$ per hour

[amxgerry]

little excavators etc 100 bux an hour or more??? u.s. yet maybe??? do you guys charge travel time as well?

up here i get 55 canadian per hour for 30 size 6500 lb with swing boom, hydraulic thumb etc

55.00 canadian for 863 bobcat

hoping to get 65.00 for the 45 size 10.000 lb excavator i just got.

so i was really wondering what other guys in other areas get , and how do ya price jobs?

for example if i tow a machine with my 3 ton dump, and then use truck on job, i still charge 55.00 per hr, as long as i only run 1 at a time.. might even supply the bobcat as well if a few day job!
i seldom charge travel time as most people dont want to pay it.

sounds like thats to cheap maybe, but maybe thats why i stay pretty busy.

regards gerry

[CascadeScaper]

Wow, we get $75 an hour U.S. for a skid steer and $85 an hour for a 7,300 pound mini excavator. We usually charge one hour for load/unload, all of our driving is within reasonable distance, no more than 20 minutes of actual drive time.

[smalltime]

We also charge travel time, those dump trucks like fuel too much not to. When you factor in the cost of the tires on the truck & the trailer, plus your time involved in replacing those tires, maintaining the truck, cleaning the truck, & the insurance, taxes, etc. on the truck & trailer, I think you HAVE to charge something for travel, even if it is a reduced rate. If your customers give you any negative feedback from it, just explain to them all of your costs. I have even gone so far as to tell some guys "if you want to let me use your truck to tow the machine, then I will gladly not charge travel time". It is amazing how many people will pay for travel when faced with that option.

[bobcatuser]

This is average in Vancouver BC

Skid steer with general purpose bucket and operator $65-$75 HR. plus $100 move charge.

Compact excavator (6,000-10,000 LB.) $70-$80 HR. plus $100 - $125 for a move charge.

If you are running the equipment by yourself it is better to price the job as a contract or unit pricing. When you are charge by the hour that’s all you will ever make. Look for work other contractors won't do, maybe you have the right machine for the job and can make a profit.

I built a city walking trail this summer 350' long with road base surfacing. Total construction took four 12 HR. days with 2 trucks hauling and a Bobcat 334 clearing and spreading material.

For this project the city had only 1 other company willing to bid, they were 25% over my bid. After completing the job and reviewing expenses my Bobcat 334 was earning $ 312.00 HR. If the city were to hire me at the "average hourly rate contractors chagre" I would be making $75 HR.

[Nac]

I charge 500 a day for my John Deere 250II the same for my Komatsu Pc45. 1 day min. no travel charge was planning on going to 550 in 2006.

[CascadeScaper]

That's another thing, set minimums. We will not drive anywhere for less than 4 hours of work and if it turns out to be less than 4 hours they get charged for the 4 hours.

[cat320]

Well I get a min like 4 hours this time will include me leaving the shop and getting back unless its far away then I will charge for transport and start the time then. But some times your better off to give a lump sum price with those extra provitions for hitting a water table or ledge . or any other unhiden problems.

[CascadeScaper]

Lump sums really are the way to go, but you have to set a base price for your services so you can at least know what your costs are first, then throw a little bit in for provisions. I know I've been on a couple jobs where I hit rock and I'm glad I threw in an extra hour of provision on a small job.

[Ford LT-9000]

Contractors here with 10-11,000lb minis charge 65-70 per hour which will get higher if the price of fuel stays the way it is. The contractors rates are pretty close to the same nobody is undercutting each other as there is enough work to go around.

It all depends on the job on how you want to charge it out if its a easy cut and dry job then bid it. If its a tough job where your running into unseen problems its got to be by the hour. You can end up loosing money where the customer says oh I want that done I want this done and your doing a bunch of extra work for no money.

If the job is only 1-2 hours most definatly charge a extra fee most contractors will tell the customer if I'am in the area I can do the job as they are so busy doing jobs where the machine is on a site from a full day to a week.

One thing about 10,000lb sized machines is they are easy to move the best way to move them is on a rolloff truck. Walk the machine into the bin strap it in pull the box onto the truck go to the next job. Most contractors here have tandem axle tilt trailers as the common sized machine here for landsclearing is 160 Deere/Hitachi.

If you have to have a truck tractor and lowbed a 200 sized machine like a 690 Deere to the site most definatly a move in charge is in order as the low bed is a separate contractor. The lowbed guy is around 120 dollars per hour so the customer has to pay that.

Is your economy moving as good as it is here on the South Coast right now things are busy its slow because of the holiday season but there is lots of building work going on.

[haF.AST]

I just got 2 jobs for my Komatsu PC-09 (2100lb excavator) both at $100 per hour trenching for an electrician. I usually get $50 per hour for travel(GMC 3500 w/16" trailer). I get $50 an hour for my New Holland LS120 skid loader(1850lbs)

[atgreene]

I charge $100 per hour for my Takeuchi 135 with all four buckets/attachments or $750 per day.

I also charge $75 to move the equipment.

The truck (8 yard) gets $60 per hour regardless of on-site or on-road.

Compactor is $40 (plate compactor).

I started out at $75 per hour and quickly realized that with the clean-up bucket and other attachments and the fact that I've been running excavators since I was 17 (18 years) that I could do an amazing ammount of work in a short time. Nobody says anything about $100 per hour and if their a good customer (I have a list of about 150 that I work for) I give them an extra hour or cut them some slack by not chrging for moving.

It's all what the market will bear.

[John Banks]

The truck (8 yard) gets $60 per hour regardless of on-site or on-road.



This is what I get for my single axle 10 yard 33kgvw Freightliner. I've talked to a couple of other guys in the area with same size truck and it's where they're at. I know what my costs are and where I need to be. Obviously I want to get as much as possible without pricing myself out of the market. I sell myself on service and reliability.

[atgreene]

I've recently been hiring a friend of mine for small trucking and some on site work. He has a Chevy 3500 HD with a 14' flatbed dump. With sideboards he can haul 4-5 yards (freighted). We've agreed on $45 per hour, sound fair? What do 1 ton dumps get, and have the prices jumped with fuel increases this spring?

[Dwan Hall]

Eq. delivery $150
TB070 $150/hr.
975 bobcat w/atchments $150/hr
Pelican street sweeper $150/hr
Elgin aircub $150/hr
labor $50/hr
hand power tools, (drill,saw,etc.) $25/hr.
large power tools, (compactor, trencher, steem cleaner etc. $45/hr
3 yd dump truck (roll off beds) $75/hr
10 Yd dump truck $100/hr

all work 4 hr minimum.
All materials are marked up 33% before resale.

I am to busy to work any cheaper.

[jmac]

Dawn I love those numbers!! I wish we could get that here is central New York. Very competitive and about 200 excavators in the phone book. The going rate is about $100 per hour for finish dozer the same for 60-120 excavator and $75 for mini and skid steers. Dump truck $65 for single and $75for tri axle. MOB is around $150 each way. I try and quote the job not the hour and try work towards getting it done faster. We have to quote about 10 jobs to get 2-3 of them. Always someone cheaper. All this holds true for residential. Commercial is whole different story. Site work is much better IMO and takes months instead of days. Bigger money, longer to get paid but can help your year allot. I would rather do 100k job for 2-3 months than chase around 20 $5000 jobs any day. The GC's you work for can kill you, I know this the hard way. Any of you other guys in the same boat? How many of you do site work compared to residential?

[Coastal]

I prefer residential, I have a good network of builders now, and basically just go where they tell me, I bill them, no questions, they pay within a week. Its a very simple system, and I dont have any large outstanding invoices.

I charge $90 per hour for my Kubota KX161

$80 per hour for my bobcat T300

I add on an hour for delivery, and im just about to figure out what to charge for my new to me Kubota U35!

[kamerad47]

That's great I hope you get paid in a week . Because that's the # 1 problem I have in this biz is getting paid$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These guys are all trying to get you to do more fore less & then hold on to the $$$ for 60-90 days!!!!!!!!

[jmac]

Some times getting the all mighty dolor is the trick for sure. Every site work job we have done for a GC has a wonderful thing called a residual at the end of the job and they hold back 10% for final payment. I still have one from last August for a job that the paving contractor screwed up and I still have not been paid. The GC's here don't pay until they get paid. Finding the correct mix of residential and commercial is the key IMO. Jobs you get paid when done and bigger jobs to keep everything moving. I made a big investment and need the cash flow.
When I started out I thought all I needed was a skid and a pick up. Found out that in my world that was not enough to compete. Not enough small work to go around and most of the landscapers had what I had. But now I find myself in middle. Have a dozer, small ex and large ex, skid steer, dump truck, 70" single drum roller, attachments, and bunch of other stuff so bigger than the landscaper with a skid steer but by no means the size much larger guys with fleets of equipment. Sorry for the rant but I must not be the only guy feeling growing pains. I think there is a saying that the guy in middle gets squeezed!! Stay very small or try and get big. If I was in a booming economy part like done south or out west I bet a guy with a skid and pick up could make a nice living. Hum, I could move, naw my wife would get pissed. Tell me what the rest of you guys do? Is the bulk of your work done with a skid and mini ex? Is it residential? How do you chase that much work around to keep busy everyday with out commercial work? You would have to do a lot of job quoting. Does the moving equipment eat up profit and time if move every week? Are some of you guys part time and how many are full time owner operator?

I would appreciate some incite in how the rest of the world does things. Thanks

[Jeff D.]

I haven't had any issues with getting paid(as of yet)but I only work for one general contractor,and the jobs I pick up independantly aren't alot.I'm definately a "part timer" in any one field,in as much as I do several very different types of work,and sum of the parts makes the whole.

Time wise,for payments:
Trucking:as soon as I return signed BOL's for the loads.Once weekly,DD within 1-2hrs of receiving.
Dirt hauling:when the load is dumped,if multiple,upon delivery of last load.
Skid steer/backhoe:
private party,upon job completion I get the check before I leave.
For the general,2 weeks the longest (so far)
Plowing:Monthly(I keep track of the times plowed,and drop a bill to them.Usually I'm paid at the next plowing,or by mail.)

