Complete Guide for Dump Trucks
What is a Dump Truck
A dump truck, also known as a dumper truck or tipper truck, is used for taking finer material such as sand, gravel, or demolition waste for construction. One is typically equipped with an open-box bed, which is hinged at the rear and equipped with hydraulic rams to lift the front, allowing the material in the bed to be deposited (“dumped”) on the ground behind the truck at the site of delivery.
This article will go over the different types of dump trucks, dump truck brands, how to buy a dump truck, and how to finance one.
Types
There are several types of dump trucks for pretty much any application you can think of. Below is a breakdown of the different types.
Standard Dump Truck
A standard dump truck is a truck chassis with a dump body mounted to the frame. The bed is raised by a vertical hydraulic ram mounted under the front of the body or a horizontal hydraulic ram and lever arrangement between the frame rails, and the back of the bed is hinged at the back of the truck.
The tailgate can be configured to swing up on top hinges (and sometimes also to fold down on lower hinges) or it can be configured in the “High Lift Tailgate” format wherein pneumatic rams lift the gate open and up above the dump body.
Semi-Trailer End Dump Truck
A semi end dump is a tractor-trailer combination wherein the trailer itself contains the hydraulic hoist. In the US a typical semi end dump has a 3-axle tractor pulling a 2-axle trailer with dual tires.
The key advantage of a semi end dump is a large payload. A key disadvantage is that they are very unstable when raised in the dumping position limiting their use in many applications where the dumping location is uneven or off level.
Transfer Dump Truck
A transfer dump truck is a standard dump truck pulling a separate trailer with a movable cargo container, which can also be loaded with construction aggregate, gravel, sand, asphalt, klinkers, snow, wood chips, triple mix, etc.
The second aggregate container on the trailer (“B” box) is powered by an electric motor, a pneumatic motor or a hydraulic line. It rolls on small wheels, riding on rails from the trailer’s frame into the empty main dump container (“A” box). This maximizes payload capacity without sacrificing the maneuverability of the standard dump truck. Transfer dump trucks are typically seen in the western United States due to the peculiar weight restrictions on highways there.
Truck and Pup
A truck and pup are very similar to a transfer dump. It consists of a standard dump truck pulling a dump trailer. The pup trailer, unlike the transfer, has its own hydraulic ram and is capable of self-unloading.
Super Dump Truck
A super dump is a straight dump truck equipped with a trailing axle, a liftable, load-bearing axle rated as high as 13,000 pounds. Trailing 11 to 13 feet behind the rear tandem, the trailing axle stretches the outer “bridge” measurement, the distance between the first and last axles, to the maximum overall length allowed.
This increases the gross weight allowed under the federal bridge formula, which sets standards for truck size and weight. Depending on the vehicle length and axle configuration, Superdumps can be rated as high as 80,000 pounds. GVW and carry 26 short tons of payload or more.
When the truck is empty or ready to offload, the trailing axle toggles up off the road surface on two hydraulic arms to clear the rear of the vehicle.
Semi-trailer Bottom
A semi bottom dump or belly dump is a 3-axle tractor pulling a 2-axle trailer with a clamshell type dump gate in the belly of the trailer.
The key advantage of a semi bottom dump is its ability to lay material in a windrow, a linear heap. In addition, a semi bottom dump is maneuverable in reverse, unlike the double and triple trailer configurations described below.
These trailers may be found either of the windrow type shown in the photo or maybe of the cross spread type, with the gate opening front to rear instead of left and right. The cross spread type gate will actually spread the cereal grains fairly and evenly from the width of the trailer.
By comparison, the windrow type gate leaves a pile in the middle. The cross spread type gate, on the other hand, tends to jam and may not work very well with coarse materials.
Double & Triple Trailer Bottom Dump Truck
Double and triple bottom dumps consist of a 2-axle tractor pulling one single-axle semi-trailer and an additional full trailer (or two full trailers in the case of triples). These dump trucks allow the driver to lay material in windrows without leaving the cab or stopping the truck.
The main disadvantage is the difficulty in backing double and triple units.
