July 14, 2026 · 5 minute read
How many yards fit in a dump truck? Less than the box says
Real dump truck capacities by type, why weight limits beat box volume for stone and dirt, and how to figure loads for your own truck.
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The Dirt Desk
Field notes for the dirt world
Practical writing about running dirt work: documentation, job costing, crews, and getting paid. Worth reading whether or not you ever use our software.
July 14, 2026 · 6 minute read
What to document on every dirt job, before the dispute finds you
The photos, tickets, and sign-offs that end arguments before they start. A working documentation checklist for excavation and underground contractors.
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July 14, 2026 · 7 minute read
Why some dirt jobs lose money and nobody notices
Job costing for excavation and dirt-work contractors, in plain language: what to track, what it tells you, and the three leaks it usually finds.
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July 14, 2026 · 5 minute read
Markouts expire: managing the 811 clock across every open job
Utility markouts are only valid for a window, and every state sets its own. How dirt contractors keep locate tickets current across a busy schedule.
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July 14, 2026 · 5 minute read
The five-minute habit that keeps machines off the trailer
Equipment maintenance tracking for dirt contractors: hour-based service intervals, who logs what, and why breakdowns cluster in your busiest week.
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July 20, 2026 · 6 minute read
25 toolbox talk topics for dirt crews, and how to actually run them
A working list of 5-minute toolbox talk topics for excavation, utility, and sitework crews, organized by season, plus how to run a talk that crews don't hate.
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July 20, 2026 · 7 minute read
How to bid excavation work without guessing
A practical bidding method for excavation and sitework: the site visit checklist, production rates, the costs everyone forgets, and how to price the risk.
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July 20, 2026 · 5 minute read
T&M or fixed price? How dirt contractors should choose
When time and materials beats a fixed price for excavation and sitework, when it doesn't, and the hybrid most dirt contractors should use more often.
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