Gas tips -- Have any?

[kenel]

We run F-350's with full trailers, and a ****load of equipment per crew. 3.25$/gallon is killing us, and diesel is just as bad. I guess what I'm asking is...what are your "oustide the box" ideas on saving on gas -- please spare the "usual answers" I'm almost guaranteeing that we already do it.

Thanks!

[tthomass]

besides changing routines all you can do is get yourself a custom tune............better mpg and a little more hp/tq

[Ground Scapes]

for your mowers you could buy gas without road tax it nocks of five cents or more

[kenel]

Gas without road tax -- how do I inquire, or go about, getting such a deal?

[TLS]

You deduct it on your taxes. In PA its a special form (credit for tax on fuels).

[kenel]

Doh! I should've figured as much. I was thinking a little more immediate, but, that will help as well. Thanks!

[T.E.]

Well I for one have been all over the board when it comes to equipment, and trailers. I had a caged trailer last year it did not take me no time to realize that what looked nice going down the road full to the max with equipment was killing my bottom line. The bottom is what I'm in the biz for. That being said this is what I have done.
1) take nothing outside of the route, and drop what is not in the route such as customers I've had for a few years.
2)everything is done by route not by the day you want.
3)I carry only the equipment that is needed for the day. If I'm doing small lawns why carry a z rider around to show everyone I have one.
4) I sold all equipment that wasn't needed, and being used
enough to keep it around. We put 90 hours on one mower, and 300 on another last year. The one with 90 hours is now gone.
5) I schedule all of the same type of work such as hedge work to be all done at the same time not a little bit of this and a little bit that all in one day.
6) run the blowers on half throttle for grass on drive ways run mowers idled down when we can. Don't blow clippings all over the drives to start with. Don't leave equipment running when not in use. Maintain everything, air filters, etc. etc.
Hope this helps some I'm interested in more ideas. I have implemented all that I listed here. Later, Tony

[BSDeality]

for your mowers you could buy gas without road tax it nocks of five cents or moreI believe its around $.26/gal in CT.

You typically need a permanent site to store a tank and have a fuel company deliver it. We had a 350gal unit at the golfcourse I use to work at.

[VineYard Landscaping]

I'm not sure of what to do about getting better milage but I saw today what not to do. I saw a guy today pull up with a F250 hauling 2 ZTR's, 1 WB, 8 edgers/wackers and 4-5 large gas cans. He then had to back both the riders off to get to the WB that he was going to be using. He was alone and did not have crew.:hammerhead:

[TLS]

He needs a side gate!

[olderthandirt]

Best tip is just to have a fuel surcharge and tack the added cost on to the bill.
If the customer can't afford it then there not my type of customers

[Splicer]

Best tip is just to have a fuel surcharge and tack the added cost on to the bill.
If the customer can't afford it then there not my type of customers
OK...I charge $38.00 for 1/3 acre...Now how do I add a fuel surcharge of say $3.00 making the total $41.00? Do you warn the account of the new billable item that is non-negotiable by sending a letter or do you just add it to the bill and deal with the shocked person???

[olderthandirt]

OK...I charge $38.00 for 1/3 acre...Now how do I add a fuel surcharge of say $3.00 making the total $41.00? Do you warn the account of the new billable item that is non-negotiable by sending a letter or do you just add it to the bill and deal with the shocked person???

Its in the contract they sign at the beginning of the yr. When gas goes above $3.00 a gal for 1 wk or more a month 10% added to total bill at $3.50 20%, and it goes all the way to $5.00

[kenel]

We have, in all of our contacts - as we do not service single residential houses - gasoline clauses. I'm attempting to figure out a way to not hike prices but keep profits and margin at a decent percentage.