Side Dump Truck
A side dump truck also known as an SDT consists of a 3-axle tractor pulling a 2-axle semi-trailer. It has hydraulic rams that tilt the dump body onto its side, spilling the material to either the left or right side of the trailer. The key advantages of using an SDT are that it allows rapid unloading and can carry more weight.
In addition, it is almost immune to upset or tipping over while dumping, unlike the semi end dumps which are very prone to tipping over. It is, however, highly likely that a side dump trailer will tip over if dumping is stopped prematurely.
Also, when dumping loose materials or cobble sized stone, the side dump can become stuck if the pile becomes wide enough to cover too much of the trailer’s wheels.
Trailers that dump at the appropriate angle, 50° for example, avoid the problem of the dumped load fouling the path of the trailer wheels by dumping their loads further to the side of the truck, in some cases leaving sufficient clearance to walk between the dumped load and the trailer.
Winter Service Vehicles
Many winter service vehicles are based on dump trucks, to allow the placement of ballast to weigh the truck down or to hold sodium or calcium chloride salts for spreading on snow and ice-covered surfaces. Plowing is a severe service and needs heavy-duty trucks.
Roll-Off Trucks
A Roll-off has a hoist and subframe, but nobody, it carries removable containers. The container is loaded on the ground, then pulled onto the back of the truck with a winch and cable. The truck goes to the dumpsite after it has been dumped the empty container is taken and placed to be loaded or stored.
The hoist is raised and the container slides down the subframe so the rear is on the ground. The container has rollers on the rear and can be moved forward or back until the front of it is lowered onto the ground.
The containers are usually open-topped boxes used for rubble and building debris, but rubbish compactor containers are also carried. A newer hook-lift system does the same job, but lifts/lower and dumps the container with a boom arrangement instead of a cable and hoist.
Off-Highway Dump Trucks
Off-highway trucks are heavy construction equipment and share little resemblance to highway dump trucks. These bigger, off-highway vehicles are used strictly off-road for mining and heavy dirt hauling jobs.
There are two primary forms: a rigid frame and an articulating frame. The term “dump” truck is not generally used by the mining industry, or by the manufacturers that build these machines. The more appropriate U.S. term for this strictly off-road vehicle is “haul truck”.
Haul Truck
Haul trucks are used in large surface mines and quarries. They have a rigid frame and conventional steering with the drive at the rear wheel. As of late 2013, the largest ever production haul truck is the 450 metric ton BelAZ 75710, followed by the Liebherr T 282B, the Bucyrus MT6300AC, and the Caterpillar 797F, which each have payload capacities of up to 400 short tons.
Most large size haul trucks employ Diesel-electric powertrains, using the Diesel engine to drive an AC alternator or DC generator that sends electric power to electric motors at each rear wheel. The Caterpillar 797 is unique for its size, as it employs a Diesel engine to power a mechanical powertrain, typical of most road-going vehicles and intermediary size haul trucks.
Other major manufacturers of haul trucks include SANY, XCMG, Hitachi, Komatsu, DAC, Terex, and BelAZ.
Articulated Hauler
An articulated dumper is an all-wheel-drive, off-road dump truck. It has a hinge between the cab and the dump box but is distinct from a semi-trailer truck in that the power unit is a permanent fixture, not a separable vehicle.
Steering is accomplished via hydraulic cylinders that pivot the entire tractor in relation to the trailer, rather than a rack and pinion steering on the front axle as in a conventional dump truck.
By this way of steering, the trailer’s wheels follow the same path as the front wheels. Together with all-wheel drive and low center of gravity, it is highly adaptable to rough terrain. Major manufacturers include Volvo CE, Terex, John Deere, and Caterpillar.
Brands Of Dump Trucks
There are many dump truck manufacturers. With endless configuration for several types of applications. There’s a dump truck out there that will fit your needs. Here’s a list of the most popular dump truck brands in America.
CAT Haul Trucks
For over 50 years, rugged Cat® off-highway trucks and mining trucks have worked in the harsh conditions of mines, construction projects and quarries around the world. Pass-matched with our wheel loaders and excavators, you can count on our haul trucks for maximum productivity at a low cost per ton.
