Cat dozer hourly rates

[MattR]

Not sure if this should be here or "in the office" category.

What would good current rates be for D6C, D7E and D8H? All in good working order. I've been charging $130 to $150 for the 6 and 7 depending on what the job is. Sound good?

I've been using the D8H in my own pits, but have recently been asked to bring it on an hourly job for this summer.

Thanks in advance

 

[DB09]

I get 225 for Td 25s and charge for moving 1 way.

 

[MattR]

I get 225 for Td 25s and charge for moving 1 way.

You're about spot on with what I was thinking. Any others have some thoughts?

Thanks again

 

[vernier]

MattR, I charge $150.00 per hr. for my D6D , and $125.00 per hr. for my 550J (john deere) with the cost of fuel and parts a person has to make some profit. My main goal is to satisfy the customer, then they are more willing to pay your asking rate. I usually don't charge for moving if the job lasts a couple days or more.

 

[MattR]

MattR, I charge $150.00 per hr. for my D6D , and $125.00 per hr. for my 550J (john deere) with the cost of fuel and parts a person has to make some profit. My main goal is to satisfy the customer, then they are more willing to pay your asking rate. I usually don't charge for moving if the job lasts a couple days or more.

It's really amazing how cheap some guys are working here. D6 machines for $85 and less. No joke at all. I've been around $130 for the D6. Should probably be a bit more. The D7 has been around $150. The D8 has to be at least $225 like was said above, I would sure think.

 

[Jonas302]

Remember a low hourly doesnt mean a low bill at the end of the job

 

[chandler starling]

We run
D6r for 125 a hour
650j LGP for 125
Hitachi 230 -125
Deere 300g -150
Off road truck-125
Skid steer - 75

Southeast Georgia. Also for jobs under 40 hours we charge for moving one way. We are thinking. About bumping up the D6 rate

I’m looking at getting a D8 and don’t know how much to charge per hour

 

[old-iron-habit]

We never moved any machine with out charging at least the actual moving costs both ways. The rental company doesn't do it for free either.

 

[MattR]

Good info from all. Please keep it coming. I think we are all interested to hear many opinions. I now charge at least one way of moving also. The scab timber company we used to work for really gave us the bone on everything. Machine rates, moving, all of it. I'm happy to have parted ways with Weyerhaeuser. At first I was a bit scared. After getting back into the real world, I can't believe how long I put up with it. Had the blinders of steady work on I guess. We made nothing. Sad part? There were, and are, guys lined up to take our place.

 

[MattR]

Remember a low hourly doesnt mean a low bill at the end of the job

No doubt about it.

 

[JD955SC]

It's really amazing how cheap some guys are working here. D6 machines for $85 and less. No joke at all. I've been around $130 for the D6. Should probably be a bit more. The D7 has been around $150. The D8 has to be at least $225 like was said above, I would sure think.

those low hourly rate guys are also the same ones with the machines literally falling apart and continuously wanting it absolutely jury rigged back together “just to finish this one job”

 

[MattR]

those low hourly rate guys are also the same ones with the machines literally falling apart and continuously wanting it absolutely jury rigged back together “just to finish this one job”

It's funny you say it like that. We were just talking about that. One of the local cheapies has duct tape for a hydraulic cap. Among a million other "riggings" . And you can tell it wasn't just till the new one came in. Unfortunately I used to be in their shoes until my parting ways with the timber company. I worked too cheap and didn't even know it. Just thought "that's the way it is" .

 

[DB09]

I think we all have worked too cheap at some point but I came to realization that u can go broke on the sofa watching tv or doing something that requires little effort and no work. If I’m working running equipment running a truck or even shoveling I’m gonna charge a price that I feel like I’m making some profit. Time is something u can never get back once it’s gone. Can’t work harder and buy more time so my time is becoming priceless to me.

 

[GODSDOZER]

I bid all of my jobs..……………...I am too efficient with a dozer to do hourly work and make a good profit.

 

[MattR]

I bid all of my jobs..……………...I am too efficient with a dozer to do hourly work and make a good profit.

Wanna know something, that's exactly what I tell my employees. I say it joking, but they all know it's true. That's also why I usually have them do it. The results still come very good, but without even trying I'd get it done too fast. So it takes a bit longer, but our customers are happy. Plus my main dozer operator is the most suave bullshitter that's ever been born. Customers LOVE him......And THAT sells. So we all end up happy.

 

[old-iron-habit]

I bid all of my jobs..……………...I am too efficient with a dozer to do hourly work and make a good profit.

Before I retired we always said that if we get all the jobs we bid we are working to cheap. Lot of truth in that statement.

 

[cuttin edge]

we charge to move one way. The hourly rate for ten hours is a bit less then 5 or 6 hours. If the machine and operator are rented for weeks or months at a time, the rate is better again. Then there is the friends and family discount.

 

[MattR]

we charge to move one way. The hourly rate for ten hours is a bit less then 5 or 6 hours. If the machine and operator are rented for weeks or months at a time, the rate is better again. Then there is the friends and family discount.

I agree with this as well

 

[CM1995]

We do 95% hard bid commercial site work. Occasionally I'll do some hourly work but it's just to keep the iron moving and the guys paid. We are much more profitable supplying labor, equipment and materials for a retail or fast food joint.

Hourly rates:

325FL, 321DL - $155 hr
953C - $135 hr (which is too low considering how much fuel it burns)
D5G - $100 hr
279D - $85 hr without hydraulic attachment.
CS533E - $105 hr

$500 min mob in and out of a job regardless of size - except for CTL's. Larger site jobs where we have to mob in and out several times is $3,000. However that's for $150K project where we mob in build the pad and run utilities, come back to fine grade parking/walks and then finally backfill curbs/planters prior to landscaping.

A couple of my favorite business sayings -

I've never lost money on a job I didn't get.

Be either tired or hungry - never be both.

I can sit on my couch and loose money.

 

[Welder Dave]

My dad used to always say the jobs/sales you have are more important than the ones you might get. Basically they are guaranteed money. Sometimes though you wish you had never bid on them because the job and/or the customer becomes a royal PIA.