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What does a dump truck driver do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Don Lefeve
What does a dump truck driver do

A dump truck driver is responsible for transporting construction materials, such as rocks, sands, woods, heavy equipment, garbage collection, and junk supplies from one place to the assigned destination. Dump truck drivers must have excellent mechanical skills to inspect the vehicle before and after operations to prevent delays and possible engine failures, especially on working during different weather conditions. They should also have clean driving records, following the road's safety regulations at all times, ensuring the efficiency of deliveries within the agreed time.

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Dump truck driver responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real dump truck driver resumes:

  • Mine train and certify by MSHA.
  • Operate solo and as OTR team driver.
  • Operate excavator and bobcat to dig trenches and load dump trucks
  • Load construction debris into trailer with bobcat and deliver to the dump
  • DOT inspection up to date and the truck is ready to work.
  • Adhere to all organizational guidelines and OSHA rules for securing a safe working atmosphere.
  • Maintain the cleanliness of the trucks as well as handled paperwork for require deliveries.
  • Maintain safe operation of commercial vehicle including pre & post trip inspection and cleanliness.
  • Wash and maintain rigging and CDL vehicles after rig moves and out of state jobs.
  • Adhere to safety by wearing OSHA safety equipment such as hard hat and reflective vest.
  • Survey landfill using GPS to place ash and soil cover in construction of ash mounds!
  • Maintain a safe working environment by being knowledgeable of and implementing workplace safety and MSHA regulations.
  • Haul freight for (LTL) trucking company in both line haul and local pickups and deliveries
  • Operate dump & pup as well as side-dump and flatbeds.
  • Route planning, keeping logbook legal and up to date, Qualcomm messaging, and other job requirements.

Dump truck driver skills and personality traits

We calculated that 24% of Dump Truck Drivers are proficient in CDL, Asphalt, and DOT. They’re also known for soft skills such as Hand-eye coordination, Hearing ability, and Physical health.

We break down the percentage of Dump Truck Drivers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • CDL, 24%

    Participated in trucking operations using Class A CDL with loading and unloaded various types of materials as requested by customer demand.

  • Asphalt, 19%

    Filled customer orders by delivering stone and asphalt products throughout Southern and Central Wisconsin

  • DOT, 11%

    Maintain DOT and company related documentation.

  • Post-Trip Inspections, 7%

    Perform post-trip inspections and maintenance.

  • Safety Regulations, 6%

    Hauled material for delivery to various steel mills in Indiana and adhered to and complied with safety regulations.

  • Construction Sites, 3%

    Delivered aggregated material to construction sites

"cdl," "asphalt," and "dot" are among the most common skills that dump truck drivers use at work. You can find even more dump truck driver responsibilities below, including:

Hand-eye coordination. One of the key soft skills for a dump truck driver to have is hand-eye coordination. You can see how this relates to what dump truck drivers do because "drivers of heavy trucks and tractor-trailers must be able to coordinate their legs, hands, and eyes simultaneously so that they will react appropriately to the situation around them and drive the vehicle safely." Additionally, a dump truck driver resume shows how dump truck drivers use hand-eye coordination: "performed vehicle inspection, minor maintenance, and coordination of repairs for compliance with company and highway regulations. "

Hearing ability. Many dump truck driver duties rely on hearing ability. "truck drivers need good hearing," so a dump truck driver will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways dump truck driver responsibilities rely on hearing ability: "transport and deliver customer goods while adhearing to strict deadlines and safety regulations for professional drivers. "

Physical health. This is an important skill for dump truck drivers to perform their duties. For an example of how dump truck driver responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "federal regulations do not allow people to become truck drivers if they have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or epilepsy, which may interfere with their ability to operate a truck." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a dump truck driver: "up to date cdl physical as well. ".

See the full list of dump truck driver skills

The three companies that hire the most dump truck drivers are:

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Compare different dump truck drivers

Dump truck driver vs. Van driver

A van driver is responsible for operating a wide and a larger-sized vehicle than a regular car, usually used as a company shuttle to pick up and drop employees to designated areas. Van drivers should have a clean driving record, ensuring the safety and comfortability of the passengers while on the road. They should also be familiar with the location, considering alternative routes for any road complications to avoid delays. A van driver must have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, inspecting the engine's condition, and perform repairs as necessary.

