We are brand spanking new in this business, and would appreciate some advice from the more seasoned operators and pump owners out there.

We are based out of Orlando, FL and purchased 3 trailer pumps. One is a Katt-kretter TK50, the other is a ball valve Putz TKB45, and the last one is a Mechanical P88. We are using ALL wheel drive automatic trucks, with 7.3 diesel engines. We made a great investment in good people and starting this business and so far, we are having a hard time getting enough traction.

1- I think we are set as far as equipment goes, but my main problem is getting more jobs, we are giving Business cards to everyone we can think of, and have cold called as many contractors out there as possible. Is there a more efficient way to do this, that would produce more volume? what do you guys think of blue book?

2- Most people we have spoken with, always mention BOOM pumps and are opposed to the idea of using a trailer unit. Who should I market the trailers pumps to? It seems nobody wants to carry hoses in Florida

3- As far as the operation goes, are most of you operating the tip hose for the customer too? or you are just providing the operator and connected hoses laid out to the pour site?

4- We contacted several concrete plants, so they can refer work to us for, but most said that they never get requests for concrete pumps. I would think that these guys are the first line of contact and more likely to get asked about equipment too. Should i offer some sort of $ Incentive to the dispatchers, or is this frown upon?

5- Is there a good software to track the jobs and equipment we currently have?

6- I have been getting requests to pump big rock (57 stone). I have a big rock pump, but for this I need 4-5" hose. Are these hoses too much to handle? I was thinking maybe a 4" x 12 Feet hose would be something that can handle the material, but would it be too much on the operator?

7- Auto-greasers, are they actually worth it? 

Thank you so much for any information that could help us and I am glad that there is a community such as this one, for people like me.

If I were going to offer anyone a reward for getting a job it would be your operators, everywhere they go driving down the road they should be looking for work, so reward them when they get a job, also find a niche with a good paying contractor and sell him on the early morning slot, that's important to a contractor, once you get a good one, keep him happy, also call up block layers too, in PA you have to fill block with concrete which requires 2'' pump mix, and when there laying block the basement floor usually needs pumped! I would be stopping everywhere where dirt is being moved if you need the business, and sell the advantages of a trailer pump over a boom pump, i.e. its less expensive, better for farther and hard to reach places, filling block, small area etc... I hope this was helpful, im in the redi-mix business and we have a boom pump as well as trailer pump.

Hey welcome I'm not much of a trailer pump operator more of a boom pumper. But I hAve done lots of line pumping with my boom pump. I can tell you from an operator stand point if I had to try and drag around 5 inch rubber hose full of concrete. I think I would turn in my keys at that point. We use 3 inch 20 ft hoses for Bsmt floors. And they guys love those. Even have the 3.5 hoses and those at 20 full of concrete are a beast to haul around on a pour. Not to mention  when you have to dump out that full hose at the end of the pour. And if your asking if auto greasers are worth the investment I would say for sure thumbs up. Grease is cheap. Back end bearings and seals aren't gives the operator one less thing to worry about while pumping a large job..... when was the last time i greased the swing bearings.

first off I have started businesses fresh from the ground up , it takes time , what helped me was I had been in the business 15 years prior to doing a new company ,I had a customer base which helped me , but it was still tough in the beginning , your best salesman is a good , experienced operator .

The hoses you need to have all sizes 2" - 5" if you want to be able to do every pour that calls in.

Auto greasers are worth their weight in gold as long as they are working properly , they will save you a lot of downtime and $.

Most important things I always strived for