CAT offers three equipment types – Mining Trucks, Off-Highway Trucks, and Off-Highway Trucks Bare Chassis.
Freightliner
Freightliner is America’s most popular and best sell semi-trucks. They also make several models of severe and vocational dump trucks.
Construction-industry professionals know the value of a quality, dependable, low-maintenance dump truck that can take on any task. Freightliner dump trucks are rigorously tested to ensure quality and longevity, increasing productivity on any job site and helping you get the job done on time and in the budget.
No matter what type of load you’re hauling, Freightliner offers a wide variety of dump truck sizes and specs. From superior visibility to a spacious, ergonomic cab, our dump trucks help drivers stay comfortable and productive from the worksite to the dumpsite. Freightliner is dedicated to building superior dump trucks that meet your needs.
Currently, Freighliner makes the 108SD, M2 106, 114SD and the 122SD models.
Kenworth
Kenworth is an American manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty Class 8 trucks with offices based in Kirkland, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. Kenworth is one of three major truck divisions and brands under parent company PACCAR.
Founded in 1912 by the brothers George T. and Louis Gerlinger JR as a car and truck dealership known as Gerlinger Motor Car Works. In 1914, they decided to build their own truck with a more powerful inline six-cylinder engine, the first put into a commercial truck.
Kenworth has majorly grown since 1912 with annual revenue of 19.1 billion dollars. With an estimated 154,000+ trucks sold in 2015 and pushed out Peterbilt sightly. They have about a 14% market share.
Kenworth has several models of trucks that can be converted to a dump truck. The Kenworth dump truck models are as followed: Kenworth T800 dump truck, Kenworth T880 dump truck, Kenworth W900 dump truck, Kenworth T370 dump truck, Kenworth T440 & T470 dump trucks.
Peterbilt
Peterbilt Motors Company, founded in 1939, is an American manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. A subsidiary of Paccar, which also owns fellow heavy-duty truck manufacturer Kenworth.
For 80 years, Peterbilt has supplied the North American commercial vehicle market with the industry’s most rugged, reliable and efficient products. Based in Denton, Texas, Peterbilt manufactures on the highway, vocational and medium-duty trucks that provide value to their owners and pride to their drivers.
Peterbilt is an iconic trucking brand. Their red oval design script style lettering logo can be found on trucker clothing, truck hats, and more. Peterbilt makes up about 13 percent market share. Peterbilt is an iconic and beloved trucker brand.
- Peterbilt currently manufacturers several models of vocational and medium-duty dump trucks. The Peterbilt 389 is an iconic open highway dump truck.
- The Peterbilt 567 dump truck comes in a wide range of configurations and axles that can fit your needs.
- The Peterbilt 367 dump truck is a rugged and versatile vocational dump truck with a 123” BBC.
- The Peterbilt 348 dump truck is a medium-duty high-performance workhorse.
- The Peterbilt 337 is a medium-duty is configurable as a Class 7 truck and is ideal for a wrecker, tanker, and dump truck for municipal work.
International
Navistar International Corporation (formerly International Harvester Company) is an American holding company that owns the manufacturer of International brand commercial trucks, IC Bus school and commercial buses, Workhorse brand chassis for motorhomes and step vans, and is a private-label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van, and SUV markets. The company is also a provider of truck and diesel engine parts and service.
International makes medium-duty and severe duty dump trucks. Internation has four models to choose from and configure to your work needs – HV Series, HX Series, DuraStar, and the International WorkStar.
Mack
Mack Trucks, Inc., is an American truck manufacturing company and a former manufacturer of buses and trolleybuses. Founded in 1900 as the Mack Brothers Company, it manufactured its first truck in 1907 and adopted its present name in 1922. Mack Trucks is a subsidiary of AB Volvo which purchased Mack along with Renault Trucks in 2000.
The Mack Granite dump truck is a powerful, durable, and versatile dump truck that can handle any job.
The Mack Granite Medium Heavy Duty (MHD) dump truck is ideally configured for shorter runs and lighter-duty cycles, Granite MHD reduces weight without sacrificing durability and comes in Class 7 and Class 8 configurations.
