So winter storm Nemo put a hurtin on us. I have trees on in and through houses in five towns. I did one today with a Genie lift.that was a waste of time and certainly not a money maker. I have contacted two crane companies, but both said they née to see the job to bid it. Is this BS? Shouldn't a crane co have an hourly rate? This would be my first, of maybe several to come, crane job so I guess I am just wondering. What is the "general" going rate for a crane?
Bidding with crane
- Thread starter Husabud
- Start date
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woodworkingboy
TreeHouser
As a general rule, I have never heard of a crane company needing to see a job before bidding, maybe to see the layout regarding electrical lines or possibly other interference or a place to park. The rates are a given, basically.
Generally here they won't come out to take a look unless you ask them to, which they seem willing to do.
Generally here they won't come out to take a look unless you ask them to, which they seem willing to do.
mccauleytree
TreeHouser
The crane company I use is $145 per hour. They never charge more for storm work and have never asked to see the job before hand. We do have a 4 hour minimum though.
Bixler
TreeHouser
Our 21 ton is $130/hr and 50 ton is $200/hr from port to port. Once you establish a working relationship with the crane company, things start to fall into place. I've had them show up without seeing the job quite often, when I need a second opinion or not sure which crane to use, they will come out to look at no charge. Texting works great, or sexting, for communicating with the Crane operators, most of the time I send them pictures of the job, txt them, and don't have to talk to them until I see em' at the job site. I always throw in an extra $50-$100 bill when I can, always help set up and break down, and always walk them in and out of a job when working in tight areas, a little goes a long way.
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
Heck yea, they should be charging by the hour. Those guys are nuts. A 22 ton goes 90 bucks an hour, 4 hour minimum here, and will take a load to their dump for an extra hour's fee. A 60 ton is 140 an hour, 4 hour minimum plus a 135 permit fee.
woodworkingboy
TreeHouser
Just for comparison, you don't much get hourly rates, by the half day or full day. For the 25 ton, it is generally in the range of $700-$800 per day. The rates have dropped a bit over the last few years, less work now, and quite a few crane outfits around. Wanting to see the job seems curious, unless they are sizing you up as well for their varying rates. :what:
brendonv
Tree Hugger
Weird they want to see the job first.
A 28 ton here is 650 half day min., 129/hr there after. Travel is part of the hourly.
Are you really doing tree work with two feet of snow on the ground? We have snow piles 6-10 feet tall along driveways. No tree damage though.
A 28 ton here is 650 half day min., 129/hr there after. Travel is part of the hourly.
Are you really doing tree work with two feet of snow on the ground? We have snow piles 6-10 feet tall along driveways. No tree damage though.
woodworkingboy
TreeHouser
That tree looks like a snow catcher alright.
bonner1040
Nick from Ohio
Our 30ton is $135 hour and the 40ton we use is $165/hour both with a 4 hour minimum and charged travel.
You need to make sure they do tree work regularly, choosing between providers that would be my big question. You wont have slings, chokers, tongs, or the experience with a crane to name a few things. Having a good tree-experienced op can make all the difference.
You dont have to help set up/breakdown and the crane company will be glad to charge you the hourly while they do it themselves!
We swarm on the Op when he arrives.
You need to make sure they do tree work regularly, choosing between providers that would be my big question. You wont have slings, chokers, tongs, or the experience with a crane to name a few things. Having a good tree-experienced op can make all the difference.
You dont have to help set up/breakdown and the crane company will be glad to charge you the hourly while they do it themselves!
We swarm on the Op when he arrives.
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
Yea, if they're not used to doing treework, you're shit outta luck.
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
That's the one you need to cultivate a relationship with, then.
woodworkingboy
TreeHouser
I normally work with a crane operator that I would say that 95% of his work is with trees, and has been that long term. He's the most skilled at assessing situations, but I wouldn't say that he has the best touch. Funny about that, one or two other blokes seem particularly gifted at the controls. Speaking of cranes, taking some heavy picks, yesterday got my helmet taken off by the thick wire catching on a muff. It fell down and bonked on the crane, busted both muff holding mechanisms. 
Catching on the muffs is pretty regular when not on the ears, just sticking out on top, I dunno....
Catching on the muffs is pretty regular when not on the ears, just sticking out on top, I dunno....
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
I've had to shut the job down because the crane operator was freaking out doing treework. Evidently, all he was used to was static loads, AC units and the like. He was wasting our time and money.
woodworkingboy
TreeHouser
Was he an independent or working for a company? As a rule, the larger outfits here will only send out people that have worked with trees. I know that people that haven't done it before, often will want to shy away from no confidence. I'd rather that they learned somewhere else.
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
Remember, I'm in Louisiana...
woodworkingboy
TreeHouser
Yeah, I was just thinking it unruly for an outfit to send out unskilled at what needs to be done.
sotc
Dormant hero!!
I've asked crane guys to look at a job to see if they could get in, other than that they see the tree the first time when they show up. 60T $255 an hour portal to portal
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
Same here. You NEED to do that in tricky situations.
