I need info on the Roll Off business - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Gamecock · 09-19-2007, 07:39 PM

This is my first post ever, although I have been an outsight observer of this sight for a while. I have some questions about starting a business but I am just now at the beginning stages, basically just getting information.

My father has been the manager of a local landfill since it opened in 1995 and I worked there part-time while in college. So I have a "working knowledge" of the roll-off business but no real experience.

Hopefully my questions will lead to some informative discussion.
1) Is there any money in this for a small business. (dually, roll off trailer, about 5 small containers, and not much cash!)
2) Is anyone else in this business?
3) Is it possible to make money servicing the small contractor or do the big companies own this market?
4) Do you dispose of your own waste or do you currently use this kind of service? What have your experiences been?

Thank you for reading this long rambling post!

Mike Finley · 09-19-2007, 10:45 PM

If I had to choose another business to go into it would be garbage by far. Being in construction has openned my eyes to the money to be made.

Home Depot just got into that business locally here, but once again they want homeowners business and not contractors based upon the details of their procedures that is obvious.

The secret of this biz I believe is not in the large roll offs but in the 3-5 yarders which are the sweet spots. Keeping the prices low enough to make it a no brainer - should I pay $125 for a dumpster or spend gas, labor and frustration turning my truck into a dumpster and running crap to the dump.

mdshunk · 09-19-2007, 10:51 PM

There's a guy in my area that advertises on some pretty expensive billboards for "small dumpster service". His trucks he picks up the dumpsters with are all chromed out, so I might guess he's doing pretty well.

Big Bob · 09-19-2007, 11:05 PM

Smart biz to enter if market is not saturated and u have the capital + willing to re-invest profits. A guy here started with 3 20yd dumpsters and a hauling rig. Worked his butt off, built it up and 6 years later they made him an offer he couldn't "refuse".

24 million $.

what's for sure?
Death, taxes, and garbage!

skyhook · 09-19-2007, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Finley

If I had to choose another business to go into it would be garbage.

I hear that business is really picking up.

Chris Johnson · 09-19-2007, 11:50 PM

I knew a guy in the mid 80's that started his own garbage business - used truck with a driver and 4 - 20 yd bins, grew the business over 3 years to several different sized bins (Maybe 30 at the most) and sold to Laidlaw for 5 million. Nice retirement the guy was under 50.

ruskent · 09-22-2007, 08:04 PM

How do you really make the money with these? Are these companies charging flat rates per a dumpster? Or do they charge a flat dumpster fee plus tonnage? The only time i have gotten dumpsters delivered were for concrete and they were flat rate.

tgeb · 09-22-2007, 08:25 PM

Concrete and rubble sometimes can have a flat rate because the dump sites charge per load.

I can get rid of 20 tons of concrete rubble for less than $100 dump fee plus trucking.

If it goes to the same dumpsite (sanitary) as typical construction debris it is $56.00 per ton, a whooping $1,120 tipping fee.

I know a guy that has small dumpsters, (5 - 20 yard cans, runs them in and out with single axle trucks) he is always busy, I don't know what kind of money he makes, but here it has become a nitch market. I see more guys hauling small cans all the time.

Lot of renovation work here, let's say you are doing only a kitchen or bath reno, the small can is all you need and the truck won't ruin the driveway or run over the HO's landscaping.

If you have the market I would say go for it.

One of the bigger dumpster haulers here has set up some kind of reclamation facility that they haul the cans to, then sort the debris into recyclables and waste. I would assume they make money on the sale of steel, aluminum etc.

POOLMANinCT · 09-25-2007, 09:40 PM

rusk,

rocco carting in your neck of the woods is owned by my uncle. good biz$$$$. but very tough to get into.

ray

POOLMANinCT · 09-25-2007, 09:43 PM

oops i thought it was rusks thread sorry

jgravittjr · 12-10-2007, 09:48 PM

Well, any news on the roll off business?

