Just curious if anyone else in here plows and how they make out with each storm. I'm in south Jersey where we don't get many opportunities to plow especially if you only do private driveways which is mostly what I do. I've had 2 plowable storms this year, each right around 8". They are mostly 200'-300' long and most generally have a big apron up by a 3 car garage. I average $90-$100 a driveway and since most are pretty close to each other I can get to quite a few after the storm which makes me really wish this latest noreaster wasn't missing us. How do the rest of the snow plowers make out in here?
I live in Maine so everyone accounts for snow plowing. It might be paying someone ($25 a storm), or it might be with a snowblower, ATV, tractor, truck, snowblower, etc. Myself I loved plowing with my bulldozer because of the hydraulic reverser, wider blade and 6 way blade; but my farm tractor does not take all that long. If it gets too deep I can mount a 7 foot snowblower to it and really whoosh back the snow, but pushing it is just plain easier then going backwards all the time. In the future I plan to get a single axle dumptruck with plow and wing so that I can move snow better. I have a 1/2 mile heavy haul road I keep open for logging purposes, hay, and fertilizer deliveries (it takes place in the winter ironically), and a real plow truck is really needed. I just cannot plow that much road with my tractor. I really need a way to cast it to the side of the road which my tractor cannot do.
For a driveway like you're describing, I would probably charge similar money. I would usually bid em like I didn't want them though. I haven't done it in a few years, but back in 2015 I could make 2k in about 12 hours during a blizzard with my customers then the people on Craigslist that would call after the snow stopped and paid a premium to have it dealt with.
Most of my business is from people who wait until after the storm but it's not craigslist anymore, it's through local facebook pages which keeps my circle of travel pretty small.
I used to keep a small route of regular customers. In a regular small storm I could do it all in an hour for about $200 per run through. Those that called after the storm would pay 2-3 times my normal rate depending on the driveway, age of the homeowner etc.
I have thought about charging per minute for those people who want every flake removed from every inch of their driveway...$3 a minute wouldn't cut it though. To make it worthwhile around here it would have to be more $8-$10. Or I have thought about a flat fee for the first say 5-8 minutes and then a premium ($15-20 a minute) after that.
Just got out of commercial snow removal. I also did residential after the storms. Lemme tell you a few things: There's no customer loyalty. They will go with a lower bidder after a year or two with heavy snow for budget reasons. They will never increase the budget. Driveways aren't where you make $. The real money is in the commercial ice melt application, unless you live in an area that gets 50+ inches a year...then it's probably even. You will miss family time. XMas, New years, birthdays, etc. Snow takes precedence to all. Charge by the inch, not minute, per push, or hour. Your wallet will thank you, and it weeds out the cheapskates who constantly biatch "you were only here 8 minutes!!!" You will seriously increase therth rate of demise of your vehicle.....especially in areas that use salt on roads. Do sidewalks to the house. Charge out the butt, and make it optional. Many people will pay for it. Find an senior citizen, veteran, police officer,or disabled person and do their drive for free all year. You will get more work from them than any other form of ad, word of mouth, etc. On call doctors will pay serious money for priority service. Get your local medical directory from the hospital, and cold call/ flyer those homes. Carry spare parts. Lots of them. Plow motors, starters, alternators, pumps, wipers, hydro hoses, solenoids, fuses, headlights, etc. Most of that list I have had to fix in the middle of plowing. Also carry tow straps and a comealong. Have a backup driver and truck on retainer. You will go down. You will need help. You will get stuck. This guy and that truck will be your Angel in your time of need. Pay him accordingly. Take food and drinks. In a real snow emergency, everything is closed. Most importantly, arm yourself. Ive had a few shady instances where people stop you and you are stuck sitting in a truck. Normally they wanna bitch about you plowing their driveway shut while doing streets. I had to draw twice, luckily never had to hit the bangswitch. There's lots more, but only seat time will train you accordingly.
