Single-Axle Dump Truck: Capacity, Costs & Hourly Rate
A single-axle dump truck typically carries 6–8 tons and 5–8 cubic yards. At example costs it costs $84.55/hr to run.
Capacity and running costs
| Spec | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Payload | 6–8 tons | Typical range (source below) |
| Bed volume | 5–8 yd³ | Typical range (source below) |
| Fuel use | 3 gal/hr | Site estimate, varies |
| Maintenance | $5.00/hr | Site estimate, varies |
| Tires | $1.50/hr | Site estimate, varies |
Typical. Check your state's limits and your registration.
What to charge
At this site's example costs ($3,000 truck payment and $900 insurance a month, 160 billable hours a month, diesel at $5.35/gal), a single-axle dump truck costs $84.55/hr to run. A 20% markup gives $101.46/hr. Enter your own numbers:
Example numbers. Enter your own. Fuel, maintenance and other costs use typical values for the truck.
Charge at least
$101.46/hr
- Your cost per hour$84.55/hr
- Profit per hour$16.91/hr
Loads for common jobs
| Job | Loads | Limited by | Days, 1 truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 tons of gravel | 15 | Weight | 3 days |
| 50 yd³ of topsoil | 9 | Volume (bed fills first) | 2 days |
| 500 tons of fill dirt | 72 | Weight | 11 days |
Using a 7-ton payload, a 6 yd³ bed, approximate material weights, a round trip of 10 minutes loading, 30 hauling,10 dumping and 30 returning, and a10-hour day.
Calculators for this truck
Questions
How many tons can a single-axle dump truck carry?
Typically 6–8 tons, depending on configuration and state law (source). Your registration and state rules decide your legal load.
How many cubic yards does a single-axle dump truck hold?
Typically 5–8 cubic yards (source). Light materials like mulch fill the bed before the truck reaches its weight limit.
What does a single-axle dump truck cost to run per hour?
At this site's example costs it comes to $84.55/hr. That includes a $30.00/hr driver wage, so it's the break-even if you drive it yourself. Your own payment, insurance and hours change this a lot: use the cost per hour calculator.
What should I charge per hour for a single-axle dump truck?
At the example costs with a 20% markup, $101.46/hr. For comparison, one industry source puts average dump truck hourly service rates at $85–$130 per hour, varying by region (Dump Truck Dispatcher). Start from your own costs in the hourly rate calculator.
How many loads is 100 tons of gravel?
15 loads at this site's typical payload of 7 tons. See the table above for more jobs, or use the loads calculator.
Sources
- Payload range: https://theupfitinsider.com/p/how-many-tons-can-a-dump-truck-haul
- Bed volume range: https://www.jimelliscommercial.com/commercial-vehicle-research/how-much-can-a-dump-truck-carry/
- Dump Truck Dispatcher: how to calculate the cost of a dump truck company start-up
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: weekly U.S. No. 2 diesel retail price
- Example diesel price (August 2026): FleetMaintenance.com on ATRI trucking costs
- Starting costs (truck payment, insurance, permits, fuel use, maintenance, tires, driver pay) are DumpTruckRates examples, not survey data. Enter your own.
- Truck capacities and material weights marked "typical" are approximate and vary. Check your registration, your state's limits and your supplier.
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