Kingfisher · 12-17-2007, 12:24 PM

With that setup look to the remodlers who do not want a large rolloff(20yrd) on their job site for lack of room. Having the smaller trailer will also help you get into small yards for access to the rear where bigger rigs cann't go. I just bought my own dump trailer and I am saving alot of $. Also look at new ways of doing it. Here in Tampa I can dump fill dirt, yard scrapes(clearing for new sod), and concrete for free at a yard that recycels it. If you offer this type of pick up for a cheaper rate because you can find somewhere like this to dump you may have a nice niche. This is how I'm saving money, for a little of my time over the past 2 months I've dumped about 4 load of dirt and 10 of concrete for free. Maybe even try picking up scrap metals if you can find that kind of demo. On a job that is mixed maybe drop 2, one for wood and one for concrete. If the market here had not taken a dive I'ld do it now that I've got the basics down.

jgravittjr · 12-17-2007, 12:49 PM

How much did that roll off trailer cost you?

How do you advertise that you have that can? I used to drive a roll off truck, but I want to do that small cans like you talked about

TaitINC · 12-19-2007, 07:37 PM

If you can get into it, go for it. like already stated there is money to be made. About 8 years ago we bought a Ford F650 with roll offs. We only have one truck with 8 dumpster or different sizes. It has saved and made us a good amount of money. they are mostly for our jobs, but we also rentals. We have a regular F550 stakebody dump that sits in the yard for hauled back debris. We also purchased 2 Roof buggies. These are great tools to have. Really cuts down on a lot of labor cost. We also bought some small trailers and bought and mounted spot a pots on them. We just pay for a service to clean them out. That is another business that makes money.

spencer

jgravittjr · 12-19-2007, 08:36 PM

Could you be more specific? Who cleans what out of your trailer? And what do they charge?

LNG24 · 12-19-2007, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gamecock

This is my first post ever, although I have been an outsight observer of this sight for a while. I have some questions about starting a business but I am just now at the beginning stages, basically just getting information.

Seeing as we have not heard from him in a while, I'd bet that he was shown just how profitable this business is.

The roll off companies areound me have been chaning hands real quick being as the Feds keep going after them.

Lots of Name Changes Here.

There are a few smaller guys though. One Large Construction Firm here started doing their own Roll Offs a number of years ago. Now, just about anyone who is anyone has either a Dump Trailer or a Roll Off. Heck, I even have a 6x10 dump trailer. For about 3-4k you have a nice size trailer. And around here we pay $800 for a 20 yd dumpster. Dosen't take long to recoup your $4k especially if you are still billing out the customer at those rates.

I have never paind more than $100 to dump my trailer and I have had it loaded to the top of the racks.

Like someone else said, the dump trailers don't damage the driveways and I can pull them out before someone else decided to fill them up on a mid night dump. A 20 yd, I would end up with all sorts of crap in there if I didnt cover it up completely with ply wood.

TaitINC · 12-20-2007, 07:50 AM

JG-

i beleave that question was directed towards me. If so, they clean out the spot a pots. They charge $50 a month to clean the 4 we have. We use Dennys for the clean out service. If anyone doesn't know what a roof buggy is here is a link to their site.

http://www.equipter.com/

jgravittjr · 12-20-2007, 11:20 AM

Wow, pretty impresive. I cant see how anyone in the roofing business could make it without one of those.

fathersonfab · 12-20-2007, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruskent

How do you really make the money with these? Are these companies charging flat rates per a dumpster? Or do they charge a flat dumpster fee plus tonnage? The only time i have gotten dumpsters delivered were for concrete and they were flat rate.

A flat rate, plus a BIG fee if they are over weight.

LNG24 · 12-20-2007, 12:33 PM

Can this really be quicker than tarping and a little clean up? Seems VERY LIMITED. Hell, if you can get that in there, I could easily get my 6x10 dump trailer in there and still have a hundred other uses for it.

I see this going the way of some other obscure attachments I found on this site. Like a Pick Up Truck Front Front Mounted grader, Dump and backhoe?

I remember seeing on This Old House, a guy invented a machine to tear off roofing from a truck. It looked like a boom truck with a dumpster and special claw on it. He sat in the seat and did the tear off and loaded the dumpster in one shot. And by tear off, I mean, complete tear off, not just shingles.