how do you run a crew.......?

[kf_tree]

how many guys? how many trucks? etc

i don't get this whole climbers dragging brush thing. just put the tree's on the ground and boogie.

we run 2 crew's each crew has a chip truck and a wood truck. the climber runs around in a pick up with a ground man/ rope man and 4-5 guys on clean up. there are some days where i'm just banging out small jobs and i never see the grouind crew. on bigger jobs we have all hands on deck. once the tree's are on the ground and the wood is cut up/ bang load the tools and get on to the next job.

why have a climber chaseing a rake or load wood? i don't ask the truck driver to climb. 4-5 guys on the ground may seem like alot compared to most companies but it enables us to get in and get out quickly to get on to the next job. isn't that what it's all about?

 

[a_lopa]

your telling the story bro,you have to bang out the jobs to pay everyone:angel:

 

[kf_tree]

how do you figure? if you add 2 more guys to "your" average 3 man crew look at how much more work you could get done, they pay for themselves.

 

[arboromega]

your the man kf. that was like the first company i worked for and big work got done quick with big crews. now 2-3 man crews and i often end up draggin and raking my own brush. ok sometimes, but somedays that tree just wears you out.

 

[Nickrosis]

Sounds great, but let's see some numbers. You have 4 times as many people on your crew as I would prefer to have on a crew. That much more in pay, worker's comp, hiring, firing, parking, calling, etc. There is a critical mass to a crew size, and I'm a firm believer in smaller-is-better.

I have a number of reasons for this, and I don't believe it works in all situations, but here's why it works for me. You have a crew that works together and gets to know the others on the crew quite well. Verbal and non-verbal communication is refined. The people on the crew begin to anticipate the other members' moves and a harmony develops.

In order to have a large crew, the pay must be dropped to be sustainable. I'm much more of a highly-paid, highly-skilled type of staff over the "huh-yuck, yuck-like, yer mom" kind of crew. You pay for it, but they pay for themselves.

 

[kf_tree]

Originally posted by Nickrosis
Sounds great, but let's see some numbers.

my crew averages 2800- 3200 a day. the other crew puts up higher #'s, better climber and different area/ not as cut throat with the priceing.

I'm a firm believer in smaller-is-better.

i'll leave that one alone

Verbal and non-verbal communication is refined.

my rope man is pretty fluent in english not 100% we can do most removals with just hand signals.



In order to have a large crew, the pay must be dropped to be sustainable. I'm much more of a highly-paid, highly-skilled type of staff over the "huh-yuck, yuck-like, yer mom" kind of crew. You pay for it, but they pay for themselves

i also doubt that.......our lowest paid ground man is 100.00 a day (no drivers license/ non saw runners) the pay just goes up from there. i'm not even going to post my day rate since i was called a liar the last time i posted it and i've since gotten a raise

.

i'm not saying our way is best, it just seems that way to me. so do you guys work the way you do and are you happy with your current crew size?

 

[xander9727]

Buy a bobcat or a tractor with a loader and put a winch on the chipper. Fire two guys and the equipment will pay for itself in a year and last much longer. The highest cost of any company is payroll. If you can minimize that you'll make more on your bottom line.

 

[kf_tree]

Originally posted by Mike Maas
KF, what happens when you have a job that is climber intensive? You pay 5 guys to watch you climb?

intensive for you maybe...

yea there are days like that, tree work is all about the good with the bad. but if the boss is heads up to it and the other crew has a "bigger " day they'll take a guy or 2 for the day.

 

[treeman82]

Not that I know from experience, but I know plenty of people who do go down to the city to work on a regular basis. If a job down there requires 2 people, you need to bring 3. The third person's job is to pretty much just stay with the truck and make sure that saws, ropes, etc. don't find legs.

 

[NeTree]

Originally posted by treeman82
Not that I know from experience, but I know plenty of people who do go down to the city to work on a regular basis. If a job down there requires 2 people, you need to bring 3. The third person's job is to pretty much just stay with the truck and make sure that saws, ropes, etc. don't find legs.

I've had jobs like that... most recently in Springfield next to the infamous "tent city".

 

[Nickrosis]

Originally posted by kf_tree

i'm not saying our way is best, it just seems that way to me. so do you guys work the way you do and are you happy with your current crew size?

I've been offered a lot of money to work in NY, compared to WI dollars. But I guess in NY, it's not very much. My aunt lives in Manhattan and pays six figures for her rent-controlled apartment.

So I won't use dollars to quantify pay, but I can use skill sets. I believe one's ground people should be well-qualified, preferably climbers. They have the best understanding and can rescue you in case of an accident.

 

[Mike Barcaskey]

Myself (I climb), one other climber and a groundie when needed.
Yep, we drag brush and rake.
Depending upon the job, I take 20% for equipment and then split it with my other climber (regardless of what he does - climb, rake, chip)
groundies get $10 per hour

I like working with 3 total.
more than that and they're dogging it

 

[a_lopa]

my 2 man crew has 40 years combined climbing exp, jobs look diffrent to us i could low ball you all day long and make plenty,your crew sounds vunerable,i can add pack mules $100 and own everything go figure.totally agree with mike barc,and own a rayco 1625 if anyone plays stump for free

 

[DDM]

Me and my Wife Are our Normal Crew.We are however heavely Mechanized. I do have a High school student that works during the summer and on saturdays.This past saturday We removed a 48" DBH water oak Hanging over a bank and a Dead 40" DBH White oak that about 60% was leaning out over a 2 story house It was a 14 Hr day but all wood and debri was removed from the sites and all cleaned up. O i forgot to mention my 2 mexicans Pedro & Pepe Both Bobcats one a 763 the other a T190. They Load with the best of them.... and do not require Workmans Comp.

 

[ORclimber]

I run a 2 man crew. Myself as the climber, Hulk Junior(AKA Robert) on the ground. We'll bring in extra climbers(other self employed little co') or groundies as needed(not often).

Going for quality over quantity here.

 

[stavenstumper]

KF,
Done any work for the Orange County Chopper guys? Sorry off topic but I had to ask...

 

[SteveBullman]

personally i cant stand climbers who as too far up their own backsides they think they're too good to help out the groundies when they're down from the tree.

 

[DDM]

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
I've met Pedro and he's a workin' mofo. I guess Pepe` is a new hire. LMFAO!

Yes Heres PePe, Nations Rent Decided Renting a Track loader Was not to there best interest so they cut me a deal on Him.............

 

[lync]

3 man crews

99% of our jobs are done by three man crews. Climber, climber/groundman, and groundman. As soon as all the wood is on the ground, climber stores tools and ropes, and helps with cleanup. Second climber either in a second tree or on the ground as the job dictates. Primary climber also CDL driver, 2 cycle mechanic, client relations specialist, and chief cook and bottle washer.

corey

 

[BigJohn]

Mike what is climber intensive? How does that work if so intensive why isn't there any brush to drag. Why are they just watching. I just don't understand. I think I would have a coniption if I just saw guys standing around watching its not a show. You have some real problems on your hands if your guys are just watching. Are just climbing around looking for something. Maybe someone lost a wallet up there or fetching a kitty. Please explain.