Mikey P
Administrator
How far into the dream did you get before you said F it?
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Takes a very special sort to pull it off ..
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The Multi Truck Dream
- Thread starter Mikey P
- Start date
Cleanworks
Moderator
I'm a multi truck operation. Just not a multi tech operation. I only drive one truck at a time.
Mikey P
Administrator
Well aren't you two special
Hack Attack
Member
1.5
still contemplating having another go
my population base of 47k with density of 9/sq mile shared with 11 competitors makes that 2nd van a stretch
*I'll possibly have another 2 part timers on commercial hard flooring side soon, if 1 of them has 1/2 a brain I might try getting them out on the road during summer
still contemplating having another go
my population base of 47k with density of 9/sq mile shared with 11 competitors makes that 2nd van a stretch
*I'll possibly have another 2 part timers on commercial hard flooring side soon, if 1 of them has 1/2 a brain I might try getting them out on the road during summer
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Bob Savage
Member
I have always had 2 trucks and 2 truckmounts for the past 34 years.
It's great to have a backup for whatever reason.
It's great to have a backup for whatever reason.
Trip Moses
IMOL
I’ve been solo for close to 11 yrs. I could use help. I could possibly put a second truck on the road.
I’m not ready to turn that corner though. I should, but I do not know how to plan for it. I jumped into this business blindfolded and figured out how to keep myself busy.
How do you take that next step without detonating your business?
I’m not ready to turn that corner though. I should, but I do not know how to plan for it. I jumped into this business blindfolded and figured out how to keep myself busy.
How do you take that next step without detonating your business?
A dream at one time before life interrupted.
School....kids......marriage..........deaths.......and other calamities
It's as if one is continually swimming upstream
At a point you get older and tired and then settle into a happy medium.
I see it in other businesses as well.
Probably a lot easier if one is single and unattached
School....kids......marriage..........deaths.......and other calamities
It's as if one is continually swimming upstream
At a point you get older and tired and then settle into a happy medium.
I see it in other businesses as well.
Probably a lot easier if one is single and unattached
hogjowl
Idiot™
2 vans
Three crews
If you think I’m pissy NOW ...
Three crews
If you think I’m pissy NOW ...
Mikey P
Administrator
3 crews?
So a night crew?
So a night crew?
F
FB7777
Guest
Mid 90s I was a full 2 truck operation , but it was subsidized by long hour low pay night accounts like Pizza Hut and Wendy’s
Seemed like decent money at the time because I came from the janitorial biz
Now I’m waiting for my 20 year old son to get motivated to take over the reigns .... which essentially translates to ( I’ve reached my target financial number in 5 years and he can do whatever the fook he wants with the biz)
Seemed like decent money at the time because I came from the janitorial biz
Now I’m waiting for my 20 year old son to get motivated to take over the reigns .... which essentially translates to ( I’ve reached my target financial number in 5 years and he can do whatever the fook he wants with the biz)
hogjowl
Idiot™
Yep
Old Coastie
Supportive Member
Two crews, two vehicles. No truckmount.
Back down to an old man and a mop.
Back down to an old man and a mop.
Steve T
Member
I started this business as a second career later in life at 39. About 5 years in decided to remain a single truck operation... Several factors caused this decision.
1. Wood flooring and vinyl plank has become very popular here in the northeast meaning less carpeting.
2. I don't have the energy, patience or drive to expand ,move into commercial property and deal with employees.( the risk vs reward thing )
3. Now I've gone from business mode to hobby mode meaning I still enjoy working but if I don't have work for a couple days...no biggie, I'll relax.
4. Financially, I don't need the money that bad...which takes me back to point #2, the lack of drive.
1. Wood flooring and vinyl plank has become very popular here in the northeast meaning less carpeting.
2. I don't have the energy, patience or drive to expand ,move into commercial property and deal with employees.( the risk vs reward thing )
3. Now I've gone from business mode to hobby mode meaning I still enjoy working but if I don't have work for a couple days...no biggie, I'll relax.
4. Financially, I don't need the money that bad...which takes me back to point #2, the lack of drive.
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Kenny Hayes
Member
So was janitorial not good money?
F
FB7777
Guest
Scaled back, still have 5 good accounts
Kenny Hayes
Member
Explains his personality
Kenny Hayes
Member
No trucks per se, but it took 28 yrs. to get to full time management without daily hands on field work. Finally got it to a great retirement job.
Jim Williams
Member
I've never had the desire to grow any more. I'm too nice to be the bossman anyways, plus I've never been able to build my bank account enough to keep up payroll on employees. I provide a decent living for me, my daughter and wife who is only able to work part time due to some health issues, but seems I can never get ahead financially to make a move. I kind of enjoy the low stress lifestyle. I can work at my own pace, take days off when I want and be at all of my girls baseball games and band concerts.
Some day if I don't die with a wand in my hand I'll chuck my phone in the river behind my house and call it a career.
Some day if I don't die with a wand in my hand I'll chuck my phone in the river behind my house and call it a career.
