Buying crushed rock -- new MSHA rules?

[5030]

I don't think our quarry has ever allowed retail customers to pick up. DOT registered carriers only.

Same here. No vehicle allowed past the scale without DOT numbers. I have them on my truck, so no issue but prefer to have it delivered and spread.

 

[jyoutz]

In Texas a commercial contractors license doesn’t really exist.

Contractors don’t need a license in Texas? Maybe that explains why the power goes out when it’s cold.

 

[Dftodd]

Most recent was a Bandit 65 Chipper…

It was in the rental fleet and for sale.

I was thinking of buying and the deal was rent it and if I decided to buy the rental cost applied to purchase.

The chipper was hitched to my truck and my credit card charged including damage waiver and a copy of my Driver License.

I was leaving the yard and flagged down to return to office.

The counter guy said I forgot to make a copy of my contractor license.

When I said I don’t contract he said I could not rent but no problem selling!

Spent the next half hour unhooking and cancelling the transaction… mind you I had called in advance to reserve the chipper with my credit card.

This was with the local Bandit Franchise…

That's not the policy for the rental company I work for. They will rent pretty much anything to anyone.

Call in and make a reservation, pick it up on the agreed upon time.

The exception is some of the really big ticket $$$$$ items.

They aren't gonna let just anyone roll out of the yard with a $500,000 piece of equipment. Once you get over a certain amount, they will require a credit app and proof of insurance that covers rental equipment.

Another thing we run into on occasion, is I won't let someone leave our yard with a piece of equipment if I deem the situation to be unsafe.

Proper hitch, tie downs, chains, and capable tow vehicle/ trailer for the load.

 

[Jstpssng]

I won't let someone leave our yard with a piece of equipment if I deem the situation to be unsafe.

Proper hitch, tie downs, chains, and capable tow vehicle/ trailer for the load.

That's some different than the company I rented a chipper from. We were going to do some work at my sister's house so I rented a Bandit in advance. They were the only company open on Saturday AM and I live 200 miles away so we were a bit limited. I was leary once I saw it as the tires were a bit scary; nearly bald, but plans were already in place so down the road we went. It was about 50 miles to her house, we got there with no problems and started working. The knives were dull so we cut strings instead of chips but it was still better than brush piles. After running it a few minutes though I realized that the chute was about to fall off. We shut it down, realized that nearly all of the bolts were missing where it rotates so my brother went off to the hardware store while I kept cutting trees. I'm thankful that it didn't fall off while we were in heavy traffic on the 4 lane highway, we were in my (late) father's truck and I really didn't need to put in a claim on my parent's policy.

Since then if I need something I will probably buy it. That's one of the first times I've rented anything but am tired of fixing somebody else's junk, or replacing because it was worn out when I used it. I spend enough time and money keeping my own things going.

 

[Dftodd]

That's some different than the company I rented a chipper from. We were going to do some work at my sister's house so I rented a Bandit in advance. They were the only company open on Saturday AM and I live 200 miles away so we were a bit limited. I was leary once I saw it as the tires were a bit scary; nearly bald, but plans were already in place so down the road we went. It was about 50 miles to her house, we got there with no problems and started working. The knives were dull so we cut strings instead of chips but it was still better than brush piles. After running it a few minutes though I realized that the chute was about to fall off. We shut it down, realized that nearly all of the bolts were missing where it rotates so my brother went off to the hardware store while I kept cutting trees. I'm thankful that it didn't fall off while we were in heavy traffic on the 4 lane highway, we were in my (late) father's truck and I really didn't need to put in a claim on my parent's policy.

Since then if I need something I will probably buy it. That's one of the first times I've rented anything but am tired of fixing somebody else's junk, or replacing because it was worn out when I used it. I spend enough time and money keeping my own things going.

I rented a wood splitter from a mom and pop shop locally. We didn't have one available. Spent more time working on it.

Same thing with an articulated stump grinder that I rented from a competitor. We actually don't rent stump grinders since they are so labor intensive when it comes to rental equipment. Some tater head thinks they can go through steel and rocks and it's a pita replacing teeth.

Lost half a day screwing with that stump grinder. Company charged another day if you went over 8hrs on the meter.

I pulled the meter (holiday weekend), and put another 14hrs on it then reinstalled the meter.

I keep about 30 tires on hand for spares at the shop. So if a tire starts showing issues, I automatically replace it.

It's cheaper to replace the tire preemptively then send a tech out after hours.

What I meant by safe towing equipment and proper equipment, I was actually talking about what the customer showed up with.

I've refused to let a customer leave the yard pulling something before. They showed up with a trailer ball hooked to there bumper and wanted to pull something that weighed 10,000 pounds They got a little bent out of shape since there truck was a 3/4 ton and would handle the weight.

I said yup, it sure will if you had the proper hitch mounted to your truck. But a standard bumper is only rated for around 3,000lbs.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've refused to let a customer leave the yard pulling something before. They showed up with a trailer ball hooked to there bumper and wanted to pull something that weighed 10,000 pounds

They got a little bent out of shape since there truck was a 3/4 ton and would handle the weight.

And those of us who share the road with them thank you!

 

[jmc]

This is an interesting sideline the local quarry set up to accomodate small quantities:

rogersgrouprockyard.com

In and out fast since selling by volume eliminates weighing twice. Takes longer to pay than everything else.

 

[oldpilot]

Ah, the days when there were gravel pits with gravel in them! Hereabouts, all we have now is crushed rock.

 

[charles todd]

I've things that makes it relatively easy:
A Loadhandler
View attachment 739999
Good plywood and tarps
A son, now about 40, with a strong back.

For a while there we'd go and pick up about 3 or 4 loads a year, usually about 2 tons at a time.
He'd push off the top of the pile then with the Loadhandler we'd crank off the rest.
Since the stone yard is only about 10 miles away it is very economical.

I buy 20 tons at a time from about 10 miles away. Cost about $100/load for trucking. I then use cab tractor with the air on to move and spread.

No way I'd have rock dumped into the bed of any truck I own. Not even the 1979 C20.

CT

 

[JWR]

Hooked up the Big Tex dump trailer to get a load of 5/8 yesterday. When i got to the pit where i have bought for 30 years i was told by dispatch that MSHA prohibits anyone without a contractors license from being in the pit or buyIng rock. I maintain 1/4 mile gravel road. Anyone else heard about such nonsense?

That is ONE quarry/pit in ONE place. Go somewhere else. If that is too far away,... A "contractor's license" is nothing universally defined in the first place. Give yourself a name, get a tax exempt (or what amounts to a central tax accumulator) account with your state and jamb it down their throat.