Brush Hogging Rates ..

[Big Wave D]

You are when hauling equipment to do custom work therefore fall under "commercial". You would be a private "not for hire" motor carrier.

So the fact that my load isn't what I'm getting paid for doesn't matter?

It's what I'm doing 'with' that load once it arrives at X location.

I guess it must be rather specific for individual states, because we have numerous large and small excavation businesses around me hauling everything from Skid Steers to Cat 315 excavators and none of them have DOT numbers on the side of their semi's, dump trucks, or pick ups.

Seems like a rig going down the road that looks just like a farmer moving his tractor to some other property would be small potatoes and not even warrant a sniff by the DOT patrol boys.

I could see where size and therefore your rigs weight might attract attention. Someone in a 1/2 or 3/4 ton pickup with a bumper pull trailer isn't 'waiving a red flag' like a 1 ton dually with a 30' goose neck trailer following along behind.

 

[jlsmith]

I use a 1ton with a 32'gooseneck with a 5'dovetail. All with farm tags, I look at the land and then set a price. I get anywhere from 40 to 65 an acre. The last job I did was 835 acres that hadn't been mowed in about 4 years I charged 65 for 600 acres that was just overgrown and 100 an acre for the other 235 acres that was grown up with prickly pears and thorn bushes.

 

[Scooby074]

I use a 1ton with a 32'gooseneck with a 5'dovetail. All with farm tags, I look at the land and then set a price. I get anywhere from 40 to 65 an acre. The last job I did was 835 acres that hadn't been mowed in about 4 years I charged 65 for 600 acres that was just overgrown and 100 an acre for the other 235 acres that was grown up with prickly pears and thorn bushes.

Dang....Thats ALOT of hogging:thumbsup:

 

[Duffster]

So the fact that my load isn't what I'm getting paid for doesn't matter?

It's what I'm doing 'with' that load once it arrives at X location.

I guess it must be rather specific for individual states, because we have numerous large and small excavation businesses around me hauling everything from Skid Steers to Cat 315 excavators and none of them have DOT numbers on the side of their semi's, dump trucks, or pick ups.

Seems like a rig going down the road that looks just like a farmer moving his tractor to some other property would be small potatoes and not even warrant a sniff by the DOT patrol boys.

I could see where size and therefore your rigs weight might attract attention. Someone in a 1/2 or 3/4 ton pickup with a bumper pull trailer isn't 'waiving a red flag' like a 1 ton dually with a 30' goose neck trailer following along behind.

Yes it has to do with how you are using it.

These requirements vary by state a little.

Most states require numbers at 10k+ GCWR/GVWR for intrAstate commerce.

Everybody needs USDOT numbers for interstate commerce if above 10k GCWR/GVWR.

As far as I know everyone needs USDOT numbers for even intrAstate commerce at 26k+ so if an excavator is hauling a 315 without them he is in the wrong as far as I know. This includes farm use.

It is said that DOT is actively going after the smaller rigs since they have the larger rigs whipped into shape from years of hounding so don't think that anyone is under the DOT radar.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I use a 1ton with a 32'gooseneck with a 5'dovetail. All with farm tags, I look at the land and then set a price. I get anywhere from 40 to 65 an acre. The last job I did was 835 acres that hadn't been mowed in about 4 years I charged 65 for 600 acres that was just overgrown and 100 an acre for the other 235 acres that was grown up with prickly pears and thorn bushes.

So how long did it take you to make that $62,500? That was one nice job. :thumbsup: How many flats?

 

[jlsmith]

So how long did it take you to make that $62,500? That was one nice job. :thumbsup: How many flats?

Yea it was a great job and wish I could get a few more like that. It took about 5 weeks to complete with about 17 flats 3 of them were rear tires and the rest were front which I had to replace 2 front tires and both on the back and had to replace one pto shaft other than that it went pretty good.

 

[blueriver]

Yea it was a great job and wish I could get a few more like that. It took about 5 weeks to complete with about 17 flats 3 of them were rear tires and the rest were front which I had to replace 2 front tires and both on the back and had to replace one pto shaft other than that it went pretty good.

I am a small rancher ... most folks don't realize how big some of these places around us are ... The reason for this post is I have been asked to do 750 acres of brush hogging and I was looking for insight.

I really don't care about DOT, Gross vehicle weight, length of the trailer, size of the truck ... Etc... I will say this, I have heard that TXdot is tough, I've trailered alot of stuff South of the Oklahoma Border as far as Galveston, never have had an issue with TXdot ... the one and only time I did get stopped with an AC 7040 loaded on my trailer ... TxDot walked up and then said " Never mind your an Oklahoma Trailer" ... Oklahoma does not reqiure trailer tags!!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Yea it was a great job and wish I could get a few more like that. It took about 5 weeks to complete with about 17 flats 3 of them were rear tires and the rest were front which I had to replace 2 front tires and both on the back and had to replace one pto shaft other than that it went pretty good.

