Dump Trailers

Keeping tear-off from becoming a rip-off

Written by John Cleasby and Karen Cleasby
Published May/June 1998 in Western Roofing Magazine

The re-roofing market is already well under way bringing to light the issue of tear-off removal and how to reduce it’s overhead costs. The expenses associated with the removal process could be the difference in whether or not you get the contract on any given job. For this reason, the use of dump trailers have been gaining in popularity as one of the most cost effective means for handling tear-off removal.

Lets evaluate the pros and cons of the expenses associated with each traditional method for handling tear-off removal (subcontractors, debris box rentals and dump trucks) and compare them to those of the dump trailer. After reading through the comparison, you may find the dump trailer to be a viable alternative for you. In this article, we will also cover critical specifications to look for when purchasing a dump trailer.

1. Sub contract the all but glamorous job to a tear-off removal company. While it is the quickest solution, it can also be very expensive. Once you have given up control over the operation, you are at a greater risk for customer dissatisfaction. The subcontractor may cause damage to the residence or business, or they may fail to complete the job on time, even worse, they may not show up at all. Unfortunately, the customer is then adversely affected by someone else’s work and it could end up costing you the job altogether. Not to mention the unfavorable word of mouth advertising your company will get as a result.
2. Rent debris boxes and have them delivered to each and every job. This is the most common practice among residential contractors. However, the high rental and dump fees (approximately $400 to $500 for a 15 yard box in the San Francisco Bay Area) continually eat away at your bottom line. This in turn, makes it increasingly more difficult to be competitive while still remaining profitable. You are also at the mercy of the debris box service for timely delivery and pick-up of the debris box. Jack White with State Roofing Systems of San Leandro, California, points out that "debris boxes often leave scrapes and indentations on drive ways, parking lots, etc. The repairs then become my problem at my expense."
3. Purchase one or more dump trucks and handle your own tear-off removal. Although, this method allows the contractor to maintain control over the tear-off process, it is the most costly method of all. Licensing fees, insurance costs and maintenance expenses associated with a dump truck are astronomical in most parts of the country. Furthermore, by having the debris box attached to the vehicle, you loose the freedom to use the truck for other purposes while on the job. Another cost crippling factor is having to employ a number of drivers with a valid class A license. According to Mr. White, "qualified drivers are hard to find and qualified drivers that know how to maintain and properly operate a dump truck are even more difficult to find." Once you do find a few licensed drivers in good standing, there is salary, benefits and workman’s compensation to budget for. Stop to consider too what happens when the vehicle goes down. You loose the use of the dump box. Now you have down time costs to contend with.

The alternatives for handling tear-off removal don’t end here. More and more contractors throughout the United States are employing the use of dump trailers as a more cost effective and more versatile method for handling tear-off debris. To begin with, the investment costs are minimal. There of course is the initial capital expense of purchasing the trailer (on average, you can purchase three dump trailers for the price of one dump truck). Depending upon the quality, up grades and size, a dump trailer can cost anywhere from $7,000.00 to $15,000.

Once the initial investment has been made, the savings begin. Repair costs are minimal. There is never an engine, transmission, rear end or clutch to replace or repair. No oil changes, filters or tune-ups to pay for. Insurance and licensing fees are substantially less than those of dump trucks. Keep in mind that most makes of dump trailers must be registered with the Department of Motor vehicles as a trailer. Registration and licensing fees do vary from state to state.

Another cost saving advantage is the fact that one driver with a minimum of a one ton truck can manage a fleet of dump trailers. However, before towing any trailer, refer to your truck’s owners manual for maximum towing requirements. Depending upon the GVRW (gross vehicle rated weight) of the trailer, a driver will need to be licensed accordingly. The Department of Motor vehicles sets forth the licensing requirements for hauling a trailer. In the state of California, a trailer with a GVRW under 10,000 pounds requires a standard class C license. A trailer with a GVRW rating of 10,000 or more requires a class A license. When purchasing a trailer, you must consider the approximate amount of weight you will be hauling when fully loaded. The above weight requirements include the trailer weight plus the weight of the material loaded in the trailer. This is important to know because when your driver goes across a weigh scale, the highway patrol will be making assessments based on the combined weight of the trailer and it’s contents.

