How do I check a hauling company’s gravel, sand and aggregate pickup arrangements?

Start with the sites. List every pit, yard or supplier the company loads from, and ask who owns each, how access is granted and who decides when trucks go in. Note whether arrangements are written or based on habit. A pickup that depends on a friendly yard manager is only as steady as that person.

Next, look at how the work runs. Ask how trucks are scheduled, how long they wait to load, how loads are weighed and tracked, and how disputes about quantities get settled. Compare a sample of tickets with invoices and payments. Ask your accountant about the margin on each kind of material, since waiting time can quietly eat it.

Then test the risk. Ask what happens if a supplier shuts, raises its rates or changes its hours, and where else the trucks could load. Ask which customers rely on which pickup. Speak with a couple of suppliers, with the seller’s agreement, and ask your lawyer to read any agreements for transfer and ending terms. Seasonal swings are normal, so ask what the slow periods look like.

Key takeaways

• List every pickup site, who owns it and how access is granted.
• Compare load tickets with invoices and payments for a sample of weeks.
• Ask what happens if a supplier closes, raises rates or changes hours.
• Find out which customers depend on which pickup.