas

The 2026 breakdown of LLC costs, USDOT registration, overweight permits, insurance ranges, top general contractors, and the hottest hauling materials in Texas.

Form your LLC

$300 (one-time)

Texas Secretary of State (sos.state.tx.us)

Insurance range

$5,800–$11,000/yr for a single tandem — Houston and Dallas metros run higher

Overweight & DOT

TxDMV Motor Carrier Division

Texas is one of the friendliest overweight states — 84,000 lb GVW allowed on most roads with a $75 annual permit. Frac sand corridors in the Permian carry their own routing rules.

Season & weather

Year-round hauling; peak in Q2–Q3. No spring thaw restrictions. Watch summer heat load limits on fresh asphalt overlays.

Top metro markets

  • Houston
  • Dallas–Fort Worth
  • Austin
  • San Antonio
  • Midland–Odessa (oilfield)

Materials in demand

  • Aggregate & road base
  • Frac sand (Permian)
  • C&D debris
  • Dirt for subdivision pads
Who to call

GCs and suppliers in Texas

DR Horton, Lennar, Pulte, and Meritage Homes drive massive dirt-hauling demand around every major metro. Balfour Beatty and Austin Bridge dominate DOT work.

Skip the trial and error

The full course includes a 500+ GC and aggregate supplier directory (with Texas contacts), the exact LLC/USDOT/insurance sequence, and the pricing math for every material listed above.

Enroll for $39

Other state guides