Mobile Services

[Waterchikn]

HI ALL! Now that its getting that time. My little brain started working...well, so I think it may have.

I know Fred has his mobile services and I have seen others around my area, but I was thinking of maybe a mobile service that catered to the plow industry, running repairs and parts for breakdowns and things like that...maybe an idea? I am not sure, but willing to see what your opinions are! thanks in advance.
If you think I am crazy, besides this idea, I understand!

[Pickering Snow]

Iam not sure if you could live off it but i will tell you like i did last year i made a good amount of money selling parts off the truck last winter in the middle of the night i also carry a stinger welder on the service truck so i did weld repairs has well. I carry a large amount of plow parts for are equipment but found myself almost starting a third buss in the night know the only problem is that my mobile truck is a plower has well so i have to watch how much repair time i spend during a storm so iam not leaving my own boys hanging with the full load. I think also that alot of companys will let a truck set broke before asking for help but ill tell ya what last winter with 39inches in jan alot of companys became humble and besides its a good way to meet johnny lowballer in person:D

[Pickering Snow]

Welding a guys broken plow at 2am

[Pickering Snow]

welding a guys plow at 2am sorry forgot the pic by the way this weld job is being done on a truck thats owned by a company that lowballed me two years ago i figure what the hell ill get some of my money back:D

[Arc Burn]

Check with your insurance co on this if your doing repairs such as welding,i can tell you first hand they frown on this,especially welding one persons equipment on someone else's property,don't assume because you left that part out that your covered,there are huge liability risks,i'm going thru this right now and it ain't pretty,Maybe Fred can elaborate,he's been doing this longer than me.
As far as your idea goes,it's a good one if there are enough contractors around.

[cat320]

I have heard that the insurance for welding is alot I don't know about the repair part of it but just to be like a welder you need coverage in the millions.

[Pelican]

I agree with Fred here on the feasability of the idea. I think it would be a good supplement to a repair business, but I don't think you'd be able to recoup your investment in tools if you were going to service plow owners exclusively. A heavy equipment field service business could fall right in to this work and only need to invest in a stock of plow parts.

[Jerre Heyer]

Two words...........COLD OUTSIDE>>>>>>>>>>>>


Thought of it extensively. Overhead is alot higher if you are mobile for some of the "repairs" that will be done in the field. Having parts available is a great Idea and one that is suggested by every plow supplier ( Emergency Repair Kit ) but most people refuse to carry parts or the knowhow to do the repair.

As said above check carefully into liability for On Site repairs both to the vehicle and the property where the repair is made.

Jerre

[JD PLOWER]

In this area I've often thought that one could do very well if you could set up a shop that was only open during snowstorms. A trucking garage in particular would be a great setup for it. Many bays that can hold multiple trucks, welding equipment, lifts and plenty of storage room for parts. They could hire the plow techs that go home during the night at their regular jobs. Plow dealers in this area will not stay open no matter how much snow we get so the labor pool does exist. The labor rate would have to be at least 100 per hr but I know that theres been more than one time I really wished I could have gone to a place and paid much more than that to get something fixed. The problem here is would anyone set this up for maybe only 4-5 storms a year?

[Waterchikn]

Yeah, not sure what the insurance co would think about it. I have a line on some nice shop space, still throwing ideas around, all the info you guys are inputing here is great, I do appreciate it. I have a friend who is a machanic that I am going to ask him about what he thinks, he is a plower too, but I'll see what happens. Your ideas are helping tho!

[cat320]

Nothing like have an inside space to do repair work during a storm If you have a central location to get alot of work.I think it's a great idea but it would be good to have another line a work to go with the emergency work service.

[Pickering Snow]

The big question seems to be liability insurance to answer anyones question about this mine is a comb of garage keepers mobile repair and commerical truck insurance for a total of 3mill in coverage. Jerre has far has being cold your right and i will be the first to say has it gets colder up here i start condtioning myself and my clothing i do serveral things to combat cold one is a salamander that runs off the trucks gen system , the other is to take breaks in the cab of the truck, the biggest thing is to tell yourself your doing something most guys couldnt cut but last but not least is telling yourself your paying the bills and giving the OTR trucker from alabama the advice not to run north of ohio in jan without #1 diesel or power service:)

[wyldman]

1st off,IT"S NOT FUN !! :D

You would need quite a clientelle to make it worth while.It's not fun working and troubleshooting out in the field,freezing your fingers off.You would be better off running it out of a small shop.Even then,your labour rates would have to be so high,you probably wouldn't have many guys who could afford it.

Insurance is another issue.If you already have a garage auto or other commercial liabilty policy,it's not to hard to add to it as well.If that's all you want insurance for,it will be hard to find,and expensive.

Have you tried looking into some of the local plow repair places ? Maybe they could use someone like you ? I know I would be open 24 hrs during storms (the clientelle is there for me),if,and that's a big IF,I could find someone with the expertise and willingness to run the operation at night.I haven't found anyone capable yet,and I don't have time for it.You need to know electrical,welding and cutting,fabrication,hydraulics,and have a general interest in cold wet dirty salty water running all over you for hours on end. :D

[Arc Burn]

So what are ya paying Chris?:D Might have to become a Canuck:p

[wyldman]

How did I know you'd be interested Don ? ;)

[Waterchikn]

Theres no doubt that it would be supplemental, the market here wouldn't support this endeavor alone. I agree, Chris, finding key people is how anything is possible, they are far a few between. I have talked with a couple local shops about the idea, and they all say "YES, then people wouldn't call me all hours of the night anymore!" It gives me reason to believe this market would stand a chance. AGAIN...I love everyones ideas and every little bit of input is helping, there are ALOT of variables to work out and I know it could be more of a PIA that its worth, BUT, I am still looking at all the options...thanks again guys!

[CT18fireman]

I will go help get unstuck or loaded into the bed or whatever but not do any major repairs. No welding or anything. I have replaced pins, chains, jumped soloenoids and such with the purpose of getting it to a shop. I like to stay in the truck or be in a garage, so does my insurance.

[Arc Burn]

Originally posted by CT18fireman
I like to stay in the truck or be in a garage, so does my insurance.

Funny,thats what my agent just told me a couple weeks ago!Thats why i also brought up the ins. issue,i'm actually just getting out of the mobile end of the welding as we speak.

[CT18fireman]

One of the local garages, that has tow service, recently told me that their agent said that their policy only allows towing and jumping. No road service, even changing tires.

They are looking into options, but it really shows you how much insurance can impact a service business.