Dump Truck Sizes: Tandem, Tri-Axle, Quad and Quint
How much each dump truck carries, which one fits your job, and how hauling is priced. Serving Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina, 24/7.
Picking the right truck for the job
Dump trucks are sized by axle count. More axles let a truck carry a larger legal load, so a quint-axle hauls far more per trip than a tandem. In Hampton Roads, the quad-axle is the dominant truck on most jobs. The right choice depends on the material, how much of it you are moving, how far it is going and how tight the site is.
Ives Contracting runs tandem, tri-axle, quad-axle and quint-axle dump trucks from our base in Virginia Beach. We haul across Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina, and we can put one truck or a full fleet on your job.
The figures below are general guidelines, not exact numbers for any one truck. Individual trucks vary, and the actual payload depends on the truck, the material and the route, so we confirm truck counts when we quote the job. With Virginia’s 5% overload permit, a truck can carry about 5% more on eligible routes.
Dump truck sizes compared
Tandem-axle
About 12 cubic yards or 12 tons per load. The most maneuverable truck for tight residential streets, small sites and short deliveries.
Tri-axle
About 15 cubic yards or 15 tons per load. A versatile middle size for utility work, site work and mid-size deliveries.
Learn more →Quad-axle
About 18 cubic yards or 18 to 19 tons per load in Virginia. The most common dump truck in Hampton Roads and the workhorse for aggregate delivery, export and site work.
Quint-axle
About 20 cubic yards or 22 tons per load in Virginia. The largest payload per trip, which means fewer loads on big moves.
Load calculator
Enter your quantity and see how many loads each truck size needs.
Learn more →Centipede (6-axle)
The next size past a quint, carrying about 24 to 26 tons per load. Six axles spread the weight, which helps on heavy material and long hauls.
How we match trucks to your job
- Material and quantity: tons or cubic yards to move
- Haul distance and round-trip time
- Site access: turning room, weight limits, soft ground
- Loading rate, so trucks keep pace with your excavator or plant
- Schedule: day, night or weekend windows
- One truck or a full fleet, scaled to your production
Common questions
What is the most common dump truck in Hampton Roads?
The quad-axle. It carries 18 to 19 tons in Virginia while staying maneuverable enough for most job sites, so it is the go-to truck for aggregate, fill and export work across the region. We match the truck mix to your job, from tandems for tight sites to quints for long, heavy hauls.
How much does a quad-axle dump truck carry?
In Virginia, a quad-axle dump truck typically carries 18 to 19 tons, or roughly 18 cubic yards depending on the material. The exact legal payload depends on the truck and the route.
How much does a quint-axle dump truck carry?
A quint-axle typically carries about 22 tons in Virginia, or roughly 20 cubic yards depending on the material. It moves the most material per trip, which cuts the number of loads on large jobs.
What do the wheels that go up and down on a dump truck do?
Those are lift axles, also called drop axles or pusher and tag axles. When the truck is loaded, the driver lowers them so the weight is spread over more axles and the truck stays within legal axle and bridge weight limits. When the truck is empty, they are raised to save tire wear and fuel and to make tighter turns. That is how a quad-axle or quint-axle can carry a heavy legal load and still maneuver on a job site.
What is a centipede dump truck?
A centipede is a six-axle dump truck, the next size up from a quint-axle. It typically carries 24 to 26 tons per load. Six axles spread the weight, which helps on heavy material and long hauls.
What is the difference between a tandem and a tri-axle?
A tandem has two rear axles and is the most maneuverable, carrying about 12 cubic yards. A tri-axle adds a third axle and carries about 15 cubic yards, so it suits mid-size jobs where a little more capacity per trip saves time.
What kind of dump bodies and tailgates do your trucks have?
Our quad-axle trucks have steel dump bodies with high-lift tailgates. Steel bodies stand up to rip-rap, heavy stone and debris. The gate raises up and clear of the load instead of swinging, so material comes out clean and the driver can control how fast it unloads. Tell us how you want the material placed and we will plan the delivery around it.
Are your trucks GPS tracked?
Yes. Every Ives truck is GPS tracked, so our dispatchers know where each truck is, can give you accurate arrival times and can keep deliveries moving on your schedule.
What is the 5% overload permit in Virginia?
Virginia offers an overload permit that lets a permitted truck carry about 5% more than its standard legal weight on eligible routes. The tonnages on this page are standard loads, so a permitted truck can carry slightly more. Tell us about your job and we will plan the loads around it.
How is dump truck hauling priced?
Hauling is priced by the hour, by the ton or by the yard, depending on the job. Tell us the material, the quantity and the site and we will send a price. Request a quote →
How many trucks can you put on a job?
As many as the job needs. We run a single truck for a small delivery or a full fleet for mass excavation, export and paving work, scheduled around your production rate.
Where do you haul?
Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina, including Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News and Williamsburg.
Need trucks on your job?
Send the material, quantity, site and schedule. We will match the trucks and send a price.