Dump truck hourly rate calculator

How it is calculated

1. Billable hours a month = billable hours a day x working days.
2. Cost per hour = fixed costs / billable hours + fuel and wear per hour + driver pay per hour.
3. Hourly rate = cost per hour x (1 + margin).
4. Per ton = hourly rate x cycle hours / tons per load.

Worked example

DUMP RATENO. 0067

EXAMPLE

Fixed $5,500 / 180 h

$30.56

Fuel and wear

$35.00

Driver

$28.00

Cost per hour

$93.56

Per ton, 60 min, 18 t

$6.24

Hourly rate$112.27

Drop billable hours from 9 to 7 a day and the cost per hour rises to about $98, because the fixed costs spread over fewer hours. Slow seasons raise your cost per hour even when nothing else changes.

Per ton vs per hour

Per ton pays you for speed. If the pit loads you fast and the dump is close, you earn more per hour than the hourly rate. If the line at the pit is long, you earn less. Per hour moves that risk to the customer. Many owners quote hourly on new jobs, then switch to per ton once they know the cycle time.

What raises cost per hour

• Waiting. Lines at the pit or plant you can't bill.
• Short days. Rain, slow jobs and breakdowns cut billable hours.
• Repairs. Dump trucks work hard; budget wear per hour honestly.
• Long deadhead. Driving to a job across town on your own time.

Questions to settle before the job

• When does the clock start: arrival at the pit, or first load?
• Who pays for waiting at the pit or the dump site?
• Is there a minimum, such as four hours, for short jobs?
• How are tons measured: the pit's scale ticket or the customer's?
• When do you get paid, and does the broker or contractor pay?

Get the answers in writing before the first load.

Beyond dump work

Some owners pair a dump truck with a hotshot or a flatbed for equipment moves between jobs. The same rule holds for every rig: know the cost per hour or per mile before you quote. See how we handle pickups and trailers on hotshot dispatch.

Good and bad results

Compare your hourly rate with what jobs in your area pay. If yours is much higher, check whether your billable hours are realistic or your fixed costs are high. If it's lower, you have room to raise prices. Either way, never quote below your cost per hour.

Dump work at your rate

We find dump and aggregate work, quote it against your cost per hour, and plan days so the truck bills instead of waits. You approve every job, and the rate confirmation comes straight to you. See dump truck dispatch, or see how the truck payment affects your hourly cost with the semi truck payment calculator.