mog/tractor owners- what MPG are you getting?

[brynseiri]

That's partly true, especially for smaller outfits.

 

However, for the bigger farms a lorry is a very attractive proposition. On the flip side of the coin, you have a lot more being shifted a lot quicker, one arctic on grain cart can replace three tractors and trailers (and drivers!)

 

There's the benefits of less compaction if you use a big chaser bin- abig plus point.

 

An arctic can be kept busy hauling produce to buyers/collecting fertiliser the rest of the year at a cheaper cost than regular haulage. It allows you to take advantage of good spot prices for grain etc by having your own means to get it there straight away- you will be the first on the merchant's list for a rush order.

 

A water bowser for spraying. Taking seed to the field. Hauling plant locally. Farms are diversifying, if I was lucky enough to have 1000 acres I would have a lorry. Nick Channer on here runs one, I'm sure he'll be along shortly.

 

For bigger farms with acres spread out, it makes a lot of sense.

 

Have / do you drive an Artic? 1000 acres these days barely justifies a decent combine, plus you won't get a lorry on a stubble field, or off it either. (Them chaser bins at LAMMA weren't half pricey) What happens when your driver is I'll or has enough of you and tells you to go ram it? At 2k a pop HGV training is too costly to train more than you +1 staff member. As far as return loads go, thats hire and reward, so a full OL is needed, plus a transport manager hired in weekly or you do it your self =more training cost, then theres full time hauliers to compete with for work with, and plus theres plenty of hauliers who will haul for you cheaper than you can do it yourself. Fertiliser prices and spot grain prices are just as good with a truck or not, because any premium you make and saving you save gets swallowed by the lorry costs. Hgv's don't suit everyone, I drive them, I see what is needed as far as maintenance costs go, a thirsty tractor for 20 mile radius work is nothing compared to the headache of owning and running a HGV. 5000 acres and big boys toys maybe, but even so you have depreciation to contend with or pay £400 a week plus lease. That's alot of money for any business to find in this day and age before you even think of Wages.

Edited March 3, 2014 by brynseiri