Archive : February 2019

I sell boom trucks. I also own a home that has a septic tank, a shingled roof, drywall on the walls, brick on the outside of the house, and a host of other things. I have no idea about how to shingle a roof, what shingles to use; I certainly have no idea about how to form a septic tank, lay weeping tile or mix mortar and lay bricks. So, where would I start if I had to complete any one of these?

1. Call an industry professional!

What’s an industry professional? I would say a time-tested company that has been in the industry for a substantial period. Such companies usually have standalone facilities. The companies also stock booms, indicating that they sell boom trucks regularly and are stable.

Call a company that participates in your industries’ associations; it shows that they will support your company’s ability to do business better, and, to grow. An industry professional is someone who understands your business and needs because of the years of experience they have in dealing with that type of industry.

2. Define your needs

When you’re purchasing a boom truck, you are paying a large part for reach and capacity. Time and again we have a precast-concrete or poured-wall Company call and asks for a boom longer than they need, with capacities greater than they require. I will use septic tank companies as an example. I take a call from a company and they ask for a boom that will lift 25,000 pounds at 25’. I immediately respond, “Are you sure?” Normally my septic customer lift to 15’ and the capacity is 18,000 pounds, 24,000 pounds, or 27,000 pounds. There is a massive $100,000 price difference between those reaches and capacities. The response is almost always, “I do 18,000 pounds at 15’.” Now, we can get the proper proposal together for the customer.