benedmonds

I have had to take up exercise... Doing a half Iron Man in the summer...

I have not used the HH merino but have had other Merino stuff and it was much warmer then a standard smelly helly and doesn't smell bad. The stuff I had was great (icebreaker) for multi day trips but too warm for most UK tree work and did not last half as long as a the lifa. But then I have black lifa's that are over 20 years old..

My role has completely changed and I don't do any "work" any more. Still really busy mind.. While small jobs can often take time to quote so can the large ones. I have literally spent days preparing tenders that you don't win and so don't get any payback from...

You say that but my business has changed from a 2 man band with a truck and 6 inch chipper to 10 or 11 guys with 5 trucks, 3 chippers, 2 stump grinders etc.. but my conversion rates have remained pretty similar.. I don't know if it is a good or bad figure? My feeling is if you are getting over 90 percent you could afford to push prices...

Don't trash the thread. If your not interested don't take part.. As a business owner this is interesting and important to some of us.. My conversion rate is significantly lower than some are stating, I don't know if they are guesses or actual figures. I run at about 60%. Year - Quotes - conversion rate 2015 - 920 - 0.6 2014 - 500 - 0.6 2013 - 573 - 0.69 2012 - 501 - 0.64 2011 - 421 - 0.55 2010 - 458 - 0.57 2009 - 370 - 0.59 2008 - 298 - 0.63 2007 - 333 - 0.68 2006 - 278 - 0.67 2005 - 148 - 0.62 2004 - 95 - 0.64 We discussed it in 2014 http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/business-management/76913-number-quotes-over-10-years.html

We have a guy trying to sell us bio-diesel at 60p a litre, they reckon they track pump prices and are always 10p below... He gave me a free sample and I have run it 50:50 in the VW caddy and not had any issues. They will supply a 1000l tank with pump. The salesman tells me the issues are that the filters will need changing after a bit as the bio-diesel clears out carbon deposits...? and it is best to start by mixing with regular.. I am nervous about switching as we have had issues in the winter with our red waxing up in the cold (as discussed here previously) but we spent about £13K last year on white diesel so it could be fair saving. Plus the feel good factor... Any one use it?

I have a couple of jobs for a developer coming up and may need to drop of chip and logs, probably only a couple of loads. Market Harborough and Billesdon Cheers

Emergency maybe should have been "emergency"

Yes but I would expect to call a cab..

The incident that triggered my thought process and the post is not important, it was meant to be more of a general policy discussion. I have never wanted to make the discussion about a particular individuals actions. In this case the individual is a good worker who makes a valuable contribution to the company and I have NO issues with their actions on this or any other day. I want to be fair with my staff and discussing my policies with others gives me a range of points of view to consider. I have no real training in business management but now run a business with 8 full time staff and half a dozen free lancers. I am utilising the forum to gather views of others so I can have policies in place that can are deemed reasonable....

It was more of a general question, it did happen today but it has happened a number of times in a number of situations. I dont think i am in tbe wrong, and it was not awkward but it is open for discusion!

I am not sure you have read the op. At no point has taking an injured employee to a hospital been mentioned. Or taking a days wage to help someone injured at work. as an employer i have to make decisions that i think are are reasonable. I post on this site to see if others agree or think i am out of line. I am interested in others useful contributions but will argue my point.

Or lots of employees.. I am sure I come across on this forum as mean old employer, who doesn't value his staff and treats them like dirt.. Personally I think I am fair, and would be a pleasure to work for...

If that happens 5 times a year it's a a grand..

As an employer it's hard to know if its a real emergency. I am never going to say to an individual they can't leave site, if they feel they need too. But in most cases I don't think it unreasonable for that person to arrange their own way back from site rather then stop a job. If it was only a 5 mins or could be done during lunch fine. In this case the guys called me from site around 10am. The site was a good hour away so they would have only just got set up. To have taken the employee back would have meant the 2 other guys in the team would have had to turn around spend another 2 hrs in the truck to get back to site for midday. It would have caused me a massive ball ache rearranging work etc.. and probably cost me £400. In my opinion a taxi could have picked up the individual taken him to the emergency, this would have cost £50-£100 and probably only taken 10 mins longer.. Now as a business decision it would make sense for me to pay for the taxi, but why would i pay for a taxi? It's not my emergency? In my experience some emergencies are less urgent when they are expensive. My guys came to some compromise dropping him somewhere to be picked up and I don't think any permanent harm occurred in the emergency.

Still looking for another 3.5 tonner. I have seen a tidy low mileage Iveco with a new tipper. But, it has been converted from an organic food delivery van. Plus side is it has never towed and not worked hard, minus is that it would have done lots of short stops and starts. But my biggest concern is that it is only single rear wheels. It is still rated 3.5 ton, I believe it can tow the same (but not sure). Most factory tippers are dual ergo it must be better right? The LR copes with single, Anyone any experience with other 3.5 tonners?

That's my view.. Just wanted to check I was being reasonable..

I thought they did..?

In addition to that, larger firms in quiet times may price cheap just to pay wages, waiting for busier times..

As others have said, obviously the team member suffering the emergency has to go if it is an emergency, no question. How they get there is the issue. Just seeing if I am a heartless employer... To me it comes down to cost, it might be cheaper for me to pay for a taxi then to have the whole team down tools, but then I think, why would I pay for a taxi its not my emergency... These issues come up more and more when you employ more folk.. "My girlfriend cars broken down" "I have a bad back" "girlfriend/child/significant other has had to go into hospital" etc, etc... Not knocking you guys if you read this.... and in this latest "hypothetical" instance I think they came to a compromise dropping the staff member half way..

Exactly..

Hypothetical..ish question - If you have a member of staff or free lancer who has to leave a job for an emergency at home that is about an hour away. They are in a team of 3 and the job could go on without them. What would you expect the team to do?

Have they stopped the 2wd version? Can you get parts OK?

We need another truck and I am a big fan of the Japanese trucks (although parts have been an issue with our isuzu). Well I have found a nice looking Dyna and in my online research came across info on the 4x4 version. I have seen them before and assumed they were just for the eastern markets or something, but it turns out they are built in Portugal.. Why don't we get them here??? Copied from http://www.expeditionportal.com/: Specs from factory without mods: engine: 3,0 D-4D inline 4 cylinders 2982CC with 136hp at 3400rpm Transmission it's from hilux Max speed: 130km/h (80mph) Suspension: Front: Doble Wishbone with torsional stabilizer bar + hydraulic Back: Leaf springs + Hydraulic Frame with U shape ground clearance: 31.5cms (12.4 inches) with 235/75/r15c tires Attack Angle: 31.50º Departure Angle: 29º There is a video: Toyota Dyna S 4x4 - SAPO Vídeos Autohoje - Toyota Dyna S 4x4 Made in Portugal

And give yourself plenty of time to stop...