Beware of Schmidy's Machinery

Hotsaw said:
Couple DOT things I have found out over the years I'll pass along. Some lessons cost me a pile of money. Others just a small pile of money lol:
A truck that was originally built with a GVWR over 26K# then derated on paper is STILL a over 26K# truck. DOT could care less what you want to pay for a tag. Their law simply is if a CDL was required to drive this truck originally as built, even if you derate it to 5,000# ( exxageration but trying to make a point) you still need a CDL to operate it. They will look at the chassis tag as well as your reg papers.
For folks set on ( and Im NOT knocking them in any way) using a under 26K# truck you really need to watch those axle weight ratings. There are reasons why a truck slides in under 26K# and usually the answer is found in axle ratings. Depending on how the truck is configured with toolboxes n chip box placement it is very easy to be under your max GVWR for the truck and WAY overweight on an axle. And thye only give you abt 2 hours to find a way to shift the load ( not unload) to make it right before you get put out of service.
There is a very wide gap in the training law enforcement has for performing a DOT check. I had a buddy get stopped the other day with a 10 wheel dump truck. Cop checked all the lites, 2 totally bald drive tires, and slack adjusters that should have been adjusted. Said the truck was in perfect mechanical order but didnt like the one mudflap that looked like a dog bit the corner off of so wrote him up for that. I ran into another that was checking the tire ply rating on all the tires vs actual axle weights.....go ahead figure it out then please let me know what makes sense lol
The big one anybody driving a chip, bucket etc. should make sure of is that they have a medical card. If you don't its $550.50 donation by the driver and $550.50 donation by the employer.
Also bear in mind we generally only ever discuss proverbial DOT stops. The othe rnasty side of this business is if you have an accident. You could be 150% in the not at fault zone but if your paperwork is wrong or your over on a axle weight or have a lite bulb out etc...you will end up in the AT FAULT zone.
Bottom line: do your homework before you buy
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I think that all that is correct. But to emphasize you only need a medical id card if driving cdl.
 
AmericanArborist said:
I think that all that is correct. But to emphasize you only need a medical id card if driving cdl.
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Actually a med card is needed for any vehicle or combination weighing 15,000# or more. I know it changed abt 2 years ago. It may even be 10,000# now. So for ex. Your 1/2ton Chevy pickup towing a 10,000# trailer for business requires you to have a med card. That is a Federal rule. As per their regs just because you dont need a CDL does not exclude you from needing a med card.
 
Yeah, but a med card for under CDL is a much less rigorous exam than the one for a CDL. I remember it being a bit of a joke. Took under 10 minutes.
 
Hotsaw said:
Actually a med card is needed for any vehicle or combination weighing 15,000# or more. I know it changed abt 2 years ago. It may even be 10,000# now. So for ex. Your 1/2ton Chevy pickup towing a 10,000# trailer for business requires you to have a med card. That is a Federal rule. As per their regs just because you dont need a CDL does not exclude you from needing a med card.
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Wow, you're right. I looked it up. Had no idea.
Its so hard to keep compliant with all their rules.
 
Agreed. There never seems to be a place where the rules are just listed. You have to cobble them together yourself. It may sound weird, but you can actually call OSHA on yourself. You can set up a voluntary compliance inspection. They'll come and tell you what you need to fix. It'll give you a small break on your WC rate as well.
 
Mike Spinelli said:
I have bought two buckets from Trueco inc from Kings Mountain NC and they are great people Butch the owner really treats you great! One time Butch Trice sent me a loaner up to NJ free of charge for about 3 weeks till my truck was finished. My latest bucket my 75'ter came from Joe's auto sales in Elkton FL and Bill and Billy are also top notch! And will treat you will class Bill picked us up from Jacksonville airport brought us out for breakfast then brought us for lunch in St.Augustine beach and when the truck was done later in the day we left with the truck and drove straight through back to NJ no problems with the truck have been using it for 2yrs now.
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i know i guy who bought a truck from trueco and he says the boom was cracked and filled with caulk to hide the crack , and another guy who bought a truck from them with a hole in the block and it was filled with jb weld67286-6cdd52200104c022349c5253777dae6b.webp
 
tristateforestry said:
i know i guy who bought a truck from trueco and he says the boom was cracked and filled with caulk to hide the crack , and another guy who bought a truck from them with a hole in the block and it was filled with jb weldView attachment 29276
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Since you are also an equipment dealer it is unethical to discredit your competition. Let their reputation be voiced by their own customers, Just as tri state forestry's reputation is spread on these forums. They only way you will begin to command respect is to earn it on your own, not by discrediting others. I personally wouldn't buy anything from most of the used equipment dealers on here based on the stories I've read on various tree forums over the years.

