I do NOT mean the tires. When trucks (especially diesel trucks with air brakes) sit for an extended period of time, Air valves (quick release,parking....) begin to dry out and leak. Hoses for the engine cooling system, and air conditioning begin to seep. AND batteries lose cranking amps, usually due to some stupid digital clock somewhere, this is what I am referring to.
Next time you have some spare time, take a run around to a used truck place. You can tell how long they have been sitting, by whats on the ground around 'em.
Up here in the frozen North, seals on water pumps leak during the winter. We start our field tractors, and combine, up a couple times (on warm days) to lube the seals on the water pumps and air conditioners.
Back to the issue at hand, at least we have this equipment (and know how to use it), our NEW competitors have a 1/2 ton, ladder and a saw. They also are working for peanuts, as some don't have Business licences, insurance or tax remittance numbers. There is the ODD one that does know something about trees and their care, most remove every tree they see, or worse, top 'em.
I have a very small operation, just my wife and me. We are NOT going to prostitute ourselves, and work for the sake of working. I have a very loyal client base, who I have helped educate in the art and science of tree care. In my part of the world, with the majority of people in the ag industry, MOST of our work is the result of the client NOT being able to do it themselves.
I wish these new operations luck, the bar is set pretty high when your rookie job is removing a 100' ft tree over a home, and hemmed in by 3 power lines.
