How do you Manage (Truck Down Time)

[DUNBAR]

To me I feel this is a very important topic and it's been affecting me recently.


How do you all as individuals keep up with "truck down syndrome" ??

I seriously almost impulsively bought a E-150 last night when I took my truck into the shop, but conventional wisdom has taught me that anything 150 or 1500 is a short life in the plumbing biz when it comes to wear and tear due to the weight of materials and tools.

It's clearly evident that I need a second vehicle because here's what I've spent with budget truck rentals in the past 3 occurrences in 2 months >>> $1328.00

One of those rentals was to pick up inventory in Louisville so that really wasn't a justified down time situation. However, my plumbing work truck has had problems twice in the past few weeks (EGR valve, now EGR cooler) (http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/engine-911/43664-bad-fuel-something.html) and thank goodness the truck is under warranty....BUT

it looks horrible showing up in a retard cube to do service calls. It's a E-150 10' box and looks ridiculous.

Some of you who have a second vehicle.....I'm jealous and will soon have one, it probably will not be another truck but a van for my future plumber. I'm going to have my sign guy split that truck into two businesses, one side plumbing, the other my second business. WestCoast I might borrow your idea with the angled writing to get attention.

Do you all work out of cars, borrow a neighbor's stationwagon, work out of a older van somebody lets you use.....or do you just deal with the down time?


For me, personally, I absolutely cannot "not" work. The call volume and the keeping the repeat base satisfied is priority one, the very reason I'm working out of a rented van box this weekend replacing another water heater :deadhorse: and sunday replacing a toilet, not counting the emergency calls that always come in. Have to work straight through because I backed off two large jobs because I just couldn't do them this week. So I'm literally screwed for any breathng room.

:angry:

[glkearns]

I pray that my 1996 f-150 with 209000 miles on it keeps on keepin on for a few more months. The last 2 times I was without my truck for a couple of days I borrowed my brothers lifted tacoma 4x4, pain in the a** to work out of, and was afraid that some tools or material would damage it. I am right there with you about buying a second vehicle, and if it would be anything over about $1000 I would have to think twice about even making the repair.

Greg

[Service Guy]

Interesting...When I upgrade to new, bigger truck I think will keep my current truck as a 'backup'. I never thought too much about it, but truck down-time can be a serious problem. I guess its worth keeping an old truck as backup, rather than sell it used for next to nothing.

[ToUtahNow]

I was always one to have back-up vehicles. However, I remember many times (thanks Chevy) when I would get a call a transmission or motor went out in a step van and the mechanic said he couldn't look at it for a week. I would have Brenda go pick up a rebuilt motor or trans and have it sitting at the house after my last job. I got to where I could R&R a tranny in about 3-hours but a full motor was around 8-hours. The next morning the truck would be ready for my guys but I tried to take the easy calls that day.

Mark

[PLUMBER RICK]

fortunatly i have my suv to fall back on. i can tow my jetter to the hills and even carry my sectional machine for a main.

infact today i picked up a 1 pc. toilet at the supply house with it as this paticular city enforces the 6000# limit. i literally have to go out of the way to get to this supply house with my 14,000# truck.

i try to do all the service on my truck. this allows me to fit it in on a sunday or slow saturday. the only service i farmed out was the alternator a couple of weeks ago. dealer did in within minutes of me getting there and was back out within the hour for $89.00 labor. this alternator also drives the vacuum pump for the brakes. has a front and rear shaft.

the one time my current truck got hit:eek: parked in front of a customers house. i had to empty the truck, 2 days, then go on vacation for the week and spend 2 more days to restock my truck.

of course i was hit by an uninsured, unlicensed, driver. so although my insurance covered the repair. i was out all my down time.

rick.

[haycad]

i have an 07 diesel e 350 and my back up a 89 e350 u haul with a 14' box when its not working its a great bill board its nice to not have to worry about making it to a call

[plumberscrack]

We keep a spare empty van at the shop. If you have over 10 trucks in a fleet, one is almost always down.

Usually our spare is the oldest and most bullet ridden :eek: so on the resale market it's pretty much worthless. Keep it registered and insured.

It's also great for hauling the old big boilers and water heaters to the scrap yard for $$$.

[garager]

I also have more then one truck. Does this mean that smaller operation businesses should go and buy a new truck, no way. A used one would do just fine, even if there is some rust on it. Shoot, some days I wish there was more then one of me, wheres that cloning machine at???:D

[NHMaster3015]

At last count we had 13. Most of them vans. Most of them Dodges. We just canned two old vans and picked up two new Sprinters. Have to GMC pick ups too, both 4wd with lift gates.

back in my early days when I was by myself. When the truck broke down I either fixed it myself or took a couple days off and played with the wife.

[HVAC HAWK]

the place i work we have 20 working vans and there are 4 vans to use when one has to go in for service every 4000 mi or for helpers to pick up material at the shop . they have bin getting 2 to 3 new vans a year but this year they did not get any ,we had a couple of guys quit . they are all E-350 ford vans ,he gets a fleet price an all fords we get .
all the service and job foreman take the trucks home and when our truck has to go in fore service i like to take the day off ,i hate not having my truck to work out of .

[Tyman]

We have a extra van that is partially stocked with materials, no tools. It is like a security blanket I guess.

[SlimTim]

When I bought my new van in 2003 I kept the old one for exacly the reasons described but, after a while I couldn't justify the insurance and tags not to mention the dry rot that occurs when the truck just sits there. It may also be "down" when the time comes to use it.

When my truck goes into the shop I use that time to catch up on invoicing and update my prices etc.

But I have to admit, it bites to turn work away.

Ha! and Plumberscrack, when I need work on my van I call around to about 3 shops for an estimate (see post for "Same day bid".

