Is Dump Truck Driver a Good Career?

Dump truck drivers typically transport construction materials such as dirt, sand, and gravel. They may also be responsible for hauling away debris from construction sites. In order to operate a dump truck, drivers must have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Have a passion for driving on an empty street and roaming city roads?

Then a dump truck driver career is a perfect fit for you.

But, you might be wondering:

Why is becoming a dump truck driver a good choice for you?

To help you answer that, this article will list down the reasons why a dump truck driver job is suitable for you, the average salary, the job responsibilities of dump truck drivers, and how you can become one. In addition, we will also tell you about the educational requirements essential to attain a dump truck driver job.

Let’s get started.

Reasons Why Being a Dump Truck Driver Is Good for You

Following are some reasons exhibiting why a dump truck driver career is great for you:

1. Increased Demand
2. Earn Consistent Income
3. Have Regular Working Hours
4. Operate in Close Proximity to Home
5. Gain Experience
6. Rapidly Obtain Training Experience
7. Build Professional Relationships

Reason#1: Increased Demand

Dump truck drivers are always in huge demand in all corners of the world. Consequently, companies seek experienced dump truck drivers they can rely on to transport their goods. In fact, the United States is suffering from a severe scarcity of truck drivers. If current trends persist, the U.S will have a driver shortage of 175,000 by 2026.

Reason#2: Earn Consistent Income

Compared to open-road driving, driving a dump truck provides a consistent hourly wage. The median annual dump truck driver’s salary is CAD 43,875 in Canada, which translates to CAD 22.50. However, wages and salaries for dump truck driver jobs may differ depending on the region, organization, years of work experience, credentials, and training. Furthermore, unionized jobs can have considerably higher compensation averages. But all in all, dump truck drivers and heavy equipment operators earn well.

Reason#3: Have Regular Working Hours

Unlike road truckers who travel on multi-day journeys with scheduled shift driving and break times, dump truck drivers frequently have a more conventional working week with standard working hours like daytime rotations in a five-day workweek. In the dump truck driver career, you may have to work on weekends, vacations, or extra hours based on the organization you serve for or the worksite requirements, but still, you have more private time than truckers on the road.

Reason#4: Operate in Close Proximity to Home

Rather than transporting a single shipment all over the country and back, dump truck drivers deliver several loads in a specific region daily, such as hauling gravel to a building site. Regional loads enable dump truck drivers to spend more time with their families. They relax in their own homes instead of being on the interstate completing multi-day allocation shipments because they are not driving a dump truck to greater distances.

Reason#5: Gain Experience

The more experience you gain, the better your chances of getting a dump truck driver job are. Driving a dump truck and running heavy construction gear and machinery may assist you in upgrading your CV with excellent content. As a result, after acquiring dump truck driving experience, you may have numerous job opportunities, including the chance to function with other construction machinery such as earthmovers and diggers that pack dump trucks.

Reason#6: Rapidly Obtain Training Experience

Dump truck driving has a comparatively brief learning period, allowing you to pursue the dump truck driver career more promptly as opposed to other occupations. You can obtain a Class B CDL in a couple of months on average. Some companies even offer programs that enable you to procure your license while completing your training. Drivers encounter significantly less debt and expenditure as compared to college or trade institutions.

Reason#7: Build Professional Relationships

Driving a dump truck provides several networking chances, whether with independent contractors, construction and farming organizations, or fellow employees at cargo pickup locations. Building professional relationships can help you expand your dump truck driver career and stay updated about upcoming dump truck driver jobs, opportunities, training, and vacancies.

Duties and Responsibilities of a Dump Truck Driver

Following are the duties and responsibilities you have to perform when doing a dump truck driver job:

• Identifying the hauled products and assuring that they do not surpass the load limit.
• Guaranteeing that the goods are placed into the dump truck appropriately.
• Addressing any mishaps, injuries, or machine breakdowns to the immediate supervisor as soon as possible to avoid any work delays.
• Conduct routine maintenance to keep the truck in proper functioning condition.
• Keeping precise driver records.
• Adhering to all the safety guidelines and standards.
• Lubricating the dump truck after covering 5,000 miles each time.
• Driving the dump truck ethically and securely irrespective of the area, speed limit, or congestion.
• Performing pre-and post-shift safety checks and helping with machine servicing or maintenance as necessary.
• Maintaining a sound workplace environment by identifying surroundings and comprehending traffic awareness.
• Establishing a good attendance logbook by exhibiting frequent, persistent, and timely attendance daily.

Average Salary of a Dump Truck Driver

The average dump truck driver’s salary is CAD 43,875 per year in Canada, which translates to CAD 22.50 per hour.

Entry-level dump truck driver jobs have a starting salary of CAD 39,000 per year or CAD 20 per hour. The most experienced dump truck drivers earn up to CAD 53,625 per year or CAD 27.50 per hour.

Educational Requirements for the Dump Truck Driver

Following are the educational requirements essential for a dump truck driver career:

• Completion of secondary education.
• Acquiring a post-secondary degree or a high school diploma.
• Obtaining a valid Class B Commercial Driver’s License.
• Earning a valid Class 1 or A Commercial Driver’s License to run long combination dump trucks.
• Earning a Class 3 or D Commercial Driver’s License to operate straight-body dump trucks.
• Attaining a valid medical examiner’s certification.
• Common Safety Orientation (CSO) Certification
• Air brake endorsement (Z) to drive dump trucks having air brakes.
• Obtaining transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) certification to haul toxic materials or hazardous items.

In-Demand Regions in Canada for Dump Truck Drivers

Following are the in-demand regions for dump truck driver jobs in different provinces of Canada:

Alberta

• Fort McMurray
• Leduc
• Lethbridge
• Vegreville
• Edmonton
• Calgary
• Lloydminster
• Medicine Hat
• Red Deer
• Stettler

Related: Most in-demand jobs in Alberta

British Columbia

• Vancouver
• Revelstoke
• Prince Rupert
• Abbotsford
• Invermere
• Castlegar
• Richmond
• Vernon
• Surrey
• Penticton

Manitoba

• Brandon
• Winnipeg
• Portage la Prairie
• Stony Mountain
• Oakbank
• West Saint Paul
• Russell

Ontario

• Caledon
• Brantford
• Hamilton
• Stratford
• Nepean
• Brechin
• Kitchener
• Utopia
• Brampton
• Prince Edward

Saskatchewan

• Pilot Butte
• North Battleford
• Shellbrook
• Regina
• Springwater
• Odessa
• Saskatoon

How to Get a Job as a Dump Truck Driver

Following are the steps you can take to get a dump truck driver job:

1. Obtain a valid class B or C Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
2. Enroll in a dump truck driving training course of three to seven weeks or self-teach yourself for driving.
3. Pass the licensure exam independently employing a registered, authorized, and accredited institution.
4. Clear a mandatory medical test to attain the Commercial Driver’s License stamp on your license.
5. Confirm with your state for any further requirements.
6. Keep your department of motor vehicles (DMV) record up to date and clean.

You can begin applying for a dump truck driver career once you have obtained the necessary licensing.

If you are looking for a reliable platform to apply for dump truck driver jobs, you can check our job listings. We are a leading employment agency in Canada, providing a multitude of jobs in different industries.

Conclusion

A dump truck driver career is suitable for individuals who wish to work nearer to home. It can also be an excellent chance for newcomers to gain a foot into the sector and earn on-the-road experience. In addition, it’s a feasible alternative to the extended trips away from home that OTR truckers frequently face.

The Primus Workforce team is proudly built on hands-on industry knowledge and experience.