The annual salary of van drivers is $19,603 lower than the average salary of dump truck drivers.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between dump truck drivers and van drivers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like cdl, log book, and pre-trip inspections.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between dump truck drivers and van driver. For instance, dump truck driver responsibilities require skills such as "asphalt," "dot," "post-trip inspections," and "safety regulations." Whereas a van driver is skilled in "customer service," "otr," "vehicle inspections," and "patients." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Van drivers earn the highest salaries when working in the transportation industry, with an average yearly salary of $37,113. On the other hand, dump truck drivers are paid more in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $56,076.van drivers tend to reach similar levels of education than dump truck drivers. In fact, van drivers are 1.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Dump truck driver vs. Driver

Drivers are responsible for safely transporting people, packages, or goods from one destination to another. They should be familiar with the different routes that may be taken to reach the desired goal. They should be expert navigators and may use navigation apps to help them along the way. They should also be familiar with the basic mechanics of the vehicle they are using and the proper maintenance and cleaning needed to ensure that the car is running well. Drivers are expected to have excellent customer relation skills, a strong sense of direction, and superb organizations.

A career as a driver brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a dump truck driver. In fact, drivers salary is $21,086 lower than the salary of dump truck drivers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both dump truck drivers and drivers have skills such as "cdl," "dot," and "post-trip inspections. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that dump truck driver responsibilities requires skills like "asphalt," "construction sites," "loose materials," and "dump body." But a driver might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "math," "basic math," "safety rules," and "cleanliness."

Drivers earn a lower average salary than dump truck drivers. But drivers earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $39,688. Additionally, dump truck drivers earn the highest salaries in the manufacturing with average pay of $56,076 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Drivers tend to reach similar levels of education than dump truck drivers. In fact, they're 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for dump truck drivers in the next 3-5 years?

Don LefeveDon Lefeve LinkedIn profile

President & Chairman of the Board, CVTA

Technology is changing very fast, which is great news for trucking (and all transportation) as it's making vehicles safer. The next 3-5 years will see the expansion of electric vehicles, better safety systems, and greater efficiency in transportation networks. While autonomous technology is advancing rapidly, it will not replace humans anytime soon. Certainly not in the next 3-5 years. There's a lot of testing, security concerns, and limitations that need to be worked out. Beyond the next five years, as technology continues advancing, and jobs will change and be enhanced, but driving jobs will not be replaced by machines. Like airline pilots, the technology relies upon humans, and the human will retain a central role in the control of the truck because we possess the fastest, most capable computers of all -- our brains. I think driver training will always be required, and in fact, it will likely expand to cover not only the fundamentals but also incorporate more technical training centered around autonomous systems and how to operate them.

Dump truck driver vs. Mixer driver

A mixer driver is responsible for operating mixer trucks to deliver construction materials and concrete mixtures to construction and industrial site. Mixer drivers must inspect the condition of the truck's engine before and after operations to ensure its stability and performance that would prevent operational delays and avoid potential hazards. They should also dispense the mixtures properly and clean spills after delivery. A mixer driver must have excellent organizational skills to control the truck safely and ensure that the correct materials are delivered.

On average, mixer drivers earn lower salaries than dump truck drivers, with a $3,853 difference per year.dump truck drivers and mixer drivers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "cdl," "asphalt," and "dot," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a dump truck driver is likely to be skilled in "loose materials," "dump body," "construction materials," and "foot controls," while a typical mixer driver is skilled in "customer service," "ladders," "drive trucks," and "truck equipment."

Mixer drivers earn the best pay in the construction industry, where they command an average salary of $51,169. Dump truck drivers earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $56,076.mixer drivers typically earn similar educational levels compared to dump truck drivers. Specifically, they're 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Dump truck driver vs. Local driver

A local driver is responsible for transporting people and goods and services from the distribution centers to various destinations. Local drivers operate vehicles and inspect the engine for any inconsistencies and system defects that may cause delays with the operations. They also schedule vehicle maintenance and repairs, keeping a record of receipts for the management's validation. A local driver must have excellent driving skills and a clean driving record. Additionally, a local driver should possess excellent communication skills, especially on handling customers' inquiries and concerns and escalating high-level complaints.

Local drivers typically earn lower pay than dump truck drivers. On average, local drivers earn a $7,697 lower salary per year.While their salaries may vary, dump truck drivers and local drivers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "cdl," "dot," and "post-trip inspections. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between dump truck drivers and local drivers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a dump truck driver might have more use for skills like "asphalt," "safety regulations," "loose materials," and "dump body." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of local drivers require skills like "customer service," "pallet jack," "hazmat," and "otr. "

The transportation industry tends to pay the highest salaries for local drivers, with average annual pay of $52,385. Comparatively, the highest dump truck driver annual salary comes from the manufacturing industry.In general, local drivers hold similar degree levels compared to dump truck drivers. Local drivers are 0.2% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of dump truck driver

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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