Got a line on an upcoming bid contract-

GC wants flat-rate bids per load. The one End-dumper I've talked to says he'd be happy with $50/hr., plus fuel surcharge. Run is 60 miles from load to unload, 60 miles deadhead return. 5 loads a day seems realistic... Works out to $120/load (plus fuel surcharge) to the truck, which seems a little cheap. I'd really like to come in with a competitive bid. This would be steady work for several O/O's.

Does anyone know how to bid end-dumps?

Thanks for your help.

50/hr LMAO that is cheap as hell. I wouldn't count on him to be around for long hauling for them rates.

I dunno about end dumps but i do know tri/axle dumps. Were i live in PA they get any were in the range of 70-80/hr.

:hellno::thumbsdown::rofl::lol2:

No idea where you are from but here in Sacramento, CA it is at least $80/hr. You should bill your hourly rate from loading plant to job then back to loading plant at end of day. Good luck getting a FSC on a dirt truck, when it was $4+ a gal here no one here (other than the brokers who charged and were keeping it) got one.

You're right about the FSC, the quarrys want an all inclusive price, and since no one knows what the fuel price will be this Dec, you are really hard pressed to figure it out, and you still have to be the low bidder, and provide the service.

Do you know that if you win a bid with a quarry and then CANNOT provide the service, they go the next lowest bidder and give it to them, and take you to court for the difference, you singed a contract legal and binding, and that clause is buried in the fine print.

BTW here in Ct tri-axles get $95 an hour, and can only haul 76,500, when they put out a call for 30 trucks, usually 70 show up.

Why does it have to be an end dump?

Hire that guy who will do it for $50 an hour, He probably has a couple buddies who would do it for the same rate. I am sure you would be the low bidder.

Now there ya go. Bid it at $ 75 an hour, hire the guy for $50, pocket $ 25 an hour and charge % age. :lol::smokin:

Thanks for the comments.

I stopped by the mine this weekend, the crusher is up and running. They haven't decided how they want to handle the product at the delivery point yet, whether to stockpile it on the ground or dump it in a grizzly. Looks like Ends or Bellies will work, but it has to be covered. They're planning on running the crusher 24/7 at 100 tons a day so 5 trucks running 5 days a week will cover it. He said if the driver is front-loader certified he can load himself. Looks like the rate will equal $75-80/hr to the truck, but he'll pay per-load only, not hourly, and won't pay standby.

Does this sound OK? I'm new to this kind of hauling and appreciate the help.

I've never understood the idea of paying a flat-rate. If the shipper paid a fuel surcharge that truely covered any increases(including round trip in this case) the bids would be more competitive.

No, it doesn't sound OK, forget it, not worth getting involved in, when the crusher goes down for an hour, or day or week, then what?

Run don't walk away from this "deal"