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Estimating Cubic Yards

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blizzard
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 282 Central Maine
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2003-09-23          64604

I'm having some 3" screened fill delivered. Is there a formula for estimating the cubic yards in a pile, knowing the width, length, and height?

Thanks,
bliz


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TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2003-09-23          64609

The driver should know how much he carried. Tandem axle dump loads are here are around 15 yards. It depends on how the driver loads it. I think you can put more than 15 yards in them but top-cover requirements cut down on the size of loads.

We pay by the load rather than yard here so I tend to think in terms of loads rather than yards. If I wanted to estimate a pile, I'd probably figure the volume of a cone with the top chopped off.
....

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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2003-09-23          64639

Bliz, in our field we use something informally called the "Truck Rule" for verifying the quantity of material delivered. It is surprisingly accurate overall.

Here's how you apply it, before the truck dumps it's load you measure the width, length and height of the load, average a heaped load in height. By multiplying the width, length and height you have the cubic feet, divide that number by 27 (cubic feet in a cubic yard) and you the quantity in yards.

It is easierfor us because as a rule truck dump boxes are only a few standard sizes, so the cubic measure does not have to be calculated every time from scratch, we just adjust the height number and multiply it with the floor size (length by width) which is a constant between loads.

Best of luck. ....

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harvey
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 1550 Moravia, NY
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2003-09-24          64701

Generally truckers do not determine the amount of yards by measuring their boxes. They can tell you how many yards they can haul and stay legal usually it will not be close to the full box.

Loads by the yard are figured at the loader by the size of the bucket. Buckets are sized by the yard. Look at your loader specs and you'll find cubic ft. And generally buying by the yard you will always get get more, loader operators like a nice rounded up bucket.

Usually the loader operator, if experienced, can nail a load very close to weight and yards. The problem with weight is moisture content.

But here a yard of gravel is about 1.5 ton (moisture). Crusher run is 2 ton to the yard.

10 yards (15 ton) of gravel is not a very big pile. Actually it looks very small unless you have to move it with a wheelbarrow and shovel. ....

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Woodie
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 109 Michigan lower
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2004-12-07          101793

Its a close and fast calculator , granted its for concrete buts it darn close for estimating. go to www.concretenetwork.com link to their calculator on left side of page Just plug in length(ft), width(Ft) and inches thick and click you got yards. I found afew places that are selling not by the yard but by tonnage (haven't figured that conversion yet) ....

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grinder
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 677 central Maine
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2004-12-08          101826

Bliz,
I know in Maine they are suppose to have the Max. yardage
the truck can haul posted on the body. I owned and operated
a gravel business, I can tell you that very few trucks can leagally carry more than 14 yds. Un less it's a trailer dump. Some tri-axels can hold more but Maine's weight limits
and DOT rules prohibit them from exceeding the weight.
I found typically they order and pay the pit for 12 yds. and charge the customer for 14. Hard to tell on the ground.
There is a cone formular we use to use for the stacker from the screen, I don't have it off hand anymore. But if you need it I will try to find it.
Get to use your blower this morning? Schools closed,freezing rain! ....

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kubotaguy
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 360 Shepherdstown, WV
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2004-12-08          101829

When I get my stone, they deliver by the ton. They give you a printout from the quarry that lists the cost of the stone as well as the cost of delivery. I try not to order anything after a rain as you don't get nearly as much crusher run when it is wet. Most loads delivered here are between 18 and 20 tons.
Shale is delivered by the load and you don't get anything but a little receipt for it but it is a lot cheaper than stone. ....

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beagle
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1333 Michigan
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2004-12-08          101838

Sand and gravel that is dry and loose, will weigh about 2700lbs/yard. Fill dirt, or a clay and sand mix will be about about the same dry, but could weigh up to 3200lbs/yard if the moisture content is high. So if you don't get it to wet, you are getting about .75 yards/ton. Buying a wet load could get your yield down below .7yards/ton. If you are buying by the ton, the moisture content is important. Like kubotaguy said, don't buy it after a good rain, or you will be getting more water for your dollar. ....

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