Sunset Stone Company guide · Updated 2026-10-21
What arrives
A full load is about 24 tons on a flatbed or step-deck trailer. In 14" wall stone that's roughly 30 to 35 blocks, and each block weighs about 800 to 2,000 pounds. Steps ship on pallets. Slabs and steps are listed by weight on the load sheet, so you know what you're lifting before the truck leaves.
The machine you need
Stone comes off the truck one block at a time. You'll need one of these:
- A skid steer with forks
- An excavator with a thumb
- A telehandler
Check your machine's rated capacity against the block weights above. Quarry slabs are heavier still: a single 18" slab can weigh several tons, so use an excavator with a thumb or a loader with forks rated for the weight. Not sure your machine is big enough? Call us with the model and we'll tell you straight.
Get the site ready
- Firm, level ground. No loading dock is needed. The truck unloads on any firm, level ground it can reach.
- Room to park and turn. A loaded semi needs a firm place to park and turn around. Narrow, steep or soft roads change which trailer we send, so tell us about access when you ask for a quote.
- A staging spot. Decide where the stone will sit before the truck arrives, close to the wall but clear of the work.
- Season. Spring road weight limits on some routes and thawing ground can make a site hard to reach. Tell us your timeline and we'll plan the date with you.
Delivery day
The driver calls ahead before arriving. About 1.5 hours of unload time is included; longer unloads can run detention, so have the machine fueled, the operator on site and the staging spot clear before the truck pulls in. Keep people clear of the trailer and the machine while stone is moving.
Every truck crosses a certified scale, and you pay for the tons on the scale ticket. Your customer portal shows each load from loading to delivery at your site.
Picking up instead
Have your own trucks? Natural wall stone can be picked up at the quarry near Wamego, and 12" milled and sawn stone at our Kansas City location, by appointment. Call first so the load is staged.
Quick answers
How long do I have to unload?
About 1.5 hours of unload time is included with the delivery; longer unloads can run detention.
Do I need a loading dock?
No. The stone unloads on any firm, level ground the truck can reach.
What equipment unloads wall stone?
A skid steer with forks, an excavator with a thumb, or a telehandler.