Safety & Trust

Draft site content by Dirt Trade. General tips only. You are responsible for your own deals, sites, and safety.

Know who you're dealing with

• Ask for the company name, and look up the business on the Idaho Secretary of State business search: https://sosbiz.idaho.gov/search/business
• If the work requires it, ask whether they're a registered contractor. Idaho's contractor registration is run by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses: https://dopl.idaho.gov/
• Ask for proof of insurance for haulers working on your property.
• Check for a website, reviews, or references from past jobs.

Meeting and site visits

• Meet at the site during daylight, and bring a coworker if you can.
• Tell someone where you're going.
• Look at the material in person, or get recent photos, before you commit.

Site access and permission

• Only dump on property where the owner has given permission. Get it in writing (an email or text works).
• Agree on exactly where to dump, how trucks get in and out, and any gates, hours, or neighbor concerns.
• Check whether the work needs a grading or fill permit (see our Clean Fill Guidelines).

Keep records

• Use load tickets or a simple log for each truckload: the date, truck, approximate yards, source, and destination.
• Write down what you agreed on: material, quantity, price or no charge, who hauls, and the timing.
• Keep receipts for any payment.

Truck and site safety

• Keep people, kids, and pets clear of backing trucks and dumping beds.
• Watch for overhead power lines when trucks raise their beds.
• Call 811 before you dig. Idaho's one-call center is Digline: https://www.digline.com/
• Make sure the ground can take the weight of a loaded truck, especially near septic systems, sprinklers, and soft ground.

Scams and warning signs

• Requests for payment by gift card, wire, crypto, or a payment app before any material moves
• Fake "overpayment" checks with a request to refund the difference
• Pressure to decide immediately, or refusal to meet or show the material
• Someone offering to pay you to accept large volumes of unknown material
• Links asking you to log in somewhere unfamiliar

The FTC explains common scams here: https://consumer.ftc.gov/ . If you see a suspicious listing, email thedirttrade@gmail.com.

— Dirt Trade