Most people have figured out by now that roll off dumpster rentals are a convenient, affordable way to get rid of all that old junk laying around. A "roll off" dumpster is simply a big trash can that "rolls off" of the back of the truck.
When it comes to loading a roll off dumpster, you might not think there is much to it. But, how you load the dumpster can affect your total cost. If the dumpster is too heavy, or over filled, it can result in extra charges that you didn't originally plan on. At the same time, you want to maximize the amount of debris and junk you throw away so you get the most bang for your buck.
Below we will go over 8 tips on how to load a roll off dumpster. We hope these tips help you get the most value from your next dumpster rental, and prevent any extra fees.
Roll off dumpsters have a door that swings out on one end. It's simple to open and close this door. There is a handle with a latch. Just lift and swing the door open. It makes it very easy to load the larger sizes. Remember to load the larger, heavier items first.
You should always break down any items you can to get the most out of your roll off dumpster rental. Boxes are easy to break down. But, if there are other things that don't take much effort to break down, do those too. Things like small wood pallets, for example. Or, breaking down a bed frame into the sections. The bottom line is smaller pieces will give you more room for more items.
When you first start loading the dumpster, you should be putting in the heavier, bulkier items on the bottom. But, make sure you don't have all the weight at one end of the dumpster. This can make it difficult for the truck to pick up, which could end up in extra charges. This is called an "uneven load", and it presents safety issues, both when picking up the dumpster and when hauling it.
Put the heaviest items on the bottom. These items should be loaded first. And remember when loading heavy items, spread them out evenly from front to back. If you are disposing of very heavy material like rock, brick or concrete, you should consider only filling the dumpster half full. Dumpsters with this kind of material can get heavy quickly, which can increase your cost. At Trash Daddy, we have experts in loading very heavy material while keeping your total cost as affordable as possible.
If you load a roll off dumpster with some heavy items, or if the dumpster is overflowing on top, you MAY have to remove a few items if the dumpster is difficult to pick up. This is something that people forget all the time when renting dumpsters. Occasionally if a dumpster is over filled or too heavy it needs to be "off loaded". This simply means removing a few items so the dumpster can be hauled away.
If this happens to you and the driver cannot lift the dumpster, or there is too much on top, you can make your life a lot easier if you can still open the door. Then all you have to do is open the door and remove some items.
If you do end up needing to offload the dumpster, having a few large items right near the door will make this much easier. Simply open the door, and remove some of the items right near the door.
After loading all of your larger, heavier items, now it's time to fill in any gaps. All the small junk and trash can just be tossed in wherever there is space. But, try to make sure the items are secure if possible. Do not just throw small items on top of the pile as they could fall off during transit.
This is one of the most common problems in the roll off dumpster rental world. People just keep "piling on", not realizing the safety issues of hauling that dumpster away. All dumpsters have a fill line, which is just under the top rim of the dumpster. You should never fill a dumpster to the absolute top, and items should never be sticking out on top. The debris should be level with the top of of the dumpster and below the fill line. This ensures the dumpster can be hauled away safely and without extra cost to you!
Please keep in mind that if you overfill a dumpster, you will most likely have to offload it before it can be hauled. This can result in a "dry run" fee for a driver coming out and then having to come back. Just remember to keep all junk and trash just below the top edge and level on top.
Our team has been in the roll off dumpster rental industry for over 15 years, and we have seen it all. We hope these 8 tips on how to load a roll off dumpster helps you with your next rental. Of course if you have any questions, we would love to hear from you. Thanks for reading!
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