How Much Can a Dump Truck Carry?

How to Calculate Dump Truck Capacity

If you’re planning to haul material for landscaping in Madison, you may be wondering, “How many tons does my truck hold?” You can find the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) on your registration. If you know the weight of the dump truck and how much you need to haul, you can make an educated guess. Generally, dump trucks weigh close to their load capacity. If a dump truck is filled to capacity with 6.5 tons, the truck and load will probably weigh around 13 tons.

How to Buy and Haul Material By the Cubic Yard

When it comes to outdoor projects, there are all sorts of materials measured in cubic yards, including fill dirt, mulch, pea gravel, topsoil, organic compost, and more. You can easily find cubic yard calculators online, but here’s a quick formula to use if you’re without a smartphone or computer:

• Measure the width and length of the area in feet.
• Measure the depth of the material in inches.
• Convert the length and width to inches and multiply both by 12.
• Multiply the three dimensions, including depth, together to get cubic inches.
• Divide the cubic inches by 46,656 (number of inches in a cubic yard) to find the number of cubic yards you need.