Bucket Truck / Thermal Imaging Rates

Larry007

Just put a bucket truck (43 ') and a thermal imager (fluke ti-20) into service in Dayton and Columbus Ohio. What's the average rate for these types of services..

macmikeman

I'm just curious but did you make the bucket truck purchase and buy the imager without analyizing the projected returns first? How much did the truck cost, how much for the imager, how much for the technician, how much for your entire overhead and owner salary, how much for taxes, how much for profit, how many times a month will you sell the service? Figure up all that and divide by the number of actual projected service calls to get the proper answer to how much to charge.

Double-A

I bet that thing is fun at parties.

Did I say that outloud?

__________________
"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

Larry007

Yes, we did a cost analysis, but I wanted to make sure it was in line. By the way, how many service calls do you imagine you would project? I mean, if I got a great deal on the truck, why would I undercharge for that service.

And yes it is fun at parties..

mdshunk

Bucket truck in my area is 125/hr + electrician + groundhand. Digger derrick is 250/hr.

Don't do thermal imaging, but the only company I ever used was $2000 mimimum to show up. I do borrow a therman imager from the fire department when I have something to investigate, but I don't charge for it.

Larry007

Thanks for the info mdshunk!!

Aiken Colon

I spoke with an insulation contractor about 2 weeks ago who has a Fluke Ti25. He told me he charges $300 - $350 everytime he pulls it out. His thermal imager, that is.

Chris

__________________
Bosch Tools
Blower Door
Knipex
Energy Auditing

Magnettica

GREAT ANSWER!

__________________
Electrician service in Rahway, Cranford, Clark, Westfield, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Roselle, Roselle Park, and New Jersey | Same day electrical service and repairs | Licensed and Insured Electrician in Rahway

SullivanElecCom

I assume you got enough commercial and industrial type work for that bucket? My father used to do tons of parking lot lighting a way back. He even had to change the name on the truck to his own as a bucket truck rental instead of the electric company cause other contractors would need to rent the truck with an operator for various jobs. This was before everyone "seemed to have" had such equipment.

Aiken Colon

Not sure about your bucket. But your Ti20 I know a little about. The Ti20 is an older model. Did you get the InsideIR software for it? If not it is going to be tough to rent to someone who wants to use it for thermal analysis. Also, do not rent that to someone that is using Vista only. The software for the Ti20 does not support Vista to my knowledge. The Ti20 also does not have IR-Fusion, so if someone is looking for that it does not support it.

As far as renting it. We are going to be renting out TI's for approx 5% of list price per week. In the Ti20's case that is $6495.00 ($324.75 a week).

If you get serious about renting out thermal imagers look in to getting a Ti25 (the Ti20 and Ti30 replacement). And one of the TiR type units. The TiR4FT is not cheap (19995 with 20mm lens 23335 with 20mm and 10.5mm) but for building envelope analysis it is tough to beat. For anything over 1192 degrees you will need a Ti45HT.

Good Luck

JJ

__________________
Bosch Tools
Blower Door
Knipex
Energy Auditing

Amber Hunter

That is a really good idea. I bet everything is paid for within a year and a half assuming you get your name out there and market your service correctly. Very cool use for a bucket truck that I've never considered.

__________________
Used Bucket Trucks