Job bid I lost

[monster76]

dumpster

 

[CM1995]

Stupid question...what's a "can"?? Never heard that term around here.

Can, dumpster, roll-off box or just a box. I use all 4 terms.:beatsme

I've started hauling tree debris in boxes on the small jobs, it's just more economical as you can get more volume per trip compared to a dump truck. Even if you have to pay regular tonnage rates at the landfill for the can, instead of a brush dump flat fee with a dump truck, it still works out the same or cheaper.

The 5 county area around me has a burn ban from May to Oct. One county requires an air curtain to burn anything, complete with permit and inspection. The other counties allow open burning but some sites are so small it's not practical to burn it on site.

The numbers in my area are close in price for just clearing open acreage, stacking and open burning - $1500-1800 an acre. This would be for 5 acres or more. Small clearing sites where the debris must be hauled off are priced individually, as the volume of debris can vary drastically. IMO, individual house lots should be a T&M price. If a homebuilder wanted a hard price for clearing a lot and hauling it off, I'd probably be high every time.:cool2

 

[theironoracle]

Drive by and see how the low bidder did the job! That is just obnoxious! I tried for years to get the estimators and owner of the last place i worked to do this. Instead they just sang the same old "there gonna lose their ars" and "no way they can do it for that" or we won't even bid underground work because we can't compete with so and so. All i can think is you better figure out how to get better and more competitive at your craft or find something else to do.......TIO

 

[Dozier Digging]

I took the advice of doing a drive by actually went by twice looks as if there using a bobcat and getting dumpsters from the same company as I use they was there all last week and there today looked like they was close to being finished

 

[joispoi]

Just remember when you're bidding a job, some people are willing to pay good money to operate machinery.

http://www.diggerlandusa.com/attractions/rides/

 

[dayexco]

i see the term "going rate" thrown out a lot in threads. who establishes this "going rate"...guy who knows his costs? or somebody lowballing to get work? personally, that term terrifies me. because nobody will ever share the same "going rate"....our income needs are different, our production levels will probably be different, our expenses/lifestyles will be different. to get caught up in the game of bidding jobs by the going rate is nothing but scary. you need to know your costs

 

[FSERVICE]

i see the term "going rate" thrown out a lot in threads. who establishes this "going rate"...guy who knows his costs? or somebody lowballing to get work? personally, that term terrifies me. because nobody will ever share the same "going rate"....our income needs are different, our production levels will probably be different, our expenses/lifestyles will be different. to get caught up in the game of bidding jobs by the going rate is nothing but scary. you need to know your costs

I was told that years ago!!! but it took a few years of not makin very much money before I sat down with a CPA & actually figured what it took to move my truck & pay my bills everyday before I MADE A SINGLE PENNY!!! this should be done every year because things change.. just cause the next guy charges $120 a hour to do something doesn't mean you should. I will give you a little heads up,, you DONT want to be the CHEAPEST company in town cause you wont be there long

 

[Mjrdude1]

And, some of the cheapest guys will tell you they make up for it in "volume". LOL

 

[RTSmith]

And, some of the cheapest guys will tell you they make up for it in "volume". LOL

I was told years ago- "If you buy hay for $1 a bale, and sell it for $1 a bale- you're going to need a darned big truck before you make any money." Sometimes volume rates just get you broke- faster!

 

[Dozier Digging]

I just cleared a lot very similier to the one I lost the bid on and really paid attention to time labor materials fuel etc. I bid about the same I ended up with 9 hrs on my 943 8 hrs on my bobcat 16 hrs labors it took 8 cans and I was there 3 days and two trips each way moving equipment which ends up being nearly a days work I think I ended up making 1200 for 4 days of work plus the time I spent looking at it and locating property lines with the builder prior to starting the job

 

[Garrie Denny]

Dozier Digging, how do you afford to run machinery,(maintenance,spare parts,wear-tear etc ) making $300 a day.? I am not having a shot at you, you are having a go and living the dream, but to me if that was all I was making in a day hauling machinery around to jobs, servicing etc,I would be selling the lot. Best of luck for the future.

 

[Shimmy1]

Not to nit-pick, but you should have made at least $500 alone on the man labor, and maybe $1000 for the machines. If you didn't make anything on the mobilization, there is a bit of a problem. This sounds like an extremely tough market to operate in. Hope you get some good stuff to bring things into a little better focus. Good luck.

 

[Dozier Digging]

That's the market around here I know it's tough the other job I lost to a low bid I'm sure he paid the guy to do that job

 

[Dozier Digging]

Not to nit-pick, but you should have made at least $500 alone on the man labor, and maybe $1000 for the machines. If you didn't make anything on the mobilization, there is a bit of a problem. This sounds like an extremely tough market to operate in. Hope you get some good stuff to bring things into a little better focus. Good luck.

The 943 ran to push trees down and dress up lot and pack boxes the bobcat was only loading brush I could have done this job in 2 days roll off driver could only haul four boxes a day

 

[Dozier Digging]

How can I upload pics on here

 

[Nige]

How can I upload pics on here

Scribe your reply, then click on "Go Advanced". Scroll down the screen until you find the "Manage Attachments" button. Click on that, identify where your files are, and upload away ...........

 

[mitch504]

You don't even have to go advanced, just hit the second icon from the right in the top of the quick reply box (if you hover over it, it says "insert image".

 

[jca57jd]

My market is the same way up in nc besides most of the hauling is with tri or quad axles. Pricing is in the same figures. I clear lots about 3 to 5 times a year for the very same reason, I'm in business to make money not lose it! My 953 will sit in my barn more than it runs for the time being. Too many people pricing dirt cheap and I keep waiting and praying for there equipment to give them a hickup because there is no way they are going to be able to pay for the repair with what little profit they are making. I'm hurting for work right now but I'll go broke hunting and fishing before I go wear my equipment out for no reason! It is extremely agrivating!!! I really want to get into the mulching business but nobody is going to pay for the cost of mulching when they can have it cleared and graded for next to nothing! I just don't understand how some people do it!!!

 

[Dozier Digging]

 

[Dozier Digging]