Dirt Hauling and Material Import and Export in Sacramento

Almost every excavation job moves material one way or the other. Digging a foundation or trench creates soil that has to go somewhere. Building up a pad, backfilling a retaining wall or surfacing a driveway needs material to be brought in. Hauling, import and export covers both sides of that.

When you need hauling

Typical reasons include taking excess soil away after foundation, trench or pool work, removing demolition debris, bringing in fill to raise a low area or finish a pad, delivering base rock or gravel for a driveway, and moving material around a large site. It often goes along with another service rather than standing on its own.

How a typical job runs

1. Site walk and quantities. We look at what is being moved, how much, where it is coming from and where it is going. We note access for trucks and where material can be staged.
2. Decide the material. For export, we figure out whether the soil is reusable or needs to be disposed of. For import, we confirm the type: fill, base, gravel or other, and whether any engineering requirements apply.
3. Utility locate. California law requires contacting USA North 811 before digging, at least two working days ahead. See call 811 before you dig in California.
4. Loading and hauling. Material is loaded and moved, with attention to street access and cleanliness.
5. Placement. Imported material is spread and placed as agreed. For compacted fill, your plans or engineer may specify how.
6. Cleanup. The loading area and haul route are left tidy.

Hauling is usually part of a bigger project, so also look at site grading and pad preparation and rock and gravel placement.

Local conditions that matter

Clay-rich soils common in the Sacramento Valley are heavy when wet and sticky to load, and in the wet season, roughly November to April, trucks and equipment have a harder time working on soft ground and reaching the site. Soil in the foothills often includes rock and decomposed granite, which may or may not be reusable as fill, depending on the specification.

In established neighborhoods, narrow streets, alleys, overhead lines and parked cars limit truck access and staging. Rural parcels have different issues, such as long driveways, soft shoulders and gates. Where soil is being exported from older sites, it can contain debris or unknown fill, and that changes how it can be handled. Floodplain and levee-area rules can affect whether fill may be placed on a site at all, so confirm with the jurisdiction before importing material.

Permit requirements vary by city and county, and some grading and fill work needs approval. Confirm with your jurisdiction before you start. The article site prep for a new home pad explains how fill and compaction fit into a build.

What to have ready for an estimate

• What is being hauled and the approximate volume
• Where the material is coming from and where it needs to go
• Access details: street width, gate size, overhead lines, tight turns
• Any engineering or compaction requirements
• Your timeline, including when the excavation or grading starts

This is typical scope. The final service list and scope are confirmed per job in your written estimate. Contact us to request one.