A dump truck or production truck is a truck used for transporting loose material (such as sand, gravel, or dirt) for construction. A typical dump truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated open-box bed hinged at the rear, the front of which can be lifted up to allow the contents to be deposited on the ground behind the truck at the site of delivery. In the UK the term applies to off-road construction plant only, and the road vehicle is known as a tipper or tipper lorry.

Types of dump trucks

Standard dump truck

A standard dump truck has one front axle, and one or more rear axles which typically have dual wheels on each side. Common configurations for a standard dump truck include the six wheeler which has one rear axle, the ten wheeler with two rear axles, and the tri-axle with three rear axles. These are mainly found in inner cities and in the deep south. The largest of the standard dump trucks is commonly called a "centipede" and has seven axles. The rear two axles are powered and the front axle is the steering axle. The intermediate axles are present to support the weigh over the length of the chassis and sometimes to provide additional braking power.

The short wheelbase of a standard dump truck makes it more maneuverable than the higher capacity semi-trailer dump trucks.

Articulated dump truck

Transfer dump truck

The second aggregate container, (B box) on the trailer which is powered by either an electric, pneumatic motor or hydraulic line from a PTO (power take off) mounted on the transmission of the tractor, rides on small wheels and rolls on rails off of the trailer frame and into the empty main dump (A) box. The key advantage of this configuration is to maximize payload capacity without sacrificing the maneuverability of the short and nimble standard dump truck. Transfer dumps are typically seen in the western United States because of the peculiar weight restrictions on western highways.

Another configuration seen is called a Triple Transfer Train, which consists of a B and C box. These are common on Nevada and Utah Highways but not in California. Depending on the axle arrangement, a Triple Transfer can haul up to 129,000 with a special permit in certain US states. The Triple Transfer usually costs a contactor about $105 an hour while a A/B config usually runs about $85 per hour (2007 stats).