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| Author | Topic: How have you dealt with rising fuel prices question by AFJ |
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Esco Buff, PhD, CF (Moderator) |
posted 8/21/08 0:13 AM
1. Have rising fuel prices influenced the way that you set up your daily trimming and shoeing schedule? If so, how? No, I still operate my business the same. 2. Have your views on gas vs. diesel rigs changed with rising diesel fuel prices? Why? I purchase gas engines due to ease of obtaining gas, less winter problems in the Northeast, and less overall hassles, even when diesel was far less then gas. Currently I'm glad I own a gas truck. 3. What tips, tricks and techniques would you have to help our readers do a more efficient job of managing their fuel usage? Routine oil changes and gas additives can get a few more miles to the gallon. Reduce wind drag on trailers and lighten loads in trucks. Overall the cost does not effect me much as I pass it on to my customers. 4. Because of rising fuel prices, have you increased trimming and shoeing prices, started charging a trip fee or added a fuel surcharge to your invoices? I've increased trimming and shoeing prices due to other reasons. I charge a barn call for each barn I go to and this fee has increased. I started barn calls back in 1986. 5. If so, what is the amount and how did you go about doing it? I charge per barn and divided it out among the owners or horses, depending on what they want. All barn call fees are figured out from my home and not the previous customer. Currently I charge $2.00 per one way mile up to 20 miles or per one way minute (depending on which is greater), $2.50 per one way mile ore per one way minute (depending on which is greater) from 20 to 60 miles, then after either $3.00 per one way mile or per minute, which ever is greater. A trip to New Jersey from my home is 500 miles and takes five hours. I charge $1500 based on miles to show up instead of $900 based on time. 6. Is there anything else regarding the fuel situation for farriers that you would like to comment on? If so, please elaborate. My barn call fees is how I purchase my next truck. I want a new truck every six years. At $40,000 for a new one ton truck, I need to collect $6,670 a year above what I spend in gas and repairs. So I figure in those cost and determine what I need to collect in a year or month. For me I need to collect about $15,000 a year in barn call fees, or $1250 a month in barn call fees. This goes into a high interest money market account every Friday so I have it when needed and so I can collect the interest on this. At the end of six years I have more than enough to buy my new truck, cash on the barrel head, no loans. It is a great way if you can commit to it. Esco Buff, PhD, CF |
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