ForConstructionPros.com

With late-model heavy-duty dump trucks ranging in price from around $120,000 to over $200,000, depending upon the configuration, you should spend some time running the numbers before making a purchase decision. How much is that truck going to cost in a typical 2,000-hour work year? Loan payments, the driver, insurance, maintenance, downtime for repairs, etc., all need to be factored into the hourly cost.

Yet, many contractors have determined that truck ownership is still preferable to outsourcing trucking services. One such contractor is Phoenix, AZ-based Southwest Trucking & Grading. This well-established excavation business was purchased by the current management team two years ago. "There are a great group of guys who are very skilled," says Brandon Rasmussen, general manager. A couple of the operators have been with the company for about 15 years.

Although it does have a general engineering license, the company concentrates on commercial grading projects. It often performs as a general contractor, subbing out specialized tasks such as paving.

The equipment fleet consists of four skip loaders, three backhoes, a motor grader, a wheel loader, four dump trucks, a water truck and a bobtail. "We rent a lot of equipment as needed," adds Rasmussen.

The dump trucks are Mack RD models with a 10-wheel configuration, while the bobtail and water truck are Ford F-750s. Despite the overhead, ownership of the trucks plays a key role in the company's success.