Sand, aggregate, blocks, cement, steel and other raw materials are heavy, bulky and usually needed on site at a set time. Moving construction and building materials by road safely and on schedule comes down to three things: a truck that suits the material, a load within weight limits, and a delivery site that is ready to receive it. This guide helps you prepare a clear transport request for a site in Dubai or any other emirate.
Match the truck to the material
How the material is packed decides the truck and the unloading method:
- Loose bulk materials such as sand, aggregate and soil usually travel in tipping trucks and are unloaded by tipping at the agreed spot.
- Palletised materials such as blocks, cement bags and tiles travel on a flatbed truck and need a forklift, a crane or labour to unload on site.
- Long materials such as steel bars and pipes need a flatbed of suitable length, secured well, with any overhang clearly marked.
If you are unsure, describe the material and how it is packed, and the Cargo team will suggest a suitable truck.
Work out the weight before the volume
Construction materials reach a truck’s weight limit long before they fill it, so give the quantity in tonnes where possible, or the number of pallets and the weight of one pallet. An overloaded truck is unsafe and illegal, and a large order may need more than one trip.
An example of a clear request: “20 pallets of blocks, about 1.5 tonnes per pallet, from a factory in Jebel Ali to a villa site in Dubai, forklift at the factory, nothing on site.” With that, the truck, the number of trips and the unloading method can be settled from the start.
Loading at the supplier or quarry
Quarries, suppliers and factories have their own loading hours and procedures. Confirm when the material will be ready and whether the supplier loads the truck, and have the order reference or collection documents ready for the driver so the truck does not wait at the gate.
Covering and securing the load
Loose loads must be covered so material does not blow or spill onto the road, and long items must be secured and marked if they overhang. Ask how the load will be covered and secured when you book.
Prepare the delivery site
The truck needs firm, level ground to tip or unload, away from excavations and overhead lines. Mark exactly where the material should go and agree who will meet the truck. If the material has to move further across the site after delivery, arrange that for the same day: a wheel loader or a forklift can be hired from our equipment rental team through Equipment Rental Enquiries on +971 54 738 8695.
Send your construction material transport request
- the material and how it is packed;
- the quantity in tonnes, or the number of pallets and their weight;
- the pickup location and loading hours, and whether the supplier loads the truck;
- the delivery pin and where to tip or unload;
- the unloading equipment available on site;
- the required delivery time.
Send them to Cargo & Transport Enquiries on +971 55 388 5075 by phone or WhatsApp, or use the cargo enquiry form. For our other road transport services, see cargo transport in Dubai and the road freight planning guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which truck is used for sand or blocks?
Sand, aggregate and other loose materials usually travel in tipping trucks, while blocks and cement bags on pallets go on a flatbed and need a way to unload on site. Describe the material and its packing, and the Cargo team will suggest a suitable truck.
Why does a large order need more than one trip?
Construction materials are heavy and reach a truck’s weight limit before it is full. Overloading is unsafe and illegal, so large quantities are split across several trips.
Can unloading equipment be arranged on site?
Yes. A wheel loader, forklift or mobile crane can be hired from the equipment rental team through Equipment Rental Enquiries on +971 54 738 8695. Say what the heaviest piece weighs and where it has to go.