My jobs are usually smaller jobs,and rarely are they more than a day in length.The job diversity seems to benifit me,in that one type of work picks up when another is slow.There are times when one area will cause me to have to scale back in another area,and the juggling of jobs can be very hard.I've upset some people when I just can't be there when they need me.(This usually happens in the trucking area)The homeowners have been the most understanding in this regard,but the biggest pain to work for.(for me atleast)They're the ones that want extra work for free the most,and can't understand why equipment cost so much to run.

Another area that I try very hard is keeping my overhead down.I'm not a big fan of making payments,although it's a necessity.This has caused me to own older equipment(except for my semi)and pay cash for purchasing anything I buy.I also TRY and do as much maintanance as I can myself,but some things are just to big.By having everything paid for(except my house and semi),there's little money going out when I'm not working.My bank account balance has some real highs(holiday season) and lows(late winter/spring)so I try and make sure I've built it up before the lean time arrives.

I'de always been a OTR trucker(O/O),so doing this other stuff is fairly new to me,business wise.Time will tell if I'm doing it right,or even if I know what the @%&$ I'm talking about.But you did ask,so.....:rolleyes:

[Lance Carbuncle]

I have a PC35 that I bought just for my own use on my property. I have become pretty good on it, though I have nobody to compare myself with :) I have a couple thousand hours on compact excavators over the last few years. I am self employed in another field, and have never though of actually putting my equipment to work, but it would be a nice change of pace to work with my machine a few days a month. In addition to the PC35, I have a rubber tracked off road dumper, and am soon to have a little D21 Dozer or CTL.

My question is...... since I have no clue.... so please don't flame me for souding stupid, I don't want to break any laws or go out and undercut you people who do this for a living........ Do you need a contractors license to work a machine on a residential job such as pulling stumps or grading someoe's private roads? can you work FOR a contractor without any license? I am in California.

Lance

[atgreene]

Good question Lance, welcome to HEF and remember, we all (or most of us) started where you are now.

I don't know about CA, but in Maine you do not need a license but you definitely need insurance. No matter what you do, make sure your fully covered should someone get hurt or you do damage to someoens property. Here in Maine it's called an Inland-Marine policy. It covers everything under the sun for excavation. If your only doing landscaping you may get away with a landscaping policy for minor earthwork but may technichally not cover you for digging for things like septic systems and foundations.

(on edit) As far as pricing, see what others are charging, even better, work closely with someone you trust who will sub you in so you can get some work to get started. Until you build up a customer base and reputation you may end up with some jobs that are in less demand ( a nice way of saying you'll get all the nut cases who want some earthwork done that noone else will work for) but thats the cost of starting-up.

Good luck.

[rino1494]

Some townships require a contractors license to work within the township. One township we did work in also sends you a letter each year and you have to pay them .1% of the money that you grossed in that township each year.

[Orchard Ex]

Lance, I'm not in CA, but in where I am in MD you do need a license to do that type of work. For anything such as grading a driveway, pulling stumps, landscaping putting in a fence at a residence you need a MD home improvement commission license. If we are strictly working commercial or new home construction we need a "contractors license". As always YMMV...
Good luck

[dayexco]

make sure you have XCU insurance...stands for explosion, collapse, underground....many jobsites won't allow you on them without it

[tylermckee]

$110 an hour on excavator 140 and 160 size machines
$90 an hour for tandem axle truck

[NWH]

The rates sure sound good everywhere else.
$75 per hour for a 120 size excavator ,$60-65 per hour for 450 - 550
dozer and $ 55 per hour four a 14ft class backhoe ! The great state
of Louisiana.

[Dwan Hall]

The rates sure sound good everywhere else.
$75 per hour for a 120 size excavator ,$60-65 per hour for 450 - 550
dozer and $ 55 per hour four a 14ft class backhoe ! The great state
of Louisiana.

$55/hr for a 14' backhoe? does the operator get paid?



Dwan

[atgreene]

I cherge $ 85.00 per hour to bushhog with my 6' bushhog on a 55 horse Kubota, I can't imagine working a backhoe for those peanuts. How do you pay insurance and fuel?

[murray83]

those aren't so bad,rates around here are just as bad

$50/hr for a tandem dump
$75/hr for a dump trailer
$50-60/hr for backhoes
$45-60/hr for dozers D3-D6 sizes
$50/hr for mini excavators
$100-120/hr for a 200 size excavator

and a local guy last i herd was charging $65/hr for his sweeper

[mflah87]

I just got 2 jobs for my Komatsu PC-09 (2100lb excavator) both at $100 per hour trenching for an electrician. I usually get $50 per hour for travel(GMC 3500 w/16" trailer). I get $50 an hour for my New Holland LS120 skid loader(1850lbs)
I bet you make more money with that little machine than we do with a bigger machine due to the demand of it. I rented a few from united rentals to do jobs, and thought about buying my own and sending it out with an operator when i had no work for it based on the amount of money i could get for it.

[mtb345]

:ban i like to work with home owners because you get paid at the end of the day or the is going back in the hole

[digdeeper]

$75/hr an hour sounds good for a mini excavator, we are getting only 125.00 for our cat 320. Here is our other price's
D4 dozer 60/hr
Back hoe 60/hr
dumb truck 75/hr
D7H dozer 125-150hr
D8K 200/hr
75 hp tractor with side mount 5foot bush hog 125/mile
140 cat motor grader 75/hr
We do very little work by the hour, we can make alot more money by bidding it out. Everybody and there brother has a dozer and backhoe here in alabama so the market on that kind work is tight

[haF.AST]

I did a little changing for the 08 season and have been averaging $100-125 for the excavator, $75 -$100 for the skid steer and $60 for the dump. Never worked less than a 40 hour week this year...most were over 60 hours! Can't be too high, I still have work lined up and the weather is starting to crap on me:mad:

[nedly05]

$75/hr an hour sounds good for a mini excavator, we are getting only 125.00 for our cat 320. Here is our other price's
D4 dozer 60/hr
Back hoe 60/hr
dumb truck 75/hr
D7H dozer 125-150hr
D8K 200/hr
75 hp tractor with side mount 5foot bush hog 125/mile
140 cat motor grader 75/hr
We do very little work by the hour, we can make alot more money by bidding it out. Everybody and there brother has a dozer and backhoe here in alabama so the market on that kind work is tight

He must not like his dump truck, he thinks its dumb:beatsme

[BIGDAN315]

Dawn I love those numbers!! I wish we could get that here is central New York. Very competitive and about 200 excavators in the phone book. The going rate is about $100 per hour for finish dozer the same for 60-120 excavator and $75 for mini and skid steers. Dump truck $65 for single and $75for tri axle. MOB is around $150 each way. I try and quote the job not the hour and try work towards getting it done faster. We have to quote about 10 jobs to get 2-3 of them. Always someone cheaper. All this holds true for residential. Commercial is whole different story. Site work is much better IMO and takes months instead of days. Bigger money, longer to get paid but can help your year allot. I would rather do 100k job for 2-3 months than chase around 20 $5000 jobs any day. The GC's you work for can kill you, I know this the hard way. Any of you other guys in the same boat? How many of you do site work compared to residential?

I also live in central NY. I am charging $ 65 for a 580 backhoe and 450 case dozer. same for my pc 40 excavator. I charge buy the load for my single axle s 1900 $ 75 for a single load plus materials down from there the more loads the better deal I give. Am I too low? I know the comp. is fierce with every one jumping on the band wagon. seems like every farmer around here has a machine and hires out. Not to mention the rental places that rent a machine for 200 a day. I mean ya got to do what you got to do to survive in this buis right? :Banghead

[jazak]

A good operator here with his own equipment is getting;

$100+ for a mini excavator / per hr.
$85+ for a skid steer / per hr.

Most of them also will charge travel time................

[GaryKelley]

That does it, I'm moving to Juneau, Alaska

[bobcat ron]

I'm charging $50 for the Hitachi 27, and $65 for the Cat 247, any attachments are an extra $10-40 per hour and mving it is $50-100 depending on kilometers/travel time.

[iron kid]

287 B CAT $75
185 NH $60
Dump truck $65
410 G deere $115
low boy $105
D5 $100
D7 $145
110 ex $115
200ex $145
270ex $165
Plate/man $45
60in roller $65
labor $35
hammer(200) $175
Small tractor $65
attachments $25-50
rock or pipe $ 25% mark up

[BrianHay]

Kaiser X4M TurboStar $***/hour. If we use any attachments other then the buckets and power tilt the price goes up from there.

[iron kid]

how fast will that travel on the roaD

[BrianHay]

Not very fast, about 8 mph. The new ones have two speeds and will go a little faster.

[rino1494]

200ex $145

hammer(200) $175




How can you run a 200 size hoe with a hammer for only $30 more. My per hr price for a 200 is lower than yours, yet I get $200/hr for a hammer. I wish you lived closer, I would sub out my hammer work to you.

[iron kid]

I add 175 +145 =320

[tylermckee]

Do you guys with hammers get your bits sharpened? He have a place that does it, usually can do it 1-2 times before its too short. Makes a huge difference having a somewhat sharp bit.

[S. exc]

They say its cheaper to live in the south, I guess it must be!

[icex]

I usualy charge $125 - $250 for the job. Depends on who I'm doing it for and how long. I usualy dont have to travel very far, within a 10 mile radius.

[coopers]

Like Cascadescraper said,

About 85-90 for a mini, 120-130 for 120's-160's, about 90 also for a 580 backhoe and around that for a dozer, maybe a tad higher.

[Bobcatdaddy]

Hi guys im new and just tryin to post 3 times to be a member!! Everyone acts like u are charging so much but with fuel almost 4 dollars a gallon and all the other overhead its har to make it!! I run on a tight budget and im young and just been doin this for myself for about 2 1/2 years and i have alot to learn about bidding work and getting work unless u start out knowing everyone it takes forever to get ur name out, anyone have any suggestions on the most effective ways to get work!! I always try my hardest and if i think i did a bad job or someone isnt satisfied i cant sleep and i know i have alot to learn about everything and i try to apply myself and learn new things evryday!!

