How Much Does a Dump Truck of Gravel Cost in East Tennessee?

If you're sizing up a driveway, foundation pad, or base project and trying to figure out the budget, "how much does a dump truck of gravel cost" is the right question to ask. The answer isn't a single number. It depends on the truck, the material, and how far it's hauled. The variables are all knowable, and once you've got them, you can get an accurate quote quickly.

Here's the breakdown for East Tennessee in 2026.

The Short Answer

Three things set the price of a delivered load: how many tons the truck carries, the per-ton cost of the material, and how far the truck drives. For current RCA pricing and delivery from SMSG, call (865) 999-0857 and we'll give you an all-in number on the spot.

What Goes Into a Dump Truck Price

Four things:

1. Material cost: the per-ton price of what you're hauling
2. Truck capacity: how many tons fit
3. Delivery distance: round trip from our yard in Maryville
4. Sales tax: Blount County is 9.75% on residential deliveries

A walk through each.

Material Cost: Recycled Usually Wins

The material itself is usually the biggest single line item. In East Tennessee, recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is generally one of the most economical choices for base work, while virgin crushed limestone, pea gravel, and decorative landscape stone typically cost more per ton.

What we sell:

• RCA crusher run: 3/4" minus with fines. Compacts hard. Driveways, base, pads.
• RCA #57: clean, roughly 3/4" to 1" recycled concrete with no fines. Drainage and French drains.

We don't sell virgin stone. If you want to keep cost down on base or drainage, RCA is the move. Call (865) 999-0857 for current pricing. We dig into driveway use in our RCA for driveways guide.

Truck Capacity: Buy the Biggest Truck You Can Use

This is where homeowners often leave money on the table. Per-ton delivery cost goes DOWN as truck size goes UP. A tandem dump delivering 12 tons is way cheaper per ton than two smaller trucks delivering 6 tons each.

Breakdown:

Single-Axle Dump (5-7 tons)

The smaller residential truck. Good for tight driveways and small loads. Cost per ton is higher because you're spreading the delivery cost across fewer tons.

Use it when: You have access constraints or a small job (under 8 tons total).

Tandem-Axle Dump (10-14 tons)

The workhorse. Most residential and small commercial deliveries go in a tandem. Best balance of capacity and access.

Use it when: You have a normal residential driveway and need 8-14 tons.

Tri-Axle Dump (16-22 tons)

Bigger truck, biggest load. Lower per-ton cost when you can take the full load.

Use it when: You have wide access (easy turnaround) and need 15+ tons. Common for large rural driveways, building pads, and contractor jobs.

Tractor-Trailer / Belly Dump (22-25 tons)

For bulk projects. Best per-ton economics but requires great access.

Use it when: You're moving 22+ tons and have room for a full-size rig to maneuver.

Delivery Distance: The Real Variable

We're at 245 Brookdale Rd, Maryville. Delivery cost is driven by round-trip drive time and fuel. A load to Maryville or Alcoa costs less to deliver than one to Knoxville, Lenoir City, or Sevierville, and loads beyond about 40 miles are quoted case by case.

Mileage adds up fast on long hauls. It's not just fuel, it's driver time, equipment wear, and the truck not being available for other deliveries. See our trucking page for coverage, and call (865) 999-0857 for a delivered price to your address.

A Real Example: Tandem Dump of RCA to Maryville

You want a single tandem load (12 tons) of RCA crusher run delivered to your house in Maryville. What goes into the quote:

• Material: 12 tons of RCA crusher run
• Delivery: local Maryville run
• Tax: 9.75%

Call (865) 999-0857 and we'll give you the total. That load is enough RCA to put a 4-inch surface on a roughly 600 square foot driveway (about 12' x 50'). The same project in asphalt paving would cost several times more. For a full build walkthrough, see how to build a gravel driveway.

A Bigger Example: Tri-Axle Dump of RCA #57 to Knoxville

Now you want a 20-ton load of RCA #57 delivered to a job site in Knoxville for a drainage layer. What goes into the quote:

• Material: 20 tons of RCA #57
• Delivery: Knoxville run, longer than a local Maryville delivery
• Tax: depends on jurisdiction (Knox County also has local tax)

Call (865) 999-0857 for the exact number. We'll quote it on the spot.

For tighter budgeting, use our aggregate calculator to nail down your tonnage, then call for the delivered price.

What If I Don't Need a Full Truck?

Two options:

1. Pick it up yourself. Bring a pickup truck or trailer to our yard and we'll load you up. No delivery charge. Don't overload. A 1/2-ton pickup tops out at about 1.5 tons of gravel safely.

2. Get a partial load delivered. We'll still send a truck with whatever tonnage you need, but the delivery cost is spread across fewer tons. Usually less economical than picking it up yourself.

For small projects (under 3 tons), DIY pickup almost always wins on cost.

Tonnage Per Cubic Yard (Rough Reference)

When suppliers and contractors talk gravel, they sometimes use cubic yards instead of tons. Quick conversions:

Material	Tons per Cubic Yard
RCA / crushed concrete	~1.3 - 1.5
Crusher run	~1.4 - 1.5
#57 stone	~1.3
Pea gravel	~1.3
Sand	~1.4

So a 12-yard dump truck of crusher run is roughly 17 tons. A 6-yard load is roughly 9 tons. For a full breakdown of when to use which unit, read our companion post on tons vs. cubic yards.

Hidden Costs to Watch For

A few things that can sneak into a delivery quote:

• Wait time fees: some yards charge if the driver has to wait for you to be ready to receive
• After-hours surcharges: we deliver during business hours; off-hours costs more wherever you go
• Difficult access: very tight driveways, soft ground, low overhead. Call us before you book if you've got concerns
• Minimum charges: most yards have a minimum delivery charge that makes very small loads less economical per ton

We're up front on all of it. Call (865) 999-0857 with your specifics and we'll give you the real number.

What To Expect

The cost of a dump truck of gravel in East Tennessee swings with truck size, material, and distance. RCA delivered in a full tandem load locally is usually the most economical way to buy base material.

To get an exact quote:

1. Use our calculator to estimate tonnage
2. Check our aggregate for sale page to pick the right product
3. Call (865) 999-0857 for current pricing and delivery, or hit the contact form

We're open Monday through Friday 7 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 8 AM to noon at 245 Brookdale Rd, Maryville. We deliver throughout Blount and Knox counties and the surrounding region.

Driveway, pad, base, drainage: we'll get the stone there.