GrainsWest Spring 2020

Spring 2020 grainswest.com 27 job done today, it is fine with them if you come back tomorrow,” said Scafe. “I appreciate that flexibility, so you want your drivers to sometimes do a bit extra as needed.” Both Scafe and the Dicks said it is important to develop good working relationships with repeat customers, provide extra services as needed and develop trust. Scafe said he was contacted by a vacationing client who trusted him to make a pickup and delivery happen. “The farmer calls from Palm Springs, tells me what bin needs to be emptied and where it is to be delivered and he leaves it with me,” said Scafe. “It is good to develop that trust with your clients.” Working with lease operators helps the two businesses spread out the cost and risks. The lease operators cover their own costs for fuel, insurance and registration and are paid a percentage for each load. With Go-Fer Ag Services, for example, for a typical short haul within about 24 kilometres, Scafe charges the farmer $9 per loaded tonne. If the driver is using one of Go-Fer’s trailers, Scafe takes a percentage cut, and if the driver is using his own tractor and trailer unit, Scafe takes a smaller administration and dispatching fee. Depending on circumstance, maintenance costs can be shared with lease operators. “I might buy the part, but they’ll get it installed,” he said. “I like drivers to know they have some skin in the game, too.” Pay rates reflect the fact it’s not cheap to keep a truck on the road. “For our own trucks, we saw the end of a provincial carbon tax a few months ago and now we have a new federal carbon tax, which hits diesel fuel harder than gasoline,” said Dick. “I believe by April it will be costing us 13 cents per litre. The Dick’s Trucking fleet consists of 20 company owned vehicles, and the company also employs several lease operators. Operators Randy and Karie Dick said young farmers looking to diversify their earnings are taking greater interest in commercial grain hauling.