Bulk soil delivery with your own dump truck

Landscapers, excavation and building contractors, and homeowners with larger projects.

You charge per load, per cubic yard or per hour of truck time. Repeat contractor accounts keep the truck busy.

• Driving and maneuvering a heavy truck
• Quoting jobs and managing a schedule
• Basic truck maintenance and bookkeeping

• A commercial driver's license (CDL) may be needed depending on truck weight, so check your state's rules
• Check whether you need a USDOT number or other federal or state motor carrier registration
• Commercial truck insurance can be costly
• Repairs, fuel and downtime can eat margins, so keep a cash cushion
• Weather and construction slowdowns can make work uneven
• Check weight limits, road restrictions and tarping rules

Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $90,000, depending on whether you buy or lease the truck, its age and condition, and your insurance. Commercial truck insurance can be costly.

Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $25,000, depending on how many loads you run, whether you resell soil or charge for hauling only, and downtime. Repairs and fuel can eat margins, so keep a cash cushion.

A commercial driver's license may be needed depending on truck weight, so check your state's rules. Also check whether you need a USDOT number or other motor carrier registration, and local weight limits, road restrictions and tarping rules.