Starting A Dump Truck Business

Starting A Dump Truck Business - Background Info:

A dump truck driver's job involves transporting loose materials such as sand, gravel, coal, or dirt, to various building sites.

Operating a large vehicle such as a dump truck calls for some good driving skills. The driver must drive through sometimes dangerous conditions, and safely deliver their payloads.

The owner of a dump truck business is typically a driver himself or herself. These professional motorists tour the country delivering a number of different materials such as rocks, sand, etc. to businesses, individuals, markets and manufactures.

If you own as few as three dump trucks you could start your own contracting business and work with mining companies, local businesses and construction firms.

The stronger your leadership, management and communication skills, the more likely your business is to grow.
Whether you plan to operate the business long term or only for a few years, starting your dump truck business requires that you follow several steps from getting the proper licensing to advertising.

Most workdays involve travel, either locally or across the nation. In between stops on long trips, drivers will typically stop at rest areas or truck stops to fuel up, grab a bite to eat or catch up on some sleep.

A dump truck business works on a strict schedule that requires loads to be picked up and dropped off on time. In addition to pickup and delivery, some dump truck companies also provide spreading services for their customers.

Owners who do not do their own driving, typically spend the day taking orders from customers, securing materials and dispatching drivers. There is also a great deal of paperwork to maintain as well as other administrative duties.

Tasks And Skills Needed To When Starting A Dump Truck Business:

Business Specific Tasks:

If you are planning to do all the business tasks or hiring or subcontracting tasks, here's a list of tasks that need to be attended to when it comes to the business side of running a dump truck business:

Bookkeeping

Advertising/Marketing

Scheduling

Computer literacy

Answering machine

Industry Specific Tasks:

Same as above if you plan to do everything yourself or get help, here are some of the tasks necessary to operate a dump truck business:

Manage respective loads. Load management begins with correctly calculating the weight of the loads as to not exceed the maximum load capacity.

Know how to operate a forklift and other lifting devices to load cargo onto the truck. Sometimes the cargo must be loaded by hand.

Properly secure cargo using chains or ropes, to ensure that it isn't damaged or lost during the transportation.

Oversee the safe unloading of the cargo to the destination site.

Be responsible for the maintenance of respective dump trucks.

Calculate estimates

Creating and submitting bids

You'll also need to be in good shape. Operating a dump truck and hauling requires that you be able to work outside, often in hot or very cold temperatures, for long periods of time.

Know how to change tires and other such repairs. Sometimes, a driver must perform emergency repairs, in case the truck brakes down on route.

Keep records of all transactions; keeping a log of information such as cargo delivered, distance traveled, rest breaks, and fuel usage.

Ability to drive stick shift

Ability to lift 50 to 70 lbs

Ability to follow directions

Starting A Dump Truck Business - Approximate Daily Hours Needed To Run This Business:

General Hours of Operation: - When your business is open - Hours vary greatly according to cargo delivery schedules. Truck drivers drive all hours of the day and night, holidays, and weekends.

Hours Needed to Prepare - Before Opening and After Hours Activities - Before traveling, a driver must perform a routine check-up on their vehicle and equipment, taking note of the brakes, tires, lights, oil, etc. Plan to spend about an hour to load equipment and cargo. At the end of the driving day, make sure all receipts are kept secure and logs are accurate.

Number of Employees Needed To Run This Business:

Minimum Number of Employees - During the Start Up Phase: You can start this business yourself on a full- (long distance) or part-time (local) basis.

Number of Employees - Once Your Business is Up and Running Successfully:

Website maintenance

Crew/Drivers

Equipment repair

Loaders

Truck maintenance

General office

Billing

Scheduling/Customer Service

Skill Requirements for This Business:

Handle the necessary machinery and trucks adequately

Maneuver a trailer pulled behind a truck

Experience in small engine repair is a plus

Calculation of fuel, mileage, driving logs

Long-distance truck-driving

Other commercial driving

Warehouse work; loading and unloading of inventory by forklift

Vehicle/engine repair

Licenses:

You will need to have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL).

Commercially operated dump trucks also need to have Commercial Vehicle Insurance. This form is used by small or large fleets, owner operators, trucking companies, as well as individuals. Dump truck insurance of this sort is meant to protect owners, operators, and others involved. The combination of bodily injury coverage and property damage coverage is had in Commercial Vehicle Insurance.

Commercial Vehicle Insurance will cover the following: Damage or loss to a business' vehicles and cargo, injury an owner or employees cause to others in an on-the-job vehicle accident, damage an owner or employees cause to others' vehicles or property and protection for uninsured motorist

To make your business legitimate, you will also need an LLC business license and tax i. d. number.

Starting A Dump Truck Business - Approximate Minimum Start up Cost:

Bare essential: - The average startup cost may vary form a couple hundred bucks if you already have a lot of the equipment to thousands of dollars if you want top-of-the-line equipment. You can start off small and expand your crew and equipment as you grow.

The cost to get your dump truck business off the ground depends on the size of business you plan to run. A business with one dependable dump truck will cost you at least $50,000, a larger fleet and establishment could cost as much as $250,000.

Minimal exposure - Door hangers are especially effective as are small baggies filled with a rock and business card tossed onto home walkways or driveways, and a listing in the business section of your local newspaper. For these advertising methods, the approximate cost would be approximately $250.