All of this. Well said! One of the reasons I don't plow for anyone other than my neighbors that I volunteered to help is because I don't have a backup truck anymore after moving.
I've been back up driver for my brothers plow companies. I think bocefus78, is probably more relevant. 100 plus inches a year here is normal. Very common for regular guys trucks to have a plow. Brothers best customer, is 100 unit senior citizen account. Every walkway is kept clear, period regardless of weather. All cars started warmed up, brushed off plowed underneath etc etc. 10k a month is normal. But no falls due to ice keeps insurance down
Wow, great information!! Here the commercial guys always do a contract where it is x-amount per year, with bonuses given after x amount of inches are reached. The interesting thing is, all the plow guys brag in the fall when they get their monthly checks for doing nothing, but whine when they are pushing snow in February. Sorry, that is just how it works, you get the money, one must put the time in...and eventually they will. They all complain in March, saying they will never plow a road again, but come September when the snowplow bids start going out, they all sign up again. No one though is as bad as my Grandfather. Back in 1953 he plowed roads and got socked with snow that year; blizzard after blizzard. He could not keep up with one big storm, but there was no bonus for extra snow back then, so they paid a guy to dig a Lombardy Log Hauler out of mothballs and push snow for him to break the roads open, then proceeded to take the money out of his contract. 65 years later he is still mad about it. Yet he gets mad at the snow plowing contractors for getting a bonus. I told him two wrongs do not make a right. Don't be jealous of them, be glad they are compensated for the extra work required. Fair is fair.
Its one of the only areas I know more than the average bear Lol. I literally could go on for pages, but only experience will make some believe the craziness that happens in a plow truck.
I am not interested in commercial properties for some of the reasons you mentioned. I am a teacher and can only plow when we get enough to be off from school. I also have little to no interest in shoveling but would certainly agree, you can make a lot doing it while you're already there plowing. For our last storm, I did hire a teenager to shovel right up by the garage or close to cars where I couldn't get to. I told him if anyone asked about walkways, he could do it and pocket the $ as long as he didn't hold me up. With just a few storms a year at best, I'm not worried about the salt on my truck but I'm also not interested in spreading salt either. When charging by the inch, did you have a pay scale set up inch by inch or did you break it down to an inch range- like 4"-6", 6"-10", and so on?
2 inch incremental ranges. Take pictures as you measure each driveway depth. pic should be with the mailbox/address in it so They know it's their house. Know this though...They will complain. They will find the lowest spot and use that to measure. You need to find an average spot, aka don't cheat them by measuring in a drift. Do Not shovel to The Garage Door. Leave A Strip A Few inches Wide. Explain To Them This Way they Can Clearly See That You Did Not Touch Their Garage door At All!!!!!!! This Eliminates Alot Of Issues And claims That You Owe Them a New Door For A Dent They Really did.
Sounds like you've encountered it all. Almost all of my customers come outside or at least stand in the garage when I'm plowing and they expect to be able to get in and out of the garage in their 2 wheel drive sedans with summer tires. I will keep that piece of advice in mind though if they don't come outside.
Another Nor'easter and another great day/night for the vacation fund. Wish I could make this kind of money at my regular job.
I hung up the plowing this year as well- all the above comments are good advice. I use to run at 1.5" to start , 1.5times base price for 3-6" , anything over 6" was 2x base price - all per push, Example: 8" storm 3 pushes- at base of $40 x 2 = $240 Plus salting @ $20/50# that was driveways - commercial accounts started at $80 base + salt. 2 trucks/drivers on the road + one truck in reserve. Spare parts stacked all over shop as well as 10 gallons of Hydro fluid. A less than 3" storm would net apx $200/hr. With the price of equipment and fuel now, it just isn't worth the stress anymore.
I agree there is a certain stress level that comes with the territory and I'm pretty sure as good as the money can be, I would lose interest if plow able snow fell here often. I had 3 plow able storms this year and I'm thankful.
