How much dirt does a dump truck carry?

The average commercial dump truck holds anywhere from 10 to 14 cubic yards of dirt. This is a generally good amount, but the quantity is less than the carrying capacity of other commercial vehicles.

For comparison, most commercial tractor trailers carry between 17 and 20 cubic yards of dirt per load. These are the primary two methods of delivering loads of dirt to construction or landscaping sites. On site, a single load of dirt takes up about the same amount of space as a parking spot. A person can calculate the amount of dirt needed by multiplying the width, length and depth of the area to be filled.