Western Star
Western Star produces a range of Class 8 commercial vehicles for both highway and off-road use. Western Star specializes in trucks tailored to customer specifications. Every Western Star offers several sleeper box sizes, with chassis lengths of up to 486 inches depending on the model.
Western Star 6900 is a severe duty dump truck. When you need to tackle the biggest and toughest jobs, there’s only one truck out there – the Western Star 6900. As a tractor, it can
pull loads over 500,000 pounds all day long. And with a body and it can move 80,000. Add in the engine choices and build options, and you’ve got a truck that’s as versatile as it is powerful.
Western Star 4700 is tough and versatile, the 4700 is more than just a great value. It’s a great truck. Its excellent efficiency and maneuverability make it perfect for local and regional hauls as a tractor, while its rugged dependability gives you the performance you can count on for almost any vocational application.
The Western Star 4800 offers incredible performance and durability in a 109-inch BBC package, meaning you can get that performance in and out of tight spots. Featuring a streamlined cab, Western Star’s legendary toughness, and loads of options, you can build to suit any job – no matter how tight the site.
Volvo
Volvo Trucks is one of the leading heavy truck and engine manufacturers in the world. Today, Volvo Trucks manufactures a broad line of on-highway and vocational Class 8 vehicles.
Dump trucks have to be tough, period. If there’s a pile of dirt on the job site, you drive over it. If there’s a pool of water, you drive through it. And you do it day after day.
That’s exactly the truck Volvo built the Volvo VHD to be. If you didn’t know better, you’d think it was built out of cast iron with a thousand horses under the hood. It’s that strong, that rugged and that dependable. In other words, it’s just what you need to get the job done.
The axle-forward VHD 300 daycab is a perfect solution when payload requirements demand a bridge-law complaint wheelbase. It offers an easily customizable chassis, up to nine power take-off options, and a factory-installed piston or gear pump.
The axle-back VHD 300 daycab is ideal for job sites that demand tighter turns. The cab offers amazing visibility for a more panoramic view of the work area. And the axle back configuration offers Volvo’s best turning radius for dump applications.
The VNR 300 cab brings precise refinement of the driving environment to a lightweight, efficient daycab. The cab interior is thoughtfully organized to keep daily-route drivers productive, comfortable, and happy.
Buying a Dump Truck
When you start looking for a dump truck for sale you should take into consideration several factors.
Reputable Dealership
We always recommend buying from a reputable dump truck and commercial vehicle dealership. Nothing is wrong with buying from a private party, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Especially when you’re spending a bunch of money and your income relies on a reliable truck.
If you need help finding a dump truck dealer in your area, feel free to give us a call at (866) 627-6644 and we can assist you in finding a reputable dealership and the perfect dump truck for you.
What You’re Hauling
Dump truck 101 – what are you hauling and how much does it weigh. This is a very important question and answer. You want to look at the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the make and model of dump truck you’re looking to buy.
To reduce damage to federal highway roads and bridges, federal law limits the gross weight of trucks based on the number and spacing of axles.
Determining what you’re going to haul on a regular basis will help determine which type of dump truck you’re going to need. (A detailed list of the different type of dump trucks above)
Determine Your Engine
Many of the dump truck manufacturers come equipped with similar engines. Whether it’s a Cummin’s, Detriot Diesel, Paccar Engines. Mack has its own line of engines names the Mack MP Engines.
You’ll need to determine what you’re going to haul and what the GVWR is going to be. You’ll need enough horsepower and torque to efficiently haul your loads. Not having enough horsepower can cause issues, and buy an engine that’s too power may be more costly. You want to find a happy medium of power and fuel efficiency.
Type of Transmission
Depending on your make and model you’ll be able to choose between manual or automatic.
There are several pros and cons between manual vs automatic. A lot of it has to do with personal preference, the make, and model of your dump truck, and what your skills level is when it come to driving a manual transmission.
The old school driver loves the control of a manual transmission. But, the newer automatic transmission are easy to drive and very efficient.
The automated manual transmission is gaining popularity. It eliminates the clutch and the hand shifting of a manual transmission. Instead, electronic sensors, processors, and actuators do the shifting to match travel speed with the load and job application.
