Running your own Artic Lorry

[ollie989898]

That’s what I think too. Deal to be had on the amount of stuff we need bringing in.

Ring up a couple of localish haulage outfits who like dock/farm/bulk work.

Ask them how much per tonne to get a load from the docks to your place.

Then buy everything collected and get them to haul it. If you give them as much notice as possible, it gives them time to schedule their loads to their advantage and arrange backloads etc which is how the money is really made.

Don't expect them to give the best possible rates and then throw loads at them with only 24 hours notice. That doesn't help them.

Book them for a few days at a time to do the slurry job. It may be worthwhile to buy your own trailer for this purpose if they don't have one.

 

[FarmerFrank88]

Do able I guess, but would be easier if there was an owner driver who you could use, even if you had to buy a couple of trailers. Operators licence is easier if you’re only working for yourself, more complicated if hauling for others, which you probably need to do if going any distance. IMO dairy farmers make more money the less kit they have (and probably less stress?)

Couldn't disagree with you more on your last point

 

[TomB]

Couldn't disagree with you more on your last point

Why so? Tarmac farming hardly adds to a cows feed efficiency?

 

[FarmerFrank88]

Why so? Tarmac farming hardly adds to a cows feed efficiency?

Someone has to do tarmac farming unless you happen to be located right next to a feed mill, fert factory and every other place you get things from. Doing things yourself lets you do what you want, when you want and how you want. Paying someone else to do a job means you have to add their costs as well because no haulier will work for you for nothing. I cannot see how relying on contractors can be more profitable in the long run.

 

[JeepJeep]

I should Imagine that there's not many Bulkers running off the Island to pick up a return load in.

Any Tippers you see are on Scrap Muckaway or Aggregates.

Like mentioned in the opening post.. people think it's light years away to Anglesey , the chances of a load out are slim so the price is loaded on the way in. It's 70 mile from me and I'm another 20 to Chester.

Flat beds shouldn't be a problem.. There's a fair few Tangs loading near me to get to the boat and home... Flat beds looking for a load are 2 a penny.

 

[ollie989898]

Do able I guess, but would be easier if there was an owner driver who you could use, even if you had to buy a couple of trailers. Operators licence is easier if you’re only working for yourself, more complicated if hauling for others, which you probably need to do if going any distance. IMO dairy farmers make more money the less kit they have (and probably less stress?)

I would be inclined to agree with you. The less kit you have the more time you are devoting to looking after stock which is where the money is actually generated. Collecting silage or spreading slurry is surely a cost centre however you look at it?

I know a few farmers who rely on contractors for a lot of stuff, one even doesn't even own a fertiliser spreader any more.

 

[Bald Rick]

I should Imagine that there's not many Bulkers running off the Island to pick up a return load in.

Any Tippers you see are on Scrap Muckaway or Aggregates.

Like mentioned in the opening post.. people think it's light years away to Anglesey , the chances of a load out are slim so the price is loaded on the way in. It's 70 mile from me and I'm another 20 to Chester.

Flat beds shouldn't be a problem.. There's a fair few Tangs loading near me to get to the boat and home... Flat beds looking for a load are 2 a penny.

Probably the only loads out would be slate waste from Penrhyn as a few bulkers that bring in stuff here are then off to pick up the waste for garden centres and hardcore.

Anyways, the idea is parked for now as have more than enough on although we are switching to buying straights as there does seem to be useful savings to be made by blending ourselves

 

[Adam@Rumen]

I know a number of large herds who have looked at it in the past but it has never stacked up.

Would be interesting to see how much the rate from Liverpool to you would be. I can send you contact details of a few folk who could price the job up for you and see if it's cheaper than the delivered price from the merchant.

Liverpool to Nantwich is between £5 and £6 a tonne

 

[Blue.]

I’m a bit of a stickler for using a haulier who can communicate so specify who my straights traders use,I got a quote off the haulier in question yesterday and they are on £6.25/t from Liverpool to me (49miles)

 

[JP1]

I’m a bit of a stickler for using a haulier who can communicate so specify who my straights traders use,I got a quote off the haulier in question yesterday and they are on £6.25/t from Liverpool to me (49miles)

He's never going to get three loads a day on that. I don't know how they make it pay

 

[Blue.]

He's never going to get three loads a day on that. I don't know how they make it pay

He must have a load going into or near the docks.

 

[JP1]

He must have a load going into or near the docks.

You need £600 a day to make a bulker pay though

 

[Hilly]

My straw would cost 20k a year more if i bought it off a merchant, thinking about a 6 wheeler and trailer secondhand obviously , good or mad ?

 

[Beef farmer]

You need £600 a day to make a bulker pay though

2 loads each way @£6.25 £+700

 

[Blue.]

My straw would cost 20k a year more if i bought it off a merchant, thinking about a 6 wheeler and trailer secondhand obviously , good or mad ?

What does it cost you now to move it?

You need £600 a day to make a bulker pay though

He looks a lot better on paper than some Ltd farmers I know,it’s a job I couldn’t do,when he rings and says drivers been waiting for a load for 3 1/2 hrs,drivers ripped the back door off the tipper,best one was drivers tipped the whole rig over.

 

[JP1]

2 loads each way @£6.25 £+700

Can you do that in mill / dock hours in one day? Maybe a trip and a half

 

[Hilly]

What does it cost you now to move it?

Time which would be the same, fuel red but they say trucks use half so same, only extra would be price of the truck and 6 week check but have a man in a van who can do that, truck would give me bigger area to operate in and save the ageing tractors, who knows might even enabe me to trade a bit as well. good or mental ?
He looks a lot better on paper than some Ltd farmers I know,it’s a job I couldn’t do,when he rings and says drivers been waiting for a load for 3 1/2 hrs,drivers ripped the back door off the tipper,best one was drivers tipped the whole rig over.

 

[ollie989898]

He's never going to get three loads a day on that. I don't know how they make it pay

I was going to say, 50 miles to the docks and only £6.25/tonne!!! I was being quoted more than that 10 years ago!

 

[chaffcutter]

The really annoying part of this 'trips in a day' stuff is the daft hours you can tip or load. Too many mills run 6am-2pm, even if you get a back load can you tip it at a feed mill, or have they all shut at 4 ?
and as soon as you get a rejection, all plans are off and everyone gets disrupted right back to the loads planned for the next day. We once had a rejected load of wheat on a truck for two and a half days, went to the fifth place where we finally got tipped and were then stuck 140 miles from home and couldn't find a backload.

been there, gave it up! saved my sanity I think.

 

[Blue.]

I was going to say, 50 miles to the docks and only £6.25/tonne!!! I was being quoted more than that 10 years ago!

Best one was my trader said ,oh you use xxx he’s more expensive,so there’s some running for less.

The really annoying part of this 'trips in a day' stuff is the daft hours you can tip or load. Too many mills run 6am-2pm, even if you get a back load can you tip it at a feed mill, or have they all shut at 4 ?
and as soon as you get a rejection, all plans are off and everyone gets disrupted right back to the loads planned for the next day. We once had a rejected load of wheat on a truck for two and a half days, went to the fifth place where we finally got tipped and were then stuck 140 miles from home and couldn't find a backload.

been there, gave it up! saved my sanity I think.

Possibly why they like coming here,I let them tip anytime provided they arrange it 1st,I get a fair few loads on a Saturday because the drivers gone home early Friday and the boss will tip the load himself on Saturday.