O K... YER SO DANG SMART..........................

[Farmwithjunk]

You figure it out. You get us a price.

That was the comment I got after letting a friend know didn't care for his snow removal plan. He has a business with a 280 slot parking lot, and close to a 1/4 mile of access road leading into the lot.

In past years, he's let a couple employees "deal with it" using an old Ford tractor they mow grass with during the summer. A light-weight tractor, running turf tires, using a 5' rear blade isn't the ultimate in snow removal equipment to say the very least. Last year, we had a couple heavy snows. His lot was shut down for almost a week.

In addition to the owner being a friend, I have to do business with his company. When he's shut down, I'm slowed to a crawl.

I opened my big mouth. (insert size 13EE)

(And NO, I'm not going to drag my tractors 30 miles to clean his lot either)

I've already got one "front-runner" as far as plow contractors. He gives a set price, up to 7". Then it reverts to hourly, at $150 per hour. (Tandem axle dump truck with salt spreader in back, 9' plow on front) Salt is per lb. Hand labor (shoveling walks) is hourly @ $40. He seems to have his act down pat.

From that point on, the clown car just keeps on emptying! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

One guy tries to estimate Cu. Yds. of snow, then charges that way.

Another wants us to pay in advance for estimated snow for the year. (He never said what happens if we exceed that amount)

Who has any background in contracting snow removal on a this scale? What's your magic formula for estimating "a good price"?

Snow'll be here before you know it.

 

[MadReferee]

Why don't you ask on PlowSite.com. You will be talking to the professional plowers there. I am sure that on one of there forums you will get a much better answer than you will ever get here on TBN.

www.plowsite.com

 

[Junkman]

I originally thought that this was going to be a question of how many Mensa members we have among our midst... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

In many shopping centers plowing is done on a measurement basis. The contract is for 0 - 6" of snow which would be plowed for XXX dollars. If the local weatherman says that we got 12" of snow, that constituted 2 snow storms, and the dollar amount increased by double. If it was 13" - 18", then the contract would call that 3 storms. If we got hit by a Northeaster like we did when MA was shut down for a few days back in the late 1970's, then that just bankrupted the snow removal budget. Fixed rate is about the best way to go, but you have to be the one to determine when to call out the snow plow equipment. If you leave it to the plow guy, he might plow 1/2" of snow that would melt in the afternoon and expect to get paid for one storm. You also need to let him know soon enough in advance so if there is a heavy storm that he will be there to plow it. All of our contracts were for leaving the snow on premises. If it had to be removed, then that was a hourly rate. Rarely would the snow need to be trucked away since there was plenty of place to put it. It was also the contractors problem to get the loaders in to pile the snow if it was a heavy storm. That was included in the price. With fuel costs being an uncertainty, the plow many might want to hedge against rising costs by tying a base fuel price into the equation. Just pay the additional fuel at an hourly basis if possible. It will be up to you to figure out the mechanics of this one. I have never had to deal with this aspect of plowing. Sanding is always an extra that is determined when it is needed by the property owner.

 

[Jagmandave]

I deal with a local guy, we agreed on a fixed cost, and I leave it up to him whether to drop sand or not depending on whether the lot is iced up or just snow covered (there is an extra charge for the sand/salt). I also have written into the contract that he only plows if it's deeper than 2", and before we open at 5:30 am he has to have the drive and the truck docks clear.
We've been doing it this way for about 5 years now to our mutual satisfaction............