Charging to deliver hay

[Robert_in_NY]

I am curious as to what everyone charges to deliver hay. I have seen some advertise delivery at $1.95 per loaded mile. I charge depending on location and figure out each load (180 bales max per load) accordingly but am curious as to how others charge. I wondered about just changing to $1.45 per loaded mile and simplify things some.

For those of you who buy hay, what type of delivery rates do you pay and for what size loads?

 

[MikePA]

We've paid to have hay delivered twice in 14 years. One place grew hay commercially and had scales. They charged per ton delivered and would only deliver full loads, based upon the size of the truck or truck/trailer they used.

The second place was a smaller operation (although still big) and he charged by the bale and offered 'free' delivery within 25 miles of his farm. Like the commercial operation, he only delivered full loads (pickup with a GN 20' flat bed trailer) Above 25 miles, he charged by the loaded mile, based upon distances indicated by Mapquest. I can't remember what his rate was.

Both guys helped unload the hay while we stacked it in our hay loft. In our situation, they could pull up right next to our hay loft door and toss the bales in from the back of their truck/trailer. However, we had to have enough help on hand to stack as fast as they could toss the bales. The commercial grower had two guys that could toss bales fast enough to require 3 people to stack them. The smaller guy had his 12 year old son, so they were easier to keep up with. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif The guy kept asking if there was a hay elevator in the area that we could borrow. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[beenthere]

From Mike's response, I'd say the 'delivery' price would depend on the 'work' involved, and not just the price per mile to drive a load. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

No elevator? Higher delivery charge, IMO. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

The labor wouldn't be 'free' unless it was maybe part of an exercise program of some sort.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Thanks to both of you. What I do now is figure out my cost and add in a little for my equipment. I also figure in my labor (what I would get paid if I was actually working /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif). I have no problem unloading and actually enjoy stacking the trailer and unloading it. However, when I have customers ask how much to deliver it is a hard process as I have to figure out the mileage, time and take a guess at what the fuel will cost me and how much it will go up before I make it home in 4 hours. What I want to do is come up with a decent figure that will be on a per mile basis so people can figure out delivery on their own. I have been thinking $1.45 per loaded mile for anything over 20 miles. The price would be the same no matter how big the load as my expense would be the same if I had 50 bales or 180 bales. I could always have a surcharge listed for small loads if I see it as a problem. The reason I am asking though is I forget about things at times and I have figured out prices before and forgotten something to where I don't make any money because of it. Do you guys think $1.45 is in line with what others charge? Thanks for your time.