I'm going to change my company name to Hypocritical Plumbing.

[Cuda]

I have an extra van and truck but the biggest problem for me is all my goodies are in my main van and I always forget some tool or product because I can't move everything over to the other van or truck.

[DUNBAR]

I'm leaving now to do the switch from my truck that's down to rented cube van.


It's horrible.

[All Clear Sewer]

I just installed a new motor in my sewer truck last week and I used my 1 ton dully that I pull the race cars with for that short time. It`s all about having a back up plan ;) I was glad to get my service truck back as the dully eats gas like mad with it`s big 454....lol

[gear junkie]

I wish this post never came up. My truck is jinxed now and will probably break next week.

[westcoastplumber]

WestCoast I might borrow your idea with the angled writing to get attention.


:angry:


You have my permission, as long as you do not move to california:D:D

I have recieved a number of calls from my van, and I see people twisting their head at intersections all the time to read it:dance:

I have an E-150 right now, 82000 miles, it is a great van.

Yes, I would like a larger vehicle, a cutaway like Utah has, but I would not like the payment and I live in an association, and we have to have our vehicles in the garage.:mad:

[westcoastplumber]

I wish this post never came up. My truck is jinxed now and will probably break next week.



good point:eek: naw, nothing will happen Ben!!

[NHMaster3015]

Robert, I love Ford vans, but if you're running that e150 with a bunch of weight in it, keep a close eye on the tranny. Change fluid often. A bigger cooler is a good idea also. Ford had bocou trans problems with slippage of the overdrive which eventually leads to total failure.

[westcoastplumber]

Robert, I love Ford vans, but if you're running that e150 with a bunch of weight in it, keep a close eye on the tranny. Change fluid often. A bigger cooler is a good idea also. Ford had bocou trans problems with slippage of the overdrive which eventually leads to total failure.



I keep all the weight in my garage;) I only carry the essentials.

the van is maintained every 2800-3000 miles on the dot and I expect to make it a second van in probably a year or less.

It is a starter van and a great one at that:D it has great karma around it:D

[aero1]

always happens at the worst time,and as someone posted already the larger you are the more time and money you spend just trying to keep everything going, it hurts when you dont see it coming, but what really kills me is when one of your techs has been riding around with what could of been a minor problem says nothing then drops it on you and the next thing you know your putting an engine in a van,[doing that as i write] we run 18 trucks have two spares and employ a mechanic and still more than i care to admit, still get caught with our pants down.we lose a truck any of us were out of business untill its back on the road.

[All Clear Sewer]

Robert who did your video for you on your site?

[HVAC HAWK]

Robert who did your video for you on your site?

i want to know who are the lady's taking a shower and bath :idea2::idea2:

[All Clear Sewer]

they will only cost you money$$$$$$ :speechless:

[westcoastplumber]

Robert who did your video for you on your site?


My wife put that toghether:D hope you only have compliments:D:p

So anyways, this thread did the inevitable.....ben mentioned his truck breaking down and I figured that would never happen and consoled his thinking with a positive "That Won't Happen"

It did to me today:mad: Nothing major, some gasket on the intake manifold, all day at the shop today, and while it was in there, a transmission service.

Should be back and running tomorrow at 9:30am, hopefully no emergency calls tonight:o

[All Clear Sewer]

That's why I have my other pick-up that we use to pull the race cars. I just unpack what I need out of the work truck and use it when needed. I wont sticker it up, so far the city hasn't said anything yet ;)

[westcoastplumber]

That's why I have my other pick-up that we use to pull the race cars. I just unpack what I need out of the work truck and use it when needed. I wont sticker it up, so far the city hasn't said anything yet ;)


Yeah, worse comes to worse, I have a truck I can use, my old one, my wifes 2006 f 150 super crew:eek:

like I said, worse comes to worse..........by the grace of the wife:smile2:

[All Clear Sewer]

Does your city say that you have to have your trucks and vans lettered so they can spot you at job sites?

[westcoastplumber]

Does your city say that you have to have your trucks and vans lettered so they can spot you at job sites?



that would be nice if they did, you can't tell gardners from plumbers here now a days........ everyone has a white van.

although any advertising must have your license number with it.

[ToUtahNow]

Does your city say that you have to have your trucks and vans lettered so they can spot you at job sites?

California requires only Plumbers, Well Diggers and Electric Sign Contractors have their names on their trucks.

Mark

[westcoastplumber]

California requires only Plumbers, Well Diggers and Electric Sign Contractors have their names on their trucks.

Mark


Thats interesting because not very many have it.


I can count alot of "Plumbers" that drive around white vans without lettering / license.

So these people are breaking the Law:groucho::p

(Hi Mark, missed you, zeljka say's hello to you and brenda!!:D)

[ToUtahNow]

Thats interesting because not very many have it.


I can count alot of "Plumbers" that drive around white vans without lettering / license.

So these people are breaking the Law:groucho::p

(Hi Mark, missed you, zeljka say's hello to you and brenda!!:D)

Yeah I always found it interesting they limited it to those three Contractors. Still it seems they have a hard enough time catching the unlicensed guys let alone looking for signage issues.

We miss you guys as well. We need to figure out how to get together again soon.

Mark

[westcoastplumber]

For sure!! can't wait. before the roundup if possible. (zeljka isn't going):mad:

they are pretty dumb, all they have to do is sit in front of a supply house, they could pick a different one every week.

[libbyloulou]

Does your city say that you have to have your trucks and vans lettered so they can spot you at job sites?


In G.B. our insurance, for the vehicle is cheaper if it's unmarked, i.e. no advertising, i suppose they see it as, "don't advertise your "wares", what you carry?
Keeps the nasties away from your vehicle? this is only my assumption/

How do you guys see it ?