A sand and gravel hauling business buys sand, gravel and filling material from permitted quarries and delivers it by dump truck to homes, hardware stores and building sites. Most start with one used six-wheeler, a driver and a helper. The money is made on the margin per cubic metre after the quarry price and diesel, on two or more trips a day, and on keeping the truck on the road instead of in the shop.

This guide walks through what it takes to start a sand and gravel hauling business in the Philippines: the capital, the monthly costs, the permits and the first 90 days. The peso figures are sample estimates for an used 6-wheeler dump truck in Cebu as of October 2026; get your own quotes before you decide.

How much capital you need

The sample comes to about ₱1,678,350 including one month of fixed costs kept as a cash buffer. It splits into truck (₱1,350,000), truck readiness (₱156,000), tools and safety (₱29,500), permits and deposits (₱77,000), launch (₱5,000) and working capital (₱60,850). Other ways to start: mini dump truck for small orders at ₱800,000–₱1.2 million and two or more trucks with a stockyard at ₱4 million–₱7 million.

Monthly costs and break-even

Fixed costs in the sample are ₱60,850 a month; the biggest are driver wage (₱18,200), helper wage (₱15,600) and major repairs set aside (₱8,000). Each cubic metre sold earns about ₱383 after its own costs, so the break-even is 6.2 cubic metres a day, and the startup capital takes about 29 months to come back at full sales.

Permits and registration

Register the business name with DTI (or SEC or CDA), then get the barangay business clearance, the Mayor's permit through the city or municipal BPLO, and BIR registration; register with SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG once you hire. A sand and gravel hauling business also needs: truck registration and plates, professional driver's licence, quarry delivery receipt on every trip and for-hire franchise (ask first). Requirements and fees differ by city, so ask each office for its checklist first. DTI Negosyo Centers help for free.

Where to set up

  • Within about 20 km of a permitted quarry, to save diesel on every trip
  • Near growing subdivisions and areas with many house projects
  • Where truck-ban hours will not block your usual routes
  • Near hardware stores that need regular deliveries

Mistakes to avoid

  • Unpaid deliveries. Cash on delivery for new customers, terms only for proven contractors, and a signed receipt for every load.
  • Breakdowns that stop the truck for days. Daily checks, oil and filters changed on schedule, and the repairs fund kept untouched.
  • Fines for overloading or missing receipts. Load within the limit for your truck, cover the load, and carry the quarry's delivery receipt on every trip.
  • Road accidents. A careful licensed driver, no driving tired, the helper guiding when reversing, and insurance kept current.

Plan it with the starter kit

The Sand & Gravel Hauling · Negosyo Starter Kit has every worksheet behind this guide in a 26-page PDF, plus an Excel calculator: type in your own quotes and it works out your capital, break-even, profit and payback month. It costs ₱349 and downloads right after payment.