How Many Trucks Should a Plumbing Company Have?
Think of Each Truck as Its Own Small Business
A truck isn't just a vehicle. Each one needs:
- A qualified plumber behind the wheel
- Fuel, insurance, maintenance, tools, and parts
- Someone to schedule and dispatch it
- Enough booked calls to keep it busy
That last one is easy to overlook. A new truck only pays off if the phone keeps it full. An idle truck still costs money every day it sits.
Signs You're Ready for Another Truck
Adding a truck should solve a problem you already have, not one you hope to have. Good signs include:
- Your plumbers are booked several days out, week after week.
- Emergency calls are hard to fit in without bumping other customers.
- Overtime is routine, not a once-in-a-while thing.
- You're turning down or delaying work you'd like to take.
- Demand has stayed high for months, not just during one busy stretch.
Signs You're Not Ready Yet
If any of these sound familiar, another truck may add cost before it adds revenue:
- Your current trucks have gaps in their schedules most weeks.
- Drive time is eating the day because jobs aren't grouped well.
- Callbacks and return trips are common.
- You don't have the right person to hire, and you'd be rushing to fill the seat.
- Cash flow is tight during slower months.
In these cases, getting more out of the trucks you already have usually pays off faster than adding a new one.
Check Your Phones Before You Buy
Here's the part many owners skip. Sometimes the problem isn't too few trucks. It's that calls aren't being answered or booked fast enough to fill the trucks you already have.
If calls go to voicemail while you're on a job, or callbacks happen hours later, some of those callers will book with someone else. That demand never shows up on your schedule, so it's hard to tell how busy you really could be.
Before you buy, track your calls for two weeks:
- Total calls coming in
- Calls answered live vs. sent to voicemail
- How long callbacks take
- How many calls turn into booked jobs
If lots of calls are slipping through, fix that first. You'll get a much clearer picture of whether you need another truck, or just better coverage on the phones.
Numbers Worth Tracking
Truck count on its own doesn't tell you much. These numbers tell you how healthy your fleet really is:
| Number | What It Tells You |
|---|---|
| Revenue per truck | Whether each truck is earning its keep |
| Booked jobs per truck per day | How full your schedule really is |
| Booking rate | How many calls turn into jobs |
| Drive time between jobs | How much of the day is spent on the road |
| Callback and return-trip rate | How often a job takes more than one visit |
Compare these over a few months. If they're strong and steady, you're in a good spot to grow. If they're uneven, start there.
The Bottom Line
The right number of trucks is the number you can keep busy with profitable work. Add one when demand has stayed high and your current trucks are full, and when you have the people and systems to support it. Before you buy, make sure your phones are capturing the demand you already have. Growth isn't measured by how many trucks are on the road. It's measured by how well each one is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many trucks should a small plumbing company have?
There's no set number. A small company should have as many trucks as it can keep consistently booked. A few full trucks often do better than more trucks with empty schedules.
When should a plumbing company add another truck?
When current trucks stay booked several days out, emergencies are hard to fit in, and overtime is routine, and demand has stayed that way for months.
What happens if I add trucks too early?
Underused trucks still cost money every day. Adding them too early can lower revenue per truck, squeeze profits, and lead to rushed hiring.
Is revenue per truck more important than fleet size?
Yes. How well each truck is used tells you far more about the health of your business than how many trucks you own.
Can missed calls make it look like I need more trucks?
They can hide demand. If calls go to voicemail or callbacks are slow, some customers book elsewhere, so you may not see how busy your trucks could be. Track your calls before deciding.
Fill the TrucksYou Already Have.
Book a discovery call and we'll talk through your calls, your goals, and whether Jill's Office is the right fit.
