Big Truck:
Hello Sidan+Lard,
Just looking at your posts and Tarmac are advertising for tipper “contract hauliers” locally to where I live.Would I be right in saying a new 8 wheeler with a quality light alloy body and tip gear (Weightlifter,Hyva etc) will come in at around the £70000 mark? Can some of you guy’s give me an idea of rates etc? I take it they mostly pay on tonnage delivered so trying to get a 21 tonne payload is the ideal solution?
70 grand will just about get you into a new motor that does the job. Start spending (wasting imo) money on “bull” such as sleeper cabs extra lights unnecessary horsepower alloy wheels auto gearboxes etc etc and just watch the price rocket…and with it your monthly hp payment.
You are paid on tonnage but the required spec for new motors now (including extra insulation and electric easysheet) makes 21 tonne a dream. Be pleased with 20 tonne.
I would strongly advise anyone considering doing this to think carefully. Forget the “romance” of having your own truck - its not yours. Its Tarmacs. You pay for it, sure, but they say what is done with it and when (workwise). Its their game and their ball and if you don’t like it then there is the gate! You are entering into a business, assess the risks and the outlay you make with your head not your heart - rest assured Tarmac do!
You can do alright at it though. Some quarries do far better than others, some areas keep you loaded more than 50% of the time which helps alot. I cannot say whether you would be ok or what you would earn as I don’t know about the areas you are in, what the rates are like, the amount of messing about you get at plants, whether you are on dry or coated etc etc.
I’m not going to publish my accounts on a bulletin board - nor will anyone else so asking the “what will I earn” question will not get you a relevant answer - as I’ve explained above, that depends on so many variables. Haulage rates are different for every quarry. Some are good some are hiddeous.
So things to do to find out if its for you:
Ask for illustrations of earnings for the unit you will work at. No need for names, just a good selection (rather than the “top earner” alone). Its not an unreasonable request to make.
Consider how much of your own money you can put into your business as a deposit. More is better if you want a newer motor. Buying a banger (if they let you) may work - you could be lucky, it may not break, or it could bust you in repairs. DON’T borrow your deposit from a bank. Thats two lots of finance - a bank loan AND an HP agreement. You are then completely enslaved to loan sharks and very vulnerable.
Get the full support of your wife. Most important this. Its her and your kids who are sharing in this risk with you. If it goes wrong then everyone suffers, if it works then fine! Just remember to talk about it with them as money troubles ruin homelife.
I started doing this when I was single and had no commitments. If it went wrong then so what. Now I’m married with a mortgage would I start out from scratch? Frankly, probably not, but I’m more risk averse now.
A final thought and I’ll shut up…You have to like doing the job. If you get a buzz from it you’ll get stuck in and give yourself a much better chance of succeeding. If there is some way of trying it out before you commit, do so. Offer to cover weekends, holidays, nights, whatever you can for the OD’s currently doing it. You are then in the best place to sound things out.
End of Lecture
Lard