OnDemand

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Our combined

Float Fee

and service-call / set-up charge

Bobcat Service

Machine-with-Operator Excavation Service

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ's About our Float Zones

What are Float Zones?

SImply, they are used for establishing pricing for floating equipment from our branches to the customers' jobsites.  While we charge hourly for our services, on-the-clock time-based charging only applies when the machine and operator are on-site; we do not normally charge for time when travelling or delivering equipment: we charge a flat fee for floating - it is fairer to the customer (bad traffic can chew up a lot of time).

To see an example of what one branch's float zones look like, click here to see a sample map.

Why is there not a single float fee map?

We have branches throughout our service area (currently the GTA/Southern Ontario), which are bases from which our equipment is delivered from by our machine operators.  As these are scattered across a wide area, each has its own map with zones ringing the branch's base - that way our fees are fair not only to the branch so as to cover their costs in getting the equipment to you, but also it is fairer to the customer, as you are charged the lowest fee possible that way (based on the nearest available branch to serve you).

How do you know which Zone you will be in?

We don't post all of our branches' float fee maps, but each operator does carry a map with him (which he can show you, on request) on which he bases his float fee for your site.  At the time of booking, you can ask dispatch what the float fee is likely to be - at that point they may not be able to be precise, but can give you a rough range of what you might expect (at most you may be looking at a range that is varied by only $20 or so, so it's a small amount).  When closer to the date of your booking and who your branch/operator is going to likely be has been established with more certainty, you can get a more precise fee quote - just call in or ask your operator when he calls to check in with you the day before - if knowing more exactly what the fee will be is really important to you.

Why can't an exact float fee be quoted at the time of booking?

We are in a very fluid, fast-moving business - it's just the nature of the particular kind of service we offer.  People often forget to book until the last minute, or have an unexpected issue come up that requires a machine.  When we are on site the work sometimes takes longer, is delayed due to weather, or is expanded (contractors are constantly adding to what they want done once they have us and our machines on site).  So we get a lot of last minute changes, additions, delays, often resulting in re-assigments for our operators.  It's not their fault, it's not our fault, and it's not always the fault of our customers - it's just the way it is, and we have to deal with it as best as we can.  Having a lot of machines, a lot of operators, many branches strategically located over a wide area and being as organized as we possibly can be are a few of the ways that we handle it as well as we do.  One consequence of this is the fact that when a customer calls in to book with us a week in advance (as is recommended), we cannot say for sure which branch or operator will be servicing them for sure - not until far closer to the service date.  So that being so, we cannot give you a firm price for your float fee as a result.  Not to worry though, as you can see above, our fees don't vary very much from an A-zone to B or C, for instance.  Want more of any explanation?  Click here.

What are the meaning of the zones?

Zones A & B are in the home territory of the servicing branch, the A-zone being the closest to their equipment depot / yard, and B being a bit farther out  Zones C and D are outside of the branch's home territory, perhaps being in a neighbouring branch's normal operating home territroy, or possibly being in an area where we don't have another branch currently.  Zone E is the area outside - it covers points well beyond the area that a given branch normally services and requires significant travel distance (and time: traffic), and is listed above as a specific price, at least, or more - meaning that we may have to provide you an exact price, which may be somewhat more.

Why are the zones odd-shaped?

If you look at the sample map, or see your operator's map when he comes to service you, you'lll notice that the rings are not symmetrical, eminating in a perfect circular pattern, but are distorted.  That is by design - and the reason for it is so that we can be fairer to you.   We try to take advantage of area highways whenever we can, and generally those save time over driving along in-town routes.  So our maps reflect those kind of factors; the float fee is not just about distance to travel, but also takes into consideration travel times and traffic, to a degree.

More General FAQ's About Float Fees

What about a need to bring in more equipment?  Or if a machine needs swapping?

If after the initial machinery has been floated in you determine that you need other or additional machines, attachments and so on, or a change to a different type size / class of machine, an additional float fee will be charged.  Unless we are changing machines for our benefit exclusively and are doing so unilaterally, or are having to change due a machine breakdown issue - in which cases there would not normally be an additional float fee charged - we do charge a float fee for all equipment moves.

What's a double-float?

Sometimes we are asked to bring 2 machines (sometimes plus attachments) to your site - likely a mini-excavator for trenching or excavating, and a skid steer loader for carry the fill - loading a bin/trucks, backfilling, grading, etc.  In some cases, if the machines requested are small and light enough we are able to float both at one time, on one trailer - and if so, only 1 float fee is charged (this is so normally when a 4-foot bobcat or smaller and standard mini-ex or smaller are coupled up).  But in other cases where the machines are larger (ie 5-foot bobcat and compact class mini-ex - or bigger, in either case) they will have to be floated in separately - and so 2 float fees would apply (regardless of whether it is one operator making 2 trips, or you have 2 operators with 2 floating rigs, each doing a float).

What about floating on-the-clock?

We have stated above that we only charge time for when on site, and not for floating - floating is based on a flat float fee, as listed.  There are ocassions however, when it may be to the customer's advantage to ask us to float a machine and to charge for doing so by counting time and billing it at the same rate as would be charged for the machine and operator that day.  A common reason for doing so would be if you have 2 sites to be serviced with the same equipment, on the same day.  Instead of breaking them up as 2 separate bookings and with 2 float fees, 2 minimum 4-hour charges, etc, we may be able to treat them as a single booking and just charge the higher of the 2 destination's float fee and stay on the clock as we travel from one to the other.

What are "travel charges"?

We include this question here wihin this topic of float fees because it is related in a way.  A second-day, or multiple-day travel charge is not a float fee.  Whenever a booking is within a branch's C, D or E float fee zones - in other words, outside of its normal home territory - a float fee will be charged for the first day, the floating day, but additionally to cover travel costs (time, fuel, etc) to your site which is outside of the operator's normal service area, he will charge a non-floating-day travel charge for subsequent days (days 2, 3, and so on) in the event that the booking goes on for an extended period of time.  This travel charge is normally half of what the float fee was, per day (ie a C, discounted float - on the first day, the floating day, the float fee would be $120, and on subsequent days on that same site when there is no floating to be done the travel charge would be $60 per day).  In this way we can service more distant customers while covering the operator/branch's additional increased costs in doing so.  Alternatively, if a customer can't afford such a fee in his budget or just doesn't want to pay it, he has other options, including waiting for a closer branch (if such exists) to be available to serve him when scheduling room becomes available.