vac-truck questions

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by MurrayDriver, Aug 18, 2014.

  1. MurrayDriver

    MurrayDriver Bobtail Member

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    Aug 18, 2014
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    I had no clue where to post this, but this seemed to fit the best.

    My current 8-6 job is in the office as a civil engineer, but I have a few leads for municipal work that would involve a vac-truck. I’m trying to decide if it would be worth it to buy a vac-truck and do the 20 or so hours a week of municipal work. In the future, I could possibly work more hours or get some help to run the truck during the week.

    How much should I plan on spending up front for the truck?. I have a little over 30k in cash that I feel comfortable letting go or putting down for a truck. Will this buy a reliable truck? If not, am I in the ball park? I can take out a loan if need be, but what am I looking at? One of the guys currently doing the municipal work is running a 1980’s rig that looks to be in rough condition. I can’t imagine his would cost more than 30k.

    Is a 30k-40K truck worth having, or will it be a POS and require frequent maintenance at that cost?

    Any recommendations of where to buy a truck at a good price? There is an auto auction across town that had one a few months ago, but I missed it.

    The work I could get would involve cleaning sediment/trash from the storm sewer system. I have confined space training, and have dealt with entering these systems before, but anything I need to know about the truck for this type of work?

    What are common problems with the trucks?

    Any O&M cost estimates?

    Any models to stay away from or look for?

    How easy can you find other work? (septic, sewer wells, etc.) I have several ideas for other work, and notice vac services often in the business opportunities. Pretty sure I could spend all my free time with the storm sewer work, but may send someone else out.

    How competitive is the bidding right now?

    Answers to any questions or other advice is greatly appreciated.
     
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  3. notsonewb

    notsonewb Light Load Member

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    The only thing I know bout buying trucks is I have always wished I had spent more , I mean when the first or second break down bill is coming , just make sure you buy enough truck,
     
  4. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    Wont even buy the trailers.
     
  5. Pahrump

    Pahrump Medium Load Member

    vac trucks and trailer are expensive for one in good working order ,,lots of maintenance and a lot can go wrong, vac work requires a lot of physical labor too,,then you have to pay for disposal ,,high cost of tags ,depending on the state waste pemits,,tank inspection fees,,a lot more than buying the truck,, I bought a vac tanker back in 85 when I ran a company,,cost $90K back then,,bet the same trailer today would cost over $200K new
     
  6. Scott101

    Scott101 Medium Load Member

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    I'm pretty sure he is looking for a straight truck.

    He wants to do municipal storm drain cleaning.
     
  7. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Longview, TX
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    I know zero about vacuum trucks of any sort but there are at least a few types that are vastly different. There are tanks with vacuums used in the oil field to pump/pull and move salt water from place to place, and there are tank vaccums used to empty over-ran septic tanks, and then there are highly specialized vacuum rigs used to clean out storm drains.

    But I'm always wary of government contracts as some pay VERY slow (if at all), especially in the first 3-6 months of service/billing, and this is based on past business experience. Will you need waste disposal/handling licenses and permits that can be hard to get and require a lot of up-front costs and on-going reporting demands?
     
  8. MurrayDriver

    MurrayDriver Bobtail Member

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    Aug 18, 2014
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    Good points STexan. I know the contracts I would be after are able to landfill the material. I know the guys currently doing the work are operating on a pretty small budget, so I think the licenses and permits are do-able, but I need to do more homework on that aspect.

    As for trucks, here are a few I was looking at recently. (mods please let me know if links are not allowed, and I will remove them)

    http://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/listing/2005-INTERNATIONAL-4200-112527987

    http://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/listing/2001-Mack-CH613-112810674
     
  9. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Oct 3, 2011
    Longview, TX
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    Be sure about permits and dumping requirements when dealing with "waste" of any sort, even it seems benign on the surface. And some states are worse then others and these things (laws) change rapidly this day in age which might be part of the reason someone else is apparently giving up the contract.
     
  10. MurrayDriver

    MurrayDriver Bobtail Member

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    Aug 18, 2014
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    10-4. They are not giving it up, they are being run out for being busted reporting false cleaning reports. There may be some competition for the work, but I have a few "resources" to let me know where my number needs to come in.

    From what I can find out, no permits/liscense needed for handing the sediment/trash.

    I'm doing my homework now on handling/transporting sanitary waste.

    I'm in the deep south, so luckily we are a little slower with government regs.
     
  11. Blow'n smoke

    Blow'n smoke Bobtail Member

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    Jan 24, 2014
    Alexis, NC
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    Sounds to me like you are looking to purchase a combination truck. (Jetter/vacuum truck.) Incase you arent aware, they're is a bit more involved than just opening a storm drain grate or sewer manhole and just pumping it out. High pressure water is used to blast debris out of the pipe the sucked out from the opening. If so, these trucks are very expensive to purchase and maintain. I grew up in this business, my dad was part owners of a cleaning/cctv company. I have a very extensive background in this type of work and the equipment used and in my opinion, Vactor is the best truck built for this type of work. they are very reliable if equipped with a trained and responsible operator. A new one will run you about $400k. Used but taken care of about $150-200K. You can make a lot of money in this field and can loose a lot more if mistakes are made and not handled properly. Hope this is what you are referring to. kind of sounds that way to me anyhow. Pictures are of the last truck we bought a year or so ago.
     

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