New job...New truck

[CrystalCreek]

As some may know, I recently went to be a linemen for the local utility. Just got a new line truck today in the crew I work on. ITS A BEAST!!!!! I know some of you love big iron, so here are some pics. The last one is the fleet at rest. Must be nice to have the vehicle budget of a utility company.

[DLAWNS]

Pretty serious truck, Jared. Going pretty good at the new job? Getting used to it?

[2brothersyardcare]

i would like 3 cut in that thing

[CrystalCreek]

Pretty serious truck, Jared. Going pretty good at the new job? Getting used to it?

These trucks are refered to as material handler's. They are nicknamed "Stinger", because the boom has a little crane by the bucket that extends like the stinger of a bee. If I remember correctly, the lift capacity is about 3200 lbs. The truck is an 8500 series with an Isuzu diesel. First Isuzu on the porperty. All the other trucks a Cat powered. The Isuzu is a lot quieter, and much more powerful, but time will tell if it will last as long as the big cats. The truck even has power windows and air and a CD player. My own truck doesnt even have power windows. Ready for a few cold ones. We still on for the weekend after the 4th? Job is going well. I really like climbing. The other day I was on a 65 foot pole down at the port of Newark. Really cool seeing the ships coming and going from that height. Still a very dangerous job, but it's the most rewarding one I have ever had. I also like working side by side with my brother. The other day the crew I am on, worked with his crew. It was cool the whole big brother, little brother thing. See ya soon.

[CrystalCreek]

i would like 3 cut in that thing

If I am reading correctly, You would like three trucks? They cost about $350.000 each!!! Are you referring to cutting trees? We only do minor cutting of trees and branches that are in the way. The company has a forestry company for all the big cutting and trimming. So no, not much cutting or trimming on my end. Have a good day.

[DLAWNS]

These trucks are refered to as material handler's. They are nicknamed "Stinger", because the boom has a little crane by the bucket that extends like the stinger of a bee. If I remember correctly, the lift capacity is about 3200 lbs. The truck is an 8500 series with an Isuzu diesel. First Isuzu on the porperty. All the other trucks a Cat powered. The Isuzu is a lot quieter, and much more powerful, but time will tell if it will last as long as the big cats. The truck even has power windows and air and a CD player. My own truck doesnt even have power windows. Ready for a few cold ones. We still on for the weekend after the 4th? Job is going well. I really like climbing. The other day I was on a 65 foot pole down at the port of Newark. Really cool seeing the ships coming and going from that height. Still a very dangerous job, but it's the most rewarding one I have ever had. I also like working side by side with my brother. The other day the crew I am on, worked with his crew. It was cool the whole big brother, little brother thing. See ya soon.

Glad to hear that the job is going well. Hell yeah the weekend after the fourth sounds good to me. Keep me posted.

[Lawn Enforcer]

Utility companies have some pretty sweet trucks! Looks great, good luck with the new job :weightlifter:

[nnj18]

Jared you stopped doing lawn care? Sold all your equipment?? Or are you just working weekends now??
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[CrystalCreek]

Jared you stopped doing lawn care? Sold all your equipment?? Or are you just working weekends now??
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Nah.. I kept 22 customers. I have two large groupings. 15 on my street and 8 at my brothers house. All within town. I only put 5 miles a week on my truck for business now:laugh::laugh::laugh: I kept most of my equipment. Sold a few walk behinds, but kept the walker and all the handhelds. All the customers I kept are about 30 a cut, and every weekers. They were my best customer. Dumped the rest of the garbage. I try to work two to three 16 hour shifts at the utility, and the lawn care the other two nights. My customer's understand the overtime thing, and are very flexible. The dont care so much the day, so long as it gets done. I will never dismantle my business. I worked too hard and too long to just throw it away. Besides, one never know what life will hold, so never throw away a good thing. I have a buddy that helps me out with the extras on weekends and what not, but that has been slow this year.

Dont get me wrong....I LOVE LANDSCAPING!!! But, with all the low ballers flooding my area, increases in operating cost skyrocketing, and customer just not paying, I decided to make the move. My brother has been a linemen for 18 years, and my mom works in the office for 43 years:dizzy: The steady check and bennies are great. Plus overtime make life very easy now. Plus the little bit of landscaping on the side is only frosting on the cake.

Hows your business doing. I see ya doing some bigtime tree work. Looks cool but not for me. I can climb an 80 foot pole with live conductors, but trees suck for some reason. I think I fell out of one when I was a young pup. Be safe and make some money. If I can give one word of advise...Find a niche and make it work for you. The only way to survive in this business is to set yourself out from the rest around you. Good luck this year.

