Sooo…. I’m sittin here staring at the Christmas tree and waxing nostalgic over the past year. No, I’m not  a masochist, but I have been drinking a “few “ Dogfish Head Ales.  Anyhoo…I’d like to sum up the year from my perspective and would like some feedback to see if I’m accurate …or just drunk.  I’m speaking from a U.S.  perspective but want to hear from the international pumpers as well.   

2011 felt  like the beginning of the end of the “bottom”. My friends, associates and customers have pretty much cleared out their inventory, or have given it back to the banks, (yes, I know there are still some small to medium size companies going under, but the number is FAR less than 2009-2010), so the remaining fleets have enough work to make it seem like things are busy, right? I’m not talking 2006 busy. I’m talking, “ I can count on 40 a week” busy.

The Pumpers in the domestic U.S. who have made it through this sh!t storm are starting to add to their fleets. Not necessarily with new equipment, but with later model used inventory that still presents a good value.

The work we are pumping is mostly municipal (local govt.) , state or federal  with  limited commercial and residential.

Thoughts?

NW or Vancouver Canada. We are feeling the pinch also. But nothing like what you are by the sounds of things, hope it does get better for the US also. It does effect our economy also eventualy.

We are steady, not busy. Our norm for a 3hr job is 600-800 after taxes. We have many companies knocking on doors offering as low as 200 if their placing crews can get the job some free go figure,  just to make a lease payment who knows. They get 30 cents a foot to 60 cents place finish, and the norm is suppose to be 1.00 and up, which the higher quality crews are getting. 

Not all are like this, but consumers look at the bottom line, not what they got for these prices. Just saying.

Some manufacturers are stuill leasing pumps and putting together pretty cheap deals for these type of companies. We have  

probably 70 percent commercial market and 30 percent residential over all, going on right now. Our bank interest rates have stayed low to keep the money flowing it seems, the oriental or off shore investers are investing here. 

So maybe a unfair market to go by. I am thankfull to be working for what I make, and a new piece of German teck under my ass, Merry Xmas. 

Seedless, next time you are in a 7-11 check out the front page of the BC heavy equipment trader, kind of makes me sick how they advertise.

My pumping business has grew a little each year since I started this December was slow for all the rain we had one good thing came out of it I finnally sold my 89 Putz its in Florida and headed for Columbia South America thats my best Christmas present ever no more payments.

I purchased my Telebelt in the spring of '06, and 2011 was my best year so far.  I also am a concrete contractor and that was down about 10% but still better than '09 witch was the worst ever. I am hoping that the worst is over. Terry