Let's hear it for the Ground-Man!!!

[Tree Trimmer]

The guy that helps me most of the time has some climbing experience and that helps a lot. He can lower 800 lb. chunks and barely shake the pole. My rope is cleared 99.9% of the time before I even look.

My Uncle (who taught me how to climb) said: "You can tell what kind of climber you have in the tree by the brush he puts on the ground." I think the same holds true for groundies, you can tell what kind you have by what kind of brush isn't on the ground. This dude will pick up 8 ft. poles (he's real strong) and tote it off to the firewood pile all day long.

I've worked with quite a few people who didn't have an appreciation for the forces these lines encounter, and even more that I don't go around if they have a chainsaw in their hands. I guess I've just been fortunate to have someone like this to work with. Anyways, he might be headed home to Nebraska to work with a relative this month which means I'll be looking for someone else. Do you guys have much trouble finding good groundies? Believe it or not, I end up sub-contracting groundmen more often than climbers.

 

[rb_in_va]

How much do you pay your groundmen?

 

[Tree Trimmer]

Originally posted by rb_in_va
How much do you pay your groundmen?

I usually make sure he clears at least $12.50/hr or $100/day but often it's up around $15/hr. He's a full-time night student and we only work about 25 hrs per week, so it usually works out okay, when the weather is good.

If I'm contracting a groundie it's usually a deal with whoever they work for. In the summer we can get HS boys with no experience to drag brush for $7.50/hr, but that's usually on jobs where the brush is already on the ground and that's all they do.

 

[Lumberjack]

I pay my brush draggers 8 an hour. I pay my smarter groundies 10 an hour. None of them are really good, 2 of them can think pretty well, but dont really understand anything in any real depth. On tech removals I have to walk them through most of it.

On a positive note, they are getting better at it, which makes everything faster and smoother.

 

[TreeJunkie]

Good groundsman are like finding a needle in a haystack...I'm pretty fortunate the other forman w/ my company is a groundie, does climb a little. but anyway, anytime we get a big removal or something nasty, we'll combine crews and he's my rope man...
We have picked up some real hard working groundsman though lately,,,El SAlvadorians,,not real bright and can't speak or drive worth refried beans but they hustle..pay starts between 10-12, and at it's top is prob 17 hr. Thats pretty high for around Kansas city, but ive seen them paid up to 19 hr cash...

 

[MasterBlaster]

Keep quoting prices... maybe I can get some raises for a few guys around here.

One guy I know pays his groundies $6 an hour... The highest is $10.

 

[TreeJunkie]

???? 6,,,,I couldn't mess w/ that, jeez that's terrible......However i worked a few summers from the age of12-17 for free for my father, then started working for the uncle started out as a groundie at 10 for the first 2 weeks and then to 12 for 6 months, and then to 15 until i was climbing full time for about 6 months and then i saw some cash

 

[YUKON 659]

I've got a great groundman....ME!!!! My son does the climbing for me. But I'm making "all" the money!!!

Jeff

 

[Lumberjack]

Some of my (FORMER) groundies didnt EARN $6 an hour. They are gone now.

If my main groundy would read some books so he would know something about what I was saying, learn some things such as knots and how to use a whoopie sling consistantly, and stop cutting my climbing rope (2 times now, how hard it is to get out of the way? ) then he could make 15 an hour easy.

Is it 6 an hour cash?

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by Lumberjack


Is it 6 an hour cash?

Yea, and they don't have driver's lic, or know how to run a saw.

Its amusing to watch.

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by MasterBlaster
Yea, and they don't have driver's lic, or know how to run a saw.

Its amusing to watch.

Green Card?

 

[a_lopa]

ive got three main groundies one guy was my boss earlyer on gets 30 but is easily worth it. another guy ok climber etc but not expected to climb anything to much probably only 5%of work gets 200 a day my other guy who basically only good for dragging, some cut up around 120 a day even if its bust ass day if you want to get good money you need to be valuable there are plenty of climbers worth there 40-50hr and plenty that think there worth that

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
Cutting the climber's lifeline is a terminal offense...

Yea, but I've never had one 'fess up to it yet! Unless you're lucky enough to see em do it, yur SOL. I try to only use MY climbing rope, and THEIR bullropes.

That helps a bit, the've only cut mine once!

 

[Lumberjack]

He has never "nicked" the line, he has cut straight through it. My ropes have to be in good condition. My climbing rope has/had one bad spot on it, 1 strand that was cut maybe 25% through, so it isnt really that "bad" of a spot, but that is it.

I am in the process of making rules to keep effeciency up, saftey up, and frustration down.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

One of the fellas I work for here will pay reliables ground people $15/hr above board. partly because he does not work them full time and partly because he says it does not feel right to pay a grown man any less.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

The groundman is as valuable as the climber. The 3 man crew that we are frequently switch off between climbing and doing groundwork. This keeps us on top of our game and gives everyone a break. In my case it is all a valuable learning experience.....every day, every job.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by Lumberjack


I am in the process of making rules to keep effeciency up, saftey up, and frustration down.

Ha! Good luck there Carl, old buddy!

 

[coydog]

How do you know they're not too bright if you don't speak their language?

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by Rich Hoffman
The groundman is as valuable as the climber. The 3 man crew that we are frequently switch off between climbing and doing groundwork. This keeps us on top of our game and gives everyone a break. In my case it is all a valuable learning experience.....every day, every job.

Ditto that. Generally speaking, all groundmen should be climber apprentices, whenever possible. Nothing but good will come from it.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

IMO the crew that we are is as good as it can get. Everyone gets along and looks out for everyone. In this biz this is a requirement, too much danger involved. Most of the time work is almost not like work. It is great when you can have fun and make money at the same time.