How to Prepare for a Bulk Material Delivery

A bulk delivery is simple: our dump truck backs in, the bed goes up, and your material lands in a neat pile right where we agreed. The handful of problems we ever run into — a car in the way, a low branch, a pile dropped farther from the beds than it needed to be — are all avoidable with a few minutes of prep. Here’s what to think through.

1. Get the quantity right before you call

Measure each area and run it through the coverage calculator — length × width × depth, totaled in cubic yards. Order about 10% extra; coming up a yard short means a second delivery fee. Worth knowing the per-truck maximums: 15 yards of mulch, 8 of leaf compost, 6 of topsoil or garden mix, 4 of gravel/stone/sand, or 12,000 lbs of decorative stone. Bigger orders just split into back-to-back trips.

2. Pick the drop spot

Material goes on your driveway or another paved surface — trucks stay on solid ground, so no grass, gravel, or backyard drops. When you pick the spot, think about:

• Pile size: one cubic yard is a 3′ × 3′ × 3′ cube. A 5-yard delivery makes a pile with roughly the footprint of a car.
• Working room: leave space to swing a wheelbarrow around the pile, and a clear route to the beds.
• Distance to the project: the closer the pile, the fewer wheelbarrow trips. Our driver will place it as close as the truck can safely reach.
• The garage: if the pile blocks it, your car is staying in (or out) until the pile is gone. Plan accordingly.

3. Check the truck’s approach

• Width: the truck needs about 10 feet to pass through gates or between obstacles.
• Overhead: the bed raises well above the cab to dump — the drop zone must be clear of low branches and power lines.
• Clear the area: move cars, basketball hoops, and garbage cans out of the approach before the delivery window.

4. Mark it

Lay a tarp on the spot or mark a chalk square. A tarp does double duty — it makes the spot unmistakable for the driver and makes cleanup at the end of the project a matter of lifting the corners.

5. Delivery day

Deliveries run Monday through Saturday, usually within 1–3 days of scheduling (spring books up fast — call early). Payment is due on delivery: cash, check, most major credit cards, or Apple Pay. If anything about the access changes between scheduling and delivery day — construction on the street, a car that won’t start — give us a call and we’ll sort it out.