[Countryboy]

Welcome to Heavy Equipment Forums Bobcatdaddy! :drinkup

[Bobcatdaddy]

Thank ya countryboy its nice to be here

[coopers]

bobcatdaddy, what forms of advertising do you do and then maybe we can fill in the gaps.

Blake
WA

[bonanno23]

Im also just getting started. I've worked for a huge company for a long time and have been doing side work for years. Just recently I bought my own machines and trucks. I would do a little advertising in local papers/magazines, but more importantly, I would contact as many builders or other contracters as you can. the more people you know in the business the better

[KSSS]

Im also just getting started. I've worked for a huge company for a long time and have been doing side work for years. Just recently I bought my own machines and trucks. I would do a little advertising in local papers/magazines, but more importantly, I would contact as many builders or other contracters as you can. the more people you know in the business the better

A lot of truth in that. You have to be accessible to the private sector, but making contacts with the General Contractors and builders is hugely important also. The GC and builders will give you a more steady work load. It may not be as lucrative but steady.

[tuney443]

410G---$105 hr
450D dozer--$100 hr.
Time starts the minute I leave my shop till when I get back.I don't have any idea why any contractor would charge differently.Going out on an hourly basis should be considered no different than a rental company's policy except the rig is now being manned.My time is valuable--I don't give it away.

[ASPHALT04]

Bobcatdaddy, For just starting out......the newspaper will give you the most bang for the buck! I found that the "free newspapers" brought me about 65% of my work load last year. The purchased newspaper had no where near the return; however my "nicht" is all the small and unwanted work that the large contractors in my area do not want.

[CaT1029]

i am just looking into starting out on my own and was curious to know if there is anyone near the western new york area that has rates on any similar machines/ tools:
5 ton mini ex
7x14ft dump trailer
4 ft foundation wall panels
laser transit
01 ram 2500 cummins

like i said, im just starting to look into going out on my own and i am curious to see what people are getting for their equipment

[humboldt deere]

Unless you are using the dodge and the trailer together the truck payment is just overhead, same with small tools and material. Nobodys gonna ask for a price for workers without tools and transportation.;)

[BIGDAN315]

i am just looking into starting out on my own and was curious to know if there is anyone near the western new york area that has rates on any similar machines/ tools:
5 ton mini ex
7x14ft dump trailer
4 ft foundation wall panels
laser transit
01 ram 2500 cummins

like i said, im just starting to look into going out on my own and i am curious to see what people are getting for their equipment

Central New York area here. MY min. charge for any equipment I have is about $ 200.00 That would be for a 580 hoe ,5 ton mini, 450 dozer, 60 hp skid steer.$ 65 an hour for all three. I might be a little low for my area though.

[jkiser96]

I put an ad on Craigslist and have had a great response. I have picked up 6 jobs with 4 others waiting on money to come in, but it is free to list on there & you can pick where you are.:drinkup

[BrianHay]

I have been getting some funny reactions when I tell people my rate, $***/hour. End of conversation with some people, I get one of these :eek: and they turn and walk away without saying a word. Sure you can get a Track Hoe in the same weight class for a far cheaper hourly rate but that's a whole different machine. I think my rate is very reasonable for what I offer.

[atgreene]

I have been getting some funny reactions when I tell people my rate, $***/hour. End of conversation with some people, I get one of these :eek: and they turn and walk away without saying a word. Sure you can get a Track Hoe in the same weight class for a far cheaper hourly rate but that's a whole different machine. I think my rate is very reasonable for what I offer.

Anybody who is looking for a deal will nickle and dime you to death. State your price and stick to it. If they want a deal then they need to find someone else. I'm in this to make a living, not do someone a favor only so I can struggle to make fuel payments at the end of the month.

[KSSS]

I would agree that your rate seems fair. Your likely not competing against a standard track hoe for the type of work you do. If your going hourly on a standard type track hoe job you would not likely win that battle. I would just bid the job in that case they don't need to know what your hourly rate is.

[BrianHay]

For sure atgreene, I think the people I get that type of reaction from are half expecting me to chase after them. Not a chance, that's my rate and I'm not changing it. My machine not only cost more to hire, it also cost way more to buy/maintain then a standard excavator. If I compared the cost differences on my end to own and operate it instead of a standard excavator, my price should actually be a lot more then it is and will likely go up next year.

Almost all the work I have done so far I have been were my machine is designed to go. Some probably could have been done with a standard machine but would have taken a lot longer to do and or needed another machine there as well to tie off too. So really in the end I'm cheaper even if my rate was $200/hour. I have had a few say well I could hire a mini for half that rate (I advertise confined area access as well). That's true but for every scoop of dirt I take the mini will have to take at least three to keep up. So hire me for a day or a mini for three.

That's right RSSS, I have little interest in competing with the track hoe guys. I want the stuff that they don't want to do. And when the customer asks my rate I tell them $***/hour or I will quote the job for you, whichever you are more comfortable with.

So far I have been really lucky with the customers I have been doing work for. They have been most excellent to work for. They are more then happy with what they get for the dollar and word of what I am capable of doing is spreading fast.

[diversified man]

The rates are all going up as the fuel prices rise. my fuel bill a month is outrageous.. people dont understand why it is so expensive but as long as you can justify how you got to the number you want you will be in good shape. people will never be happy ever if you said it was 5 dollars an hour they would want it for 4.50.

[bear]

If it's someone I know. I'll usually tell em to buy the fuel and hire me for 40 an hour. Most of the folks I work with are farmers and are pretty good about this. this is only done for friends. usually bidding the job is cheaper in the long run if you can accurately gauge the variables on that job. People will usually balk at 100 + an hour but saying it'll cost you 2000-4000 (whatever the price just threw that out) for the whole job in ways looks better. Gotta love those college Psychology classes, the more i know about people the easier it is to figure what works.

[mverick]

People will usually balk at 100 + an hour but saying it'll cost you 2000-4000 (whatever the price just threw that out) for the whole job in ways looks better. Gotta love those college Psychology classes, the more i know about people the easier it is to figure what works.

This is exactly what I do. If i bust my butt I make the money and leave early.

I always bid the job. I don't break them down for them.

[kubota123]

I just purchased a kubota kx91-3 7,200lbs mini ex. A friend of mine has a hooklift truck with 20 yard boxes that he will let me haul my mini in. I was wondering what I should charge to deliver my mini to the site in the hooklift box then tear out trees and stumps(let me remind you i've only spent about 2-3 hours on one before. I'm decent at it but I know i'm not pro) maybe

$75.00 an hr for my mini? with me operating
should i put a delivery charge on my mini?? 50-100 bucks?

brush container?? $275 to dump it plus tonnage????

[cat320]

I just purchased a kubota kx91-3 7,200lbs mini ex. A friend of mine has a hooklift truck with 20 yard boxes that he will let me haul my mini in. I was wondering what I should charge to deliver my mini to the site in the hooklift box then tear out trees and stumps(let me remind you i've only spent about 2-3 hours on one before. I'm decent at it but I know i'm not pro) maybe

$75.00 an hr for my mini? with me operating
should i put a delivery charge on my mini?? 50-100 bucks?

brush container?? $275 to dump it plus tonnage????


I don't know where your from but as far as a rate I would see what they are renting out that machine size at the rental house then add your per hour price to run it. As far as delivery charge I usueually start as soon as I leave my yard if I do the per hour pricing and stop it when I get back to my yard. but if you know how long it will take you to do a particular job just charge them a lump sum plus removal or what ever and just figure a fuel charge for the trucking or equipment delivery. Every job is differant but I hope that helps you the kubota 91 seams like a nice size machine.

[joispoi]

I charge $126 per hour with 10 hr minimum for a 1,600 kg machine. Don't get excited, $26 of that it tax that goes straight to the gov't at the end of the month.

[Noose]

I charge
$150 tandem truck and tandem pup
$100 tandem
$100 10,000lb mini hoe
$85 S185 skid steer
$85 hr pick up and trailer
Some will be cheaper, the closer to the city the cheaper up to 15%!

[CMSMOKE]

#1 Reply

[nzpatch]

here in nz i get $85 per hr for cat305ccr, cat216 and $90 per hr d3cxl,$95 hr 311cu nz dollers plus transport 2 site,$50 to $80 ish.

[HeyUvaVT]

we are trying to figure out how much to charge for our new Tak TB175 per hour...any thoughts?

[therealjohnboy]

I little old Adelaide South Australia the rates depend on the type of work ie. private or long term commercial
on average commercial is about 20% less as the work is continuous.

I run the following gear:

Single axle tipper $66 per/hr
C175 CTL $100 per/hr
C175 with rotary slasher $125 per/hr
TB145 mini $100per/hr
TB145 with Auger or Breaker $125 per/hr
931C Traxcavator $125 per/hr
350C dozer $100 per/hr
350C with 5' rotary slasher $125 per/hr
Yanmah C30r dumper $300 per/day
Benford 5 ton swivel rough terrain dumpers $450 per/day
12" Woodchipper $165 per/hr
Labourer rates are $35 per/hr
Chainsawing etc $55 per/hr

I run a 4 hr minimum depot to depot travel time is at tipper rate.

Bear in mind machines here cost alot more than there new C175 $85000 new TB145 $90000 even my used 1990 931c cost $30k plus.
Also here fuel is alot more expensive about $7.20 US a gallon i just got back from working in the UK the machines are cheap there but fuel is about $15 US a gallon and the rates are really low eg. $45 US for a 25ton Excavator including fuel and operator they make about $10 an hr on top of fuel and wages.
Crazy huh.

[SKOAL]

I charge $100 per hour for my Takeuchi 135 with all four buckets/attachments or $750 per day.

I also charge $75 to move the equipment.

