Big Orange

[timbertree]

Anyone else noticed the increase in big Orange(Asplund) up here in the North East? They were working right down the road from us yesterday and got to talking to the forester. He said they brought crews up from the south to get ahead on line clearing. That way when the storms hit down south they move the northern crews south.

 

[vharrison2]

Being from the south, I can appreciate that. Some one is thinking at Asplundh.

 

[Jim1NZ]

Wow where isn't Asplundh! They have just recently set up crews all over New Zealand, and seem to get most of the big council and line clearing contracts

 

[MasterBlaster]

Do they have a forum?

ha

 

[Ekka]

Flamin' orange trucks on every street corner ...

... big fish eating little fish!

 

[Jim1NZ]

Too right Ekka, over here the orange crowd tendered for all the main contracts, under priced them all, and of course won them all. They do this just to hammer the little contractors until they've got a major market share.

 

[Treeman14]

Let me see if I understand this correctly? Their business philosophy is to underprice the jobs so low that they get ALL the work, thereby forcing everyone else out of business?

I think there's more to this picture than meets the :Eye: .

 

[Ekka]

There's a saying ... "the big are getting bigger, whilst the small are getting the picture."

There is some heated competition here with some major players, many small privates have thrown in the towel as prices have become ridiculous. Now those smaller contractors are competing in the domestic market which is already overheated.

The big companies work on volume, they may break even or cut a small profit to gain a new market/tender but it's supported by the other tender they won 2 years ago 3000 miles away. Unlike you and I we require all jobs to be profitable. They have the equipment, they just bring it up from another state, the work is pretty straight forward so pay is low to match skill level.

One outfit that's competing has over 300 staff across the eastern seaboard of Australia and is considering going public and listing on the stock exchange.

The advantages to the supplier are good, they save and only have to deal with one or two contractors (companies) who comply to OHS, WC etc ... they like it plus they can deal with a "manager" not some individual who is used to calling the shots ... lots of boot licking going on here.

 

[treeseer]

Clearance Pruning-

sorry about that; moved to its own thread as intended originally.

 

[Stumper]

That was an exceedingly moronic clearance pruning. The tree could have had some minor directional reduction cuts made and been completely free of the wires well past the typical 3 year Vegetation management cycle. I don't know about damages being awarded, but unnecessary damage was certainly done.

 

[Manco]

There has been a massive lay-off in the Alabama Power contracts. Crews have been told they have to relocate or else. Not sure if thats the case where you are, but some have been sent far, far away. 18-36 month tour of duty!

 

[Manco]

Let me see if I understand this correctly? Their business philosophy is to underprice the jobs so low that they get ALL the work, thereby forcing everyone else out of business?

I think there's more to this picture than meets the :Eye: .

You do understand it correctly. I worked for a private contractor with a similar contract as Asplundh and he said he couldn't believe they could do the work for such low prices. They don't have to have a single, large job with high profit/ many jobs with small profit.

 

[a_lopa]

worked for a large company that tried that strategie in line clearing,used its cable tv contracts to subsidise the tree gangs.it worked for a fair while,asplundh now own the co.i used to drive the bucket on the left a 75' occasionally.