I hear about foam filled tires, would that not be a good thing for one in your business? You got a pretty good rate for that job, if you were only running one tractor. :thumbsup:

 

[jlsmith]

I am a small rancher ... most folks don't realize how big some of these places around us are ... The reason for this post is I have been asked to do 750 acres of brush hogging and I was looking for insight.

I really don't care about DOT, Gross vehicle weight, length of the trailer, size of the truck ... Etc... I will say this, I have heard that TXdot is tough, I've trailered alot of stuff South of the Oklahoma Border as far as Galveston, never have had an issue with TXdot ... the one and only time I did get stopped with an AC 7040 loaded on my trailer ... TxDot walked up and then said " Never mind your an Oklahoma Trailer" ... Oklahoma does not reqiure trailer tags!!

That would b a nice job. Has it been kept up or is it overgrown. I don't realy worry about txdot I have a ranch and all my equipment has farm tags and have yet had any trouble with them. Let me know how your job turns out.

 

[jlsmith]

I hear about foam filled tires, would that not be a good thing for one in your business? You got a pretty good rate for that job, if you were only running one tractor. :thumbsup:

Yea I only had one tractor on this job but had another guy on another mowing job. Normally I don't have as many flats on a job but this one was one of the worst I've done. I have tought about foaming the tires but I also do custom baling and not shure how it would handel in the hay fields. I've heard they become stiff and cut the fields but I'm not certain about that.

 

[Carykong]

I experienced a rash of flats mowing my field loaded with prickly pear. I opted for an inner tire lining that increased the thickness of the tire by about 1/4 inch. Great results. No need to foam. The stickers would penetrate the tire but not enough to flatten the inner tube.

 

[jlsmith]

I experienced a rash of flats mowing my field loaded with prickly pear. I opted for an inner tire lining that increased the thickness of the tire by about 1/4 inch. Great results. No need to foam. The stickers would penetrate the tire but not enough to flatten the inner tube.

Neat ill have to try them.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I get 45-60 per hour depending on the job. I am on the cheap side. I also get travel time on all but the closest jobs. I think the rule of thumb is $10 per foot of mower. Try to do it by the hour if you can. By-the-job seems to almost always work against you.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I get 45-60 per hour depending on the job. I am on the cheap side. I also get travel time on all but the closest jobs. I think the rule of thumb is $10 per foot of mower. Try to do it by the hour if you can. By-the-job seems to almost always work against you.

I think that this is the first time that I have seen someone actually post this.

Thank you :thumbsup:

 

[LD1]

I think that this is the first time that I have seen someone actually post this.

Thank you :thumbsup:

Thats about right for me. I try to shoot for $50 per hour with my 5 footer.

But I still quote per the job and NOT by the hour to the customer. Because again, they always ask, "how long do you think it will take ya"

 

[blueriver]

That would b a nice job. Has it been kept up or is it overgrown. I don't realy worry about txdot I have a ranch and all my equipment has farm tags and have yet had any trouble with them. Let me know how your job turns out.

It had been kept up till 2 years ago ... then it sold and the new owner needs someone to cut it.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Thats about right for me. I try to shoot for $50 per hour with my 5 footer.

But I still quote per the job and NOT by the hour to the customer. Because again, they always ask, "how long do you think it will take ya"

Do you find that a customer asks the same or similar questions the next time that you cut their place, or do they just have you cut it without all the questions?

 

[TripleR]

I don't think I would pay by the hour without some consideration to the size of the mower. I have a 4', 5', 6' and two 10', which would you rather be paying for by the hour?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I don't think I would pay by the hour without some consideration to the size of the mower. I have a 4', 5', 6' and two 10', which would you rather be paying for by the hour?

If you are paying by the foot by the hour, then that would not quite be the same. Your price would vary from, let's say $40 an hour for the 4' up to $100 for the 10' and $150 an hour for your neighbors 15' bat wing. So the 15' would be the better deal.

 

[TripleR]

If you are paying by the foot by the hour, then that would not quite be the same. Your price would vary from, let's say $40 an hour for the 4' up to $100 for the 10' and $150 an hour for your neighbors 15' bat wing. So the 15' would be the better deal.

Agreed, I am saying there should be a difference as more work will be done per hour with the bigger equipment. Either that or pay by the job.

I am saying, I don't want to pay the same hourly rate no matter what the person is using.

I have considered doing custom work,, but everybody ad his brother has a tractor around here and I would starve looking for work.

Sorry if my post was confusing.