Dump Truck or Dump Trailer?
 

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

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. :)

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.