A tandem tipper (about 10–12 t or roughly 7–9 m³) is the standard for house sites and suburban jobs and typically wet hires for $110–$150 per hour. Truck-and-dog combinations carry about twice as much for bulk earthworks, and 13 kL water carts (about $120–$160 per hour) control dust and condition fill. Driving a tandem tipper needs an HR licence; a truck-and-dog needs HC.
Choosing the tipper
Tippers are usually hired wet with a driver and charged by the hour with a minimum. The right size depends on volume, haul distance and access. Small tippers get into tight streets and driveways; bigger combinations move more per trip but need space to turn and a solid tipping area.
- Small (single-axle) tipper — around 4–6 t; tight access, landscaping and small clean-ups
- Tandem tipper — around 10–12 t; house sites, suburban civil, the most common hire
- Truck and dog — around 25–32 t; bulk earthworks, quarry runs, long hauls
- Semi tipper — around 25–30 t; bulk haulage on open roads
Balance trucks with the excavator
Work out how long the excavator takes to load a truck and how long the round trip to the tip or fill site takes. If the round trip is 60 minutes and loading takes 10, you need about six trucks to keep the excavator busy. Too few trucks and the excavator waits; too many and trucks queue.
Confirm the disposal site first. Tip fees, waste classification (clean fill, VENM, contaminated soil or asbestos) and opening hours can cost more than the trucks.
Water carts
Water carts suppress dust, condition fill to the right moisture for compaction and wash down haul roads. Common sizes are 10–13 kL on a rigid truck and 18–20 kL on larger units. Ask where they can fill—hydrant standpipe permits, bore water and recycled water rules vary by council and water authority.
Licences and road rules
Most tippers are hired with a driver. If you dry hire, the driver needs the right heavy vehicle licence: MR for two-axle rigid trucks over 8 t GVM, HR for three-axle rigid trucks such as tandem tippers and water carts, and HC for truck-and-dog and semi combinations. Loads must be covered and within mass limits, and many councils need permits for trucks standing on the road.
| Truck | Approx. payload | Licence to drive | Indicative wet hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small tipper | 4 – 6 t | LR or MR | $90 – $120 / hour |
| Tandem tipper | 10 – 12 t (≈ 7 – 9 m³) | HR | $110 – $150 / hour |
| Truck and dog | 25 – 32 t | HC | $140 – $190 / hour |
| Water cart 13 kL | 13,000 L | HR | $120 – $160 / hour |
| Water cart 18–20 kL | 18,000 – 20,000 L | HR or HC | $140 – $190 / hour |
Indicative 2026 metro ranges ex GST. Minimum hours (often 4), tip fees and after-hours loadings are extra. Volumes depend on material density.
Find tipper & truck hire suppliers
Compare listed suppliers, machine classes and local conditions in the tipper & truck hire guide, or go straight to your state:
Common questions
How much does tipper truck hire cost?
A tandem tipper with driver typically costs about $110–$150 per hour in metropolitan areas, with a minimum of around 4 hours. Tip fees are extra and vary by material and location.
How many cubic metres does a tandem tipper hold?
About 7–9 m³ of soil, depending on density and legal mass limits. Heavy material such as wet clay or rock reaches the weight limit before the body is full.
What licence do I need to drive a tipper?
It depends on the truck. Tandem (three-axle) tippers need an HR licence, two-axle rigid trucks over 8 t GVM need MR, and truck-and-dog or semi tippers need HC.
Why do I need a water cart?
To control dust, which councils and regulators enforce, and to bring fill to the right moisture content so it can be compacted to specification.