[nnj18]

Nah.. I kept 22 customers. I have two large groupings. 15 on my street and 8 at my brothers house. All within town. I only put 5 miles a week on my truck for business now:laugh::laugh::laugh: I kept most of my equipment. Sold a few walk behinds, but kept the walker and all the handhelds. All the customers I kept are about 30 a cut, and every weekers. They were my best customer. Dumped the rest of the garbage. I try to work two to three 16 hour shifts at the utility, and the lawn care the other two nights. My customer's understand the overtime thing, and are very flexible. The dont care so much the day, so long as it gets done. I will never dismantle my business. I worked too hard and too long to just throw it away. Besides, one never know what life will hold, so never throw away a good thing. I have a buddy that helps me out with the extras on weekends and what not, but that has been slow this year.

Dont get me wrong....I LOVE LANDSCAPING!!! But, with all the low ballers flooding my area, increases in operating cost skyrocketing, and customer just not paying, I decided to make the move. My brother has been a linemen for 18 years, and my mom works in the office for 43 years:dizzy: The steady check and bennies are great. Plus overtime make life very easy now. Plus the little bit of landscaping on the side is only frosting on the cake.

Hows your business doing. I see ya doing some bigtime tree work. Looks cool but not for me. I can climb an 80 foot pole with live conductors, but trees suck for some reason. I think I fell out of one when I was a young pup. Be safe and make some money. If I can give one word of advise...Find a niche and make it work for you. The only way to survive in this business is to set yourself out from the rest around you. Good luck this year.

Thats good, now you that you have a steady paycheck you can afford to just pick and choose good paying customers and good paying jobs instead of just taking whatever you can get. Plus now you can use some of the extra money to advertise if you want and pick up a few good customers.

Yeah I'm contemplating getting more into trees, the $ is def a lot better....right now I've just been helping my dad out when he gets work (he's basically semi-retired) and doing small jobs on my own. But things may change soon.

[JerseyGreen]

good luck with the new job, i've thinking about doing the samething, just doing landscaping as a side job, legal and legit

[CrystalCreek]

Thats good, now you that you have a steady paycheck you can afford to just pick and choose good paying customers and good paying jobs instead of just taking whatever you can get. Plus now you can use some of the extra money to advertise if you want and pick up a few good customers.

Yeah I'm contemplating getting more into trees, the $ is def a lot better....right now I've just been helping my dad out when he gets work (he's basically semi-retired) and doing small jobs on my own. But things may change soon.

Having the steady paycheck def makes me think twice about every job I do. I dont put up with any crap. My customers really appreciate all I do for them, and I treat them like Gold. Life is a two way street. These customers put up with not having an exact day of service, but in return, I take care of them as if each and every one of them is my own mother's yard. PERFECTON:laugh::laugh: What change is it that you speak of? Got some big plans in the works???

[CrystalCreek]

good luck with the new job, i've thinking about doing the samething, just doing landscaping as a side job, legal and legit

GO FOR IT MAN!!!!! It took me several years to get in and I have family on the inside. Still, utilities all over the country will soon be hiring to start rebuilding the aging and failing infastructure. The new adminastration is pumping some serious cash into these companies and the work seems endless. Job security and bennies is why I made the move. And like you said, keep it as a side job. Legit is the only way to go!

[J&R Landscaping]

Nice pictures! Good luck with the new job!

[mowerdude777]

Sweet truck looks tough

[KCfireman]

You guy's have the plymo vent systems! That's what we use in our fire stations.

[CrystalCreek]

You guy's have the plymo vent systems! That's what we use in our fire stations.

Is that the exhaust hoses???? The new truck's pipe is so big the 5 inch hose wont fit over it. Besies, I love the smell of diesel in the morning. I think the new Isuzu has all the emission crap, and the company runs the trucks on biodiesel. I swear they get the oil from McDonald's cause when the truck's are running, I crave french fries:laugh::laugh: This truck sure can suck some fuel down, at least 20 gallons on a 16 hours shift. Glad it aint on my dollar.:laugh::laugh::laugh:

[joef450snowplow]

my nighbor works for con ed and had a c7500 now hes got a freightliner m2 he told the topkick is beter but the m2 got all these options on it like plug for ipod for got the rest but nice rig i would love to have the topkick with a dump bed on it

[CrystalCreek]

my nighbor works for con ed and had a c7500 now hes got a freightliner m2 he told the topkick is beter but the m2 got all these options on it like plug for ipod for got the rest but nice rig i would love to have the topkick with a dump bed on it

WOW!!! Someone has been digging in the arcives of lawnsite:waving::waving::waving: