A yard of #57 stone weighs 2,600 lbs. A Toyota Tacoma payload: 1,685 lbs. You can fit 1.2 cubic yards in the bed. You can safely carry 0.6 cubic yards by weight. One full yard does not fit.
This gap between volume capacity and weight capacity is the mistake that cracks frames, blows tires, and gets trucks pulled over at DOT scales. Your truck bed holds 2 yards of space. Your axles handle less than 1 yard of stone.
This guide covers weight per cubic yard for 22 common materials, rated payload for 10 vehicle classes, and the math that connects them. Print the tables. Run the numbers before you load.
What Does a Yard of Material Weigh?
How much does a yard of gravel weigh? That depends on which material you mean. A yard of dry sand weighs 2,700 lbs. A yard of mulch weighs 600 lbs. The range across common construction and landscape materials spans 400 lbs to 3,400 lbs per cubic yard.
Aggregates
| Material | Lbs Per Cubic Yard | Tons Per Cubic Yard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| #57 stone (crushed) | 2,600 | 1.30 | Limestone slightly heavier at 2,700 |
| Crusher run (dense-graded) | 2,500-2,900 | 1.25-1.45 | Heavier when moist. Dry end for ordering, wet end for payload. |
| Gravel (natural, washed) | 2,800 | 1.40 | Rounded stone, denser packing than crushed |
| Sand (dry) | 2,700 | 1.35 | Weight increases 15% when wet |
| Sand (wet) | 3,100 | 1.55 | One of the heaviest common materials |
| Stone dust / screenings | 2,700 | 1.35 | Fine particles pack tight |
| Riprap (large stone) | 2,800-3,400 | 1.40-1.70 | Varies by stone type and void ratio |
Organic Materials
| Material | Lbs Per Cubic Yard | Tons Per Cubic Yard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulch (natural bark) | 400-600 | 0.20-0.30 | Lightest landscape material |
| Colored mulch | 500-700 | 0.25-0.35 | Dye and moisture add weight |
| Wood chips (fresh) | 600-1,000 | 0.30-0.50 | Green chips heavier than dry |
| Green waste / brush | 400-800 | 0.20-0.40 | Loose branches and leaves. Does not include stumps. |
| Tree debris (mixed) | 600-1,200 | 0.30-0.60 | Logs, limbs, and brush mixed. Heavier with green wood. |
| Stumps (with root ball) | 1,500-2,500 | 0.75-1.25 | Attached soil adds 30-50% of total weight |
| Compost (finished) | 1,000-1,400 | 0.50-0.70 | Moisture content drives the range |
| Topsoil (dry) | 2,000 | 1.00 | Clean screened topsoil |
| Topsoil (wet) | 3,000 | 1.50 | 50% heavier than dry. Rain changes your load. |
Demolition Debris
| Material | Lbs Per Cubic Yard | Tons Per Cubic Yard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete (broken rubble) | 2,000-2,500 | 1.00-1.25 | Air voids between pieces. Solid intact concrete is 4,050 lbs/yd. |
| Asphalt millings | 2,400-2,600 | 1.20-1.30 | Milled asphalt, loose |
| Mixed C&D debris | 1,200-1,800 | 0.60-0.90 | Wood, drywall, concrete, metal mixed |
| Brick (broken) | 2,800-3,200 | 1.40-1.60 | Solid brick heavier than hollow |
Processed Fill
| Material | Lbs Per Cubic Yard | Tons Per Cubic Yard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fill dirt | 2,200-2,600 | 1.10-1.30 | Depends on clay vs. sand content |
| Recycled crushed concrete | 2,400 | 1.20 | Lighter than virgin stone due to mortar |
The takeaway: aggregates run 2,500 to 3,400 lbs per yard. Demo debris runs 2,000 to 3,200 lbs. Organic materials run 400 to 1,400 lbs. That 3x to 8x weight difference is why the same truck bed handles very different loads.
Moisture changes everything. Topsoil jumps 50% heavier after rain. Sand gains 15%. Crusher run swings from 2,500 lbs dry to 2,900 lbs wet. Wood chips double in weight when freshly chipped versus kiln-dried. If you loaded a material dry last week and plan to load it after a rainstorm, recalculate. The truck does not care what the material weighed on the spec sheet. It cares what the material weighs right now.
For a full breakdown of crushed stone sizes and grades, including weight per cubic yard by grade number, see our reference chart.
Volume Capacity vs. Weight Capacity: The Trap That Breaks Trucks
Every truck has two capacities. Volume: how many cubic yards fit in the bed. Payload: how many pounds the chassis, axles, tires, and brakes can handle. These two numbers almost never align.
Here is a visual way to think about it. A standard pickup bed is a box that holds about 2 cubic yards. Picture that box full of stone. Now picture that same box full of mulch. Both loads fill the same space. One weighs 5,200 lbs. The other weighs 1,200 lbs. Same volume, wildly different weight. The truck does not care how full the bed looks. It cares how much the load weighs.
Heavy Material Example: F-150 + #57 Stone
An F-150 with a 6.5-foot bed holds about 2 cubic yards level (62 cubic feet of interior volume, minus wheel well intrusion). #57 stone weighs 2,600 lbs per yard.
- 2.0 cubic yards x 2,600 lbs = 5,200 lbs
- F-150 payload (XLT, 2025): 1,800 lbs
- Over by 3,400 lbs at a full bed
Fill that bed to the rails with stone and you are carrying nearly triple the rated payload. The suspension compresses. The rear bumper drops toward the tires. Braking distance doubles and steering gets loose.
The safe amount: 0.7 cubic yards. About a third of the bed.
Light Material Example: F-150 + Mulch
Same truck, different material. Mulch weighs 600 lbs per yard.
- 2.0 cubic yards x 600 lbs = 1,200 lbs
- F-150 payload: 1,800 lbs
- Under payload by 600 lbs
The bed is full but the truck barely notices. Volume limits you before weight does.
The rule: Light materials fill your bed. Heavy materials break your axles. Always check BOTH numbers.
The Quick Math
For any material and any vehicle, the safe load is whichever number is lower:
Safe cubic yards = LOWER of (bed volume) or (payload lbs / material weight per yd)
Example: F-250 with 2.0 yd bed and 4,000 lb payload hauling #57 stone at 2,600 lbs/yd.
- Volume limit: 2.0 yd
- Weight limit: 4,000 / 2,600 = 1.5 yd
- Safe load: 1.5 yd (weight is the bottleneck)
Same truck hauling mulch at 600 lbs/yd:
- Volume limit: 2.0 yd
- Weight limit: 4,000 / 600 = 6.7 yd
- Safe load: 2.0 yd (volume is the bottleneck)
Run this formula for every load. It takes 10 seconds and prevents a $5,000 repair bill.
How Much Can Your Truck Actually Carry?
Ten vehicle classes from a half-ton pickup to a tri-axle dump. Bed volume, rated payload, and max safe cubic yards of three reference materials: #57 stone (heavy), mulch (light), and dry topsoil (medium).
| Vehicle | Bed/Box (yd) | Payload (lbs) | Max Yd #57 Stone | Max Yd Mulch | Max Yd Topsoil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Tacoma (5′ bed) | 1.2 | 1,685 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Ford F-150 (XLT, 6.5′ bed) | 2.0 | 1,800 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.9 |
| Ford F-250 (XLT, 6.75′ bed) | 2.0 | 4,000 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Ford F-350 DRW (XLT, 8′ bed) | 2.5 | 5,500 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Small dump trailer (5×10) | 3 | 7,000 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Medium dump trailer (6×12) | 5 | 10,000 | 3.8 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Large dump trailer (7×14) | 7 | 14,000 | 5.4 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Single-axle dump truck | 5 | 14,000 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Tandem dump truck | 12 | 33,000 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Tri-axle dump truck | 16 | 44,000 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 16.0 |
Every pickup is weight-limited on stone. You hit payload before you fill the bed. Even the F-350 DRW (2.5 yd bed, 2.1 yd safe stone) leaves nearly half a yard of empty bed at max weight. Dump trailers are the first vehicles where volume and weight roughly balance on heavy aggregate.
Every pickup is volume-limited on mulch. Payload is not the problem. Bed size is.
Note: Subtract 300 to 500 lbs from rated payload for driver weight, toolbox, hitch, and gear. A 1,800-lb F-150 payload becomes 1,300 to 1,500 lbs in the real world. That drops your safe stone load from 0.7 to 0.5 cubic yards.
How to find your truck’s payload. Open the driver door and look for the yellow and white tire and loading information sticker. It lists the maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo. That is your payload. Not the towing sticker. Not the GVWR plate on the door jamb (GVWR minus curb weight equals payload, but the sticker does the math for you). Every truck off the assembly line gets a unique payload number based on its specific options, cab size, and engine.
Payload varies by configuration. The F-250 XLT ranges from 3,546 to 4,240 lbs depending on engine and drivetrain. The 4,000 lbs shown above represents the gas V8 crew cab. Your specific truck may differ by 500 lbs or more. Check the door sticker.
Dump truck capacities match standard industry ranges: single-axle 6 to 8 tons, tandem 15 to 18 tons, tri-axle 20 to 24 tons. See the delivery logistics section in our crushed stone calculator for delivery fee math.
How Many Yards Can You Haul?
The tables above show three materials. Below are all 22 materials in four hauling groups with the safe maximum cubic yards per vehicle. Every value accounts for both volume and payload limits. Rounded to nearest 0.1 yd.
Aggregates (Highest Overload Risk)
| Material (lbs/yd) | Tacoma | F-150 | F-250 | F-350 DRW | Sm Trailer | Med Trailer | Lg Trailer | Single Dump | Tandem | Tri-Axle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #57 stone (2,600) | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Crusher run (2,700) | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Gravel (2,800) | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 11.8 | 15.7 |
| Sand, dry (2,700) | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Sand, wet (3,100) | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 10.6 | 14.2 |
| Stone dust (2,700) | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Riprap (3,100) | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 10.6 | 14.2 |
Every pickup in this table is weight-limited. You hit payload before you fill the bed on any aggregate material.
Organic Materials (Volume-Limited)
| Material (lbs/yd) | Tacoma | F-150 | F-250 | F-350 DRW | Sm Trailer | Med Trailer | Lg Trailer | Single Dump | Tandem | Tri-Axle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulch (600) | 1.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Colored mulch (600) | 1.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Wood chips (800) | 1.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Green waste (600) | 1.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Tree debris, mixed (900) | 1.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Stumps w/ root ball (2,000) | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Compost (1,200) | 1.2 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Topsoil, dry (2,000) | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Topsoil, wet (3,000) | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 11.0 | 14.7 |
Mulch, chips, and compost are volume-limited on every vehicle. The bed fills before payload matters. Three exceptions: stumps, wet topsoil, and compost in a Tacoma. Stumps with root balls weigh as much as dry topsoil (2,000 lbs/yd) and weight-limit pickups the same way stone does. Wet topsoil after rain behaves like aggregate. Check your material and the forecast before you load.
Demolition Debris
| Material (lbs/yd) | Tacoma | F-150 | F-250 | F-350 DRW | Sm Trailer | Med Trailer | Lg Trailer | Single Dump | Tandem | Tri-Axle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete rubble (2,250) | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 4.4 | 6.2 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Asphalt millings (2,500) | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 5.6 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Mixed C&D (1,500) | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Brick (3,000) | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 11.0 | 14.7 |
Brick is the heaviest common demo material at 3,000 lbs per yard. An F-150 carries 0.6 cubic yards of brick, barely enough to cover the bed floor. Concrete rubble is lighter than most people expect because the broken pieces leave air voids (solid concrete weighs 4,050 lbs/yd; rubble runs 2,000 to 2,500). Every demo material except mixed C&D weight-limits pickups.
Processed Fill
| Material (lbs/yd) | Tacoma | F-150 | F-250 | F-350 DRW | Sm Trailer | Med Trailer | Lg Trailer | Single Dump | Tandem | Tri-Axle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fill dirt (2,400) | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| Recycled concrete (2,400) | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 |
How Many Trips Does Your Job Take?
Three common scenarios with trip counts and costs.
Scenario A: 10 Cubic Yards of #57 Stone for a Driveway
F-350 DRW: 10 / 2.1 = 5 trips. At 30 minutes per round trip to the quarry, that is 2.5 hours of driving plus loading time.
Medium dump trailer: 10 / 3.8 = 3 trips. You need a 3/4-ton or 1-ton truck to tow a loaded medium dump trailer carrying 9,880 lbs of stone.
Tandem dump truck delivery: 10 yards at 1.30 tons per yard = 13 tons. One tandem load at $150 to $250 delivery fee. Done in one trip.
The delivery math usually wins. Five round trips in a pickup at 15 miles each way = 150 miles. At $0.70/mile (IRS rate), that is $105 in mileage alone. Add 4 hours of labor at $35/hr and you spent $245 in time and fuel. One $200 dump truck delivery saves money and frees you to work the job. For full tonnage calculations, see our crushed stone calculator.
Scenario B: 15 Cubic Yards of Mulch for a Landscape Project
Medium dump trailer: 15 / 5.0 = 3 trips. Mulch is volume-limited, so 5 cubic yards fills the trailer at only 3,000 lbs. Light towing. Any half-ton truck handles this load. The bottleneck is trailer size, not truck capability.
F-150: 15 / 2.0 = 8 trips. Possible but painful. At 20 minutes per round trip, that is nearly 3 hours of driving. Rent a dump trailer for $150/day and cut it to 3 trips.
Bulk delivery: Many mulch suppliers deliver 10 to 15 cubic yards in a single dump truck load for $75 to $150. Cheaper than a trailer rental if you do not already own one.
Scenario C: 50 Tons of Concrete Debris from a Demo Job
Tandem dump truck: 50 tons at 15 tons per load (conservative) = 4 loads. At $150 to $250 per haul, trucking runs $600 to $1,000.
Add tipping fees at the receiving facility: $35 to $55 per ton in most Southeast markets. That is 50 tons x $45 average = $2,250 in disposal alone. Total haul-and-dump cost: $2,850 to $3,250.
That $2,850 to $3,250 disappears if you crush the concrete on-site and reuse it as base aggregate. More on that in Section 8 below.
Our tonnage estimation guide has formulas for sizing demo jobs before the first hammer swing. Ordering stone? The crushed stone calculator covers waste factors, and our crusher run guide covers settlement: order 15 to 25% more than the math says.
When to Self-Haul vs. Hire Delivery
Self-hauling makes sense in three situations. First: you already own a dump trailer and the supply yard is under 10 miles away. Second: you only need 1 to 2 cubic yards of light material like mulch or topsoil that fits in your pickup. Third: you need material at odd hours when delivery is not available.
Hire delivery for everything else. On any job over 5 cubic yards of aggregate, the delivery fee is cheaper than your fuel, time, and vehicle wear. On any job over 10 yards, it is not even close. A tandem dump truck delivers 12 yards of stone in one trip for $150 to $250. That same 12 yards would take 6 trips in an F-350 DRW at 2.1 yards per trip.
The break-even point for most contractors: about 3 cubic yards of heavy material. Below that, self-haul. Above that, call the truck.
What Happens When You Overload
Overloading is not a “maybe it will be fine” situation. Every supply yard in the country sees trucks leave overloaded every day. The guy at the loader asks how much you want. You say “fill it up.” He fills it up. Nobody runs the payload math. Here are the four categories of consequences.
Safety
- Blown tires. Tire load ratings are absolute. An OEM truck tire on a Tacoma is rated for roughly 2,500 to 2,700 lbs per tire depending on size and load index. Exceed the rating and the tire overheats and fails at highway speed.
- Brake fade. Braking distance increases in direct proportion to load. Double the payload, double the stopping distance. Downhill with stone and faded brakes is how wrecks happen.
- Suspension failure. Leaf springs crack. Shocks bottom out. The rear axle contacts the bump stops and stays there. Steering goes vague because the front tires are unloaded.
Legal
- DOT fines. Overweight citations range from $100 to $500+ per 1,000 lbs over in most states.
- CDL threshold. A combined GVWR over 26,001 lbs means you need a CDL. A 3/4-ton truck (10,000 lb GVWR) plus a loaded medium dump trailer (14,000 lb GVWR) = 24,000 lbs. Add 2,001 lbs of overload and you crossed a legal line.
- Insurance void. Exceeding rated GVWR can void your vehicle insurance. Wreck while overloaded and your insurer denies the claim. Liability coverage may also be affected. If you injure someone while operating an overloaded vehicle, your personal assets are exposed.
Vehicle Damage
Warped frames, cracked leaf springs, premature drivetrain wear, bent axle housings, and transmission overheating. A leaf spring replacement on an F-250 runs $800 to $1,500 in parts and labor. A warped frame is a total loss on most trucks. One overloaded trip often costs more in repairs than two proper trips would have cost in time and fuel.
The visual test: If the rear bumper sits level with the tires, you are over. Step out and look before you leave the yard.
For federal weight limits on public roads, see the FHWA bridge formula and weight limits.
The Real Answer: Process Material On-Site
Every trip calculation in this guide assumes you are hauling material from point A to point B. The alternative: bring the processing equipment to the material and skip hauling entirely.
Concrete debris: A portable jaw crusher turns 50 tons of broken concrete into reusable base aggregate on the same site. Zero haul trips. Zero tipping fees. Zero payload math. The crusher does the work where the material sits. On-site crushing costs $5 to $12 per ton. Hauling to a landfill costs $35 to $55 per ton in tipping fees plus $150 to $250 per truckload in trucking. On a 50-ton job, that is $250 to $600 for crushing versus $2,850 to $3,250 for hauling. See our guide to on-site concrete crushing for the full process and cost breakdown.
Raw topsoil and fill: A trommel screen separates clean topsoil from rocks, roots, and debris on-site. No trucking raw material to a processing yard and back. A CZ Screen M412 MIDI processes 30 to 50 cubic yards per hour. Feed in rough fill, get back clean topsoil off one belt and rock off the other. Screen it on your lot and stockpile the finished product. Screened topsoil sells for $25 to $45 per yard at landscape supply yards. Unscreened fill is worth $5 to $10. The screen turns a low-value pile into a sellable product.
Mixed aggregates: A vibratory screener sorts stockpiled material into graded products. Clean stone off one belt, fines off another, oversize off the third. Three products from one feed. No trips to three different suppliers. No loading, hauling, or unloading at each stop.
GrinderCrusherScreen has connected contractors with portable crushing and screening equipment since 1973. We do not own or operate machinery. We match you with the right equipment for your job. Call 770-433-2670 or visit the concrete crusher rental, trommel screen rental, or screener rental pages for pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
A cubic yard of natural washed gravel weighs about 2,800 lbs (1.40 tons). Crushed stone (#57) weighs about 2,600 lbs per yard (1.30 tons). Crusher run weighs 2,500 to 2,900 lbs per yard depending on moisture content.
The term “gravel” covers different products at different supply yards. Natural gravel (rounded river stone) is slightly heavier than crushed stone because the smooth particles pack tighter with fewer air voids. Always confirm the exact weight with your supplier, since source rock and gradation affect density.
Can I haul a yard of gravel in a pickup truck?
It depends on the material and the truck. A Ford F-150 has a payload of about 1,800 lbs and a 6.5-foot bed that holds roughly 2 cubic yards. One cubic yard of #57 stone weighs 2,600 lbs. That is 800 lbs over the rated payload. You cannot safely carry a full yard of stone in an F-150.
You can carry 0.7 cubic yards of stone, or a full bed of mulch (1,200 lbs), within the payload rating. An F-250 with a 4,000-lb payload handles about 1.5 cubic yards of stone. An F-350 DRW with a 5,500-lb payload handles 2.1 cubic yards. Check the payload sticker on your driver door jamb and do the weight math before you load.
How much does a yard of mulch weigh?
Natural bark mulch weighs 400 to 600 lbs per cubic yard. Colored mulch runs slightly heavier at 500 to 700 lbs because the dye and added moisture increase density. Fresh wood chips weigh 600 to 1,000 lbs per yard depending on species and moisture content.
Mulch is always volume-limited in pickup trucks. The bed fills long before you approach the payload limit. A standard F-150 bed holds about 2 cubic yards of mulch at roughly 1,200 lbs total, well under the 1,800-lb payload. If you need more than 2 cubic yards of mulch, a dump trailer or bulk delivery is the practical move.
What is the difference between payload and towing capacity?
Payload is the total weight you put IN and ON the truck. That includes bed cargo, passengers, toolboxes, and hitch weight from a trailer. Towing capacity is the total weight the truck can pull BEHIND it. They are separate ratings and both have limits.
Loading stone in the bed uses payload. Pulling a loaded dump trailer uses towing capacity AND payload, since tongue weight counts against your payload number. You must stay under both ratings at the same time.
A common mistake: a contractor with a 10,000-lb towing capacity thinks he can tow a 10,000-lb loaded trailer. But the 800-lb tongue weight of that trailer counts against his 1,800-lb payload. Add a driver and toolbox and he is already close to payload limit before the bed is loaded. The payload rating is on the yellow sticker on the driver door jamb. Towing capacity is in the owner’s manual.
How many yards of dirt can a dump truck carry?
A single-axle dump truck carries about 5 cubic yards (5 to 7 tons of dirt). A tandem carries about 12 cubic yards (12 to 16 tons). A tri-axle carries about 16 cubic yards (16 to 22 tons).
Dirt weight varies by type: clean fill dirt runs about 2,200 to 2,600 lbs per yard, while wet clay runs 2,800 to 3,200 lbs per yard. Always ask if the dirt has been sitting in rain. A stockpile that started at 2,400 lbs per yard can hit 3,000 lbs after a week of storms.
Dump trucks are sized so that volume and payload roughly balance for most materials. Unlike pickups, dump trucks rarely face the volume vs. weight trap because both capacities are built for heavy loads.