The truck (8 yard) gets $60 per hour regardless of on-site or on-road.

Compactor is $40 (plate compactor).

I started out at $75 per hour and quickly realized that with the clean-up bucket and other attachments and the fact that I've been running excavators since I was 17 (18 years) that I could do an amazing ammount of work in a short time. Nobody says anything about $100 per hour and if their a good customer (I have a list of about 150 that I work for) I give them an extra hour or cut them some slack by not chrging for moving.

It's all what the market will bear. yea that seems like the right prices but i would be cheaper with say a 1 ton and a mini

[SKOAL]

I have been getting some funny reactions when I tell people my rate, $***/hour. End of conversation with some people, I get one of these :eek: and they turn and walk away without saying a word. Sure you can get a Track Hoe in the same weight class for a far cheaper hourly rate but that's a whole different machine. I think my rate is very reasonable for what I offer.

if competeing by the hour show or give refernces of how your machine is worth the extra money and there getting a better and faster finished product otherwise why not use the cheaper guy by the hour , for instance if a guy with a skidsteer and mini is say 25 dollars a hour cheaper you have to make a case for your machine witch is cool btw:cool:

[HemCon.]

I just joined this site and think its awesome!

Im transitioning from using my mini excavator ($80/hr) into renting larger equipment. Specifically a Hitachi 135. Wondering what a good hourly rate should be with operator in NW Washington State.

Our economy is still fairly good (thanks to the canadian dollar). I keep getting calls, mostly from smaller home builders and homeowners, septics too. Is $135 an hour too much? how about $40 an hour for a skilled laborer?

Thanks

[CascadeScaper]

Good to hear you're staying busy up there. It seems the smaller, owner/operator guys are staying fairly busy this year despite the downturn in the economy. I wish I could say the same for the union route, but the only work going on is public works projects and a few commercial entities. Other than that, the big boys are struggling to keep the fire going this year with the downturn in housing. Private infrastructure is also slow as well, just a few blips here and there for utility work.

A 135 size excavator should be right around $115-120/hr up there I believe. You might ask around and see what other guys are getting for machines in the same size class. I got a buddy in the Stanwood area getting around $110/hr. for a 120.

[B1G DIG]

ours is pretty simple 10 mtrs of concrete in the truck takes 30 mins 2 about 2 hours and costs around $300-$400 aus

[coopers]

HemCon,

Cascadescraper has good numbers. I'd say that is what 120/135's are going for. But like he said, check around and see what you find....you have any pics of the 135? Looks like it's new or is that a rental?

[HemCon.]

Thanks Coopers and CascadeScraper,

I'll keep checking around to see what guys are charging in my neck of the woods. Coopers, the machine is a rental. Usually rent from Hertz, those guys give me great prices.

Any insight on weather $40/hr is too much to charge for a skilled laborer?

[shave a frog]

just been offered a machine and was thinking of a bit of career change how much do guys in the uk charge p/h a day etc for an operator and 4 ton machine??

[strott]

just been offered a machine and was thinking of a bit of career change how much do guys in the uk charge p/h a day etc for an operator and 4 ton machine??


I would like to know how the UK compares as well, it would seem that our rates are a lot lower then overseas.

[mdigger]

in chicago the person gets 45.00 hr skidsteer 125.00 30,000 hoe 160.00 to 180.00

[pjdiesel]

kubota 161-3 w/thumb I get $65 per/hr time starts when I leave and stops when jobs done.

[special tool]

kubota 161-3 w/thumb I get $65 per/hr time starts when I leave and stops when jobs done.

Wow!!
You are giving your customers a good deal.
Too good!

[pipeliner66]

What should a guy be charging per hour for a small KH-007 Kubota(2000#) machine ? I have run equipment on pipelines for years, that should be figured in also, shouldn't it ? I have a neighbor that bought a larger excavator, doesn't operate very well at all, he seems to be working, watched him the other night operate, could do the work he was doing just about as fast. When I bought this mini, it was just for use on the farm, some of the neighbors have been up watching me operate & ask if I'd do some work for them, with the economy the way it is why not, the pipelining is a little slow anyway.
Thanks for any advise, this site is very interesting & good tool for learning I can see.:drinkup

[Yukon Digger]

My KX121-3 is mostly for my own use at home and for my mining claims but.. closer next-door neighbors and a few old timers less than one km from home I charge $50/hr. Just walk it down the ditch and they throw in a few cold ones at the end of the day. $60-$70/hr for nearer neighbours plus say $50-$100 for truck/trailer/fuel to get there and back. $100/hr for most home owners I don't know and $110/hr for government/utility. A two week reclaimation job for a mine I would go $800-1000/day plus mob/demob. Lots of horse trading too and I'm a sucker for a pretty smile. My theory is that its easy to make a mini pay for itself compared to spending the same money on a big boat or RV or a shinny gas guzzler 4x4 pickup that never leaves town. Those things just cost $$$.

[BrianHay]

This thread annoys me every time it comes up. It is part of the reason why I don't often post here anymore. Shortly after I posted my rate in it I thought better of it and asked if my post could be edited, not deleted, just edited. It is hurting my business, but that was to much to ask. When the average homeowner searches for me researching before calling for a landscaping project and finds this there is no way they are going to call, and I don't blame them.

Anyways, maybe this will help some. When I am hanging my machine off the side of some dangerous mountain side were normally only mountain goats go, yes that is my rate and worth every penny. If it is a large project that will keep me busy for a while, I am willing to negotiate.

If it is flat land work that a regular machine could do then I will give a rate that is in line with regular machines.

I actually prefer to just give a flat rate to do a job but some people insist on hourly so I am flexible.

[Steve Frazier]

Brian I have no record of you contacting me on this topic. Drop me a PM with what you request and I'll see if we can accommodate.

[thebig450es]

i think Brian is one of those exceptions to the rule, from what i saw he can charge almost what ever he wanted because of where is can go and willing to go. i think its getting harder to charge what we deserve in some areas with the ecomony.

[Allgood]

I had some builders that used to call me for some jobs but, with the economy the way it is, the "big guys" are doing jobs for them for almost nothing. They now claim that they'd rather just break even or even possibly lose a little as opposed to just having their equipment sit in their shop. Since my equipment is for personal use and I just try to make a few bucks here and there by doing jobs, I'd rather let my equipment sit rather than work it for nothing. There's too much of a chance of breaking something and the wear and tear on the equipment besides racking up hours.

A for example is several builders are getting 90 hp track loaders working on their job sites for $50 an hour and about the same for a 5 or 6 ton compact excavator. My Tak TB145 is a really nice machine and, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't even want to do a job with it for only $50 an hour. And I'm talking $50 an hour for on the job working only; no money for travel time. At those rates I'll just let my equipment sit and just use it for my own personal uses.

Am I the only person who'd rather pass on a job rather than do it that cheap? I guess the bottom line for me is about $75 an hour plus a little something for travel and clean up (on my machine) for my Takeuchi TB145, which I guess is classified as a 5 ton machine.

[GettinDirty]

$75 seems kinda cheap unless you can get a lot of hours. You do not need the income then it is gravy. I see some guys working cheaper. Labor here is $45 per hr. You need at least $15 -20 just to keep the machine paid for (insurance, fuel, repair, maint) plus seperate charge for hauling. $70 you are just covering cost. + $5 per hr x 1000 hours you made $5,000 for the year. You then would need a bunch of equipment to keep the home fire lit. I think $105 - $115 is reasonable. Like a lot I know 4-5 pieces of equipment is probably average. Also skid steers don't last as long as other equipment.

[KSSS]

$50.00 is crazy. The depreciation on a tracked machine can run that high. I have a 6 ton Takeuchi (TB153FR) and I get $80.00 There is no way I can get 115 an hour here. It would be nice but not realistic. I would stay home as opposed to 50 an hour unless it was really easy work. Maybe you would be better off and see if you can just bid the work that has to be done. Maybe you make that work.

[GettinDirty]

$50.00 is crazy. The depreciation on a tracked machine can run that high. I have a 6 ton Takeuchi (TB153FR) and I get $80.00 There is no way I can get 115 an hour here. It would be nice but not realistic. I would stay home as opposed to 50 an hour unless it was really easy work. Maybe you would be better off and see if you can just bid the work that has to be done. Maybe you make that work.

KSSS: $80 is OK if you don't hire union labor. $105 - $115 T&M. If you run fast they will pay. If I were bidding a project I might figure that much if it was wide open work. I laughed a bit at your "Proud Case Supporter" that ownes a Tak.

[KSSS]

KSSS: $80 is OK if you don't hire union labor. $105 - $115 T&M. If you run fast they will pay. If I were bidding a project I might figure that much if it was wide open work. I laughed a bit at your "Proud Case Supporter" that ownes a Tak.


Yea I don't have union pay issues.

The TK is my one nonCASE machine, its good little excavator. Maybe I should alter that quote a bit eh?

[strott]

There certainly seems to be some big variations in the rates that you guys can charge - are there regional differences or does it depend on whether the work is domestic or commercial?

[tuney443]

There certainly seems to be some big variations in the rates that you guys can charge - are there regional differences or does it depend on whether the work is domestic or commercial?

There's most definitely regional differences here.I'm in one of the more pricier areas in NY,if you just cross the Hudson River,guys over there get $20-$30 an hour less on utility equipment.I can only speak for myself on the other issue--everyone pays me the same as it should'nt matter

[volvobl]

im not trying to say that youve all got it good for charging $100 dollars an hour or about that so please help me here.
Im here in the uk right in the center of mid wales we get average around here
in pounds £23 for a backhoe ive got a volvo ec55b wich is charged out at £20 pounds per hour im an owner driver or small contractor i hire guys in to help me at times youd be paying around £8 -£10 pounds an hour for i know things cost money and that machines are valued a bit dearer in the states are you guys actually doing very well out there or is there a catch what is your killer out there im earning around £1000 pounds a 5 day week on average flat week you guys in the states are avergeing that in a day im not saying that your carpet is allready laid out for you but im here thinking why is this and is the grass greener the other side of the ocean. Fuel is the worst out here for us i know its about the same with you i also have a bit of finance to repay is that the killer for you guys there too any thoughts to point me in the right direction will be appreciated thanks.

