Somehow I missed this discussion last year. Not sure what I would have said, other than I knew going into December that I was booked full before the first of the year. Repairs/fuel are what they are, I'm considering buying another 16k bulk tank so I can take delivery of two tanker loads anytime between November and February when prices are lowest.
I'm going to hit a different angle on this conversation. Those of you that are busy, I assume that a percentage of the work is scheduled, and the rest is walk-in? Obviously, everybody has a slightly different dynamic, but with a small crew such as mine, it is difficult to find the line between scheduling enough to make sure you're busy all the time, but leave enough time for the walk-in work. My problem is I seem to always commit to more than the season allows. In my area, every season there seems to be a lot of "impulse" work I'll call it. About mid-September, guys start calling wanting work done. If I've completely filled the schedule, like I usually do, I have to tell these guys I can't get there, have to do it next year. Most guys wait, some don't. The biggest fear is the ones that go buy their own yellow iron and then I've lost them for good.