[Ron's Asphalt]

We go out an average of 13-14 times per year, 3 year average. I have customers pay for that 13 for seasonal accountes, then give a cap of 16. So far, we have gone out 12 times, 3 for the blizzard, still have room. After 16, it's per push. Have never had to go over our cap. Could be this year.

I also have one commercial account that is seasonal, no limit. I priced that higher to cover years like this. So far, so good.

 

[Ron's Asphalt]

All comes down to how may of those you can do per hour. I average about $25 per drive. One rout we do 6-7 per hour, another does only 3. ( probably won't keep that driver) break even at 3, make money at 6. 7 is better. Give me five more years and we hope to have them all at between 6-8 without rushing.

Thinking about heading an hour away to a community that could net 15 per hour. Kind of far away, but could be worth the drive. 6 hours, up to 90 drives, $15 per, $1400 per event, sounds good.

 

[Ron's Asphalt]

Right now, I take care of about 125 drives. I really only get calls from one or two customers. Will probably not call those two next year. I very quickly weed out the complainers. I learned a while ago that I can not be all things to all people, and those that aren't happy with my service will never be. Get rid of them quick.


Tah being said, I love my one commercial account. They wanted a higher level of service, were willing to pay, right up my alley. Looking to find more, as long as the $$$ is there. Way too many "commercial" jobs going for $50 per hour arround here last year.

Might have an "in" available to me that I will persue hard this coming year. This is my first year salting, so far so good. I do see a day that, if the commercial end goes well, I would gladly give up the residential side. :wink Not for a while though. Right now, residential is about $45k a year gross. With the driveway rigs paid for, that's hard to let go. Would like to though.

 

[Ron's Asphalt]

I have five pull plow. Wouldn't plow without one. We average 4 per hour right now, with only a driver. The one rout we can do eight with driver / shoveler. As each year passes, we do not expand the routs geographically. We actually try to shrink each one. My goal is to get to the 8-10 per hour with driver / shoveler, 6 hour runs for most snows. I add a truck each year within the same areas. I figure another five or so years and I will have them fairly tight. That is, of course, providing the economy comes back somewhat and people start to spend a little $$$.

As a general rule, a two car straight drive takes us about 3 minutes to plow. More rural drives take 6. That is with a decent driver, not rushing. Get them close together and you're making $.

 

[Ron's Asphalt]

2 min driveway...:grinz

Me too.opcorn2

 

[Ron's Asphalt]

First night I had my first Daniels, I was helping a buddy. Backing up at about 15 mph in an unfamiliar parking lot well away from a building I hit a Bollard, painted white, more than 10' from a building. Folded a draw bar, put a nice dent in the plow. Still pisses me off some times. No reason for that bollard to be there. Why was it painted white?

Have since added very nice reverse lights, go a little slower in unfamiliar territory.

 

[Ron's Asphalt]

In designing my plows, I went with 3-point hitch top links for draw bars. They are double ended adjustable links, hollow tube in the middle. Found out that they act as the weak link in a collision. Very strong for pulling, but will collapse on an impact while in reverse. Was using a class 2 size, going to change them all to a smaller class 1 size for a little easier crumpling.

In my most recent collision, one tube collapsed but I did bend the hitch the ear was mounted to. After looking, I need to strengthen this mount. Didn't even dent the plow. Having a smaller tube as a draw bar might have prevented the ear from being damaged.

Here is a link to some pics so you can see what I used.
http://www.letstalksnow.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26052&highlight=pull

 

[Ron's Asphalt]

I have been considering dropping shoveling from my services. Might keep existing customers, but new ones, may be not. Definitely going to price the shoveling side much higher if I keep it. I think I have been under valuing / pricing this side of the job.

 

[Ron's Asphalt]

To each their own. It all comes down to productivity. If you only have a few to shovel, by yourself, it slows you down a lot. If you are shoveling most, then you have someone else with you who can jump out and shovel while you plow. Keep the production up and all is well.