Contractors such as Mr. White prefer the dump trailer because "I can leave it at a job site and still use my truck for other purposes." He further explains the money he is saving by maintaining full control of the job. No more expensive debris box rentals to contend with, sub-contractors to depend on or multiple dump truck drivers to pay and insure. Mr. White claims that his dump trailer will pay for itself in less than a year.

Dump trailers can be utilized for other practical purposes as well. Use it to haul equipment and material to and from various job sites. Matt Quaglino of Quaglino Roofing Company in San Luis Obispo says they use a dump trailer as a debris box in their yard. Their crews bring job site debris back to the yard at the end of each day. When the trailer is full, they just hook it up to their truck and take it to the dump.

If the dump trailer sounds like a viable alternative for you, there are several key factors to consider. The overall construction is of utmost importance. Every manufacturer builds trailers to meet specific needs therefore using different specifications. To meet the needs of a roofing contractor, we recommend that the trailer box be manufactured with a minimum of 14 gauge steel. The frame should be constructed out of 13.4 pound, 9" C-channel. The floor joists should be spaced no more than 16" apart. Make sure that either every other cross member under the box has a gusset or that there is a gusset at least every 30" for maximum durability. The sides should be framed and reinforced with at least 2 X 2 boxed steel tubing. Some manufacturers use what is known as "stake pockets" that are constructed of a lighter gauge steel. When the trailer is fully loaded the stake pockets may bend. The sides too, should be of solid construction and welded in place to the trailer. In brief, make sure the trailer is rated to handle the maximum weight you plan to be hauling.

Brakes are another aspect of the trailer that should not be overlooked. There are three options, the most common being electric brakes that run off of the truck’s own battery. A brake controller is mounted inside the truck which the driver can manually adjust to compensate for the amount of weight being towed. If you opt for electric brakes, we recommend that you run a live electrical line from the truck’s alternator through the electric plug connector direct to the 12 volt battery on the dump trailer. This way, the unit is fully self contained. Let us explain. While the trailer is connected to the truck (as we described above) and is being trailed, the 12 volt battery that provides the power to elevate the box into the dump position is recharged from the truck’s alternator. The benefit is that when the trailer is delivered to the job site, the battery has been fully charged. Hydraulic brakes are another option. They do not require a brake control unit as do the electric brakes. Hydraulic brakes too, are fully self contained and are activated by a hydraulic actuator on the trailer hitch. Air brakes are the least common option. Primarily because the truck must also have air brakes. Air brakes require an air line connection between the trailer and truck. All three brake options are available on most trailers and are equally comparable.

Finally, the hitch is a matter of personal preference. Both the fifth wheel and the bumper pull are equally durable and reliable. The fifth wheel hitch is quicker to maneuver in areas where the turning radius is tight. It is also easier and more stable to tow. The driver can easily see the hitch in the truck for accurate positioning. The bumper pull has its advantage in that the bed of the towing vehicle is unobstructed and free to haul additional supplies and equipment.

Most manufactures can customize a trailer to meet your specific needs. For instance, a trailer can be built with low sides for built- up and shingle tear-off or it can be built with higher sides to accommodate shake tear-off. Tarp rollers are a popular upgrade especially with the current law requiring all loads be tarped while transporting. Spare tire carriers, steel tool boxes, load binders and side mounted ladders can all be welded onto the trailer. Special load requirements can be addressed as well by increasing axles or using dual wheels.

After reviewing the pros and cons of the conventional methods for handling tear-off debris and comparing them with those of dump trailers, we feel confident that you will agree with the growing number of roofing contractors who have decided that the dump trailer is the best solution to keep tear-off from becoming a rip-off..

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