Read this before you spend $59,000 on a dump truck.

For anyone about to buy their first dump truck: an 18-page guide with the real numbers: what contractors pay per hour, what the truck and insurance actually cost, the paperwork in the order you need it, how to inspect a used truck, and six worksheets to run the math on your own town. Researched Nov 1, 2026, with sources.

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Why most one-truck businesses stall

Owners who've done it say the same three things in the forums: they bought the truck before they had work, they went thin on insurance to save money, and they had no cash for the first slow month while contractors took 30 to 60 days to pay. The guide is built around not doing those three things.

What's inside

p.3Who pays dump trucks and what they pay: tandem vs. tri-axle hourly ranges, minimums, and wait time.

p.4What it really costs to start: truck, insurance ($4,800 to $25,000+ a year depending on history), Form 2290, LLC, CDL, cash reserve.

p.5The paperwork in order: CDL class, medical card, USDOT, MC authority (and when you don't need it), 2290, plates, UCR.

p.6Choosing the truck: axles, engines, transmissions, bodies, and a priced snapshot of used Peterbilt 567 dump trucks from $17,529 to $104,900.

p.7The 14-point inspection to do before money changes hands.

p.8Where the work comes from: eight places to call, in order, and the exact phone script.

p.9Setting your hourly rate: fixed costs, variable costs, your pay, worked through with example numbers.

p.10The first 90 days, week by week, and the five things that end one-truck businesses.

p.11The 10-step check to pass before you buy.

p.12–17Six worksheets: startup cost sheet, paperwork tracker, truck comparison, hourly rate calculator, contractor call log, weekly cash tracker.

p.18Every source, so you can re-check the numbers yourself.

Sample pages

Guide page 3: a table of truck types, payloads, and hourly rate ranges — p.3 · What they pay

Guide page 9: the hourly rate math with example numbers — p.9 · The rate math

Guide page 15: the blank hourly rate calculator worksheet — p.15 · Rate worksheet

It's for you if

You're deciding whether to buy a dump truck in the next year.
You want the costs and rules in one place before you talk to a lender.
You'd rather run the numbers on paper than find out in February.

It's not for you if

You want a promise about how much you'll make. There isn't one in here.
You already run trucks and know your cost per hour.
You need legal or tax advice. This is general information; confirm it with the FMCSA, your state DOT, an insurance agent, and a tax pro.

The Dump Truck Success Guide

$27

18-page PDF plus the six worksheets, US Letter. Print it or fill it in on a tablet. Instant download; nothing ships.

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Where the numbers come from

Truck prices: Truck Paper and MyLittleSalesman listings, Nov 1, 2026. Hourly rates: owner posts on The Truckers Report and TractorByNet, and ThePricer's rate guide. Insurance: LogRock and Wexford Insurance 2026 guides. Paperwork: FMCSA and IRS Form 2290 instructions. Every source is listed on page 18.

Questions

What format is it?

One PDF, 18 pages, US Letter. It opens on a phone, tablet, or computer, and the worksheets print clean in black and white.

Is this about a specific truck brand?

No. The Peterbilt 567 shows up as a price example because it's a common dump truck; the guide applies to any make. Windowlight Co. isn't affiliated with Peterbilt, PACCAR, or any seller named.

Will this tell me how much I'll make?

No. It gives you the cost side and the rate ranges we found, and a worksheet to work out what you'd need to charge. Your income depends on your market and your work.

How do I get it after paying?

Payhip emails the download link right after checkout, and you can re-download it from that email any time.