Hours charged for tractor work

   / Hours charged for tractor work #21  
I charge flat rates for jobs. I find it easier for the customer as well as myself. I do charge a "minimum" that would also take into account the transport time to the jobsite (I set a max distance radius I'm willing to travel, unless it's something special). So for mowing, I charge XX per acre, and I charge a set minimum fee, which also covers me if I have a customer with a small (say 1/4 acre) vacant lot.

I know what my average time actually spent per acre mowed is, (usually less than an hour per acre) but since it's "converted" to flat rate, the customer is more comfortable if I have to stop and blow out a radiator (or more than once-depending on the field), or if I have to replace a broken shear pin. They don't have to worry about it if they see me sitting and doing one of the above, and I don't have to worry about what it must look like to the customer if I suddenly stop mowing.

Once I've worked for them a time or two, they are comfortable with me and probably don't worry about it, but it does help with new customers. Plus I'm less likely to feel that I need to rush, and if I do have to slow down through some very thick or rough spots, I don't have to worry about what that "looks like" to the outside observer.

At the end of the job, the customer is happy that the job came in at the quoted price, and so far (knock on wood) I've always gotten a tip included in the payment.
 
   / Hours charged for tractor work #22  
I just hired a mobile diesel mechanic @ 120$ an hour two hour minimum plus travel time, he was here for 2 hours plus travel time total bill 360$. He knew his stuff👍🏻 I was happy to pay. Plus he showed up early and ready to work! Old school kind of guy ( but only 43 )
IMG_5324.jpeg
 
   / Hours charged for tractor work #24  
Bid or Flat rate; you just need to have a very good understanding with customer. Grading; do we want perfect, or do we have a +/- 0.3 ft on dirt work? Do they want tire tracks hand raked, ect. Not a problem, just need to have that clarity. Do we want spoils hauled off; or pushed into a corner. Does a customer want that field "finish mowed" at bush hog price, ect.
Hourly, I'd hand rake for days at $100/hour if that's what they want; but if I bid $1000 for a 1 day job, I wouldn't want to spend a 2nd day hand raking, because "that's what I thought we agreed too".
 
   / Hours charged for tractor work #25  
Trying NOT to hijack but the guy that bid all my concrete work wanted half up front. He waited until he was going to pour footings to spring this on me. It sent up a red flag with me but previously I had asked around and he had a positive reputation. I wrote him a check for half of the bid even though my better judgement said NO. He held up his end of the bid in the end but made me think in hindsight that he seemed to start dragging his feet once he got money up front. 80% of the time he had a legit excuse in poor weather, freezing conditions or access road maybe to greasy. But other times he seemed to take the low hanging fruit on small jobs through the winter. When my dad did concrete in the 70's I don't think he asked for half up front but maybe things have changed.
 
   / Hours charged for tractor work #26  
Materials are very expensive. Half up front is acceptable with a signed contract with an insured contractor.
It's not cool with a local cash bid finisher. Better you offer to pay the concrete driver for materials and cash out the finisher at the end of day. Otherwise you could end up with an unpaid concrete bill and a property lien!
And yes this is some serious hijacking.
 
   / Hours charged for tractor work #27  
I don't pay any money up front to the contractor. I do however pay up front for materials. But I pay the material supplier, not the contractor. Way too easy to lose money otherwise. Also, pay attention on the quantity of material delivered and only pay for that. Oh, and I almost forgot. If a contractor charges you for materials used for forms or protecting floors and the like make sure they leave this stuff behind. I had a contractor try to leave with about 20 sheets of 1/8 masonite that was used to protect my floors while works was being done t the house. I asked him why he was taking stuff I paid for and was he willing to refund me the cost of the masonite. He had no good answer and was not willing to refund me the cost. I still have some of the masonite left. I wish he had just paid me for the stuff. But I was not willing to fund his next job.
Eric
 
   / Hours charged for tractor work #28  
So, Mobilization is a legit charge. For houses, road construction, commercial; there is a pay schedule agreed before the contract is signed. It might be monthly draw schedule, it might be mile stone based, ect. Contractors can't be out millions, waiting two or three years for their money. Typically, that first draw on houses, will get paid at the slab pour, and can often be a bit, "padded" maybe, 33-50%; then another at dry in, and then another at MEPs done, all holding 10% till owner acceptance.

