Truck or Van?

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chris kennedy said:
Wow, and I thought we hired responbible adults. Go figure.
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I'm not quite sure what you mean by that, but I think an owner of a company, who is paying his workers for 8 (or more) hours of work, and riding around in his truck with his gas, has a reasonable expectation that they aren't going to the bank and taking hour lunches on his time.
 
You'd be surprised what actually happens out in the field.

The last place I worked for, we did a rastaurant near a new mall. Several months later, I did some extra work at the eatery. At 10:45, I saw two company vans pull up next to the mall. They were still there at 12:30, but gone by 12:45. And I'll bet dollars to doughnuts they made a pit stop on their way to the mall, and stopped again to pick up ciggies, chew, Dew, etc. on their way back. And their time cards read "Lunch 11:00-11:30."

I also had someone ask if my kids were in Little League. I don't have kids. Another guy was using the company van to take his kids to games and practices.
 
I see being a JM in big city is much different..We have truck and truck is ours we are responsible to make sure oil is changed, truck repairs are done and the truck is kept in good shape. we are required to keep it stocked and cleaned. We need to go to the clinic for a doctors appointment it is our own time..we stop for lunch and take an hour if it is 20 minutes to caf? we pack a lunch if it is ten minutes go have lunch..we take truck home with us we stop by grocery store on way home it is okay..stop at liquor store or bar get a NEW JOB..we leave home in the morning go directly to job and get job done..once a day when doing service calls you best stop by and see boss..On big job boss will visit you..Boss has every thing in his truck including tools and supplies..you need something you don't have call and shop will arrange it some how or you go get it..lets see cheaper to have $8 hr employee deliver it than pay $20 hr JM to go get it..Here you are responsible or you wont work and we all know who is who for several counties around us..so there is not the cut throating on good employees like in bigger areas. big difference here..
 
There are a select few "model employee's" out there, but for every 1 of them, there is at least 2-3 that will do just about anything they feel they can get away with on company time.

For example I have a friend in a totally unrelated field that has purposely changed his bowel movement schedule so that he is getting paid to sit on the throne.
Who says it doesn't pay to be regular?

IMO If you feel everyone on your payroll is productive and profitable 100% of the hours they are on the clock you:

A: are a truly lucky individual
B: worked hard to weed thru the other 67.7 - 75%
C: put on your blinders because your business is earning enough so that you are not concerned
D: are blind, deaf and dumb
 
mkoloj said:
IMO If you feel everyone on your payroll is productive and profitable 100% of the hours they are on the clock you:

A: are a truly lucky individual
B: worked hard to weed thru the other 67.7 - 75%
C: put on your blinders because your business is earning enough so that you are not concerned
D: are blind, deaf and dumb
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I feel its near impossible to be productive 100% in an 8 hour day, but I try like hell.
 
stickboy1375 said:
I feel its near impossible to be productive 100% in an 8 hour day, but I try like hell.
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Well put stick, and I'd like to add that Saturday is my most productive day cause the phone ain't ringin!
 
I have a friend in a totally unrelated field that has purposely changed his bowel movement schedule so that he is getting paid to sit on the throne.
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That's impressive. How the heck did he do that?
 
Somehow we went from Van vs. Truck to productive employee's
IMHO employee's should all be temp help. When i had employee's all i did was work for them, payroll, insurance etc... besides looking over their shoulder to make sure it was done right...*sigh. I do much better working alone and getting a helper only when i need em. Service work is probably the best money out there and its best done t&m and alone . IMHO :cool:
 
stalllingselectric said:
Somehow we went from Van vs. Truck to productive employee's
IMHO employee's should all be temp help. When i had employee's all i did was work for them, payroll, insurance etc... besides looking over their shoulder to make sure it was done right...*sigh. I do much better working alone and getting a helper only when i need em. Service work is probably the best money out there and its best done t&m and alone . IMHO :cool:
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stallings...i agree, except for the T&M part...working T&M you are merely an hourly employee of your customer.

if you do residential service, please look into a flat rate program. Also, go here and read the columnists...they are light years ahead of the electrical industry.
 
