10/02/2026
Brian B. told us he charges $150 to $180 an hour on a skid steer, and he is not super busy. The comments told him he was high.
So we put a brand new skid on the sheet at this week's diesel. A 2026 Kubota SVL75-3, 74.3 horsepower, dealer-listed at $87,942. It runs under 75 horsepower, so there is no DEF to buy.
Depreciation, $87,942 down to 40 percent at 5,000 hours, is $10.55 an hour. 2.9 gallons at Monday's EIA diesel price, $6.529, is $18.93. Tracks and wear, $12. A man at $27 with the burden on him, $38.61. Insurance and overhead over 800 billed hours, $21.
$101.09 an hour before profit. The 20 percent floor is $126.36.
At $150 Brian is $23.64 over the floor. Not busy is the other half. At 400 billed hours the same machine costs $122.09 and the floor is $152.61, and $180 covers it. The man at $85 is $16.09 under cost every hour, busy or not.
How many hours did your skid bill last year, and what did it bill at?