Road work, it's paid monthly, based on the pay items completed to date; but Mobilization is typically paid 100% ay first draw, and thats a significant number.

Stored materials are a soar subject for a lot of people; but once that material hits the job, the owner should be charged. It's not the contractors job to bank roll $250k of material.

All of this gets sticky with 2 or 3 day jobs; and I can understand the concrete guy wanting Mob and materials prior to pouring.
 
   / Hours charged for tractor work #29  
Pay Item, if anyone is not familiar; there is a schedule of values, added together to get the contract total. So, let's scale this to a 500 ft, 16 ft concrete driveway.

1) Mobilization $5,000
2) Clear and Grub; $15,000/acre 0.18 acres $2700
3) Unsuitable material removal; $15/cy; 0 cy; $0
4) 6" concrete-broom finish-$120/sq yard, 890 $106,800
5) Sod; $3/sq yard; 280 yards; $840
6) 4" broom finish concrete siewalk; $90/sq yard; 0 sy $0
7) Embankment-clean A2-4 material; $10/cy; 0 cy $0.
Total: $115,340

Now; we included a $ amount for unsuitable material removal; but don't anticipate any; but if we find some; we have a $ value assigned to it. Owner/GC wants more then 2.5 ft of sod from the EOP, fine, we already have a number assigned. Owner/GC decides that he can't afford all 500 ft to be concrete, fine, we have a price per square yard; if he wants a 24x48ft parking pad, we also can increase the quantities; and the total contract amount. These kind of numbers are good to have (not show) even on a lump sum bid. Next time; you realize you didn't do so well after paying for concrete and sub, maybe we bump that $120/sy to $135/sy next time.

Same could be for Bush hogging;
Mobilization: $250
Bushhogging $120/acre; 5 acres; $600
Small mowing/trimming; $160/acre; 0.25 acres; $40
Litter removal $100/cy; 0 cy $0
Total: $890
 
   / Hours charged for tractor work #30  
Pay Item, if anyone is not familiar; there is a schedule of values, added together to get the contract total. So, let's scale this to a 500 ft, 16 ft concrete driveway.

1) Mobilization $5,000
2) Clear and Grub; $15,000/acre 0.18 acres $2700
3) Unsuitable material removal; $15/cy; 0 cy; $0
4) 6" concrete-broom finish-$120/sq yard, 890 $106,800
5) Sod; $3/sq yard; 280 yards; $840
6) 4" broom finish concrete siewalk; $90/sq yard; 0 sy $0
7) Embankment-clean A2-4 material; $10/cy; 0 cy $0.
Total: $115,340

Now; we included a $ amount for unsuitable material removal; but don't anticipate any; but if we find some; we have a $ value assigned to it. Owner/GC wants more then 2.5 ft of sod from the EOP, fine, we already have a number assigned. Owner/GC decides that he can't afford all 500 ft to be concrete, fine, we have a price per square yard; if he wants a 24x48ft parking pad, we also can increase the quantities; and the total contract amount. These kind of numbers are good to have (not show) even on a lump sum bid. Next time; you realize you didn't do so well after paying for concrete and sub, maybe we bump that $120/sy to $135/sy next time.

Same could be for Bush hogging;
Mobilization: $250
Bushhogging $120/acre; 5 acres; $600
Small mowing/trimming; $160/acre; 0.25 acres; $40
Litter removal $100/cy; 0 cy $0
Total: $890
I'm bargain :ROFLMAO::LOL:;)
 

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