How to Start a Material Handling Business
Loading, stockpile management, and pallet work with skid steers
Material handling tracks closely to base wet-hire rates since it uses standard attachments. Rates range from $80-$250/hr depending on market. This service offers consistent work supporting construction sites, landscapers, and industrial operations. Lower barrier to entry since you need basic attachments (bucket, forks) rather than specialized equipment.
$100-$145
National avg/hr
$700-$1,200
Day rate (8 hrs)
Year-round
Demand
$25K-$40K
Used machine
Common Material Handling Jobs
Stockpile Management
Moving and organizing gravel, sand, mulch, topsoil stockpiles. 20-40 cubic yards/hr typical throughput.
Truck Loading
Loading dump trucks or trailers. Consistent work at aggregate yards, landscape suppliers, farms.
Pallet Moving
Palletized materials on job sites or yards. Better rough-terrain capability than forklifts.
Construction Site Support
General material moving for construction crews. Often contracted by day or week.
Day and Week Rates
Material handling often books by the day or week, offering volume discounts:
Hourly
$100-$150/hr
Standard rate
Daily (8 hrs)
$700-$1,200
12-15% discount
Weekly (40 hrs)
$3,000-$5,000
20-25% discount
Equipment Requirements
Base Machine
Mid-size machines with good rated operating capacity (ROC) and visibility work best.
Key Attachments
Standard bucket: Usually included.
Pallet forks: $1,500-$3,000 used.
Grapple bucket: $2,000-$5,000 used.
High-capacity bucket: $1,000-$2,500 used.
Total Startup Cost
$45,000 - $80,000
Mid-size skid steer + attachments + trailer + tow vehicle
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