Dump Truck Size in Yards: A Complete Guide

Dump Truck Size in Yards: A Complete Guide catdumptruck.com | Dump trucks are crucial vehicles in construction, landscaping, mining, and other industries that require the movement of large quantities of materials.

Whether you’re hauling dirt, gravel, sand, or demolition debris, it’s important to understand how dump truck size is measured in cubic yards. This knowledge can help with cost estimates, logistics planning, and project scheduling.

In this article, we’ll explore what a cubic yard is, how dump truck sizes are classified in yards, and how different types of dump trucks compare in terms of capacity.

Dump Truck Size in Yards: A Complete Guide

1. What is a Cubic Yard?

A cubic yard is a unit of volume used mainly in the United States to measure materials like soil, mulch, concrete, or debris. It is the volume of a cube that is:

3 feet long
3 feet wide
3 feet high

This equals 27 cubic feet. When estimating how much material a dump truck can carry, cubic yards are the most commonly used measurement in industries dealing with bulk materials.

2. Why Use Yards to Measure Dump Truck Size?

Cubic yards are a practical and visual unit of measurement for bulk materials. Contractors and project managers prefer yards because it aligns with how materials are bought and sold (e.g., “10 yards of topsoil”).

When you hear someone ask, “How many yards can that dump truck carry?”, they’re referring to the volume of the dump bed — not the truck’s physical size or its weight capacity.

3. Common Dump Truck Sizes in Yards

Dump truck capacities can vary significantly depending on their size and type. Below are common dump truck sizes and their corresponding capacities in cubic yards.

A. Small Dump Trucks (Light-Duty)

Capacity: 1 to 3 cubic yards
Use: Residential landscaping, small construction jobs
Truck Type: Pickup truck-style dump truck or single axle
Example: A small Ford F-550 with a dump bed might carry up to 3 yards of dry material like mulch.

B. Medium Dump Trucks (Standard-Duty)

Capacity: 6 to 12 cubic yards
Use: General construction, commercial landscaping
Truck Type: Single or tandem axle dump trucks
Example: A typical tandem dump truck can haul about 10 to 12 yards of gravel.

C. Large Dump Trucks (Heavy-Duty)

Capacity: 14 to 20 cubic yards
Use: Road work, excavation, bulk hauling
Truck Type: Tri-axle or quad-axle dump trucks
Example: A quad-axle dump truck may carry up to 20 yards of material depending on its design and state regulations.

D. Super Dump Trucks

Capacity: 19 to 26 cubic yards
Use: High-volume asphalt, concrete, or aggregate delivery
Truck Type: Super dump with trailing axle

Super dumps are built for maximum legal payloads and extended capacity. They often feature a trailing axle that can retract or extend based on the load and terrain.

E. Off-Highway Dump Trucks (Mining Trucks)

Capacity: 30 to 100+ cubic yards
Use: Mining, large-scale earthmoving
Truck Type: Articulated or rigid-frame haul trucks

These are not legal on public roads but are ideal for off-road projects. The Caterpillar 797F, for example, can carry over 120 cubic yards of material depending on density.

4. Estimating Dump Truck Load in Yards

To estimate how many cubic yards a dump truck can carry, you need to know the dimensions of its bed.

Volume Formula:
Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Height (ft) ÷ 27 = Cubic yards

For example, if a dump truck bed is:

14 feet long

7 feet wide

4 feet high

Then: 14 × 7 × 4 = 392 ÷ 27 = ~14.5 cubic yards

So that truck can hold about 14.5 cubic yards of material.

5. Material Weight vs. Volume

Dump truck size in yards is a volume measurement. But different materials have different weights per cubic yard. This affects how much a truck can legally and safely carry.

Here are some examples:

Material Weight per Cubic Yard (Approx.)
Mulch 500 – 700 lbs
Topsoil 1,800 – 2,500 lbs
Sand 2,600 – 3,000 lbs
Gravel 2,800 – 3,000 lbs
Concrete 4,000 lbs
Even if a truck can physically fit 15 yards of gravel, it may not be able to legally carry it due to weight limits.

6. Legal Load Limits

Most U.S. states have maximum allowable weights for vehicles on public roads, often around 80,000 pounds (gross vehicle weight). Therefore, the number of cubic yards a truck can carry may be limited more by weight than volume.

Example:

A tri-axle truck can often legally carry 15 tons.

If gravel weighs 1.5 tons per cubic yard:

15 tons ÷ 1.5 = 10 yards

So, even if the bed fits 12 yards, the truck may only be allowed to haul 10.

7. Factors That Affect Dump Truck Capacity

Several things influence how many yards a dump truck can carry:

Material density: Heavier materials reduce the maximum volume that can be legally transported.
Bed design: Sloped or rounded beds may reduce internal volume.
Axle configuration: More axles = more weight allowed = more yards.
Moisture: Wet materials weigh more, lowering the allowable volume.
Road laws: State and local DOT rules may restrict total weight/load.

8. Choosing the Right Dump Truck Size

Selecting the right dump truck size depends on your project needs:

Landscaping: A 1–5 yard truck is often sufficient.
Construction site prep: You may need 10–20 yard trucks.
Large-scale haulage: Super dumps or off-road trucks with 25+ yard capacity.

Knowing the material type and its weight per yard helps you avoid overloads and penalties.

9. Rental and Delivery Considerations

When renting a dump truck or hiring a delivery service, always ask:

How many yards can your truck carry?
Is that for light or heavy material?
Do you charge by the load or by the yard?

Also, make sure your delivery location can accommodate the size of the truck — especially with larger vehicles like tri-axles or super dumps.

10. Conclusion

Understanding dump truck size in cubic yards is essential for efficient material handling. Whether you’re moving mulch in your backyard or hauling gravel for a road construction project, knowing how many yards a truck can carry ensures you get the job done right — without wasting time, money, or violating weight laws.

Dump trucks range in capacity from 1 to over 100 cubic yards, depending on type and application. When planning your next material transport, always consider both volume (yards) and weight limits to stay safe and efficient.