As a business owner in logistics and transportation, you know time is money. Empty miles and missed connections cut into profits fast and can turn into bigger issues if they’re not handled. With competition this tight, keeping your trucks loaded and moving is necessary.
Some weeks you’re slammed with jobs, and other times, your trucks sit idle waiting for the next load. To stay ahead, you need the right tools and strategies to find consistent bulk hauling jobs.
This guide covers practical ways to find new business for your dump truck hauling company. From using load boards and landing contracts to networking, seasonal planning, and disaster cleanup.
Read more to learn how to keep your trucks rolling and your business growing.
Load boards are one of the easiest ways to find bulk hauling jobs. These platforms connect haulers with shippers who need materials like aggregates, sand, gravel, and mulch moved.
A load board is an online marketplace where shippers post loads that need to be hauled, and dump truck operators find and secure those jobs. Think of it as a digital meeting place — shippers list details about the job, and haulers browse available loads, choose what works for them, and either place a bid or accept the job outright.
For dump truck businesses focused on bulk hauling, load boards make it simple to find jobs without making endless phone calls or relying only on word-of-mouth.
Using a load board is pretty straightforward. You set up your profile, listing details like your truck type, what materials you haul, and where you operate. From there, the platform matches you with available loads based on your preferences.
Shippers post jobs with all the key information: what needs hauling, pickup and delivery locations, weight, deadlines, and the rate offered. You can filter the listings based on cargo type, location, rate, or even the urgency of the job.
See something you like? Place a bid or claim the load, depending on how the platform works.
For dispatchers managing multiple trucks, load boards are even more useful. You can view loads in real-time, match jobs to specific trucks, and fill up your schedule before you even finish your morning coffee. Many load boards also offer mobile apps, so you can manage everything on the go.
Here’s what to look for when choosing the right load board:
1. Bulk Material Focus
You need a load board that lists jobs specifically for bulk hauling. Whether it’s aggregates, dirt, sand, gravel, or mulch, the platform should have a strong focus on the kinds of materials your trucks are built to move. Avoid general boards that mix in jobs unrelated to your business.
2. User Interface and Ease of Use
The last thing you want is to waste time clicking through a cluttered website. A good load board should be simple to navigate, with clear filters to help you search by material type, location, or pay rate.
3. Volume of Available Loads
A load board is only useful if it consistently posts bulk hauling jobs in your area. Look for boards with active listings that match your service region. More jobs mean more chances to keep your trucks busy and reduce downtime.
4. Pricing and Subscription Options
Most load boards charge a monthly fee, while others might charge per load or offer tiered plans with different features. Make sure the cost fits your budget and business size. Some boards offer free trials — take advantage of these to see if the platform is worth paying for before committing.
5. Extra Features That Help Your Business
The right load board should offer tools that make your job easier, not harder. Here are some load board features to look for:
6. Active Jobs in Your Area
Even a great load board isn’t useful if it doesn’t post jobs where you operate. Look for platforms with consistent listings in your city, state, or service region. A good load board should let you set location filters to focus only on relevant jobs, saving you time.
7. Customer Support and Service Quality
If something goes wrong like a payment delay or technical glitch — solid customer support can save the day. Choose a load board with reliable customer service, whether it’s through phone, chat, or email. Look for reviews from other haulers to get an idea of how responsive their support team is.
These platforms specialize in bulk freight and dump truck logistics, providing the best options for haulers in these industries.
These load boards primarily focus on general freight but may offer some opportunities for dump truck haulers.
Notes:
If you’re serious about keeping your dump trucks busy, finding contracts is essential. Load boards are great for quick jobs, but contracts offer consistent, long-term work.
There are plenty of opportunities out there, from private contractors to government projects. Here’s how to find and land contracts.
Private contracts are often the easiest to land, especially if you’re willing to put in the legwork. Think construction companies, landscaping businesses, and material suppliers — they all need bulk materials hauled regularly.
Where to look:
Bring business cards when visiting these places. Face-to-face networking can go a long way in this industry.
Government contracts can be a goldmine for dump truck operators. Cities, counties, and states often need materials hauled for roadwork, infrastructure projects, and seasonal needs like snow and salt hauling.
To find government contracts for hauling materials like salt, snow, and construction materials, you can utilize several resources:
If you’re not ready to bid on big contracts directly, subcontracting is a great way to get your foot in the door. Many larger construction companies and government contractors need extra trucks to meet deadlines.