I'm with electriciangirl. It's nice having my van but it sucks getting stuck. Talk about unproductive. I keep chains in my van and granted you're unstoppable with them on but they are a royal PITA to put on. Sure would be nice to hit the old 4WD button. Last year we had to pick up a 440 longtrack for a job. We'll be using again this winter for a lake job cause I'm too chickenpoop to drive my ford across the ice. :rolleyes:
 
It did go from vehicles to personnel and you know forget the boss thing being an employee is best..if boss makes cash good for him he is the one who deals with all the BS..I will be treated good if I am honest, productive, dependable and profitable..I make profit and I will benefit by being a loyal employee..it works both ways..I can secure jobs for the boss regularly..I was working in machine shop on three phase converter, they were adding on before days done I had got the wiring contract for the addition for my boss..I drive a 1 ton 4 x 4 Chevy p/u with fully loaded weather guard box system w/ladder rack and a pack rat. I like it allot, all except the snow issue but got heated garage at work we take turns thawing our trucks out in..I am looking at having a custom tanue cover built for in between the box's to keep snow out..be like having a removable topper in center of box..
 
Talk about getting off topic.

I wonder how quickly this thread would be locked down if you replaced "employee" with contractor? Let's find out.

mkoloj said:
There are a select few "model employee's" out there, but for every 1 of them, there is at least 2-3 that will do just about anything they feel they can get away with on company time.
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There ate relatively few model employers out there, for every on there are about 20-30 who care little about the human element, or the craft, and are concerned with only the bottom line.

For example I have a friend in a totally unrelated field that has purposely changed his bowel movement schedule so that he is getting paid to sit on the throne.
Who says it doesn't pay to be regular?
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I known a few employers who schedule "look-sees" purposely during unpaid lunch periods to "go over a couple of things" while it just so happens you're on your own time. (This always stops after the time sheets note the overtime for working through lunch.)

IMO If you feel everyone on your payroll is productive and profitable 100% of the hours they are on the clock you:
A: are a truly lucky individual
B: worked hard to weed thru the other 67.7 - 75%
C: put on your blinders because your business is earning enough so that you are not concerned
D: are blind, deaf and dumb
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What's interesting is that with the exception of the sun rising in the East, practically nothing is 100% dependable, or honest. Does every machine work 100% of the time? Yet for some reason, employers expect 100% productivity from human beings. Why is it that some people think they're entitled to revel in and profit from all that is good about another person, but not suffer from any of the bad qualities that go hand in hand with ALL that makes us human beings?
 
blue spark said:
I'm with electriciangirl. It's nice having my van but it sucks getting stuck. Talk about unproductive. I keep chains in my van and granted you're unstoppable with them on but they are a royal PITA to put on. Sure would be nice to hit the old 4WD button. Last year we had to pick up a 440 longtrack for a job. We'll be using again this winter for a lake job cause I'm too chickenpoop to drive my ford across the ice. :rolleyes:
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Come on over to Wisconsin and drive the ice road to Madeline Island a few times-you'll get used to driving on the ice. It's kinda fun after the chickenpoop dissipates.

As nice as a van sounds for storage and organization-I think I'll keep my truck. I have an extended cab which gives a fair amount of lockable storage if I keep it organized plus a few tool boxes on the bed and I have most of what I need on the truck. Next time I'll get a long box, though...
 
there is good and bad on both side...however, the employer is the one taking the risks...the employee is being provided for by the employer...so, it is not equal and it is not interchangeable...if an employee screws up and loses money, it comes out of the employers pocket, not the other way around.

if you ever become an employer, you're view will change immediately. that is 100% definite.
 
The intent was not a thread jack, but rather an observation. How practical would a van as an organizational tool be if the end user would not take the time or even have the organizational skills to maintain it?

I am pretty organized and motivated yet, my own work space can become disorganized very quickly in direct proportion to my deadlines.
 
emahler said:
there is good and bad on both side...however, the employer is the one taking the risks...the employee is being provided for by the employer...so, it is not equal and it is not interchangeable...if an employee screws up and loses money, it comes out of the employers pocket, not the other way around.

if you ever become an employer, you're view will change immediately. that is 100% definite.
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Perception does not make right.
The employer is taking the risks? How much is risk worth, and who decided it? Let's be realistic - how many employees of contractors have done something that caused the employer to lose everything, or go to jail? I don't believe in absolutes, but I'll bet the answer is none. When tragedy strikes, the employer is the first to cite "supervisory oversight" or "clerical error," and throw the employee under the bus.

The employer isn't taking anywhere near the risk the insurer is. And how many employer's insurers realize that while the license dictates the employees are under the license holder's DIRECT supervision, in reality the license holder doesn't even know where the jobs are?

It's a 2-way street. Neither can do without the other. I say, majority rule, but that touches on a taboo subject so we won't go there.
 
LawnGuyLandSparky said:
Perception does not make right.
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Yes it does, or more to the point it?s a grey area but having all the information does lead to the correct view point, its just that once you have the point of view you may realize that you are not right.

I don't believe in absolutes?
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?but did?nt you just say:
LawnGuyLandSparky said:
Perception does not make right.
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