How to Track Dump Truck Loads on a Jobsite

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If you're managing a busy jobsite with multiple dump trucks cycling in and out all day, you already know the problem: at the end of a shift, you need an accurate count of every load for billing — but getting that count is harder than it should be.

Paper log sheets end up soaked, torn, or sitting in someone's truck. Calling out to a spreadsheet takes too long when a truck is waiting at the gate. And relying on memory is a guaranteed billing dispute.

Here's a method that works.

The core problem with dump truck logging

A dump truck log needs to capture two timestamps per load: when the truck arrived empty (IN) and when it left loaded (OUT). From those two numbers you get cycle time, total loads, and the data your billing team needs.

The challenge is doing this fast, while the truck is at the gate, in full sun, with gloves on.

Any system that requires typing, navigating menus, or hunting for the right row will get skipped. And skipped entries mean billing errors.

Build a truck roster first

Before logging starts, build a roster of the trucks on that jobsite. For each truck, record:

• Company name — who is the haul contractor?
• Truck number — the number on the side of the cab
• License plate — for verification at the gate

This roster becomes the foundation of your log. Instead of scrawling truck details for every single load, you tap a truck from a list. It's faster, and it means your CSV export has consistent, clean data — not 12 different spellings of "Robinson Haulage."

Log every load with a simple IN/OUT tap

When a truck pulls in empty, tap IN. The system records the time and marks that truck as currently loading.

When the same truck leaves with a full load, tap OUT. The system stamps the departure time and closes the entry.

That's one complete load record: in-time, out-time, company, truck number, and plate — with no typing.

The visual state matters here too. At a glance, you should be able to see which trucks are currently on site and which have already cycled out. A clear LOADING indicator removes any ambiguity when three trucks are on site at once.

Use Sheet View to review the shift

At the end of a shift, a paper-style sheet view lets you scan the entire day the way you would a printed log — truck by truck, load by load, with time slots laid out in sequence. This is useful for:

• Spotting missed OUT entries before the shift closes
• Reviewing load counts by company for billing disputes
• Confirming that cycle times look reasonable (a 2-minute cycle is a flag)

Export a CSV for billing

Once the shift is done, export the log as a CSV. A well-structured CSV opens cleanly in Excel, Numbers, or whatever your office uses — with columns for company, truck number, plate, time in, time out, and duration.

Your billing team gets what they need without having to chase you down for a paper sheet, and you have a permanent digital record if anything is disputed later.

Tips for a smooth gate operation

1. Set up the roster before the shift starts. Don't add trucks at the gate while others are waiting — do it the night before or first thing in the morning.
2. Use high-contrast mode or auto-brightness. A screen you can't read in direct sun is useless. Make sure your device is set to maximum brightness on sunny days.
3. Assign one person to the log. If two people are both tapping IN/OUT on different devices, you'll end up with duplicate entries. Keep the log on one device per jobsite.
4. Close open entries before export. Any truck that is still marked as LOADING at export time will have an incomplete record. Do a final scan before you close the shift.

Try it on your next shift

SiteHaul is a dump truck IN/OUT log app for iOS built around this exact workflow. You build a roster, tap IN and OUT, review with Sheet View, and export a clean CSV when the shift ends. There's a 10-day free trial — no account required.