Expenses of Owning/Operating- Water Truck (Construction Sites)

sisKOH · Aug 3, 2014

Hey folks, newbie to the site, and found some useful information about owning/operating a Water Truck.
I have been trying to get all my stuffed lined up for purchasing my first water truck soon (maybe during rainy season for better pricing).
Plan to operate in Construction sites for Dust Control, Pool services, and etc.

I am wondering if anyone on here already has there business up and running and started the same way i am. I need help in crunching down all the expenses from; Fueling, City fees, licensing, average maintenance costs, Commercial Insurance cost(monthly), and any other expenses that are mandatory when hiring others to run your trucks(which i plan to own more then one).

>Plan on purchasing a used truck of course. In the process of finding the right one.
>Working with a Water Truck Broker
>Debating on tank size still from a 2,000gal vs a 4,000. I hear the 4k ones stay on the job site longer.
>Kenworth, International, Mack, Peterbilt debate over reliability?

any advise on any of these matters i would greatly appreciate constructive Feedback.

Thanks in advance guys!

sisKOH · Aug 5, 2014

I guess no one. Sucks being a newbie. No response.

Scrub Puller · Aug 5, 2014

Yair . . . No worries sisKOH someone will chime in.

Here in Australia watertrucks were always seen as one of the better one man construction businesses . . . often hourly rate and a fair bit of parked up time waiting to be called through.

These days though to get a gig it looks like you need all the bells and whistles. There is a lot of horsepower and money tied up in high pressure diesel or hydraulic pumps for batter sprays, selective spray bars and what all, the old style gravity rig is not going to cut it anymore.

All the best with your project.

Cheers.

CM1995 · Aug 6, 2014

Welcome to the Forums sisKOH.:drinkup

I don't have any advice as I have never been around a stand alone (subcontractor) water truck service. Here in the Southeast there are only a couple of months out of the year one needs a water truck for site dust control and moisture conditioning - August being one.

The paving and base crews have water trucks and some of the larger contractors have their own.

Where would you get your water from?

sisKOH · Aug 7, 2014

Thanks Scrub Puller and CM1995,
I will mainly be working with a Water Truck Broker which will get me work around California. The Trucks that are currently in my job sites(i am a construction Laborer) they are getting their water from the company(not paying for it). Now the side jobs i plan to do, i would would need a water meter account with the City.

Queenslander · Aug 8, 2014

Scrub Puller said:
the old style gravity rig is not going to cut it anymore.

Iam a big fan of the gravity spray or dribble bar for grading work or resheeting.
Our water truck has 5 pressure sprays and 2 gravity sprays but we sometimes go for months without using the pump.
Bit like making a damper, add water slowly and keep mixing.

Cheers, Greg

Scrub Puller · Aug 8, 2014

Yair . . . Queenslander

Bit like making a damper, add water slowly and keep mixing.

. How good is that! (big grin)

Completely true of course but around here I see the trucks are mostly speced out on the highside and I thought there may be some minimum requirement to get a job . . . I am completely out of the loop these days.

Cheers.

Reel hip · Aug 8, 2014

Keep in mind California has HEAVY REGULATIONS on all trucks. They are broken down by GVWR in the door jamb from the manufacture. Either over 26,000 or under 26,000 GVWR. Look into the year of the motor in the truck. Someone may be selling you a headache. Older water trucks can take a mileage provision that depending on the miles you drive can get you to 2016 then requiring a PM filter ($15,000 on average) or until 2020 without a filter then the truck must be sold either out of state or scrapped. PM filters will only be allowed to continue the truck working until 2020 to 2023 depending on motor year.

We all started in this business with used trucks and/or equipment , but in CA they want 2010 motor technology between 2020 and 2023. This I see put's the skids on young business owners starting out that have the skill's and potential and desire, just not the credit to buy new. Sad!

sisKOH · Aug 9, 2014

Thanks ReelHip, thats some of the info I am missing. I do not really have anyone to discuss this matter. Dont really get a chance to talk to the drivers at work wince they are always on the run.

Now I am going to add all that info into the truck I am searching for. Dont wanna buy a truck and regret the purchase a year or two later.

Thanks again boss!

Reel hip said:
Keep in mind California has HEAVY REGULATIONS on all trucks. They are broken down by GVWR in the door jamb from the manufacture. Either over 26,000 or under 26,000 GVWR. Look into the year of the motor in the truck. Someone may be selling you a headache. Older water trucks can take a mileage provision that depending on the miles you drive can get you to 2016 then requiring a PM filter ($15,000 on average) or until 2020 without a filter then the truck must be sold either out of state or scrapped. PM filters will only be allowed to continue the truck working until 2020 to 2023 depending on motor year.

We all started in this business with used trucks and/or equipment , but in CA they want 2010 motor technology between 2020 and 2023. This I see put's the skids on young business owners starting out that have the skill's and potential and desire, just not the credit to buy new. Sad!

Expenses of Owning/Operating- Water Truck (Construction Sites)

sisKOH

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sisKOH

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Scrub Puller

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CM1995

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sisKOH

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Queenslander

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Scrub Puller

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Reel hip

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sisKOH

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