That is almost a perfect example of this job I need done. I don’t
begrudge a couple of guys making $1K for a day of driving and a half
day of working. Seems like decent money to me. Even at $75/hour, a 16
hour day comes in at $1200 per person. Not unreasonable. I can supply
an employee or two for pulling on ropes etc. But 4-10 times that
amount are the range of the quotes I am getting.
Just trying to calibrate my expectations. I recently paid about $5K for
a 100’ SSV to be erected. (I paid for the crane work and we built the
foundations in house).
Now the same guy wants the same amount to hang a PTP 550 on it and
another tower. That is where the heartburn is kicking in. I too have
erected towers. I know that it is a bit more work than just hanging a
small integrated radio.
*From:* Jaime Solorza
*Sent:* Wednesday, July 4, 2018 10:57 AM
*To:* AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Tower climbing
I understand as an employer you have to look at cost vs benefit....but
tower climbing is to me different from other Telecom work. I really
don't climb much anymore and out of the flow as to what folks are
charging now. Did a job in Midland with son realigning two 11GHz links
on water tanks....left El Paso at 4 am, drove almost 4 hours...worked
6...drove home....I made 800.00 , son 600.00. Plus Travel and per diem
...some other outfit wanted to charge them 3000.00. They hired us again
few months later to install new radio after one got sent to heaven by
lightning.. but Midland pays well. Just don't like it much..no mountains...
Jaime Solorza
On Wed, Jul 4, 2018, 10:38 AM <ch...@wbmfg.com> wrote:
I realize that but it is not low for a run-of-the- mill telecom tech
around here
We start them at about $15 and after a few years they will top out
around $25 if they are still doing install and repair work.
I am trying to illustrate the job costing that I am applying to this
particular job to judge whether or not these quotes are reasonable.
If 4 man is the law, and if it takes twice the amount of time I am
guessing (which happens all too frequently) and if they have to
drive a half a day and stay overnight, then I can see it. But my
heart says that 4 men is overkill and it should not take that much
time etc.
I am totally double minded on this because I quit doing lowball bids
years ago. If I don’t make good money on a job I pass it over.
“for the labourer is worthy of his hire”
*From:* Jaime Solorza
*Sent:* Wednesday, July 4, 2018 10:29 AM
*To:* AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Tower climbing
25 an hour is low for tower work
Jaime Solorza
On Wed, Jul 4, 2018, 10:13 AM <ch...@wbmfg.com> wrote:
Let’s say I pay a guy that I have sent to Comtrain $25/hour.
I pay a few benefits, modest health insurance etc.
To not lose money, I have to bill one of my other companies $39.50.
I have a very comprehensive spreadsheet that calculates every
jot and tittle for loaded rates.
It even includes the expense of calculating the billing etc.
If anyone wants a copy send me an off list request. I don’t
think I can attach spreadsheets to the email.
So, lets round up. $40/hour is my out of pocket.
Say I need two of these guys to hang the radios. $80/hour.
I know I can climb that tower, hang the radio, secure the CAT5
and be on the ground in 2 hours.
Have done similar jobs many many times as a younger man.
Then drive for a half hour (let’s round up to 1 hours) and then
do the same at the other site. 5 hours total so far.
Then say we have to go back to the first site and tweak the
aiming. 6 hours into the job.
6 x 80 is $480 My out of pocket payroll expense to hang a pair
of $600 radios.
Perhaps there is some OSHA rule that requires 4 guys. I don’t
know about this rule.... but two people have mentioned it now.
OK, my expense is not $1200.
Let’s say I want send my guys to do this job for someone else
and make a 50% margin, then I would be billing $2400.
And pocketing half.
Still far less than the quotes and estimates I have received.
I realize everyone has to drive in from somewhere and they have
to be paid while they drive. But still...
Where is that rule that you must have 4 guys on a tower crew?
What is a fair margin when renting our your employees to others.
What is the cost of sending someone to Comtrain these days?
*From:* Chuck McCown
*Sent:* Tuesday, July 3, 2018 11:15 PM
*To:* AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Tower climbing
I figure less than 3 hours per tower, in reality it should be
one hour per tower. So 6 man hours. Of course there would be
transport time to and from. But if my own employees were doing
it I would have less than $240 in payroll expense.
*From:* Jaime Solorza
*Sent:* Tuesday, July 03, 2018 9:34 PM
*To:* AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Tower climbing
Too busy to help you...but 4500.00 is more or less what son and
I would charge...
Jaime Solorza
On Tue, Jul 3, 2018, 1:28 PM <ch...@wbmfg.com> wrote:
Thanks
*From:* Trey Scarborough
*Sent:* Tuesday, July 3, 2018 1:15 PM
*To:* af@af.afmug.com
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Tower climbing
Check with LRC
https://www.lrcwireless.com/
On 7/2/2018 8:31 PM, Chuck McCown wrote:
Near Innis Louisiana.
(NW of Baton Rouge, SE or Alexandria).
*From:* Colin Stanners
*Sent:* Monday, July 02, 2018 7:27 PM
*To:* AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Tower climbing
$5000 and they don't even need to mount big dishes or take
out the rubber tape? Incredible.... sounds like it's their
"we don't want your business, go away" pricing. Maybe post
the area and see if any AFMUG members are around?
On Mon, Jul 2, 2018 at 8:23 PM, Chuck McCown
<ch...@wbmfg.com> wrote:
Integrated radios/antenna.
*From:* Colin Stanners
*Sent:* Monday, July 02, 2018 7:16 PM
*To:* AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Tower climbing
How big are the dishes?
Those seem really high compared to around here.
On Mon, Jul 2, 2018 at 8:12 PM, Chuck McCown
<ch...@wbmfg.com> wrote:
I have a pair of PTP550s to hang and wire.
Long away from my base of operations. About 100’
up on both ends.
Have received two quotes to hang and aim:
$5000
$8000 ($14,000 if it goes to 2 days)
Not sure why they think this needs 4 guys to do.
I am too old to do it myself, just don’t have the
leg strength/endurance to be safe.
10x the cost of the radios to hang and aim???
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