08-18-2014, 03:25 AM
My $.02
It is usually cheaper to do something for yourself if you can. The large tanks are very heavy when full, and hard to move without a hand truck and a paved surface. Best to be young and strong to bulldog these around. Note to seniors, a trip to the emergency room will increase the cost of propane by a large margin. I have stopped using the big tanks and gone to the five gallon ones just because of the weight. You are also less likely to run out with ten small tanks versus two big ones. Self sufficiency comes in varying degrees.
Now for the cost. I would guess the gas delivery has the following costs included in the price: driver @ $25.00 + $12.50 work comp + $2.00 tax and $4.00 health insurance per hour. Probably the same amount for the truck with fuel, repairs and amortization. What does a truck do, maybe ten to twelve stops a day? So that adds $1.50 to $2.00 a gallon for a 40 tank. Then there is the "dirty word" profit, this is not the Salvation Army, it's a business.
There is also the cost of billing. Remember the sainted Mayor Harry Kim raised the minimum property tax to $100. because " we can't afford to send out a bill for only $25", there must be some extraordinary cost there I cannot itemize. So if the County was doing it add $2.50 a gallon for billing.
If it was wildly profitable there would be more competition, however if your young and strong (and smart) it would be worth looking into.
The other guys grass always looks greener until you get in his pasture and start stepping in all the manure.
It is usually cheaper to do something for yourself if you can. The large tanks are very heavy when full, and hard to move without a hand truck and a paved surface. Best to be young and strong to bulldog these around. Note to seniors, a trip to the emergency room will increase the cost of propane by a large margin. I have stopped using the big tanks and gone to the five gallon ones just because of the weight. You are also less likely to run out with ten small tanks versus two big ones. Self sufficiency comes in varying degrees.
Now for the cost. I would guess the gas delivery has the following costs included in the price: driver @ $25.00 + $12.50 work comp + $2.00 tax and $4.00 health insurance per hour. Probably the same amount for the truck with fuel, repairs and amortization. What does a truck do, maybe ten to twelve stops a day? So that adds $1.50 to $2.00 a gallon for a 40 tank. Then there is the "dirty word" profit, this is not the Salvation Army, it's a business.
There is also the cost of billing. Remember the sainted Mayor Harry Kim raised the minimum property tax to $100. because " we can't afford to send out a bill for only $25", there must be some extraordinary cost there I cannot itemize. So if the County was doing it add $2.50 a gallon for billing.
If it was wildly profitable there would be more competition, however if your young and strong (and smart) it would be worth looking into.
The other guys grass always looks greener until you get in his pasture and start stepping in all the manure.