If you’re starting a junk removal company and debating whether to go with a less expensive box truck or splurge on a dump truck, here are my thoughts based on my experience when I first started in 2014. The question of dump truck vs box truck for junk removal is one I grappled with early on. I initially chose a box truck because I thought it was more versatile. I figured it would allow me to offer junk removal services and small moving jobs.
Although we were mainly a junk removal company, I wanted to keep my options open to capture as many customers as possible and maximize profits. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize that was the wrong decision. We were a junk removal company, so 90% of what we hauled was junk, and the box truck quickly proved to be a major inconvenience.
The Drawbacks of a Box Truck in Junk Removal: Lessons Learned
Loading was challenging because the truck wasn’t open-topped, but unloading was the biggest issue. At best, it required double the labor, wearing out our crew. At worst, it took forever to unload. Sometimes, my team spent over an hour at the transfer station, removing small bits from jobs. This severely limited our ability to take on more jobs in a day. With the crew worn out from double labor, mistakes became more common, damages occurred, energy levels dropped, and customer experience suffered as a result. This experience highlighted the key differences in dump truck vs box truck for junk removal.
Advantages of a Dump Truck vs Box Truck for Junk Removal
The advantages of a box truck are mainly its lower cost and fuel efficiency, as it doesn’t require a hydraulic lift system, which saves $15,000-$20,000. However, those benefits pale compared to the pros of a proper dump truck. While more expensive upfront, a dump truck allows you to complete more jobs, handle different job types, and finish jobs faster, getting in and out of the dump efficiently. Dump trucks are typically built to withstand wear and tear better than standard box trucks and present a more professional appearance to customers. In the debate of dump truck vs box truck for junk removal, the dump truck clearly wins in terms of efficiency.
With our box truck, we occasionally took on extra jobs like moving furniture or transporting donations, but the added revenue didn’t come close to outweighing the drawbacks of a box truck. Ours was a Ford E350, and we put it through a lot. With a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of only 12,500 pounds, it wasn’t built for our needs, and we ended up replacing the leaf springs multiple times. Being new to the industry, I underestimated how heavy loads would be, which was a costly lesson in understanding dump truck vs box truck for junk removal.
When we bought our first dump truck a few years later, it wasn’t an Isuzu dump truck with a GVWR of 14,500 pounds, but it was built like a tank and gave us far fewer issues. The flat nose made it easy to maneuver in tight spaces, especially in residential areas and behind commercial buildings. The open top was ideal for house cleanouts, allowing us to toss items directly into the truck, making it clearly the better option in dump truck vs box truck for junk removal.
If I had to do it all over again, I’d definitely choose a dump truck.
That said, if your budget only allows for a box truck, a pickup, or something similar, don’t worry. Use what you have, get the work done, and upgrade when you’re ready. A box truck or pickup can still get you started in the business; when you can afford it, I highly recommend transitioning to a standard dump truck for the best results in dump truck vs box truck for junk removal.✌️
Justin Hubbard
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