Dump Truck or Dump Trailer?

[kausion]

hello i don't have a cdl yet or any exp. im from GA and 21 years old. i work for a manufacturing company for 2 and half years i make 16.50 and hr and alot of overtime. i would like to be my own boss on day i don't enjoy working for someone else.

so now thats my situation...... ive been researching different things in the trucking industry. i though of doing a roll back business but thats to costly to start out. then i though of a dump truck casue i see so many while driving to work everyday but more i hear about them i have second thoughts for limiting myself to just that. well i want to be able to stay close to home at all possible so my questions are is a

dump trailer and a truck a good thing to get in?

what exactly do they haul?

are loads easy to get?

what kind of truck is required to haul a dump trailer?

what kind of permits will i need?

would i stay in state or do dump trailer do long hauls as well?

i hear new equipment breaks as does old so i would want to buy older to start with?



well like i said i don't really know much about the trucking business and i want to get some information before i decide if its for me so all your help is appreciated

[eurotrucker]

If you don't have experience with dump trucks DON'T buy your own.
Have practice at some company, make sure you like it. It is a dump
truck tandem or tri-axle ,I don't know what is the weight limit in GA
but in NJ is 80000 Lbs on the tri-axle it is a lot of weight. Dump trailer
is different to if you want to start with a 28-34 Ft trailer, don't jump in
a 40 Ft frameless dump trailer. Ther is no forklift to unload the material
you have to raise the body up to get rid off the load.

[classicxl]

are you buying this for you to drive or someone else because if your leaving a $16 hr job to drive a truck sit back and think about that especially if you are a family man.

[kausion]

well i would like to own my own... but if driving for someone is the first thing i may do. but i was wondering what would be better a trailer so i could also do other type of loads or a dump truck?

[Mackman]

a dump TRUCK is better i think. You can still stock plants and what not and you can all so haul blacktop and back into pavers and get around on job sites with a truck. A trailer you are really limited.

[Mackman]

I would drive for someone for 2-3 years just to know the buss. even before i think of buying a truck

[mudawg]

First off at your age living where you do and making what you are the thought of getting anywhere near a truck must be as a result of a shovel coming in contact with your skull at a high rate of speed.I would venture to guess if most of the steeringwheel holders figured out what they make per/hour it would be about 1/4 of what you do now.
Having said that and you still think giving up a job that offers you things like vacation,health ins.,normal working hours/conditions, chance for advancement here is my advice on the type of truck you are interested in untill you come to your senses.A dump truck is very,very limited as to what it can haul and do i.e.-aggragate products / construction slows down {like it is now in many parts of the country} and your truck has nothing to haul.If you invest in a truck and trailer when whatever type of product you are hauling slows down your truck can hook to another kind of wagon and keep producing.Remember a trailer dump is not for rookies.Where your're from you are allowed to gross 40 tons and up here we put that plus a little in the trailer.
If I could be paid over $16 for every hour I put in with my own truck {maint.,book work searching for loads} I would be on easy street.

[NascarFan]

It also takes allot to start a dump truck business a good used dump truck will run you about $45,000 + and a truck will be atleat $20,000 and trailer probably $20,000 if you don't mind something old.

[Kranky]

I just got out of the dump truck business after 19 years, and went to work for a union excavating co.
Perhaps that would give you a clue.

[marylandkw]

You really should go work for someone else first.

There is just too much to learn about dumps, and it would be better to tear up someone Else's truck as you learn.

Also, there is no such thing as a load board for dump trucks. Yes, you can find some loads on the boards but if you intend to stay local it's all about who you know. Best to get your feet wet and get to know some people first.

If you think a roll Back company is expensive to start, just wait until you buy a dump truck. Tires, maintenance and fuel will shock the heck outta you.

[kausion]

well i make decent money but all it takes is for my company to decide to move to china where most the product i make is shipping to.......

is the southeast a bad area for trucking?

would i be better off buying a truck and just leasing on w/o a trailer?

or do i need to invest in to flat beds?

i am green when it comes to this industry i guess it can break you or make you? i hear some say its not worth it but yet some people make alot of money in it?

[NascarFan]

Let me ask you one question are you married or have any children :?:

[kausion]

no im single still living at home

[NascarFan]

no im single still living at home

Ok well then my advice is to go OTR unless you don't want to because most dump truck jobs are low paying and you will get experience in all sorts of weather and situations and it makes you a better driver plus the company will pay for your CDL training you just are required to work for them for a year.

[floored]

"Dump trucking" is good business here on the West Coast. I got my transfer set built for 30k (I do not own my boxes, I lease them), and the truck gets paid by a tonage rate or an hourly rate of $80. Most guys at the company I'm at do 10-15k a month during the good time of year, some even hit 20k a month. Right now its raining and with the holidays many of us are sitting (which for someone like me who is used to running my tail off OTR) and it sucks.

I have no clue what to tell you if you should get into this where you live. I suggest you flag down some dump truck guys in your neck of the woods and ask them your questions. I work with a broker here, although I will soon buy my own box and work with numerous brokers in the area to try and keep my truck moving, instead of being married to the one I'm with now (I lease my boxes from them, can only work for them as long as I have thier boxes).

I think its easy work myself. I am 6 months pregnant and I rarely break a sweat doing this. I am however planning to switch my truck from the current set up (transfer) to a straight 10 wheeler dump truck because I want my truck to run for hourly work only, not tonage since the rates my broker is paying is no where near the hourly rate.

BOL to you

[maschaubsr]

I did a whole business plan to start a dump business or take one over in Georgia. As to this state, one of the things is that GA does not allow a triaxle on the ground. Max straight dumps allow 60000 and it's strictly enforced. Another poster said dump trailers are not for rookies. I support that comment to the nth degree. I can't tell you the number of experienced drivers who have turned them over in a curve in front of a stone spreader or some other "leaning" place. You can make about the same hourly wage you are making now and with a CDL B (but why not get the A anyway if you are going to school.)

Don't even think about buying a truck now. The prices are high because demand in GA is huge right now (coupled with the emissions laws and folks buying up 2006 engines). Again, if you really want to do it, you can be home most nights, work 6 days per week and gain some experience and you should be able to get on with someone given all the construction around here. Oh, and be ready for night work if someone is hauling asphalt.

[nightprwlr]

Do your homework fuel,license,ins, and truck w/payment all of that, then check and see what some of the people are paying(contractors etc.).Competition in the dump truck bizz is fierce too. Weather,politics are a major factor. Like most say get some exp. driving for someone to get the feel or learn the ropes whatever. I live near St.Louis and owning a dump truck around here is feast or famine, I've owned tandem dumps and dump trailers, at least with a tractor in "slow" times you can hook to a different trailer and survive.If you can find a job in Georgia driving dumptruck for more than $16.50 per hour paying overtime(around here non-unoin dumptrck drivers get about $17.00 an hour,union drivers get about $25 plus benefits about $42.50 total). I'd think there wouldn't be any un-employment in Georgia. Hourly rates have there good points as well as tonnage. One other point I'd like to stress to, have a BIG capital investment if you are going to jump into it and plan for the un-expected because it will happen. If you get your own operating auth. expect to wait 30 to 90 days on your money,unless the contractor files bankruptcy on you watch who you work for. You can files liens etc. but it cost money also lawyers etc. It's a rough business the new ones starting out have tough time so don't expect other people to be so gracious to help because you're taking bread off of their plates so to speak.