what did i get myself into?

[334 lawn co]

ok, as some of you know i sell construction and forestry equipment through an online auction site. well anyways at work today my boss asked me, " So I finally got the permission." i said " permission for what?" he responds," i got permission to start recovering our own equipment instead of hiring other recovery companies." i said " awesome, so what part of this involves me?" he then proceeds to tell me, "well i need someone with a CDL and youre the only one here with that." so i have a feeling that youre all going to hate to see me around now, because im now an equipment reposessor. I have a nice truck though. ironically enough it itself was repoed. its still for sale on our site but i get to use it for now.
the first two pics are of the peterbilt that i'm using until it sells. the three others are of the western star we are hoping to buy after we sell the pete.

 

[John C.]

You're going to need a concealed weapons permit and I would suggest a big helper that can handle out of control people.

It might also help to have a sheriff around when you pick up your iron.

Good Luck!

 

[334 lawn co]

i will definately have someone with me. the same gy that worked with me when i used to work for a towing company and i always carry a 12 guage tactical benelli with me.(i got it for only $399! the benefits of being a firefighter in a police supply store. can you say discount?)

 

[Red Bank]

Thanks for showing the trucks, we now know what to look for:cool2. Seriously, are you sure this is something you want to do? The concealed weapons permit and a big helper was good advice. I was just wondering when the best time to repo equipment would be-at night or on weekends?

 

[dirt digger]

a 12Ga isn't going to help much when you are outside of the truck

good luck with it...obviously not to scare you...but, i knew a guy that use to repo heavy equipment and what not...would usually do it weekends and night...usually went fine until one day the crew was waiting for him...got beat up pretty bad

now he just hauls equipment...no more repos...haha

good thing is you will learn how to tie equipment down REALLY FAST

 

[334 lawn co]

night i would imagine. i dont mind doin it. most of it is going to be for large companies(which we all know here but im not suppossed to say which ones but i'll give hints. D***E, C*T, K****A, V***O, B****T, etc.) we have permission from all of these companies and more to come. but anyways, with such large companies wanting to get them back, either we take it or somebody else will. theres no getting around it. but yeah, i'll give it a try. from what i hear, equipment repoing is nothing like car or truck repo's. theres really no fast way to do it. and i have also heard from D***E and C*T that we will only be sent on repos where the owner has agreed to forfeit the machine peacefully. so thats a load off my back. but its a nice truck aint it?:drinkup i'll be happy to use it. were using a Magnolia 40 ton tandem axle lowboy equipment trailer shown below- the truck is for sale and we cant get permission to use it , or else it might even be better than the pete.

 

[334 lawn co]

a 12Ga isn't going to help much when you are outside of the truck

good luck with it...obviously not to scare you...but, i knew a guy that use to repo heavy equipment and what not...would usually do it weekends and night...usually went fine until one day the crew was waiting for him...got beat up pretty bad

now he just hauls equipment...no more repos...haha

good thing is you will learn how to tie equipment down REALLY FAST

sorry, i was typing when you responded, but as i said in my post right after yours, from what i have heard, we are only being sent on repos where the owner has agreed to forfeit the machine peacefully.

 

[bear]

Peacfully or not broad daylight is best. Walk (drive) in like you own the place and dang well have a right to be there. Anybody asks your trading the unit for another the new on is about thre hours behind you. Load up and roll. Of course I enjoy conflict sometimes (once a Marine...)

 

[eRay]

I had a wrecker service at one time. A local bank called me and asked me to go repo a car for them. They advised that the owner had agreed to have the car picked up and I should have no problems. I backed in and hooked the car up then turned around to find an old man pointing a double barrel shotgun at me. He asked what I thought I was doing and I told him I had been sent by the bank to get the car. He said I was not taking his car. I asked him if he could point that shotgun in another direction while I unhooked his car.I gave up on repos after that.

 

[mudmaker]

There was a guy on another forum I frequent who was in that line of work. We ended up dead trying to repo a bunch of chickens IIRC. I guess the owner came out shooting. Pretty sad if you ask me. Surely these people know they are behind on payments. It isnt like you miss one payment and they show up to take the asset. I can see coming out to see what is going on, but once a guy figures out your from the bank he/she should just sit back and watch. If they want to do something heroic they should have done it with the bank before it came to the repo.