[nobull1]

Well here in Canada depending where you live a backhoe is about $75.00 per hour. Now if I am right a pound is roughly about 1.6 American/Canadian to the pound? If this is true you rent your machine for about $32.00 per hour and pay up to $16.00 per hour for help. So if you paid a person to run your machine you would be making $16.00 per hour:confused:. I don't know how you could supply a machine keep it full of fuel, pay bank, make a profit and maintain your machine. Maybe my conversion is off but only double what you have to pay a man doesn't seem right. Maybe you could provide what an average person makes a year, cost of diesel and what an average house would cost to buy. It would be interesting to compare apples to apples.

[milling_drum]

Where that Fella Lives in B.C. is probably a pricey neighborhood. Everything is expensive out there last I heard. He might be the only deal for miles that does what he does too which drives the price up as well.

[Anto Modded]

Over here its 200 Euro a day for a 2 ton mini digger with driver and delivered (288.383 USD,300.324 CAD,180.175 GBP)

Backhoe with driver is 20 - 25 euro per hour (28.8394 USD,30.0149 CAD,18.0174 GBP)

13 ton track machine with driver 25 euro per hour (36.0433 USD,37.5019 CAD,22.5206 GBP)

I dont know how some guys do this and enploy drivers, we are owner operators and its hard enough

[volvobl]

Over here its 200 Euro a day for a 2 ton mini digger with driver and delivered (288.383 USD,300.324 CAD,180.175 GBP)

Backhoe with driver is 20 - 25 euro per hour (28.8394 USD,30.0149 CAD,18.0174 GBP)

13 ton track machine with driver 25 euro per hour (36.0433 USD,37.5019 CAD,22.5206 GBP)

I dont know how some guys do this and enploy drivers, we are owner operators and its hard enough

your absolutely rite im owner operator to if i have a driver to help me im only making between £10-£15 pound an hour more i could not employ full time cos some days 1 machine may only be needed and id rather be on it my self doing the work it just wouldnt pay out there the only time i hired guys to help me full time is on my tipper grab lorry but that was on the road evry day so i stayed on the digging while a driver was on the tipper grab i was making money then but by my self at 20 and 23 pound an hour at the end of the month it is a big struggle here in uk and ireland by the sounds of things but we do see some contractors with all brand new equipment 10 guys working for them i ask myself haw do they do this if we could charge the same rate as you guys id like to see haw things would work out here and there is no disrespect for you guys who can get around the $100 dollar an hour. Haw is the work over there are you out digging 5 day a week and say 50 weeks of the year. Here in Wales not so many big jobs on the go but im very busy making tracks draining and ditching for farmers id say 50 weeks of the year we are out i try get my machines home for christmas if they not been home in a while i bought my 07 volvobl71 in may and last week was its first time home and after new year its going sraight back out to work im onl on residential and farmers work for the time being.

[strott]

So it wasn't just me looking at the US rates in amazement!!

Volvobl - do you charge VAT on top of the £20.00 per hour

Glad you are busy - Very quiet here in the south west of England but I run smaller machines so I am more susceptable to the domestic market fallout!!

[strott]

Well here in Canada depending where you live a backhoe is about $75.00 per hour. Now if I am right a pound is roughly about 1.6 American/Canadian to the pound? If this is true you rent your machine for about $32.00 per hour and pay up to $16.00 per hour for help. So if you paid a person to run your machine you would be making $16.00 per hour:confused:. I don't know how you could supply a machine keep it full of fuel, pay bank, make a profit and maintain your machine. Maybe my conversion is off but only double what you have to pay a man doesn't seem right. Maybe you could provide what an average person makes a year, cost of diesel and what an average house would cost to buy. It would be interesting to compare apples to apples.

Average cost of red diesel £0.85p per litre

Average house price £175,000 upwards

What an average person makes per year???? - depends on whether you look at the private or public sector or the construction industry or service industry e.tc.e.t.c!!

[thebig450es]

In western PA i start out at $500 a day for my PC50

[volvobl]

In western PA i start out at $500 a day for my PC50

so you take home 2500 a week thats very good with that size machine i get 850 a week here in uk with same size machine what im getting at out of that 850 i have to live as well as you do with 2500 a week but if i was on that rate i could make me sum money haw much is your fuel per gallon for the machine and insurance compare to us here in uk

[volvobl]

oh yeah i charge the vat on top of the £20+vat

[nobull1]

Average cost of red diesel £0.85p per litre

Average house price £175,000 upwards

What an average person makes per year???? - depends on whether you look at the private or public sector or the construction industry or service industry e.tc.e.t.c!!

Diesel here would be about 20% less at this time.
House prices about the same
Wages, Canadian government says about $45.000 CDN average.
My 3.3 ton Kubota Excavator around $75.00 but no float fee
Tractor, skidsteer and 1 ton with dump body around the same or less, depending on the job though

A new Kubota KX91-3 is about $45-50,000 CDN. How much over there?

[thebig450es]

Diesel here, im getting it for about $2.00 a gallon.

[nobull1]

so you take home 2500 a week thats very good with that size machine i get 850 a week here in uk with same size machine what im getting at out of that 850 i have to live as well as you do with 2500 a week but if i was on that rate i could make me sum money haw much is your fuel per gallon for the machine and insurance compare to us here in uk

The question is do you work all week every week and make 850. Around here (not speaking for the big 45es) you won't work all week at my rate but you also won't wear out your machine working for nothing and have no money to replace it when the time comes. I would sooner look out the window and make no money than work in a customer yard and make no money.

[volvobl]

id bought a brand new 5.5 ton machine here for £32,000 and with a little extras im working all week probably because i left a lot of work pile up and tell customers il be there soon they probably wont see me till sumtime in 6 months for the right people do a bit of running for them theyll use you a lot of the time this 850 a week that is the going rates here in uk. is work slow where you are hence the reason your out a few days a week.

[special tool]

id bought a brand new 5.5 ton machine here for £32,000 and with a little extras im working all week probably because i left a lot of work pile up and tell customers il be there soon they probably wont see me till sumtime in 6 months for the right people do a bit of running for them theyll use you a lot of the time this 850 a week that is the going rates here in uk. is work slow where you are hence the reason your out a few days a week.

850 pounds a week????
Is this a joke?
That is $1,341.3 US dollars a week at today's exchange.

How long have you been in business?
You are working for $33 an hour!!!
That is RIDICULOUS!
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT MARKETS....THAT'S INSANE.
That's fuel, machine and operator?
You will NOT be in business long doing that.
You MUST pickup construction pricing guide published by MEADE Publishing and see your course to bankrupcy.

[nobull1]

id bought a brand new 5.5 ton machine here for £32,000 and with a little extras im working all week probably because i left a lot of work pile up and tell customers il be there soon they probably wont see me till sumtime in 6 months for the right people do a bit of running for them theyll use you a lot of the time this 850 a week that is the going rates here in uk. is work slow where you are hence the reason your out a few days a week.
Machine prices are probably a little cheaper there as that much will only get you a 3.3 ton in Canada.

This time of the year the ground is frozen and little work is done with machines my size. The economy is going along a little below the peak a couple years ago but not too bad in our area. There are a couple of reasons not working every day. The competition is heavy for this size machine and people will work for nothing just to make their payments before they go broke. I don't work for contractors so it is ridiculously busy or nothing. I am a little picky about the types of jobs I do to help save my equipment. Working for little money and beating up the equipment just doesn't make sense to me.

[special tool]

Machine prices are probably a little cheaper there as that much will only get you a 3.3 ton in Canada.

This time of the year the ground is frozen and little work is done with machines my size. The economy is going along a little below the peak a couple years ago but not too bad in our area. There are a couple of reasons not working every day. The competition is heavy for this size machine and people will work for nothing just to make their payments before they go broke. I don't work for contractors so it is ridiculously busy or nothing. I am a little picky about the types of jobs I do to help save my equipment. Working for little money and beating up the equipment just doesn't make sense to me.

Keep in mind - 32,000 pounds is equal to 53,331 CANADIAN.
And he is working for what I charge for a laborer with a shovel.

[volvobl]

ive been in buisness for about 8 years i no what you are saying belive you me im not the only 1 here though this is what it is around here like a volvo ec140b is about the £25 pound an hour theres guys been in buisiness a lot longer than me and they are still going but are complaining about haw it is. I do agree with you 100% trust me people around here moan at paying £23 pound an hour for my o7 bl71 volvo backhoe but its evrywhere in the uk you might get a coulple of extra pounds here or there the only way i had it good is that my tipper grab lorry has had regular work at £35 pound an hour i had a driver on this. If we could get the rate that around the 45-50 an hour would be great but i dont see any one else in europe and uk joining me lol

[special tool]

ive been in buisness for about 8 years i no what you are saying belive you me im not the only 1 here though this is what it is around here like a volvo ec140b is about the £25 pound an hour theres guys been in buisiness a lot longer than me and they are still going but are complaining about haw it is. I do agree with you 100% trust me people around here moan at paying £23 pound an hour for my o7 bl71 volvo backhoe but its evrywhere in the uk you might get a coulple of extra pounds here or there the only way i had it good is that my tipper grab lorry has had regular work at £35 pound an hour i had a driver on this. If we could get the rate that around the 45-50 an hour would be great but i dont see any one else in europe and uk joining me lol

I am sure the conversations you are having are with other relatively new business owners who have yet to replace older equipment.
You have to consider depreciation and MANY,MANY other factors.
You are LOSING money, not making money.
Even if you live in a cardboard box (this shouldn't be taken into consideration), you are still losing money.

All you guys in the US, he is running a $50,000, 12,000 pound machine for $33/hour.
This is a very in-demand size machine, especially in urban areas.
It is also the largest size reffered to as "mini" - not a small machine at all.
You can load a tri-axle with this machine, with 2-3 moves.

I suspect you are a nice guy who maybe gets a little bambuzzled by his customers.
Screw-em, dude - they AIN'T gonna want to know you when the machine breaks.

[volvobl]

I am sure the conversations you are having are with other relatively new business owners who have yet to replace older equipment.
You have to consider depreciation and MANY,MANY other factors.
You are LOSING money, not making money.
Even if you live in a cardboard box (this shouldn't be taken into consideration), you are still losing money.

All you guys in the US, he is running a $50,000, 12,000 pound machine for $33/hour.
This is a very in-demand size machine, especially in urban areas.
It is also the largest size reffered to as "mini" - not a small machine at all.
You can load a tri-axle with this machine, with 2-3 moves.

I suspect you are a nice guy who maybe gets a little bambuzzled by his customers.
Screw-em, dude - they AIN'T gonna want to know you when the machine breaks.

yes i agree with you but its not registering inside you. Within 10 mile radious your taliking about at least 15-20 contractors with their own machines farmers going out with their own machines doing and making a mess. Things are a lot different here a farmer operator will jump on a machine within 5 mins he thinks hes been on em for twenty years next minuite a ah ha money to go out drinking then they go out with the machine on week ends no insurance and tickets bobs your uncle thats haw it is here.
Your saying like im the only guy going around charging 20 pounds an hour for 5.5 ton machine its not me its all over europe i wouldnt be on much different money if id moved to france and this euro thing hasnt helped much at all id lose count if i counted the cotractors within an hours drive from here but there is one thing for sure if i could have around 80 pound an hour and have it i wouldnt be here talking about it.

[Anto Modded]

I know of a guy with a Hitachi Ex200 working for 25 euro per hour. Machine rates are terrible and not getting better, as said you could have 20 people trying to get one job. Owner driver has a small advantage but its still hard. I dont think everyone runs new machines, we buy secondhand keep them serviced etc our selves to save money. We dont work a machine hard and would like to think we can keep a machine for longer due to this, it helps keep cost down. People arent too fussy on year, its price that wins over here. An older machine well maintained is equally as good. Just lower cost to get back. The times of big money is long gone in Ireland.

There are hire shops doing a 1.7 ton mini digger for 50 euro a day ? Its crazy, and very hard to compete against. We are 200 euro a day for a mini digger + driver + delevery and diesel and its still hard to get work

[nobull1]

It is what the market will allow. In Europe, Canada the US it varies drastically. If you want to see a difference in price go look at the snow plow sites. Some people get $10.00 per driveway and some get $75.00 for the same thing. In the end we all have to decide if we get enough money for what we are doing, if not find something else to do.

I must say though I am surprised at how little is charged in Europe and how you stay in business. A drive motor is about $4000.00 here in Canada and if comparable in Europe it would take 6-8 weeks of working every day to pay for it after taking out fixed costs over there at your rates.

[strott]

VolvoBl - I will join you on 80.00 an hour!!!!

We are not joking about the rates of £20.00 an hour (net) for a mini ex, as previously mentioned there are hire companies knocking out machines very cheaply which is where the problem begins e.g. a 5 ton kubota mini excavator for £350.00 a week

Over on ebay there are blokes offering 1.5ton mini excavators with a driver for £150.00 per day!!!!

I am lucky if I can get £215.00 a day (net) for a 1.5 ton mini excavator and 1 ton hi tip 4wheel drive dumper.

[Shifty]

Lots of operators are in this boat with their competition. Some guys will work for little or nothing. and customers and GCs will seek them out to drive down the market price. Guys like that always @##$^% me off. Don't these guys have any self-respect or pride in themselves? Don't they feel they worth a fair rate? or pay their employee a fair and livable wage? Prime contractors have no respect for these guys,But they will use them over a operator who does whats right, just to save a few bucks. Every season there a new guy putting out their shingle trying to undercut everyone. Working their butt off below market rate trying to make it. The ones that do make it hurt the rest of us and once they start in a low rate rut they usually stay there.
What kill me is the people see a guy going thru town with a skid or a excavator on a trailer workin for himself and they think he is making good money. Looks are deceiving! They don't see all the support tooling and equipment plus licenses and insurances that goes with running a business. All they see that machine, machines are the cheap part I know guys that have more money in attachments that the machine.
So if So and SO can go into business so can I and he finds a cheap machine and we have a new contractor on the block.
He will work a few jobs cheap to get his name out there then raise his rate??? YEA RIGHT!!!

[volvobl]

VolvoBl - I will join you on 80.00 an hour!!!!

We are not joking about the rates of £20.00 an hour (net) for a mini ex, as previously mentioned there are hire companies knocking out machines very cheaply which is where the problem begins e.g. a 5 ton kubota mini excavator for £350.00 a week

Over on ebay there are blokes offering 1.5ton mini excavators with a driver for £150.00 per day!!!!

I am lucky if I can get £215.00 a day (net) for a 1.5 ton mini excavator and 1 ton hi tip 4wheel drive dumper.

yes thanks for that naw if evryone in europe will do the same we would be on a winning sreak i hired a 1.5 ton volvo for as long term hire once and i was having that + trailer for £135 a week i thought il have a wreck of a machine but it was 6mnths old and 300 hrs on the clock if i wanted a breaker with it it was £20 extra a week that was with speedy hire noone could compare with that but youd expect 150-170 a week any way.
I do think that something drastic will happen soon there is too much of us struggling to live but we do still just get on with it theres no saving money it goes to cover everything.

[Anto Modded]

I wreckon the owner driver will survive as he has the lowest cost. In my area 5 guys went bang, they all had new jeeps, machines, tractors etc. I feel sorry for them but good second hand gear well looked after can do the same job and cuts cost's. As for hire companies over here, they are going bang too, ive seen some machines with under 400hrs in bits. I seen a guy cutting the teeth off a bucket on the machine with an angle grinder and the sparks hitting the glass on the cab and the paint work. No respect what so ever. It may seem strange but i reckon the person that owns his machine (be it nnear new or secondhand) has less cost and has the better chance of sticking it out. Our kx41 has 1300 hrs, why would i buy a newer machine when it does good work and is paid for (its 2002) never heard anyone ask the age of it. As long as it does the job people are happy. Sorry for the rant

[volvobl]

totally agree with you i have a 2001 volvo ec35 6500 hrs on it i bought it in 2004 with 1250 hrs on it ive replaced bushes on the bucket within 8 years im not in a hurry to change it as ive looked after it if theres a scratch on the arm il paint it just to keep it in trim i never been asked even on sites haw old the machine is they see that the machine speaks for itself take a look

[nobull1]

Volvobl
Very nice looking gear. I am a firm believer that it doesn't have to be new, it should just look like new. My customers pick up on the fact our equipment (trailer, truck, excavator, tractor and Bobcat all look like they are quite new even tho they are getting old. Clean, painted and no leak gear makes the customer think you care. If you care about your equipment you will probably care about the job as well.

Volvobl
I bet you get at least "some" jobs because your machines looks good compared to the guy with the oil leak running down the driveway.

[Hendrik]

Nothing wrong with S/H gear as long as it is reliable.
Also a few scratches and nicks are inevitable in earthmoving, particularly in tight access situations.
In general customers are happy as long as you turn up on time and do a good job.

[volvobl]

;)turn on site with good clean machines does show that you care and then customer knows you care about the work you do most of my customers do have me cos the way i am good machines clean job tidy work when they want something else doing you d be the first one there one builder i do all his groundworks for hes used me since the day i started out over 8 years and a few farmers they wont get no 1 else and theyll wait for me. Its kinda good when youve got a good reputation. The only thing is evryone wants you at the same time

[strott]

Yeah I find that - a customer will want you to do a job within the next 2-3 weeks max and you say you can't because I am lucky enough to be busy at that time so you don't get the job. Come 4 weeks later you're sitting on your behind waiting for the next job!! (there is only so many times you can polish a mini digger and dumper!!)

Very, very frustrating.

VolvoBl - that excavator is in stunning condition, a credit to you, it looks brand new and you could pass it off as new - as Volvo have only just brought out a new model to replace that model of machine so you could say you bought it new in mid 2009 (just don't let them see the serial number plate!!!!)

As far as s/h plant goes if you can find a good one then you're onto a winner but most small minis (3/4ton - 3 ton) are all ex hire machines and as mentioned earlier are not looked after let alone driven nicely, If you want to turn up with a clean machine you would usually need to spend a quite bit of money to get it looking good so you were happy with the image it was purveying and then you just have to hope that it is mechanically sound - luckily these minis are pretty bullet proof!!

The major advantage of a new machine is the warranty and efficiency improvements gained from the faster cycle times plus reduced fuel consumption (although very very minimal on these small machines)

[volvobl]

i had to buy the volvo ec55b new though it took me a year to try find a clean one i must have gone to see around twenty of them very popular size so i stumbled upon a 2007 demonstrator with 100 hrs on the clock sum idiot had before me it wasnt bad but few nasty scratches here and there so i said well its close enough there was only £500 difference towards a brand new 1 so i just said just bring the new 1 up and end of story really very pleased with em all really and i bought the 07 bl71 with 750 hrs on it one careful owner who had to sell due to health probs

[strott]

How do you transport your machines around? Can you pass that cost on to your customer?

Happy new year to you and all other users on the forum.

[volvobl]

happy new year everyone. This is haw i move the 3.5 ton around cos its its ileagal behind the pick up 90% of the time when il be doing a small day job il have to take the waste with me so the truck can bring the load aswell of the machine home the ec55b i put that on a tipping trailer and a 100hp tractor to carry it mostly on agriwork though. Yes i charge a moving fee on the 3.5ton it depends haw far your going though.

[strott]

Nice 6 wheeler grab lorry you've got there - saves relying on someone else for waste removal e.t.c!!

Have you got a yard or a storage unit then?

I charge a 'commuting charge' which covers the cost of the fuel used for the van to travel to and from the site each day e.g do a 25 mile round trip, I charge £5.00

[tootalltimmy]

I am surprised at how low the rates are in the UK. The 3 axle gravel truck I was driving was $92.50/hr. A 13.5 tonne excavator was $115/hr, more with specialty attachments. A lowbed to move equipment was $130/hr.

[strott]

So who makes the money out of these higher charges?? e.g an owner operator gets what left after costs are removed and money is set aside for new equipment e.t.c

But what about the employees of the bigger companies are they paid well for their time in the seat or is all the profit going to the owner/stakeholders of the business?

[volvobl]

thats the old truck ive a newer one naw but i lost my regular hire due to the recession we have a 30 acre small holding here in mid wales where in the back a bit of land it was no use so i dug all the top soil out sold all the topsoil and carried some good surplus in and stone to finish a bit of a yard the machines are never home so that is still on going but i have a little place where i can wash the machines and a bit of a building to do serviceing. I think over the u.s theyre operators only on about the same money nearly as we are with our own machines its crazy haw the market works its almost enough to make you sick the most money ive earnt an hour with my truck was £55 an hour and that was on emergency work like utillities and working through the night. I wish i was on 90 + an hour for it.

I bet you guys in the states if your making the money youve got some tax to pay.

[special tool]

thats the old truck ive a newer one naw but i lost my regular hire due to the recession we have a 30 acre small holding here in mid wales where in the back a bit of land it was no use so i dug all the top soil out sold all the topsoil and carried some good surplus in and stone to finish a bit of a yard the machines are never home so that is still on going but i have a little place where i can wash the machines and a bit of a building to do serviceing. I think over the u.s theyre operators only on about the same money nearly as we are with our own machines its crazy haw the market works its almost enough to make you sick the most money ive earnt an hour with my truck was £55 an hour and that was on emergency work like utillities and working through the night. I wish i was on 90 + an hour for it.

I bet you guys in the states if your making the money youve got some tax to pay.


Well, we don't pay taxes like you guys do, that's for sure.
55 pounds/hour is actually reasonable for that truck.
I still don't get the price you charge for a 12,000 pound shovel though.:confused:

[volvobl]

well im actually a little happier knowing if you guys were out 5 day a week you make a bit of money every week. I no its not plain sailing but dam lot better than we get in the uk. The recession has hit everyone all over the world big firms closing down builders ive known for years going bust owing a lot of money to people including me. I lost my regular hire on the utilities which i had a team digging + 2 grab tippers on hire and still doing residential work on a Friday afternoon one phone call ended something really special id been on the utilities since i left school.
Head up high downsize a little keep soldering on the thing is i still consider myself a very lucky person i no ive and we all got a little debt to pay off but ive been very busy work wise im out all week and it pays the bills im only on residential for naw but im sure the agriwork will kick off soon and il get to go back on the utility as soon as it picks up again. I wish the very best to the guys out there struggling on and keep fighting we will get through this .

Has the work picked up in the u.s naw or is it still slow did it affect you guys to?

[strott]

thats the old truck ive a newer one naw but i lost my regular hire due to the recession we have a 30 acre small holding here in mid wales where in the back a bit of land it was no use so i dug all the top soil out sold all the topsoil and carried some good surplus in and stone to finish a bit of a yard the machines are never home so that is still on going but i have a little place where i can wash the machines and a bit of a building to do serviceing. I think over the u.s theyre operators only on about the same money nearly as we are with our own machines its crazy haw the market works its almost enough to make you sick the most money ive earnt an hour with my truck was £55 an hour and that was on emergency work like utillities and working through the night. I wish i was on 90 + an hour for it.

I bet you guys in the states if your making the money youve got some tax to pay.

sounds like an ideal setup, nice one. I have to rent an old barn from a farmer to store my stuff - problem is no water or electricity:( and another cost:mad:

If your machines are never home then are the ones that your not driving out on self drive hire then?

[joispoi]

I see a lot of ads over here for guys who offer "mini excavator services". Their prices are typically low... 150 euros for the day for a 1.5 ton beater with the lever puller included. I could get away with that too, if I were willing to pull the trailer to the jobsite with my wife's volvo, skip the insurance payments, steal fuel instead of paying for it, talk all my customers into paying cash and take deposits on jobs that I know I'll never show up to do in order to subsidize the jobs that I'm actually working on. Going on unemployment to cover overhead would help, too.

[strott]

I see a lot of ads over here for guys who offer "mini excavator services". Their prices are typically low... 150 euros for the day for a 1.5 ton beater with the lever puller included. I could get away with that too, if I were willing to pull the trailer to the jobsite with my wife's volvo, skip the insurance payments, steal fuel instead of paying for it, talk all my customers into paying cash and take deposits on jobs that I know I'll never show up to do in order to subsidize the jobs that I'm actually working on. Going on unemployment to cover overhead would help, too.

Not just me that wondered how they did it and made a living without working 7 days a week (not that i reckon there is the work out there at the mo to support that!!)

[volvobl]

sounds like an ideal setup, nice one. I have to rent an old barn from a farmer to store my stuff - problem is no water or electricity:( and another cost:mad:

If your machines are never home then are the ones that your not driving out on self drive hire then?

No i dont do self drive at all people abuse machines itl break my heart machines coming back to the yard scratched to hell not only that machines damaged and id suffer even worse

ive got my machines on the jobs the job im on recently the volvo bl71 +Ec35 are with me and the Ec55b is in another valley wich will probably stay up there till late spring even summer what i do is do a week or 2 in one place go on the other machine then say maybe 4 days vice versa and sum 1 desperate cos i dont turn work away il hook the Ec35 behind the truck and away i go.

Its handy at the moment cos ive been having a driver help me out on the same job so hes on the ec35 and me on the bl71 then i can keep an eye on him at the same time. Hes not brilliant but if he gets the bulk done then il do the tidying up after him then when i dont want him he drives trucks for someone else so it works out at the moment but i wouldnt keep him full time

I did have a driver full time when i came off the utillities i kept 1 lad with me thats when i bought the 3rd machine cos save moving a machine for me all the time while he was on the other machine but he left last september so i didnt replace him and i kept the extra machine .

[strott]

I know what you mean about the self drive hire.

I had the following machine on long term hire to a contractor for the electricity board for approx 18 months. It went out as a brand new machine and it came back like this!!!!

But hey it earned me some extra money which has been helpful in getting through this recession so what can you do:beatsme

[volvobl]

that is a bit different if some one came to me and said look i need a self drive machine long term then id buy a machine for them for instance they need a volvo bl71 long term id give them this one d buy a new one for myself or buy like 55 or 06 plate and keep my 07 one for me. I wouldnt give any of my babies out for a day or 2 with someone else on them if you no what i mean but if someone came and said longterm then no matter what size i would and go out and do checks and services for them. I no when your little kubuta came back you said what the "£"$£$^% i no that feeling when i left school and 18 at the time i went on hire to the council and some one had my jcb while i was of and just mess on it when it came back was enough to make me anoyd with them.

Funny enough i was on the electric on utillities to in mid wales i did try to supply the other teams with my diggers to but they wouldnt have that they tend to stick to people like gap but didnt bother me cos like i was busy enough then 2 grab lorrys 1 grab lookng after their own teams and i was looking after my own digging gang so i could keep an eye on them too and them when grab no2 wasnt wanted i was on private jobs then it was a good setup.

haws the work with you down swindon way i think morrison utillities were down there somwhere i was working for them as a sub contractor getting paid weekly brilliant firm and setup you cant ask for better getting paid weekly

[strott]

Yeah as you say 'my' machines are driven by me only so the other ones are purely for hire so you put your personal feelings aside!!

Work is quiet down here - calls for quotes have dropped approx 75% compared to 2007-2008!!

Sounds like you have been self employed/in business for a long time, all credit to you for making it work.

[volvobl]

Thaks for that im like evryone else just taking things as they come i live here day by day
i no im busy i try not to worry about anything we ve had a bit of snow up here so thatl just make me think of the summer that it was here sooner cos i do a bit of agri work nothing dramatic with these big tractors. I have 2 beetween 80 -100 hp and they just do the job for me.

When i started i used to do a bit of driving for sumone else to it was good at the time it helped. I thought with the credit crunch i thought id be driving a truck long distance or something but still digging.

[strott]

Yeah snow has stopped play over here aswell!!

Ice on the inside of the cab!!

[moparguy55]

Newbie here looking at starting up with a mini ex. This really helped me out a lot in determining what I would charge. I looked at the local rental shop and their minimum is 4 engine hours for $140 or $35/hr plus you have to insure it. Not sure if they deliver it for that price ? Anyways I think an operator should be worth $25 an hour ? I'd be looking at $60 hour to start out. I was thinking of a 4000lbs mini. I assume I could do a fair bit of different types of digging with a 2 ton mini.

What would a 4000-6000 lbs mini burn for fuel in an hour gallon wise ? My dodge 4x4 with the 5.9 cummins burns about 3 gallons per hour, so mini i'm thinking 1-2 G per hr ?

I always wondered why guys locally say free estimate price per job and nobody posted their hourly rate, now i know ;-)

[volvobl]

Newbie here looking at starting up with a mini ex. This really helped me out a lot in determining what I would charge. I looked at the local rental shop and their minimum is 4 engine hours for $140 or $35/hr plus you have to insure it. Not sure if they deliver it for that price ? Anyways I think an operator should be worth $25 an hour ? I'd be looking at $60 hour to start out. I was thinking of a 4000lbs mini. I assume I could do a fair bit of different types of digging with a 2 ton mini.

What would a 4000-6000 lbs mini burn for fuel in an hour gallon wise ? My dodge 4x4 with the 5.9 cummins burns about 3 gallons per hour, so mini i'm thinking 1-2 G per hr ?