3 trucks
a good read on this topic
a good read on this topic
My hiring strategy I'm planning is going to be a bit different. My first "employee" that I hired isn't the normal 9-5 hourly employee. She is my bookkeeper who does my numbers to send to my CPA. Takes a big load off my time that I'm not working. My next employee will be a phone answer secretary. Ever since my last employee has ghosted me, I'm starting to think the hiring thing a little differently. I'm thinking I'll be more efficient and enjoy my job more if I don't have to answer the phone. After my paperwork and phone answerer is hired and I'm still flooded with too much to do...that is when I'll start hiring for another van.
I started to think that route when the last two 18yo dipshits I hired let me down. The first idiot, literally, fell asleep next to me wanding, trying to show him how to do it for the umpteenth time! I have zero patience. And the other one's asthma made him cough like crazy after smelling my prespray. Screw that!
My niece (21yo) helps me out every now and then and she's outworked every male employee that I've ever hired. If her career desired in the medical field isn't what she hopes and dreams, I'll probably put a 1.5" wand in her hand and send her on a route. If that doesn't ever happen...I'll be the only one driving a vehicle with my business name on it
I started to think that route when the last two 18yo dipshits I hired let me down. The first idiot, literally, fell asleep next to me wanding, trying to show him how to do it for the umpteenth time! I have zero patience. And the other one's asthma made him cough like crazy after smelling my prespray. Screw that!
My niece (21yo) helps me out every now and then and she's outworked every male employee that I've ever hired. If her career desired in the medical field isn't what she hopes and dreams, I'll probably put a 1.5" wand in her hand and send her on a route. If that doesn't ever happen...I'll be the only one driving a vehicle with my business name on it
Kenny Hayes
Member
Yeah, 18 yr. olds usually aren’t the way to go. There’s a lot of difference between an 18 and 20 yr. old. Even that is highly risky. With those, you get what you get, and you you don’t pitch a fit
I have not had an employee for 19 years and I can just imagine how hard it is to find good people in this field.
Anyway, a lot of problems can be avoided in the interview if you take the time to organize the hiring process correctly.
My favorite question in our interview process was *how do you define work ethic?* (Hint, your looking for the reaction in first five seconds.)
Another tool we used in the interview was alphabet blocks. We would take out a set of kids alphabet blocks and set them on the interview table and tell them to line the blocks up from A to Z and that we were going to time them. In reality the timing was only a small part of it. We were looking for whether they looked at one block and put it in the general area of where it would go OR start with A, then look for B and so on. Its a totally different mindset (but really fun to watch!)
Anyway, a lot of problems can be avoided in the interview if you take the time to organize the hiring process correctly.
My favorite question in our interview process was *how do you define work ethic?* (Hint, your looking for the reaction in first five seconds.)
Another tool we used in the interview was alphabet blocks. We would take out a set of kids alphabet blocks and set them on the interview table and tell them to line the blocks up from A to Z and that we were going to time them. In reality the timing was only a small part of it. We were looking for whether they looked at one block and put it in the general area of where it would go OR start with A, then look for B and so on. Its a totally different mindset (but really fun to watch!)
Hack Attack
Member
I'm familiar with that test but I don't think it translates well to the real world
Someone who looks for them sequentially can be seen as detailed and specific (good qualities) or unable to see the big picture and unable to think on their feet (bad qualities) those who place them approximately can be seen as quick thinkers or someone who takes shortcuts... etc etc
hogjowl
Idiot™
I’ll shoot the first person who try’s to hire my son away from me.
Other than him, screw employees.
Other than him, screw employees.
Hack Attack
Member
... Chavez?
darcie smith
Member
We run two trucks most days right now, but hiring, training, and retaining have been extremely difficult. We currently have a FT girl who just graduated high school and worked evenings/Saturdays for us for a year and a half and we just replaced our FT guy with a FT girl. The FT girl’s doing well and has a lot of potential but I don’t know how long it will be before she’s comfortable enough to be the senior tech on the truck. Scott either takes one of them or sends them out together depending on the day. (Or I drive Kylee to small jobs since our insurance says you have to be driving for three years before you can drive a commercial vehicle. She knows what she’s doing, so I drive her and chat with the customer or do paperwork or whatever.)
We’ve only been a 2 trucks running company for a year. Aside from finding the people and getting them trained, we are limited by Scott’s ability to accept someone else doing the work on his company’s behalf. I can imagine how hard it must be to work for 14 years building a business and then adjust to sharing the workload when you can’t clone yourself. I’ve asked him a couple times over the last year if he wants to go back to being a one truck operation because employees are difficult to deal with but seriously, we are way too busy for that. Even with one truck booked six days a week and the second one booked four, we are full almost three weeks out. We’ll see what happens
We’ve only been a 2 trucks running company for a year. Aside from finding the people and getting them trained, we are limited by Scott’s ability to accept someone else doing the work on his company’s behalf. I can imagine how hard it must be to work for 14 years building a business and then adjust to sharing the workload when you can’t clone yourself. I’ve asked him a couple times over the last year if he wants to go back to being a one truck operation because employees are difficult to deal with but seriously, we are way too busy for that. Even with one truck booked six days a week and the second one booked four, we are full almost three weeks out. We’ll see what happens
Lee Stockwell
FOJL
Two trucks is my sweet spot.
I don't need to clone ME. I did that and had five little red-headed smart alecks who wanted to call the shots.
Right Justin?
I don't need to clone ME. I did that and had five little red-headed smart alecks who wanted to call the shots.
Right Justin?
