As others indicated, it is all based on amount and how far they have to travel from the quarry. Another big factor is WHO hauls it for you. You need to find the BIGGEST trucking company in the area because they get a better rate at the quarry.
Example, I have a good friend that is a dump-truck owner-operator and works for a local paving company. I called and inquired about getting a few loads of limestone. He suggested I called a certain company first. I called them, they quoted me $15.75/ton for #57 limestone hauled out of the marion OH quarry. 30 miles to my house which is pretty far. I called my friend back, he said they wont even sell him the stone at that rate and that is why he wanted me to call this other company. Because they do thousands of tons of business/year, and he only does a few hundred. His cost would be the same as if I were to go get it there @ $16/ton. So the big company could DELIVER cheaper than I could even buy for. Probabally similar in your area.
The problem you have is with such a small amount. Only 2-2.5 tons is only going to cost ~$30-$40 for the stone itself. But the truckers have to make money delivering. ~$50 for delivery (if your arent too far) makes the cost per ton MUCH higher with just a few ton than if you were to get a 22T load. Another option....if you have a p/u.....that would only be a few loads to just get yourself.
When I had stone delivered last spring, it was about $21 per ton delivered. This was for what we call #57 limestone. I live in Central Ohio.
What quarry and from who?? That is ~$5/ton higher than I got last summer. Unless you got a small load. Was this a full 20T+ load?
Edit: forgot to add that in my area, gravel (NOT limestone) is about $2/ton cheaper. BUT....the you get LESS volume per ton of gravel vs limestone. And when filling/doing driveways, VOLUME is what matters.
So...If we figure the weight difference....Gravel is 1.5T/yard and limestone is 1.3T/yard, and lets say $16/ton for limestone and $14/ton for gravel......
20T limestone = 15.4 yards = $320
20T gravel.....= 13.3 yards = $280
So....you would need an additional 2.1 yards of gravel to have the same volume. And @ 1.5T/yard, that would be another ~3 tons, or an additional $42, which NOW costs more than limestone. AND limestone lasts a lot longer.
This is just the case in my area though, other areas the price spread may be more due to quarry locations. But for me, it has always made more sense to get limestone. And this is IF you are paying by weight. I know the OP mentioned he was getting quoted yardage, which is how I personally think they should sell any/all fill material, but that would be hard to meter. But at least you wont be getting screwed if it happens to be raining when they load/deliver and you get that big wet load of sand or stone. I cant hep but wonder how many tons of water I have bought and have delivered in a dumptruck over the years:confused2: