Hourly rate for skidder?

[Emajsh]

 I did some work with my skidder the other day for a climber who had taken some large white pine down around a camp. It was just for the day and he paid hourly for the skidder, he pretty much set the chokers so i didnt end up getting off the skidder a whole lot.  I ve never really used my skidder like that before at an hourly rate. The skidder is a small John Deere and the skid was very short, a couple hunderd yards if that. Just wondering what you might charge for something like that.

[John Woodworth]

I generly charge between 60 to 75 per hour depending on the circumstances.

[bill m]

I charge $100/hr plus travel time for myself and my tractor.

[Frickman]

I start out at $60 / hour and go up from there. If it's an easy job for a friend I charge $60. If it's a tough job for someone else $100 sounds about right. I just compare my time, machine and skills with a comparable size equipment, like a dozer or excavator.

[Ironwood]

$75-100, for me and equipment, I can get alot done in an hour. Most folks once I am moving, get that it's a value (I dont stop or answer the phone) go go go.

Ironwood

[burlman]

I charge 60/hr. if I'm doing the felling and limbing, so the machine is not working to capacity. I'll go between 75 to 100/hr depending on the terrain. this is for a small timberjack machine.

[Bobus2003]

$75/hr for me and skidder, $40/hr for me and a Saw, $100/hr for me, saw and skidder, $75 for me and my dozer

[Emajsh]

Thanks for the feedback, i charged him $70p/hr.  I wasnt sure if this was in the ball park or not but from what you guys have said i guess it is. I just didnt know if that was a good figure for not having to use my saw or really even getting off to set/unhook chokers. But it sounds like maybe i should charge a little more if i am cutting as well.Thanks again

[Skiddah]

Are you doing any cutting or are you just running your skidder again?  Anyway you look at this, you need to make a minimum.  When I was climbing I used to hire a crane by the hour on occasion.  He'd charge me travel time and had a four hour minimum.  Very reasonable for him and myself.  This landowner also needs to pay for getting your skidder there regardless of how many MBF you twitch for him.  On a residential job (I'm assuming this is in close proximity to the landowner's home if there's a climber involved), I would be uncomfortable doing it per MBF and I'd be more inclined to work out an hourly rate with the landowner.  There are too many variables when it comes to residential work and there are factors beyond your control that affect how much wood you can haul in an hour, day, week, etc. so the per MBF could cut into your profits quickly.

[SwampDonkey]

How many acres are we clearing and skidding? For a small job sight seems to me I would stick with the hourly rate. A man and a skidder on a clear cut job is usually getting $40-$60 a cord in pulpwood, double that for board footage.

[Corley5]

I'd be concerned about his skills as a cutter.  Is he a professional or a wannabe  ???  Will he be able to produce enough in a day to make it worth your while  ???

[Skiddah]

If you're not going to be doing any cutting, then he controls the tempo at which the job moves, which is not good for you as far as skidding per mbf.  I'd really insist on getting paid by the hour for that fact.  I have skidded per mbf and per ton on pulpwood.  Actually that's my typical compensation when my skidder is hired.  But in those cases I'm on a woodlot and I control the tempo and flow of my wood to the landing.  Also those jobs typically last weeks if not months.  When your work flow is based on another person's pace, unless you've worked frequently with that person and are comfortable with their style and pace of work, you stand a good chance of being disappointed.  It would be nice for you to get an estimation of the mbf of the wood to be cut, a timeframe from the climber, and what your compensation would be per mbf.  Any ideas of any of those figures?

[blkhillsvt]

noticed you also have a 340D, how do you like it?

[Skiddah]

Are we talking about 4-5 loads of pine logs plus a few loads of pine pulp?  If the pulp wasn't included in the original estimate, then you'll have to work out a rate per ton/cord on the pulp too.  You're obviously going to want to get maximum value out of this venture so the pulp can't be overlooked.  Covering all your bases is very important.  What are local pine mills paying per mbf for pine logs?  Do you have a local pulp mill that will take the pine pulp?  I've also been wondering about the climber's compensation in this agreement, is he getting paid per mbf too or is he working at an hourly rate?

[blkhillsvt]

Emajsh,
I've had my 340 for about 3yrs, its an 85 got it from upstate Michigan. Did you get yours from Jeff Davis in Maine? I really like it, although it has scared my a few times in steep terrain. I love the fact you can pretty much go a while on only 5 gallons of diesel. They were John Deere's last manufactured smalll skidder and they only made them in 84 & 85

[Skiddah]

I guess the question comes down to, how badly do you need the work?  If you have pleanty of other wood to cut and are fairly busy, let this one pass if you still don't have a good feeling about it.  On the other hand, something is generally, but not always, better than nothing.  If you feel like this climber is trustworthy and a hard worker, maybe the risk is worth it?  I can't make your decision for you (and I doubt you'd want me to    ) but do empathize with your dilemma.  Anyway this turns out it will be a learning experience on the way you want to conduct business in the future.  Those little lessons are priceless.  I hope everything works out in your favor on this job.  Best of luck and please keep us posted.

[Autocar]

We get 10 cents for cutting and skidding and 10 cents for trucking here in Ohio. Like others have said it depends how bad you want to work.

[blkhillsvt]

Hey Emajsh,
Yeah I live in West Glover and its probably 20 minutes south on the interstate from Derby so your more than welcome to come and see it.

Blck Hills