[JJLandscapes]

not trying to ask a "usual" question but whats the weight on the trailer filled up? can a f150 or 250 handle it?

do you carry alot of equipment that isnt being used?


im against fuel surcharges and would fire anyone that would ever charge me $3 on my property where there is no way they are using an extra $3 more in gas on

maybe add an actual gas charge if u spending an extra $50 a week and have a 100 accounts charge 50 cents

your prices should be high enough where even $4 a gallon shouldnt be effecting you terribly for a few months til prices drop down again

[JJLandscapes]

We run F-350's with full trailers, and a ****load of equipment per crew. 3.25$/gallon is killing us, and diesel is just as bad. I guess what I'm asking is...what are your "oustide the box" ideas on saving on gas -- please spare the "usual answers" I'm almost guaranteeing that we already do it.

Thanks!
may i just add you probably have one of the nicest landscaping websites i have seen good pics, layout and such

and on the other note as i was thinking there is probably no tip you can get that will help your problem except charging more

what u spend a week on gas and how many gallons for all ur crews

[TLS]

im against fuel surcharges and would fire anyone that would ever charge me $3 on my property where there is no way they are using an extra $3 more in gas on

maybe add an actual gas charge if u spending an extra $50 a week and have a 100 accounts charge 50 cents

your prices should be high enough where even $4 a gallon shouldnt be effecting you terribly for a few months til prices drop down again

You have to take into consideration that EVERYTHING is increasing in price. From the clothes you wear, food you eat, insurance, .....almost everything you touch is going UP in price.

If gas went up 15%, you should be raising your prices that same % if necessary.

[kenel]

may i just add you probably have one of the nicest landscaping websites i have seen good pics, layout and such

and on the other note as i was thinking there is probably no tip you can get that will help your problem except charging more

what u spend a week on gas and how many gallons for all ur crews


I thank you for the compliment, JJLandscapes, I designed it myself. The pics are awful, I believe (as I am a designer), but, I had to work with what I had at the time ;).

I'm a younger member of the Quinn family, so, I do not have access to those numbers yet, but, I will starting next year. The last quote, I believe I overheard, for gas for the month was around 5,550$ for the crews, managers, semis, etc...Let's just say I feel that the local Speedway and Citgo should kiss our goddamn feet because we feed their owner's kids every night.

In regards to the equipment, all of it is used on a daily basis by each crew -- we carry no extra equipment per crew that isn't needed for them to do their jobs to the fullest and most effecient. F250's couldn't carry the load of the grass.

[JJLandscapes]

I thank you for the compliment, JJLandscapes, I designed it myself. The pics are awful, I believe (as I am a designer), but, I had to work with what I had at the time ;).

I'm a younger member of the Quinn family, so, I do not have access to those numbers yet, but, I will starting next year. The last quote, I believe I overheard, for gas for the month was around 5,550$ for the crews, managers, semis, etc...Let's just say I feel that the local Speedway and Citgo should kiss our goddamn feet because we feed their owner's kids every night.

In regards to the equipment, all of it is used on a daily basis by each crew -- we carry no extra equipment per crew that isn't needed for them to do their jobs to the fullest and most effecient. F250's couldn't carry the load of the grass.



Have you ever thought of having your own gas tanks and pumps.. over time it will pay off but probably needs a large investment


there are private gas clubs where they buy at a cheap price in bulk so they arent affected by the gas prices... INstead of the standard like 10k gallon tanks a gas station has theres are 50k so they can get a large discount .

[kenel]

We used to, back in the 80's and early 90's, but crook county (cook county), put a stop to that.

[topsites]

He needs a side gate!

No, this is the mistake I keep seeing every Lco in town make, they load the whole store on their trailer and then, with several thousand pounds of cargo, they wonder how to increase fuel mileage.

Best I can recommend is schedule ALL the same type of work for a truck for the whole day, then load up only that which you need to do this work. Same for the next day, you'll have to load / unload in the evenings but it's only a few pieces here and there.

That's what I do, for grass-cutting I carry 1 Wb, one weedeater, and one hh blower. Nope, not even gas cans onboard.

Bonus: Less stuff can get stolen and you're less likely to attract thieves in the first place when you don't got a whole boatload.