When searching for a new business partner it is important to be able to tell whether the potential partner is an expert in what they do or merely a novice. In this article, we’re going to tackle a few points that help differentiate a dumpster rental business expert from one that is just a beginner.
“People who have developed expertise in particular areas are, by definition, able to think effectively about problems in those areas. Understanding expertise is important because it provides insights into the nature of thinking and problem solving. Research shows that it is not simply general abilities, such as memory or intelligence, nor the use of general strategies that differentiate experts from novices. Instead, experts have acquired extensive knowledge that affects what they notice and how they organize, represent, and interpret information in their environment. This, in turn, affects their abilities to remember, reason, and solve problems.” – How People Learn
1. Experts pay attention to features and patterns of information not noticed by novices.
From trial and error over the years, here is what we have learned:
Residential vs. Commercial Job Sites
Scheduling an order at a residential vs. commercial job site means that the dumpster rental business must know the local regulations allowed for construction work. Regions have different hours when construction companies are allowed to perform services if they are within a certain proximity of a residential building.
Safety Gear
- P.P.E. (Personal Protective Equipment) is used by all of our field employees. This includes safety vests, hard hats, dust masks, protective long-sleeved shirts, and steel-toed shoes.
Weather-Related Issues
- During the winter season some loads may become frozen, which means that the facilities to which we take the load will charge an extra fee for scraping the can which adds to the total cost of the dumpster rental service. With our experience, we already know which facilities will offer scraping services to empty the can.
LEED Regulations
- Our staff includes LEED accredited personnel who can guide customers toward resources that can help them understand how to gain LEED credits from USGBC for their construction projects.
Container Appearance
- We have noticed that not every dumpster rental business brands their containers or instead have very small stickers on their containers. We at Selective Hauling are proud of our work, so we brand each container with the word “SELECTIVE” horizontally across the container and our phone number “301-330-0983” on the door. We also do our best to identify any containers that have been damaged and have them fixed immediately by our in-house mechanics before sending them back out on the field again. This lets customers keep their job sites looking more professional with good-looking containers while also displaying our brand and how to contact us.
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2. Experts have acquired a great deal of content knowledge, organized in ways that reflect a deep understanding of their subject matter.
Here is what we find to be most effective for organizing our business:
Organizing Schedules Effectively
- Dispatchers align orders in a manner to make sure they are traveling to job sites that make sense.
Live Load Option
- We allow customers to set up a live load option, which is a service where a roll-off driver delivers a can, waits for the customer to fill it up, and then takes the can for disposal, returns with the same can or a second can to do it again. This type of service allows the customer to receive multiple swaps per day and take advantage of being able to focus their labor and equipment rental costs to a certain time frame.
Suitable Job Sites
- At times the job site location may be too crowded or there is limited space for a roll off container. In cases like this we would suggest that clients order a dump truck service instead. This service would require less space and the customer has lower labor costs since we bring a 3-man crew to haul the debris. Along with those benefits, we will need to occupy space for the dump truck for only a couple of hours compared to possibly a couple of days with a roll off container. To make things even easier for our customers we offer our dump truck service starting at 2:00 AM for no extra cost!
Separate or Commingled Loads
- Depending on the situation, customers may be able to save money if they are disposing of certain materials which are separated and placed into different containers. We educate our customers to help them understand our pricing models and to show them that the value they get from choosing the right option can save them a great amount of money over time.
3. Experts know to that not all solutions apply to every situation.
Here are examples from our experience:
Regulations
- Different regulations are region specific between Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. that construction companies must abide by. Knowing all of these helps to ensure that we do not run into complications with completing our services.
Container Issues
- Based on the type of material stuck inside of a container, we have various methods to clear the container out so that it can be used for the next service without much delay.
Safety Meetings
- At our main office, we conduct safety meetings that the safety director, company managers, roll-off drivers, four head drivers, office manager, dump truck drivers, and laborers attend. At these meetings, we review any changes to regulations that have been made, share information about job sites that require extra safety procedures, customer service situations, and D.O.T. (Department of Transportation) stops and their outcomes.
4. Experts are able to be flexible by using important aspects of their knowledge in a timely manner.
Methods we use to achieve flexibility:
Vast Information Sources
- Our personnel has access to valuable in-house documents that help to inform customers of the best options on our current schedule, material separation, location of landfill/recycling facilities.
Traffic
- Anyone can use a GPS application to figure out an estimated time of how to get from point A to point B. The difference between an expert and beginner in traffic navigation comes down to experience. By using their experience as a reference point our drivers understand when to take certain roads depending on the time of day, knowledge of restricted roads, or construction patterns.
- We have created our personal disposal facility list that includes hours of operation, types of materials accepted, LEED credibility, addresses, and other miscellaneous information that can be useful to both our dumpster rental business and the customer.
5. Experts can adapt to new situations and improve service because of it.
Ways we have learned to adapt:
Creative Solutions
- We are the first dumpster rental business in the Washington D.C. metro area to prevent asphalt damage by bringing plywood with us on every roll-off truck to our job sites. The plywood is set on the ground where the container is supposed to be placed so that the weight is more evenly distributed. We had our onsite mechanics build metal containers that are attached to the underside of the truck. These containers each hold 2 sets of plywood (4 pieces per set). This is an added value that we bring with our roll off rental service!
Live Dispatching
- Emergency Dumpster Rental: Dispatchers can schedule emergency dumpster rental services for the same day after adjusting the current schedule. We understand that things in construction projects are not always perfect. Sometimes a night crew may not show up to load a container, which means when we come to pick it up it is not ready. If things like that happen we can have another roll-off truck come by later in the day to retrieve the container when it is loaded.
- Multiple Swaps: Another example would be when one of our customers estimates that they need two containers for their project that day, but then realize that they need four containers. We have the manpower and trucks to send extra containers throughout the day. Our live dispatching team, operations manager, and managing partner make sure that we make the necessary changes to the schedule so that we can accommodate our customers the day of if need be.
Custom Services
- Limited Time Scenario: If a customer can only have a container available at their site between 4 A.M. and 6 A.M., we can send a driver to drop off the container while a second driver retrieves the container. This technique is useful when our customers need to have a container removed before office personnel arrive to the building.
- Limited Space/Labor Scenario: We have the ability to offer both dumpster rentals along with a dump truck service. The dump truck service is very useful for situations when our customers don’t have the manpower to fill the containers or have limited space for a roll-off dumpster. A dump truck is smaller in size when compared to a roll-off truck, which means that it can offer more flexibility to complete jobs in tighter spaces.
Thinking Of Requesting A Dumpster Rental Quote? Click Here
Reference(s):
Bransford, J. D. (n.d.). Read “How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School: Expanded Edition” at NAP.edu. Retrieved February 28, 2020, from https://www.nap.edu/read/9853/chapter/5
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