I came across this link on Craigslist and it has prompted me to ask this to those of you who frequent this board. The link is a job posting for a field crew but requires the crew to have their own equipment. Obviously my first assumption is that this is a contract field crew, which is illegal here in Florida. However, it makes me wonder if it's common practice in other states to have field crews provide their own equipment. It certainly isn't common around these parts, and I have never worked for a company that didn't supply crews with company owned equipment.
http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/egr/3760990782.html
I have seen the very occasional (less than 5 in the past number of years) ad such as you found. Never investigated to see how legal such things are in my area, I'm sure someone knows.
I like the part where it says you have to have your own equipment or access to equipment.
Moonlighting anybody?
A list of Oklahoma surveyors that I have known who tried to claim their crew was "contract" would be as long as my arm. They have all wound up in big trouble with the State Tax Commission and the IRS.
It doesn't work. And every so often someone turns around and tries it again. Some have actually gotten away with it for a number of years..which is a shame..because by then the penalties and back taxes have exploded to a staggering figure.
In Oklahoma someone that works under your direction is an employee. This does exclude subbing work out to a business entity that pays taxes. The real catch is usually the Workman's Comp insurance.
This is rampant in the State of Florida how can one Company with one PSM cover so many Counties? Boundary surveys for $250-325 flood certificates for $125? I cannot understand how this is possible, hard times? I don't think so, my opinion is profiteers. The Surveying community in Florida is deep rooted I feel like I could never "turn in" one of these businesses or operators. The reason I can't explain maybe a feeling of fraternity? Maybe its because I believe the Department of Agriculture or the Society will handle it, or maybe I am to lazy.
> .... However, it makes me wonder if it's common practice in other states to have field crews provide their own equipment.
I've worked around a couple of unlicensed contract crews in Oregon. It isn't strictly illegal, but it isn't favored. The people I've known who were providing such service always seem to slip over the line of unlicensed practice by representing themselves as surveyors to the public.
So I think it is possible to offer, and employ, this sort of service legally, but it isn't practical. Consider what kind of person would run such a service. The sort of person who gets into this sort of business is, inevitably, not quite clever enough to get or keep a license of his own and driven enough to be in business for himself rather than working under the thumb of the man. The two are an incompatible mix, virtually guaranteed to run afoul of the state board.
"I may not use any of this stuff but hey look I can sell it on Greg's List! "
- Si Robertson
Here's my CL experience...
[msg=129809]Out of State, out of mind[/msg]