Contractors

[Kodiak450]

Just curious of how many contractors we have here at this site, that have a commericial snow plowing business?

I started plowing at the very young age of 8 with a garden tractor. Use to snow plow my neighbors regularly every winter. Made like $200 a day back then too! I had two tractors at my disposal back then, one with a plow, the other that had a mounted snow thrower. Then when I got older (18) I worked as an laborer for landscapers that did snow plowing in the winter, then years later got my first plow truck and grew from there. Always loved making all that money during the winter.

[mtnflyguy]

Looks like right now it is just you and I as far as commercial guys go? I have been running my own company for 5 years now and about to start my fifth season of plowing. I have two trucks and I love to push snow!! I have been doing it for compensation for about 15 years now.

 

I saw you mention timbrens on a different post. What are those? Thanks!

[Kodiak450]

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...mp;#entry922961

[Kodiak450]

Where you from mtnflyguy and what kind of plow do you use?

I posted info about the timbrens and a link to the site under the timbren thread I started. So check it out for more info.

[cerbomark]

I plowed part time the last three years in the NY state snowblet area. The guy I worked for had two trucks the first year and had to move up to three cause it was taking two trucks 8-10 hrs a shot. Told him I was out if he didn t have another truck, and he bought another. Two F250s and a F350 dump 4x4. I thought it was cool the first year but got to be too much with 10 feet of snow last year. 20 below at 3AM He makes like 70K just in plowing contracts but then after fuel and trucks don t know what he comes out with. Think we did about 90 accounts. Often we even use a backhoe to widen driveways up after the banks get too high and there s no where left to push.

[2COR517]

This will be my sixth year plowing, fourth on my own. Remodeling contractor the rest of the year

[ss502gmc]

I have been hauling cars for awhile now with a single car hauler and have decided to upgrade to a 2/3 car hauler. I wanted some input from people on how my truck " in my sig " would do hauling a 2/3 car slant trailer. The trailer i was looking at is a 42' triaxle 14,000lb gvw. The owners manual says that my truck is rated to pull 15,500 lbs. I plan on only using this truck for about a year and then upgrading to a 3500 dually or a kodiak 4500. i am going to stay local with this truck in state for now until i get another truck. But i wanna make some $ before spending $! I keep my truck well maintained and have hauled heavier loads than this before without a hic up. So i just wanted some others input on doing this before everything is finalized.

Been plowing commercial properties on my own and subbing some for 8 years now and love it! I just hate chasing for my money after every storm. But theres nothing better than being one of the few out on the road in a blizzard at 2am

[Kodiak450]

I have been hauling cars for awhile now with a single car hauler and have decided to upgrade to a 2/3 car hauler. I wanted some input from people on how my truck " in my sig " would do hauling a 2/3 car slant trailer. The trailer i was looking at is a 42' triaxle 14,000lb gvw. The owners manual says that my truck is rated to pull 15,500 lbs. I plan on only using this truck for about a year and then upgrading to a 3500 dually or a kodiak 4500. i am going to stay local with this truck in state for now until i get another truck. But i wanna make some $ before spending $! I keep my truck well maintained and have hauled heavier loads than this before without a hic up. So i just wanted some others input on doing this before everything is finalized.

Been plowing commercial properties on my own and subbing some for 8 years now and love it! I just hate chasing for my money after every storm. But theres nothing better than being one of the few out on the road in a blizzard at 2am

 

 

 

Take them dead beats to court and get a judgement, no need to have to wait for your money for months on end. Also try youareadeadbeat.com. They'll even send the dead beat a post card for free letting them know they have been added to the list of shame. Also is a great tool for checking out to see if any new customers you picked up are on the list too! I always red flag the people who call me up and explain how they were dissatisfied with their last contractor and how he pushed their rocks on their gravel driveway with his plow, ect, ect..

 

Then when going through my messages, if I hear anyone who left a message with a mouth full of marbles I instantly delete the message. I did not get into this business to perform my services for free.

[toast]

I always red flag the people who call me up and explain how they were dissatisfied with their last contractor and how he pushed their rocks on their gravel driveway with his plow,

 

 

That's a good point. I recently had a new customer call and tell me his previous plow/lawn contractor wasn't working out. He said that he had been trying to tell the contractor to stop his service but he was "unable to reach him". The customer told me to plow his drive during the last storm and he said that if his drive was already plowed, he would cut me a check and stiff the guy who plowed it. Needless to say, I didn't take him up on the free money because I can see the danger from a mile away. The last thing I want to do is get between them and get dragged into a mess.

[Coalbunny]

When I did landscaping as a kid, they paid me per job up front. One lady I would let slide, because she was really old and I usually cut her a deal. I was 16 when she passed away, and she was 102.

 

With that said, I figure if they want you to plow for a certain number of storms, or just a monthly rate, get that in writing. If it's per storm, only when they need it, well, then make arrangements for that. Money is still money.

[Kodiak450]

When I did landscaping as a kid, they paid me per job up front. One lady I would let slide, because she was really old and I usually cut her a deal. I was 16 when she passed away, and she was 102.

 

With that said, I figure if they want you to plow for a certain number of storms, or just a monthly rate, get that in writing. If it's per storm, only when they need it, well, then make arrangements for that. Money is still money.

 

 

I don't know anyone who would consider the idea of going by a monthly rate for plowing. There is too much money to be lost by going that route. Unless ofcoarse you live in an area where you don't get alot of snow during the season. I remember Best Buy years back paid a monthly rate of $5k a month, but like I said, there is alot of money to be lost if you wind up getting alot of snow storms that season. If i were to ever consider a monthly rate, i would anticipate in my price a very snowy month.

[Black02Silverado]

Looks like this year will be a very good year for anyone that plows snow.

 

I was visiting my parents in PA when they got the first 22". My back really felt that one. Then they got another 12" a few days later but I was already back in NC and now they are supposed to be getting 8" more. Just crazy!