What do ya think?

[lxt]

Well guys Im thinking about taking a Line clearance job, did this in Aug 06 up to May 07, Ive been fortunate this winter & throughout last year making enough to coast on......but its not gonna last forever!!

Ive got some work lined up but things seem different this year, people are going with the cheapest bid & the work doesnt seem as plentiful as last year at this time, last year I left the green & yellow in May with $25k worth of work & had a good year. Im thinking & maybe cause im bored Ill take a Crew Leader position with the utility.

My thought is if I see things picking up & am able to hit my target dollar amount I can always jump back out on my own....however there is a possibility for a General Foremans spot for me upon completion of probation!! Yeah I know......seen many promised this & nothing comes of it!

I guess im at a point where competing with hacks, landscrapers, grass cutters, etc... is getting old, Im also thinking this year the economy is gonna be a rollercoaster ride, gasoline hits $3.40+ people arent gonna do anything & trees are last priority.........atleast in my area.

So...........What do ya think? & thanks for the input ahead of time.

LXT.............

 

[squad143]

A secure job with a regular paycheque is comforting. Sure you may not make as much as on your own, however when times are tight, your still eating. Flip site is haveing to work for someone else. You can still do side jobs for the extra $$$$.

Consider this as well. Plan for your future. Hopefully this company has a pension plan. That would be a definite bonus. As we get older this job is more difficult. I can still climb, just not as effortlessly as I did 25 years ago.

 

[jsk]

work

I work for someone else just for the insurance is the main reason. If for no other reason they get a good group rate for good insurance. Its better then I could do on my own. I would take it if its decent and do it on the side like I do.

 

[reachtreeservi]

I agree with you LXT, I've been thinking along the same lines.
I'm going to start taking night classes and re-certify as a paramedic .
I figure to keep running my company on the side still and the schedules will work pretty well together.

It's harder every year to compete with the amateurs and the cross over guys.
Plus as always, the government continues it's plan to tax their small business guy out of existence.

I've been lucky thus far and done pretty well.
I could probably stay on this level indefinitely, but I've got some life goals and projects I'd like to complete this next few years that will take a lot more capital.
Plus I think diversification is almost always a good Idea when it comes to generating income.


At least you get to stay in the tree business. And who knows, maybe you will end up the big cheese at the new company in a few years.

Good luck with your new job !

 

[John464]

I think that the election talk has everyone frazzled right now. The last few weeks my call volume dropped and I blame the election and Bush. Which IMO is mostly a salespitch to get elected, the economy suffers. However, its now March. The past two days my phones have been going nuts. Sun is suppose to shine all week. temps are rising, birds will start chirpin People will be out in their yards after been cooped up all winter. Hope the saws are sharp!

Line clearance guys are underpaid and unappreciated. If anything why not climb or operate bucket for a mid sized tree care operation. If you were closer Id welcome you to apply here and surely you'd get more out of the job than working for the big orange. You gotta love what you do. Going straight a ROW all day every day, and you say you are bored now?

 

[woodchux]

I work for someone else just for the insurance is the main reason. If for no other reason they get a good group rate for good insurance. Its better then I could do on my own. I would take it if its decent and do it on the side like I do.

If you are self employed your health insurance is 100% tax deductable.

 

[lxt]

I know bored now overwhelmed tommorrow! its not big orange......well maybe , its their sister company??

I dont know just trying to figure this industry out as time goes on...you`d think with almost 21yrs i would have it down by now!!!

what hurts is when an area like mine has job loss in the thousands....everybody becomes a tree company/lawn/landscape/roof...well you get the idea & each year instead of getting a raise I have to cut costs to compete.

Ill still be doing my own thing, I guess I get a little bummed out when I bid a job & someone else I never heard of bids it ridiculously low & gets it!! this year I have bid against atleast 5 companies I have never heard of!!

heres one for ya: 19 spruce trees ranging from 25ft to 50ft all debris cleaned up & grind 22 stumps...........$3000.00 was the winning bid!! I came in cheap at $4000.00 & hoped I didnt get the job, so when I heard 3k I was like who, what, where, why?? It looks like this year in my area people will be getting the deals of a lifetime!

I made more $$ in the late 80`s early 90`s with nothing but a pickup truck, gear, saws,etc.. than compared to what I make nowadays with all the toys.

LXT..................

 

[Bigus Termitius]

Cheer up lxt, things have a way of working themselves out over time. Line clearance isn’t so bad, but I have a decent gig and a relatively green crew. (That keeps things interesting)

I work 4 days a week, so the other 3 are mine to do with what I can on the side. It's a living. I'm hoping for better days ahead, perhaps by then my boy will be climbing and we can hit it hard as a team. (That way he can start helping with that grocery bill he is increasingly racking up!) I think I might get some work on the side with a friend that does some residential and commercial also in the meantime.

Whatever you do brother, keep the saw to the wood and your heart and head in the game. Peace.