Don't forget to pump up the tires if you are running a full load.
My 1/2 ton has a pay load of ~1500 lbs.
The real problem is how much does the load weigh? If you are buying top soil and it has been raining, the top soil is much heavier than dry top soil. I'm guessing that wet top soil weighs no more than 100 lbs per cu ft or 1350 lbs for 1/2 yard, so I limit my top soil purchase to 1/2 yard. Loader operator says "she'll take more", but he may be thinking it's a 3/4 ton or some other customers let him overload their trucks.
