I started American AF Dumpsters with two cargo trailers and zero experience in the waste industry. Ninety days later, I had the real numbers — gross revenue, expenses, and the honest truth about what it takes to build this business from scratch. This is the full financial breakdown from my first three months running a dumpster trailer rental operation in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Why I Decided to Share the Numbers
The number one question I get on YouTube is “how much money can you make?” People want the real deal — not some guru selling a course, but actual revenue figures from someone doing the work. So I pulled back the curtain on everything: gross income, landfill fees, fuel costs, insurance, and what I actually took home after 90 days.
If you are thinking about starting a dumpster rental business and want to know what the first few months really look like, this is for you.
The First 30 Days: Getting Started
In my first 30 days, I grossed $7,040.77. That was running two cargo trailers that I converted into dump trailers. I was out there hustling every single day — posting on Craigslist, running Facebook ads, doing whatever it took to get the phone ringing. The work was physical. I was loading trailers by hand, making dump runs, and figuring out the business on the fly.
Those first 30 days taught me more than any YouTube video or business book ever could. I learned which dump sites to use, how to price jobs so I did not lose money, and how to deal with customers who wanted to overload my trailers.
Days 31 Through 90: Scaling and Pivoting
In the next 60 days, I grossed $9,532.94. But here is the important context — during that stretch I sold both cargo trailers and bought a proper dump trailer. For a while I was running just one trailer, and on top of that I was dealing with the holiday slowdown. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s — this is the dead season for the dumpster industry in DFW.
Despite running a single trailer through the slowest time of the year, I was still booking jobs consistently. That told me the demand was real, and if I could survive winter with one trailer, the spring and summer months were going to be a different story entirely.
Total 90-Day Gross Revenue: $16,573.71
Adding it all up, my first 90 days in the dumpster rental business generated $16,573.71 in gross revenue. That number includes dumpster rentals and rock deliveries. I was running 15-yard and 20-yard trailers, charging anywhere from $300 to $450 per rental depending on the load type and distance.
Now let me be clear — that is gross revenue, not profit. To get the real picture, you have to subtract the expenses.
Breaking Down the Expenses
My biggest recurring expense was landfill and transfer station fees. In the DFW area, dump fees range from $45 to over $100 per load depending on the weight and the facility. Over 90 days, those fees added up fast. Fuel was the next biggest hit — I was running a truck back and forth across Dallas and Fort Worth every day, and diesel is not cheap.
Insurance ran me about $200 a month for commercial auto and general liability. I also had my trailer payments, marketing costs for Facebook and Craigslist ads, and miscellaneous expenses like tarps, straps, and locks. After all expenses, I was looking at roughly 40 to 50 percent margins depending on the month.
How Much Time I Actually Spent Working
I tracked my time loosely, and on average I was spending about three hours per job — that includes drive time, drop-off, pickup, and the dump run. Over 90 days I completed 49 jobs, which works out to roughly 12 and a half hours per week. This was a part-time operation while I was building the business.
That is one of the biggest selling points of this business. You do not need to work 60 hours a week to make decent money. Once you have your systems dialed in — your pricing, your dump routes, your customer communication — each job becomes more efficient.
What I Would Do Differently
If I could go back, I would have started with a proper dump trailer from day one instead of converting cargo trailers. The cargo trailers worked, but they were slower to load and unload, and they limited the types of jobs I could take. Switching to a real dump trailer was a game-changer for efficiency and revenue per job.
I also would have invested in a GPS tracker earlier. Knowing exactly where my trailer is at all times gives me peace of mind and helps me manage logistics when I start scaling with multiple units. If you are just starting out, check out my GPS tracker comparison guide for the options I recommend.
The Bottom Line for Anyone Thinking About Starting
Ninety days in, the dumpster rental business proved itself. The demand in DFW was consistent even through the slowest time of year. The startup costs were manageable. And the work itself was not complicated — it just required hustle, good customer service, and a willingness to figure things out on the fly.
If you are sitting on the fence wondering whether this business model works, my first 90 days showed me it absolutely does. The question is not whether you can make money — it is whether you are willing to put in the work to get the phone ringing and keep customers coming back. For more on how to get started, read my guide on how to price a dumpster rental and my breakdown of what I made in my first month.
Book a Dumpster in Dallas–Fort Worth
American AF Dumpsters serves the entire DFW metroplex with reliable, on-time dumpster trailer rentals. Whether you need a bin for a home cleanout, roofing job, or construction project, we have you covered. Book your dumpster rental today or call us to get a quote.
