Payload, purchase price, insurance, fuel economy, and realistic hourly rates for every configuration — so you buy the truck your market actually pays for.
| Type | Payload | Used price | Hourly rate | Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Axle Dump Truck | 6–8 tons | $18,000–$45,000 | $85–$135/hr | $3,800–$7,500/yr |
| Tandem-Axle Dump Truck | 12–15 tons | $35,000–$85,000 | $105–$165/hr | $4,800–$11,000/yr |
| Tri-Axle Dump Truck | 16–22 tons | $50,000–$110,000 | $135–$195/hr | $5,600–$12,500/yr |
| Quad-Axle Dump Truck | 20–26 tons | $65,000–$130,000 | $155–$220/hr | $6,500–$14,000/yr |
| End Dump Trailer | 22–26 tons | $18,000–$45,000 (trailer only) | $140–$200/hr | $7,000–$14,000/yr (tractor + trailer) |
| Side Dump Trailer | 22–28 tons | $25,000–$55,000 (trailer only) | $145–$205/hr | $7,000–$14,000/yr (tractor + trailer) |
| Super Dump Truck | 20–26 tons | $70,000–$135,000 | $150–$210/hr | $6,500–$13,500/yr |
| Transfer Dump Truck | 22–26 tons | $60,000–$120,000 (truck + transfer) | $140–$200/hr | $6,800–$13,500/yr |
The cheapest legal way into dump trucking. Under 26,001 lb GVWR you can run it without a CDL, which is why it's the most common first truck for landscape and residential work.
The single most versatile dump truck in North America and the default first truck for anyone serious about GC work. It fits nearly every jobsite and hauls enough tonnage to be taken seriously.
The tonnage workhorse. When contractors pay per ton, the tri-axle out-earns a tandem on every single trip — but it costs more to buy, insure, and maintain, and it can't reach every site.
Maximum legal tonnage per trip in states that allow it. Powerful in the right market, dead weight in the wrong one — check your state's gross-weight cap before you buy.
The highest payload per trip on the road, and the most flexible if you already own a tractor. The trade-off is maneuverability and tip-over risk on uneven ground.
Dumps sideways in seconds without raising a tall body, which makes it the safest high-payload option on uneven ground and the fastest for windrowing material along a road.
A straight truck with retractable trailing axles that stretch the bridge formula to legally carry tri-axle-plus tonnage while still maneuvering like a straight truck.
A straight dump pulling a separate pup body that can be transferred into the truck. Standard equipment in California and the Southwest, rare elsewhere.
Pick the wrong configuration and you eat the payment for five years. The course walks the buy decision, financing, inspection, and pricing math end to end.
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