I always wondered why guys locally say free estimate price per job and nobody posted their hourly rate, now i know ;-)

Good luck in starting out like here in uk youve probably got a lot of competition around. Depends on haw you use a machine on haw much fuel youd use for that size youd might use about 4-5 gallon a day 25 liters somthing like that its a tricky game make sure youve got loads of work before hiring a digger me personally i hate hiring i do try to avoid if poss. And if you havnt driven much machines id be very carefull in even going out on hire (not saying you havnt) gain some expierience first.

but if you can then dig away :cool:

[volvobl]

Yeah snow has stopped play over here aswell!!

Ice on the inside of the cab!!

the snow really has spoilt my week really i was going out this week do some local jobs befor the bl71 goes back an 1hour drive from home the snow has spoilt it weve had about 30inches+ up here all the by roads are heavily drifted cos the wind to so i phoned the council offering to clear some roads
im on standby with em. So ive had a week on the yard not doing alot :Banghead:Banghead Theres more snow to come :confused: il be begging them come monday if its worse to give me work il go to their yard speak to someone and give em a :drinkup if they give me work :D

[DGODGR]

I have a PC35 that I bought just for my own use on my property. I have become pretty good on it, though I have nobody to compare myself with :) I have a couple thousand hours on compact excavators over the last few years. I am self employed in another field, and have never though of actually putting my equipment to work, but it would be a nice change of pace to work with my machine a few days a month. In addition to the PC35, I have a rubber tracked off road dumper, and am soon to have a little D21 Dozer or CTL.

My question is...... since I have no clue.... so please don't flame me for souding stupid, I don't want to break any laws or go out and undercut you people who do this for a living........ Do you need a contractors license to work a machine on a residential job such as pulling stumps or grading someoe's private roads? can you work FOR a contractor without any license? I am in California.

Lance

Anything over $400 requires a contractors license in CA. Biggest part of the license exam is the legal portion. Trade portion is about 1/8 of the questions of the legal (at least it was back in '95) when I got mine. It would be easier for a lawyer to get a license than a construction worker.

[joispoi]

Newbie here looking at starting up with a mini ex. This really helped me out a lot in determining what I would charge. I looked at the local rental shop and their minimum is 4 engine hours for $140 or $35/hr plus you have to insure it. Not sure if they deliver it for that price ? Anyways I think an operator should be worth $25 an hour ? I'd be looking at $60 hour to start out. I was thinking of a 4000lbs mini. I assume I could do a fair bit of different types of digging with a 2 ton mini.

What would a 4000-6000 lbs mini burn for fuel in an hour gallon wise ? My dodge 4x4 with the 5.9 cummins burns about 3 gallons per hour, so mini i'm thinking 1-2 G per hr ?

I always wondered why guys locally say free estimate price per job and nobody posted their hourly rate, now i know ;-)

Very tough market to break into. Line up your jobs then rent until you know what your needs are.

[moparguy55]

Good luck in starting out like here in uk youve probably got a lot of competition around. Depends on haw you use a machine on haw much fuel youd use for that size youd might use about 4-5 gallon a day 25 liters somthing like that its a tricky game make sure youve got loads of work before hiring a digger me personally i hate hiring i do try to avoid if poss. And if you havnt driven much machines id be very carefull in even going out on hire (not saying you havnt) gain some expierience first.

but if you can then dig away :cool:

I worked on a farm threw college for 4 back when i was in college, so i used a front end loader on a big case tractor. Not really the same beast. I know a guy with a kubota mini X that could probably give me a crash course. I found another place that offers a 90 hour course on a mini.

I'd only be looking to do maybe 10 hours of work a week. It would be on the side as i have a full time job already. Mostly french in the area i'm in, but i work for an english compay that has ~500 employees. Kind of thinking just there might be a small niche and a way to get my name out. I know a few builders too. If things were to go well I could then maybe go full time on my own. (which i'd prefer)

Just have to find out all the stuff i need to make it legal

[strott]

the snow really has spoilt my week really i was going out this week do some local jobs befor the bl71 goes back an 1hour drive from home the snow has spoilt it weve had about 30inches+ up here all the by roads are heavily drifted cos the wind to so i phoned the council offering to clear some roads
im on standby with em. So ive had a week on the yard not doing alot :Banghead:Banghead Theres more snow to come :confused: il be begging them come monday if its worse to give me work il go to their yard speak to someone and give em a :drinkup if they give me work :D

Yeah very frustrating this snow - looks like there won't be any chance of doing any work for a the next 7 days as a minimum.

even if the snow went the daytime temps are too low for laying concrete/tarmac so I won't be able to do any drop kerb excavations or backfilling around footings if the builders haven't built them!!.

And even better the padlock to my barn was frozen a week ago so I couldn't get to my other kit by now it must be frozen solid :Banghead and the roads to it are country roads which are not gritted so very much doubt that I could get to the machines let alone get into the barn to get them out!!

[volvobl]

Yeah very frustrating this snow - looks like there won't be any chance of doing any work for a the next 7 days as a minimum.

even if the snow went the daytime temps are too low for laying concrete/tarmac so I won't be able to do any drop kerb excavations or backfilling around footings if the builders haven't built them!!.

And even better the padlock to my barn was frozen a week ago so I couldn't get to my other kit by now it must be frozen solid :Banghead and the roads to it are country roads which are not gritted so very much doubt that I could get to the machines let alone get into the barn to get them out!!

And i thought i had problems for going out to work ive got a stone track to do aswell and its just to dangerous to carry stone out of the quarry where i am is just too hilly and snow all over. Well i got a job tomorrow ive got to go and bury a goat :crying:angel

[thebig450es]

we've been getting anywhere between an inch to 3 inches a day here, its about 3 oF right now lol

[strott]

We have only had about 5 inches of snow last tuesday/wednesday and since then it has just stayed below freezing!!

It has began thawing today (yay!!) but we are due another download of snow tonight so I will have to see what happens......

Now if my customers from last year would pay up - that would be helpfull!!!!

[volvobl]

We have only had about 5 inches of snow last tuesday/wednesday and since then it has just stayed below freezing!!

It has began thawing today (yay!!) but we are due another download of snow tonight so I will have to see what happens......

Now if my customers from last year would pay up - that would be helpfull!!!!

for sure same here really then i wouldnt worry in having a couple of weeks off
due to this weather.

[strott]

Couple of weeks off .... again!! although I don't know of many groundwork companies that are working at the mo!!

[thebig450es]

Do any of you charge more for working in the cold?

[volvobl]

more snow to come again

[DGODGR]

Don't you Brits do snow removal over there? As much snow as you are complaining about you might think about snow removal. Falling white stuff = $ on this side of the pond. I would also say that snow removal can be more profitable than dirt work.

[Hendrik]

Don't you Brits do snow removal over there? As much snow as you are complaining about you might think about snow removal. Falling white stuff = $ on this side of the pond. I would also say that snow removal can be more profitable than dirt work.
They used to until occupational health and safety stepped in and imposed a whole bunch of rules.

[moparguy55]

Don't you Brits do snow removal over there? As much snow as you are complaining about you might think about snow removal. Falling white stuff = $ on this side of the pond. I would also say that snow removal can be more profitable than dirt work.

Not up here snow removal is nowhere near $50 an hour. Most have their own snowblower as they are fairly cheap new. If not there are guys doing a contract for the WHOLE winter for $300, or less for a small driveway. You see a lot more guys mowing lawns and plowing snow than you do with mini Ex's up here in the great white north anyway.

I thought about doing it, but snow removal is kind of hard on trucks. I'd buy another just for plowing. Take awhile to pay off a plow truck with these rates.

[strott]

Don't you Brits do snow removal over there? As much snow as you are complaining about you might think about snow removal. Falling white stuff = $ on this side of the pond. I would also say that snow removal can be more profitable than dirt work.

Have thought about it but as you may of noticed the UK market doesn't really like paying for earthmoving let alone clearing snow!!!!

Not to mention the health and safety brigade saying that if a person clears snow from outside their property then if a person were to slip on the cleared ground the homeowner would be liable.

:beatsme

[strott]

Do any of you charge more for working in the cold?

It would be nice but I would just be happy to be working regularly!!!!

[joispoi]

Do any of you charge more for working in the cold?

The colder it is, the slower things tend to progress. Guys in the trenches with 4 layers of clothes move slower than when they're dressed for summer work...cold fingers move slower, machines take longer to warm up and de-ice etc- fuel gelling (although not so much anymore these days). With this in mind, work in the cold does cost more. If you keep your regular rate, you are already charging more. As far as upping the rate goes, I never considered it. I figure it's kinda hard to explain the bill when a customer asks why is the rate higher when net output is lower.

[joispoi]

You need a couple more years of good snowfall to get people in the mood to pay for snow removal. In places where they're used to snow, people are glad to pay for good service. I imagine if you're not used to having snow, there's no budget set aside for it and the thought of having to pay someone to get rid of a bit of white stuff might seem outrageous. A couple more winters of snow and having to hand shovel the driveway, people will understand the value of snow removal service.

[special tool]

You need a couple more years of good snowfall to get people in the mood to pay for snow removal. In places where they're used to snow, people are glad to pay for good service. I imagine if you're not used to having snow, there's no budget set aside for it and the thought of having to pay someone to get rid of a bit of white stuff might seem outrageous. A couple more winters of snow and having to hand shovel the driveway, people will understand the value of snow removal service.

Alas - very unlikely, what with all this global warming going on.:D

[volvobl]

well we had a lot more snow again last night back to square one. I have been told by the council that im on standby if they need me but thats like waiting for next christmas to come.
On top of things the councils have got no money and running out of salt they cant get it out of the ground fast enough im told if i clear the road to my place and surrounding area without the go ahead from the council then im liable for the road and people on it.
Loads of contractors are off naw due to the snow here there are a few hauliers out but the local quarry hasnt had no orders at all only a few loads of 6mm pea gravel to mix with the salt for the council. Yet i see all fuel suppliers out day and night people heating oil and fuel.

[strott]

Yep more snow here last night - the ground is going to be soaked when this thaws out!!

[Shifty]

Do any of you charge more for working in the cold?
Of course [IE it cost more fuel and block heaters besides being a hassel.