art,

another ""little guy"" speaking up, I too am tired of so called book rates being thrown out the window, supposedly just to keep the iron running, if salesman were paid by how much they made on a job things would certainly change!!!!

one man's opinion, but not too impressed with some of the big companies ( and how they price jobs ) in my area.

Concerning those big guys in ACPA, kindof wish they would step up to the plate and be a bit more vocal ( both in actions and words) concerning  safety, pricing and fly by night owner operators.

Art, what the hell are you doing you are making too much sense.....

Good idea, but the problem I see is that every other company in the industry would have to stick to those prices too, if they B.B. did raise whose to say every one else would, it would have to be a unified pack among all companys to set the price and not go below it, should the ACPA set the price? Should they oversee a agreement between all companys as to price, then the small guy comes along underbids everyone and he is not even a member of the ACPA, what then? I agree that all companys need to join or come to a raise agreement,  but not just the leader we all need to set prices and stick to them. Then let service to the customer sort out the losers.

I think WE should start paying contractors to pump their concrete LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As long as there are two faced people in our industry; pump prices will not ever increase.  Especially when 52s are going out at 28 prices ..... we all know who is doing it. This battle in this industry will never change. There will always be at least one company to mess up a descent market

two years ago we did a meeting of all concrete pumps owners. we even sign some sort of agreement. after a couple of weeks the same guys that made the reunion possible were the first ones that lower the prices, so we are back where we started. i have mantain my prices. im stick with less pour more money , not more pours less money.  

Lets face it, prices have to go up. The cost of fuel has risen 42% from this time last year ! We are absolutly foolish to be pumping at the prices we are today. Prices in my area finally will go up May 1, set by our area big boy. They are modest to say the least. A 32 will go from $775 to $825 for a 4 hour minimun, the hourly rates have stayed the same at $125 an hour. It is 2008, the jobs are tougher, and most of the concrete has to be pumped, so why give the most expensive machine that steps foot on a job site away? If they don't want to pay, let them chute everything. I am sure the site contractor won't charge for building ramps. This industry has turned into a race to the bottom, we have to pour more footage, pump more yardage for the same money we were 10 years ago. We have to stop letting the contractors win, we are only hurting ourselves. My question is, where will we be as an industry in 10 years ?

You have to be care, price fixing is illegal, you cant get together and set prices. You can go do jail for that. We all agree that prices are way too low and prices should be higher but that is as far as it goes. It would be nice it you guys at least broke even.

i make a average of $100- an hour with a trailer unit. a guy with a 37m alliance works for $100- an hour plus yardage. he burns alot more fuel than me and my insurance is $100- per month period. concrete is up over $100- per yard and the mix is boney. well i am finishing concrete to fill in the week. and i have one real estate listing that is a really good deal but no one is calling so it is costing me and the customer is pissed because they have two other agents selling thier holding to prop up thier constrution business. why would you buy a pump when you can build a house, remember the customer why not be you.

don't think anyone said price fixing,  but if the book rates are $ .....    and company come off them 45 %    then someone is blowing smoke up someone elses ______ !!!!!

can't tell me you can drive a pump 210 miles for 95 yards and make money,          I'll listen all day long and not believe you !!!!!!            if you need an example just call and I'll let you know which company !!!!

SINCE FUEL COST IS THE WORST ENEMY  AT PRESENT JUST UP THE FUEL SURCHARGE TO 10 PERCENT FOR THE TOTAL COST OF THE JOB,OR TRAVEL CHARGE TO AND FROM THE JOB.JUST IDEA

Fuel isn't an enemy.

Labor and insurance cost more than fuel. Fuel is just catching up with how much everything else costs.

A gal of diesel is cheaper than a tripple espresso @ S Bucks

I get $160 per hour door to door for my trailer pump, pushing for a 5 hour minimum instead of 4. I won't send a boom out (34) for anything less than $200 same rate 5 hour minimum, both including an hour set up time. I still think this is cheap but from what I hear about the rest of the country I'm making a fortune (but of course I'm not).

I am very proud to beable to say that I am an employee of Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping, Inc.  I am very proud of the fact that we are a 100% employee owned company with the greatest benifit package in the industry.  I am also very proud of the fact that everyone at Brundage-Bone in a position of authority was at one time an operator (and a pretty damn good one) before moving up within the organization.  So I am fed up with the finger pointing and bashing of this increadible organization.  How is Brundage-Bone responsible for the downturn in the economy?  Or the consiquent slowdown in the construction market?  Brundage-Bone is the leader and as the leader and the top service provider we continuously get top dollar for our service.  Brundage-Bone is a business, and like any successful business it must react to the changing market.  Was Brundage-Bone the first to lower it's rates when work slowed down???NO!  Should Brundage-Bone shut down it's operations in slower markets because "rate sheet prices" are unattainable; laying off tenured employees with years of dedicated service???NO! We will study the situation and react accordingly.  Brundage-Bone  has gotten where it is today by hiring and retaining employees that believe that Integity, Quality, Service and Safety are the backbone of our organization.  And this philosiphy will help us to remain at the top.  But the idea that because we are the industry leaders that we set the prices is ludicris!  All you finger pointers out there need to take a lesson in economics.  The market dictates price, supply vs. demand, and right now the supply is much greater than the demand.  There will be a correction and like anything else only the strong will survive.  Adam Smith, the original economist said that the market is guided by an invisible hand.  So I think everybody needs to worry about how to run their own business and quit worrying about others...or else you may not be one of the survivors!

rcv,lets not blow to much smoke up my skirt here.Art only mentioned pump pricing and a question about basic business practices.

As for your employer I am well aquianted,I will say running units #8,#10,#11 and up to #611 brings back many fond memories.

I will say that in 1980 I was getting $125.00 an hour and $1.75 a yard in summit county,Co for a 875 Thompson.In case nobody has noticed here the cost of doing business has increased how much?

bbcp has always provided me as a business owner with quality service.I just pay the price and pass it along,just the way it is.

An over all observation is how can the do it?.28 years later and still getting the same money.To me something is not as it appears.I will not go into some of the things I was privy to before I left.

I started in 1976,watched that,witness that.

This is not only in US. This is a worldwide! Matter of time until the concrete plants get their own pumps that will spell doom for the private operator. In eastern europe, some plants charge as much as ~100 Euro extra flat rate for a boom pump! And dont forget contractors are buying there own machinery nowadays.

Here, (Australia) 42M booms working for same rate as 24M on the house slabs and foundations or set rates! Most of these guys are new operators, who will do it hard long term, when they realise how much it costs to properly maintain a pump unit.

That said, around 10 pumps get re-posessed here per month, yet people are jumping into the industry like its a fashion trend.

Yep i think Bruce is a great guy and i am glad he called you. I have gotten to know some of the BB guys on this web site and I have to say that i am better off because of it.

Peace.

how many pumping companies have you seen fail because they charged too much?

Keep an eye on the butcher who offers a better deal on that roast beef, he may have his finger on the scale...in other words, concrete pumping related, a pumping company might offer a cheaper hourly rate, but all they have to do is add a half hour to the total time, and they just got ya for more, and you think you got a deal.....