How to find subcontracting work:
Even if you don’t get the job right away, you’re still making valuable connections. Every call, visit, or bid puts your name out there and helps build your reputation. Contractors talk, and if you’re known as the reliable hauler who gets the job done, you’ll get more calls.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as making calls and knocking on doors. Here’s a quick plan:
Networking, both online and offline, can open doors to new jobs, partnerships, and long-term business opportunities.
Here’s how to use forums, social media, and in-person events to find new work for your dump truck hauling company.
Online forums are a great place to connect with other haulers, contractors, and industry pros. These communities can help you find job leads, learn from others’ experiences, and stay updated on market trends.
Here are some trucking forums to check out:
Social media is also a powerful tool for finding hauling jobs and networking with industry professionals.
Where to focus:
When using social media, make sure your profiles are professional. Post photos of your trucks, recent jobs, and any special equipment you use. Showcasing your work builds trust and makes it easier for clients to choose you.
Online networking is great, but face-to-face connections still go a long way in this industry. Attending trade shows, conferences, and local events can help you build relationships that lead to steady work.
Where to go:
Bulk hauling isn’t consistent year-round, especially in regions where seasons impact demand. One month you’re hauling aggregates for road construction, and the next, projects slow down due to weather.
Planning for seasonal shifts and unexpected work like disaster cleanup can help keep your dump trucks busy all year.
In many parts of the country, bulk hauling work slows down during colder months. Road construction projects wrap up, and landscaping jobs drop off. But that doesn’t mean there’s no work — it just means you need to adjust what you’re hauling.
What to haul during slow seasons:
You can reach out to local municipalities before winter hits. Many of them post bids for seasonal hauling like salt and snow removal months in advance.
Disaster cleanup is another source of bulk hauling jobs. Natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires leave behind debris that needs to be cleared fast. Dump trucks are essential for hauling debris from cleanup sites to landfills or recycling centers.
You can find disaster cleanup jobs here:
Note that disaster cleanup jobs often require special permits and quick response times. Make sure your paperwork is in order and be ready to mobilize fast when these opportunities come up.
The more versatile your hauling services, the easier it is to find work during slow periods. If you can pivot between hauling aggregates in the summer to salt and snow in the winter, you’ll have fewer slow months.
Here are some ways to stay flexible:
Sometimes the easiest way to find bulk hauling work is right in front of you — through a quick search online. Search engines and AI chatbots are simple but effective tools that can help you uncover new hauling opportunities without relying solely on load boards or networking.
Using Search Engines Effectively
Google can be a powerful tool for finding bulk hauling jobs if you know how to use it right. It’s all about using specific search terms that bring up relevant results.
Effective search prompts:
When searching, focus on local and regional opportunities. Add your city or state to narrow down the results and find jobs closer to home.
Use Google Alerts to get notified when new job opportunities pop up. Set alerts with search terms like “dump truck hauling bids” or “bulk hauling contracts” so you don’t miss any new listings.
Beyond general searches, there are websites that specialize in listing government and private bids for bulk hauling.
Websites to check out:
AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini and others can help you search for hauling jobs faster. While they won’t apply for jobs on your behalf, they can point you in the right direction.
Your queries need to be more specific than what you might use when searching via the search engines. For example, the following query on one of the AI Chatbots would return decent leads on work in the Greenville SC area.
“I own a fleet of dump trucks and am looking for work near Greenville, South Carolina. Within a 50-mile radius of Greenville, South Carolina, find a list of ongoing or planned construction projects that require a large amount of construction material to be hauled. For each project, find the name and contact information for the general contractor. For each project, find any open RFPs for this type of project.”
We created the following LinkedIn post that goes into much greater detail on using AI to search for work.
Here’s other ways to use AI tools:
Finding new jobs is one thing, but staying organized during the search is just as important.
Tips to stay on top of it all:
Keeping your dump trucks busy isn’t always easy, but with the right approach, it’s definitely doable. Load boards, contracts, networking, and even simple tools like search engines can open up doors to steady work. It’s all about staying on top of it and using every resource you can.
The bottom line? Be proactive. The more you put yourself out there, the more opportunities you’ll find—and the less time your trucks will spend sitting idle.
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