 

[Muffler Bearing]

Sounds exciting. I was working with an excavator when the sheriff asked him to bring his lowboy out and impound a bunch of equipment doing illegal logging. No one was around but it's still a strange side of the heavy hauling biz, good luck!

 

[rutwad]

Seems like alot of equipment isn't necessarily parked in the owners back yard, so you may not have any trouble. Other owners know why you are there. They are not paying for the equipment, so they know it's only time before someone shows up to get it.

 

[rutwad]

CDL? I am in 'Bama (334) so I looked at your profile. It says you are 20 yrs. old. Maybe it doesn't automatically update as time passes. So I am guessing that is when you signed up since you have to be 21.

 

[D5G]

Sounds like a very interesting gig. All you can do is keep your head on a pivot, and like previously said, just because someone says the person agrees to forfeit a machine doesn't necessarily mean they're gonna give it up with out a fight. I would think it would still be advisible to have the conceal and carry permit, along with a fitting 'helper'. Good luck.

 

[Dualie]

Equipment repo's are a lot easier than cars/trucks. usually their not behind a house and no ones around. Your spotter will let you know what's up with the asset before hand.

The only time it really sux tailpipe is when the machine has been stripped for parts and no longer runs, or the S.O.B. knows that its going one way or another and proceeds to trash the unit beyond repair and running condition.

A wise investment would be a good CCW pistol for those "incase" situations, some mace for those times when you don't need to tip your full hand. A 6 cell mag light, a cheater pipe also works for self defense.

Also I always had the local Police Departments direct phone number in my phone at all times if stuff escalated quickly. Cell phone 911 takes way to long to connect to local police departments.

Another good investment would be a 12V/24V jump pack as if their not making the payments its a good bet its because their not working and the unit hasn't been started in a while. Also a case of john deere brand starting fluid isn't a bad thing to keep on hand at all times.

 

[334 lawn co]

CDL? I am in 'Bama (334) so I looked at your profile. It says you are 20 yrs. old. Maybe it doesn't automatically update as time passes. So I am guessing that is when you signed up since you have to be 21.

i got it when i turned 18- went thru driver training and all. you can get a cdl here in bama at 18 as long as you only drive in state. when you turn 21 it becomes national.

 

[334 lawn co]

Also I always had the local Police Departments direct phone number in my phone at all times if stuff escalated quickly. Cell phone 911 takes way to long to connect to local police departments.

well, because i'm a volunteer firefighter i always have my radio on me- direct connection to the sheriffs department 24/7. ive got a dash mount unit and a handheld unit. i think that should be fast enough.

 

[Dualie]

That works too but if your not in the same truck every time the chances are slim that your going to have that radio in the truck when you need it.

I had to use my mace once, when a got irate quickly and charged at me like a mad man. he was very calm and cool until something flipped his switch, hes lucky that i found the spray before i came across the glock.

also i don't know about bamma but when you get a piece here in Ca the first stop i always made was by the police department to fill out the proper forms for a repossession for when the debtor figures out its gone and tries to report it stolen the five-oh know whats up.

Keep your head on a swivel even if the people seem like their cool with the whole thing as they can change in an instant.

 

[334 lawn co]

yeah, i keep my handheld on me AT ALL TIMES. if i'm anywhere, in any truck, i have that radio. partly because i just like to know whats goin on. and i also carry mace whn i have to and i have a police baton on me sometimes also. (those things hurt so bad!) so i think i'm set until i can get my concealed weapons permit in august.
my badge also fools alot of people into leaving me alone and not messing with me. it says "volunteer firefighter" but you can't read it unlss your holding it pretty much. people just assume its somethin else.

 

[Dualie]

I have an extendible baton also. Even though their technically illegal to have in California.

I find a 6 cell mag light works a bit better actually, with the flare on one end its less likely to slip out of your hands and you can use the light to blind them.

even though with equipment repos your much less likely to run across people that will want to resort to violence.

like i also said a 12V/24V battery jump pack, either, a massive set of master keys, a good flashlight, and a complete set of hand tools are somethings that your going to need as far as equipment.

Oh and Either works very when you find that wasp nest or bee hive in something that has sat around for too long.