I did that style work back in the 1970s and 80s where money just was not there and we tended to use well worn older used ton trucks, today they can achieve $130-170 an hour with three hour minimum charges, and STILL have calls they have to turn away.  So far only one failed, he tried to Lowball or cutrate to gain work thinking volume exceeds any losses, one of those pitfalls.  Two others have specialized on HE, adding specialized tooling to work Cat and Komatsu or to perform field track and Undercarriage work.  The last couple of guys have started hiring extra help and added trucks, for doing highway and field truck repairs, are going gangbusters as shops cannot handle the volumes and wrecker services are becoming fewer still to tow the machines to garages.  With Extra mechanics they charge the same rate just figure the wages and benefits for 'Contractor' mechanics as part of that rate.  Those guys are making six figure incomes alone with added six figure bonus ABOVE the expenses to have hired help, are smart enough to bank most of that for upgraded equipment.

They are making a killing while skilled workers remain thin.