Maneuverability
Depending on the make and model of your dump truck, the manufacturers typically have two choices of axle positions. Axle forward and axle back.
The positioning of the axles can greatly affect your turning radius and maneuverability. If you need to be able to make tighter turns you probably want to look at an axle-back dump truck configuration.
How To Finance A Dump Truck
A dump truck lease is different from traditional vehicle financing and leasing. Traditional truck loans typically require your credit, business revenue, and time in business to determine if you’re qualified.
When it comes to leasing a dump truck, the truck you decide to purchase becomes the collateral, which helps to limit the lender’s risk on the lease. By reducing the risk you’re more likely to be qualified for truck financing.
Several factors will determine your box truck lease term, interest rate, and down payment. Here’s a list of all the requirements and factors that determine your eligibility and financial requirements.
#1 DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY >> GET PRE-APPROVED
Before you go dump truck shopping it’s recommended first to get pre-approved for dump truck financing. At TopMark Funding we have a quick and easy pre-approval process. One of our finance specialists will ask you a few questions about your credit and business history. We will then do a soft pull on your credit, not a hard inquiry.
The majority of our competitors do a hard credit inquiry. That’s not good for your credit score. Our pre-approval process is guaranteed not to harm your business or personal credit score. Once we get your credit results back we’ll get you pre-approved with the amount you’re allowed to finance.
#2 FIND YOUR NEW OR USED DUMP TRUCK
Here’s the fun part of the dump truck financing process: shopping for your new big rig! When shopping for your new 18-wheeler you need to keep in mind some requirements the lenders have. We always recommend buying your new or used dump truck from a reputable dump truck dealer.
If you’re not sure which dump truck dealer in your area is reputable, give us a call and we’ll have some suggestions at (866) 627-6644. We have a list of great dealers throughout the US.
#3 FIND GOOD DUMP TRUCK INSURANCE
Before you get approved and obtain your dump truck lease, you’ll need to have dump truck insurance. dump truck lenders will make sure you have good dump truck insurance. Just like your personal vehicle, you’ll need good insurance for your dump truck.
Just like anything else in life, you get what you pay for. Your dump truck and business are valuable assets and you don’t want to be under-insured and liable for the potentially massive repair and legal bills.
Dump truck lenders require you to have the following coverage:
- Liability coverage
- Physical damage coverage
- Cargo and storage coverage that covers what you’re hauling
If you own a fleet of dump trucks and have employees driving for you, you’re going to need workers’ compensation. Contact your local business insurance agent for more details.
Lenders will not allow you to finalize the deal without the correct type of insurance for a dump truck. If you have any questions please feel free to contact your finance specialist. (866) 627-6644
#4 SUBMIT ALL DOCUMENTS AND GET FUNDED
Once you’ve picked out your dump truck that meets all the requirements and you have the proper insurance in place, it’s time to finalize your funding. Contact your finance specialist to finalize your application.
Documents will be generated and then emailed for review and signature. An electronic signature is acceptable on most documents.
After the signed contract is returned, we’ll process your documents. Most transactions fund within 1 to 3 days. We have a fast turn-around to get you the truck you want up and running.
About Topmark Funding
At TopMark Funding® client satisfaction is our top priority. With 20+ years of experience in the trucking industry financing and leasing straight and box trucks for owner-operators and fleet owners. We know what it takes to get you approved for the best truck financing deal possible.
Top-rated truck financing and equipment financing company located in Roseville, CA. We specialize in commercial trucking and heavy equipment. Our mission is to become your long-term financial partner by helping you grow your trucking business and fleet.
We’re not here for the short-term, we’re on the long-haul with you. We achieve this by being your truck financing advisor, guiding you towards the best financial decisions for your trucking business.
We have financing options for dump trucks, semi-trucks and trailers, and small businesses. We have great rates, low down payments, and flexible monthly payments regardless of credit history.
Fill out the contact form or give us a call at (866) 627-6644. One of our truck financing specialists will contact you as soon as possible to go over your commercial truck loan or lease needs and learn more about you and your business financing goals.
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