Thread: What do you think and what kind of rates

Ok I might be making a job change and going to work full time for myself. I work in the auto industry as a line worker for Chrysler. After 13 years and wondering every year if I am going to have a job I think I might take a buy out. Here is one of the things I was thinking of. I already have 2 dump trailers and a flatbed dump truck. I would buy a couple more dump trailers or very heavy flatbed trailer. I would take them to job sites for tree people let them load them with wood and then haul it away. I have a place to store and work the wood up into firewood. I can get rid of the junk to people with outdoor wood burners. Any hardwood I can sell for firewood. My question is what do you think tree companies would be willing to pay for a trailer to be dropped off and picked up and disposed of. All trailer would be able to handle at least 7 tons. I know this was sort of discussed in another thread but I didn't want to hijack it.

Scott

Originally Posted by STLfirewood

Ok I might be making a job change and going to work full time for myself. I work in the auto industry as a line worker for Chrysler. After 13 years and wondering every year if I am going to have a job I think I might take a buy out. Here is one of the things I was thinking of. I already have 2 dump trailers and a flatbed dump truck. I would buy a couple more dump trailers or very heavy flatbed trailer. I would take them to job sites for tree people let them load them with wood and then haul it away. I have a place to store and work the wood up into firewood. I can get rid of the junk to people with outdoor wood burners. Any hardwood I can sell for firewood. My question is what do you think tree companies would be willing to pay for a trailer to be dropped off and picked up and disposed of. All trailer would be able to handle at least 7 tons. I know this was sort of discussed in another thread but I didn't want to hijack it.

Scott

Tree people...I love it!!

It might work, would you be willing to load them yourself?

Yes would be willing. If there is really big stuff I do have a skid steer or would be willing to purchase a dingo to load. It all depends on what it would pay. I'm just trying to find different markets that aren't really tapped that could be income sources.

Scott

Originally Posted by STLfirewood

Yes would be willing. If there is really big stuff I do have a skid steer or would be willing to purchase a dingo to load. It all depends on what it would pay. I'm just trying to find different markets that aren't really tapped that could be income sources.

Scott

I see...good luck. I think being willing and able to load would be a big plus. I think skid steers might be a bit more of an impact to some residential HO's attention to aesthetics than would be desirable. Maybe a small articulating end loader with bucket clamps might be in your future.

Originally Posted by Bigus Termitius

Tree people...I love it!!

Hey... www.treepeople.org ???

love
nick

Originally Posted by NickfromWI

Hey... www.treepeople.org ???

love
nick

a subspecies...no doubt.

STLfirewood

How many tree serive business are in your area...i mean are you in a small townw with a few companies...

or suburbs, with a lot of companies..??

but i thhink that it could def. be a big hit...not sure about full time....i know you do part time tree work on the weekends...maybe a mix of the too, could really make some money

I live close to the St. Louis area. So we have a metro area of over 1 million people. There are more then a few pages in the Yellow pages of tree companys.

Scott

Scott,

Ya i think you definetly have a good deal going....pretty easy advertisment too...just call up each company and let them know of your services.

That actually might be a good way to judge it before you get it in....let them know what you are looking to start and get a feel for how they feel.

Just trying to help.

Mike

Start with the smaller companies.

Also tell them you can provide a cheap dump site for crap wood.

Saying how much per load people would pay is very regional. I think you need to work out your costs first, and have a zonal scale, ie you charge more the further away you are. Fuel cost, wear and tear, general maintenance, trailer cost...

Then there is how much you need on a per day basis to feed your family.

Set yourself up as an LLC and get insurance so that you can bill the tree companies as a sub, it does help sell your business plan.

If I were you I would just get a nice tracked stumper and grind stumps. I am always amazed when I go out and grind stumps by how easy it is and how much I make. No employees/headaches and seeems to be same sort of money as tree work!

Try it, but don't quit your day job!!!!!!

I really like the idea but you have to try and keep your prices low .To me a ideal tree work would mean me loading up my compact car with climbing gear and saws ,picking my ground guy and going to work having trailer there and ready to load would be great but you have to take everything like the whole tree ,brush,rotting mushroomed wood everything !! I think a lot of small tree company s would agree that there is enough to worry about working tree without worrying about chippers , dump truck and where to haul when you are done .

I would take all the wood. I could do brush also by showing up with the chipper and a truck. I would prefer to just do the wood though. I was thinking priceing would be $200 for a trailer of softwood. and $150 for a trailer of hardwood. That includes dumping and everything. All trailers would have ramps to roll big blocks up oreven hydraulic lifts if needed.


Also I ahve thought about buying a stump grinder or 2 and going that route. But one of my best friends does that full time. I would hate to compete with him if I didn't have to. I think he charges $2.50 an inch with a $60min and has almost all the work he can handle. But that could be an option also.

Scott

I don't know if you had thought about it but could you see a partnership agreement between you and your stump grinding friend, you haul away while he grinds away? Ideally invest in more equipment, increase efficiency with two guys, and offer a combined source for tree work in your region. I would think, but i only dabble in residential tree work i try and stay as far back in the woods as possible (feel more at home there) plus the Asplundh guy's have most of the money makin' contracts round here. But just hauling away waste wood is a great idea, i know alot of small time guy's in my area would love that. I feel the same way about tree work as osb_mail does, just load your climb gear, saws and go pick up your ground guy and your off! So i would definetly use the service if it was in my area.

Dave,