Start-Up Expenses of a Dump Truck

[TCLika]

Well I have been watching the forums for well over a year now and finally decided to take the plunge into trucking. The dump truck business is booming here and there is a huge demand for trucks. Here is breakdown of what I have spent:

9,000 - 1982 Ford L8000 w/ 20k on a rebuild motor. New cluth,trans,tires,and hood
393 - Downpayment on insurance
40 - Fuel Permits
1,335 - Tags
43 - DOT Annual Inspection
128 - Truck Lettering
45 - Office Supplies
92 - Heavy Highway Use Tax
515 - Cell Phones (HUGE downpayment since there is no credit on our EIN)
54 - Truck Wash (well worth it to me than doing it myself the first time)

Total: 11,645

I have already don the paperwork to put it onto work with several different construction companies. Starts work tomorrow.

Hopefully this will give some of the prospective O/O's and idea of what they are looking at.

[Mackman]

BOL to you. The dump buss. can be rough.

[sidman82]

Where are you located?

[marylandkw]

Great post TCLika. Looks like you got in on the cheap.

The one thing you did not mention that all new O/O's should think about (dump or OTR) is you also need to have a mantinince reserve conservatively at least 10,000 realistically more like 20,000.

Good luck...it ain't gonna be easy but it can be worth it!

[Kranky]

The dump truck business is booming here and there is a huge demand for trucks.

That's great, as long as the rates are commensurate with the demand.

More often than not, that is not the case.

[Mackman]

got any pics of the truck

[TCLika]

Thanks for th responses everyone. We have a miantenance reserve of 10,000 dollars, just failed to mention it. The rates here in KY range from $4-$12/ton. Mackman, I hope to grab some pics of the truck over the weekend. It wont win any beauty contests, but it gets the job done. I will update after our first day of hauling.

Travis

[TCLika]

Well to start the day off the truck wouldnt start, 3 batteries later ($140 total) the truck turned over no problem. The seller told us the batteries were practically brand new (yeah right) and that the ignition was going out which was making the truck hard to start. Also went and had the left front steer replaced ($520). Had some other little expenses too like mud flaps, wiring for cb too. So I am up to 13k invested. Goes to show that no matter how ready you think you are things can add up quick. If I had some extra money I would probably replace the exhaust (it has a small leak), get some of the gauges in the cab working, put in passenger seat, and paint the dump bed.

[Mackman]

its rough trucking with a older truck. But hey if it gets slow you will have no truck payment. I just like older trucks thats why i asked for the pics. As long as it gets the job done thats all that matters. Good luck hopefully 2marrow will go alittle better for ya.

[TCLika]

Got 2 loads of sand in today, tomorrow will be better hopefully.

[floored]

Best of luck to you. I'm still waiting for our season to get going, last week was slow, but this week I already have 39 hrs in with the truck just from Monday & Tuesday work.

I rarely haul by the ton anymore, the last broker I worked with paid out that way but I never knew what I was making until 60 days later when I got paid, and rates varied from $3-$6 a ton .

My truck now hauls by the hour, $82 for transfer work and $75 as a ten wheel, which I prefer because I now know what I'm making when I take the load. I have taken one tonage job with my current broker, and that worked out to $92/hr.

Post some pics of your truck up when you get a chance and keep us updated on how you do.

8)

[TCLika]

Today was much better, no equipment issues and got in 10 loads of rock to fill in a gas line trench. Some jobs around here are by the ton, others by the hour. But mainly by the ton is what we have been dealing with. If I did the math right, the truck got about $65/hour. Got to get on a mudflap that fell off as well as some PM stuff as well tonight. If anyone is interested in seeing a complete breakdown, line by line, as to what my start-up expenses let me know and I can email the PDF file from Quickbooks.

Travis

[Mackman]

Where you live??? what type of truck is this a tandam, triaxle etc. If you could send me that break down I would like to see it. Powerstroke96350@aol.com. Thanks lot.

[TCLika]

The truck is triaxle. just did the numbers and it looks like over 2 days the GROSS was about $2,000. Now thats gross, before fuel and overhead expenses, etc. etc. etc.