[DeanV]

How many of you have multiple work trucks? Do most of you just have your employees drive to the job site in their own cars? I am trying to plan the best way forward to work with more painters. I am leaning towards a trailer or two for job sites and going from there. Cheaper than multiple trucks.

 

[NHS]

Fourteen trucks. Now listen close..... DON'T DO IT. Go with one or two at the max.(if any) and let the rest go POV. Trailers may work for you, we have used those as well.

 

[GMack]

I don't have multiple trucks but my plan has always been to put a lead guy in a truck and let the rest drive themselves. On residential work, it's really great to have a loaded van on every job. I basically figured one truck per 4 workers or right along those lines.

But NHS speaks from experience so what do I know?

 

[vermontpainter]

NHS

Do they come to the shop and get in the truck or do they take it home?

 

[NEPS.US]

Fourteen trucks. Now listen close..... DON'T DO IT. Go with one or two at the max.(if any) and let the rest go POV. Trailers may work for you, we have used those as well.

Talk about overhead.....WOW If you have the business to support it :thumbsup: If I have a foreman going to multiple jobs he has a van. Other than that I like to stick with trailers. Drop them at the job and there is very limited liability and practically no overhead. Plus with gas prices .... who needs a ridiculous gas bill every month.

 

[NHS]

NHS

Do they come to the shop and get in the truck or do they take it home?

Take them home.

 

[vermontpainter]

Take them home.

How do you handle maintenance on them?

 

[NHS]

Talk about overhead.....WOW If you have the business to support it :thumbsup: If I have a foreman going to multiple jobs he has a van. Other than that I like to stick with trailers. Drop them at the job and there is very limited liability and practically no overhead. Plus with gas prices .... who needs a ridiculous gas bill every month.

Actually we do have the business to support it. However to be totally honest I began getting out of the trucks (at the same time I started using more and more subcontractors remember that thread). I have reduced trucks to my operations manager and my warranty people. Beyond the actual overhead, its just amazing how many headaches and worries a fleet of trucks can bring.

 

[NHS]

How do you handle maintenance on them?

Operators are responsible for routine maintainence, which is tracked on their weekly expense reports. Also part of the same weekly report is a vehicle inspection report. Operators also know that I will (and have) hold them financially responsible for neglect and abuse.

 

[vermontpainter]

Beyond the actual overhead, its just amazing how many headaches and worries a fleet of trucks can bring.

headaches and worries indeed

 

[NEPS.US]

Actually we do have the business to support it. However to be totally honest I began getting out of the trucks (at the same time I started using more and more subcontractors remember that thread). I have reduced trucks to my operations manager and my warranty people. Beyond the actual overhead, its just amazing how many headaches and worries a fleet of trucks can bring.

I dont doubt that you have the business. Vehicles are such a money pit. Probably one the first major financial mistakes a young growing company will make. You said warranty "people" ...more than one full time?

 

[vermontpainter]

Operators are responsible for routine maintainence, which is tracked on their weekly expense reports. Also part of the same weekly report is a vehicle inspection report. Operators also know that I will (and have) hold them financially responsible for neglect and abuse.

Thanks for letting me pick your brain, as maintenance is one of the bigges pain in butts of trucks.

So, if a truck needs brake pads and oil change, the employee goes and gets it done on company time? If so, do you have them take it somewhere where you get all your fleet maintenance done?

 

[NHS]

headaches and worries indeed

Yep. I've had two totalled.

 

[NHS]

I dont doubt that you have the business. Vehicles are such a money pit. Probably one the first major financial mistakes a young growing company will make. You said warranty "people" ...more than one full time?

Honestly they really were not a money pit, but they were an expense. You have to look at a vehicle just like you would any other equipment. Currently two warranty vans on the road.

 

[NHS]

Thanks for letting me pick your brain, as maintenance is one of the bigges pain in butts of trucks.

So, if a truck needs brake pads and oil change, the employee goes and gets it done on company time? If so, do you have them take it somewhere where you get all your fleet maintenance done?

Usually I use one company (several locations) for maintainence. If the repair is to take any significant amount of time the vehicle gets "left" so I'm not paying someone to sit and wait.

 

[vermontpainter]

Currently two warranty vans on the road.

Why havent you sold off about 10 of those badboys?

 

[NEPS.US]

Honestly they really were not a money pit, but they were an expense. You have to look at a vehicle just like you would any other equipment. Currently two warranty vans on the road.

What type of work does your company do?

 

[NHS]

What type of work does your company do?

I'm one of those guys that everybody says can't make money in new construction. Also now doing repaints.

 

[NHS]

Why havent you sold off about 10 of those badboys?

Actually thats close the the number I have eliminated. Life is so much better now.:thumbup:

 

[NEPS.US]

I'm one of those guys that everybody says can't make money in new construction. Also now doing repaints.

Me too ....what part of the country?