Re: Gas prices

[Frank Olson <use_the_email_links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bob Worthy wrote:
> What is everyone doing about the rising gas prices with service trucks on
> the road. Raising service call charges? Adding trip charges? Fuel charge?
> What is working best for residential/commercial? Is there a difference?
>


Our service rates just went from $65.00 per hour to $70.00 per hour.
Mind you, we've also upgraded our employee benefits package to include
100% dental across the board (before that, employees had to pay 50% of
any crowns or orthodontics).  I decided to do that after our first
company barbecue of the season last week.  I saw a lot of my guys kids
had crooked teeth and remembered how hard it was for my folks to come up
with their half of the bucks for my orthodontic fees.  Besides that, our
liability insurance premiums went up something like 15% over last year
(the coverages hadn't changed and we've had no claims for the over ten
years we've been in business).  The cost increase was "justified" by the
agent though.  He said that several companies in the Lower Mainland had
had some really horrendous claims (including one where a fire alarm
technician accidentally tripped a sprinkler system in one of the largest
freezers around).  By the time all the "ice" had "settled", the repair
cost was over $300,000.  I can't imagine having to replace pipe in a
freezer where the temperature is -40 degrees Celsius.  You really gotta
admire the "toughness" of some of those sprinkler fitters.