Necessary Equipment to Run A Dump Truck Business:

Necessary Start-Up Equipment & Supplies:

There are different kinds of dump trucks, each with their own specifications. Familiarity with these trucks is key, as employers sometimes need drivers who can operate a specific type of truck. Besides the standard dump truck(s), the various types of dump truck are:

Truck and Pup

Articulated Dump Truck

Trailer Dump Trucks

Semi Trailer End Dump Truck

Semi Trailer Bottom Dump Truck

Side Dump Truck

Off-Road Dump Truck

Transfer Dump Truck

First-Aid Kit

Lowjack

Cell phone

Supplementary Equipment: - Equipment or helpful products that you can acquire to once your business is off and running:

Laptop

GPS

Vehicle alarm system

CB radio

Log software

Dispatch units and service

Monthly Expenses To Consider:

Answering and/or cell phone service
Warehouse or other storage rent
Wages
Heavy equipment rental
Internet access
Certifications
Advertising/Marketing
Electricity
Water

Special Requirements For A Dump Truck Business:

Despite what materials are transported by dump trucks, insurance is needed to cover all aspects involved with the hauling. Materials can range from solely ice and snow in the winter to construction materials being removed from a job site. Other materials may include asphalt for road and foundation construction, as well as aggregate (asphalt, sand, gravel). Companies which are involved with hauling aggregate substances, will usually provide their drivers with Primary Liability Insurance coverage. Bodily injury and property damage coverage is also included in this type of dump truck insurance.
Bodily Injury/Property Damage Coverage: Injury or death that occurs to persons other than the insured is covered by this part of the policy. Also covered is if the driver of the dump truck is considered to be at fault for causing the accident. For the third party; sickness, lost wages, medical costs, pain and suffering, or even death are covered. As for the property damage portion of this dump truck insurance policy, property that is damaged by a dump truck with a cover is taken care of. Any legal costs accrued by any of the above instances are completely covered.
Physical Damage Coverage: This part of the dump truck insurance covers events occurring from an overturn or collision of the insured dump truck. This is for the damage or loss of the dump truck which is insured. Another aspect of this coverage includes damages to the insured truck because of vandalism, windstorm, fire, or contact with an animal. When Fire and Theft coverage is put with a combined additional coverage, both of these together cover just about anything. Events covered include anything from earthquakes to explosions; fire to damage when being transported by a third party.

Pros And Cons of A Dump Truck Business:

The Pros of Running a Dump Truck Business:

You have the advantage of being your own boss and setting your own hours.

You get to travel.

There is plenty of work to keep you in business.

This business is completely expandable.

Moving the operation is fairly simple (as with another state or province)

Commercial drivers are fairly abundant as you grow your fleet

The Cons of Running a Dump Truck Business:

Work may require many hours driving.

May have to work on holidays and weekends.

Depending on the services you provide, you may have to handle substances that may be toxic.

The equipment that you work with could be potentially dangerous.

The majority of the work other than actual driving is done outside

Can be a somewhat dirty job

Can be expensive to start

Type of Customers You Need to Attract for Your Dump Truck Business:

Finding potential customers for a dump truck business is an easy task. Networking and socializing with others whether that are in the same field of business or not is a great way to get started. This will help others realize that you are open for business and ready and willing to work. The downfall of most businesses, dump truck divers included is that they fail to let others know they exist and are ready to work for their customers.

There are many ways other than networking and socializing to find potential customers such as using the 'services' section of newspapers, and sending out flyers to new residential areas (homeowners and contract homebuilders).

In addition, you can make yourself available to construction companies, renovation companies and even home owners tackling a large renovation job. These people will pay you for your time and for the opportunity to use your dump truck to help load materials to and from a site.

The key to finding customers in the dump truck work is to let people know you are ready to work for them. Offering affordable rates to both business and residential customers is only half the battle in building a strong and reliable customer base. This customer base will build a reliable and strong network of people for you to receive business. The people that are in your customer base may be friends, relatives and even previous or current co-workers.

Dump Truck Business Statistics:

2010 Dump Truck Market Statistics: This Industry Market Research report from IBIS World provides a detailed analysis of the Dump Truck, Food & Beverage & Other Local Trucking in the US industry, including key growth trends, statistics, forecasts, the competitive environment including market shares and the key issues facing the industry.

Revenue:

Dump truck driving is a great way to earn a living, and the increase in the need for dump truck drivers has led to a a lot of available jobs. Those who posses the skills or are looking to get into the business would do well to seize these opportunities.

Revenue is determined by haul and distance.

Dump Truck Business Resources:

Industry-Specific Websites:

Smith Transport

Fleet Directory

Scheider National

Courses:

Truck Driving School

U.S. Truck Driving Schools

Free Truck Driver CDL Training

Equipment and Supplies:

Complete Dump Truck Information

Cottrell

Forums:

Owner Operators Forum

Contractor Talk

TruckFLIX

Dump Truck Drivers Job Forum

Franchises:

Fleet Directory

Associations:

American Trucking Association

Truckload Carriers Association

Books:

The Truck Blue Book (online)

Software:

Fog Line

Truck Miles

Diesel Boss

Trulos Transportation

Related Businesses:

Long-Haul Trucking
Commercial Hauling
Warehousing
Construction