I purchased a brand new truck from a well know tree truck builder, spent nearly a half a million dollars and have had the worst buying experience I've ever had in over 50yrs in the tree business. I haven't voiced my experience, but it's either here or in the court room.
 
limbcontrol said:
Since you are also an equipment dealer it is unethical to discredit your competition. Let their reputation be voiced by their own customers, Just as tri state forestry's reputation is spread on these forums. They only way you will begin to command respect is to earn it on your own, not by discrediting others. I personally wouldn't buy anything from most of the used equipment dealers on here based on the stories I've read on various tree forums over the years.

I purchased a brand new truck from a well know tree truck builder, spent nearly a half a million dollars and have had the worst buying experience I've ever had in over 50yrs in the tree business. I haven't voiced my experience, but it's either here or in the court room.
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Tristate forestry may have just helped me from making a huge mistake.
If that's the case, thank him for his post.
 
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limbcontrol said:
Since you are also an equipment dealer it is unethical to discredit your competition. Let their reputation be voiced by their own customers, Just as tri state forestry's reputation is spread on these forums. They only way you will begin to command respect is to earn it on your own, not by discrediting others. I personally wouldn't buy anything from most of the used equipment dealers on here based on the stories I've read on various tree forums over the years.

I purchased a brand new truck from a well know tree truck builder, spent nearly a half a million dollars and have had the worst buying experience I've ever had in over 50yrs in the tree business. I haven't voiced my experience, but it's either here or in the court room.
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Voice your experience , I am curious how a individual can possibly spend a half million building a tree truck.
 
treehead32 said:
. In Colorado, we have had a hard time finding drug free employees...period. We are worried about the requirements for CDL, paying for the classes for it and guys leaving or testing positive in a random screening and losing the CDL.
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If you are running trucks requiring CDL you also need to have a pre employment drug test before they can drive a truck and show proof of an evaluation/training for them to drive the truck. You can take them and evaluate their driving yourself but it needs to be documented.
Last I new it was $1900 fine per employee for not having a pre employment drug test on record.
 
So someone asked 1st page has anyone bought from BTS in Michigan, he has no bad reviews online, has a booth at TCIA and ISA, he backs his trucks for 90 power train and well; if something goes wrong he says it has to be repaired at his shop, but regardless he has something. Drooling over a couple Hi Rangers. Please advise with any experience w/ them.
 
tristateforestry said:
i know i guy who bought a truck from trueco and he says the boom was cracked and filled with caulk to hide the crack , and another guy who bought a truck from them with a hole in the block and it was filled with jb weldView attachment 29276
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Tristateforestry, I read a report on yelp from a local tree service.

"I purchased a truck from tri state based off pics online, price, and discussion with Joe the owner/operator of the business. I'm a small business that was looking to grow and this was my next step. As a small business this was a possible make or break purchase. I flew to philidelpia signed the paperwork and drove the truck approximately 1300 miles no problems. About 25 days after purchase the drive the drive shaft dropped out and i called tristate. Joe made it pretty easy and said send me the bill as he gave me a 30 day verbal warranty."

Did you make good on your offer to reimburse him for the drive shaft?

The review can be found here;
http://www.yelp.com/not_recommended_reviews/tristate-forestry-equipment-west-chester
 
i just checked my yelp, YELP is a joke. i have 4 positive reviews from customers but there not recommended lol. yelp only recommends you the consumer reads the negative shit
 
arboraesthetics said:
Tristateforestry, I read a report on yelp from a local tree service.

"I purchased a truck from tri state based off pics online, price, and discussion with Joe the owner/operator of the business. I'm a small business that was looking to grow and this was my next step. As a small business this was a possible make or break purchase. I flew to philidelpia signed the paperwork and drove the truck approximately 1300 miles no problems. About 25 days after purchase the drive the drive shaft dropped out and i called tristate. Joe made it pretty easy and said send me the bill as he gave me a 30 day verbal warranty."

Did you make good on your offer to reimburse him for the drive shaft?

The review can be found here;
http://www.yelp.com/not_recommended_reviews/tristate-forestry-equipment-west-chester
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end result is you take care of your customers, they keep coming back. I'm sure you learned from your experience with the S word lol
 
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