Equipment4 minUpdated:
Dump truck: how many loads your job needs
How many dump truck loads does your job need? The answer is almost never «hole volume divided by truck capacity»: material swells when dug out and compacts when backfilled. Two examples make it clear.
01The dump truck
It's a truck whose body is raised by a hydraulic ram to unload. Around here they're known by capacity in cubic meters: the most common are 7 m³ (single rear axle) and 14 m³ (tandem rear axles). Weight is a limit too: with heavy materials the body isn't always filled to the top.
02Step 1: calculate the volume
Volume = length × width × depth, all in meters. The result is in cubic meters (m³).
03Step 2: swell
When dug, material loosens and takes up more volume than in the ground. That's called swell. Backfilling works the other way: loose material compacts, so you need more loose volume than the hole measures.
| Material | Approximate swell |
|---|---|
| Sand and gravel | 10% to 15% |
| Common earth | 20% to 30% |
| Clay | 30% to 40% |
| Broken rock | 50% or more |
04Example 1: removing soil from a trench
- PASO 01In-ground volumeTrench of 20 m × 0.60 m × 1.20 m = 14.4 m³.
- PASO 02SwellCommon earth, 25%: 14.4 × 1.25 = 18 m³ loose.
- PASO 037 m³ truck18 ÷ 7 = 2.6 → 3 loads.
- PASO 0414 m³ truck18 ÷ 14 = 1.3 → 2 loads.
05Example 2: filling a lot
- PASO 01Compacted volumeLot of 10 m × 30 m, fill of 0.30 m = 90 m³.
- PASO 02Loose material neededWith an approximate factor of 1.25: 90 × 1.25 = 112.5 m³.
- PASO 0314 m³ truck112.5 ÷ 14 = 8.04 → 9 loads.
- PASO 047 m³ truck112.5 ÷ 7 = 16.1 → 17 loads.
06What material to order
Fill for a garden isn't the same as fill that will carry a slab or a street. Order according to the use — borrow material for structural fill, sand or gravel for specific uses — and compact in layers. On jobs with structural requirements, the engineer or the project defines the material and compaction.
07What makes a load more expensive
- Distance to the borrow pit or dump site.
- Waiting time to load or unload.
- Access: narrow streets, low cables or soft ground.
- The dump site for debris: it must be an authorized location.
Frequently asked questions
How much material fits in a dump truck?
It depends on the body; around here they're mainly 7 and 14 m³. Weight is a limit too: some heavy materials can't be loaded to the top.
Do you deliver the material?
We haul with our own dump truck. Tell us which material and how much you need, and we'll quote the hauling and, if needed, the material.
Where does debris go?
To a site authorized to receive it. Dumping debris on vacant lots or waterways is an environmental violation and can lead to fines.
Have a specific case?
Message us with the details and we'll tell you what to check or how to solve it.
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