Looking at few videos back shows me that metal scratch was there before but i never noticed it which tells me it happened prior and was never reported. Regardless of the scratch the operator did run over something which made the deck twist upward. Yards will be walked from now on before we mow to make sure its clear of sticks or anything else. The attitude is zero tolerance and i will NOT allow.

Pizza isn't the same Pizza before Brando the commando. He needs to change his ways or I think he will be gone.

Hey Nick How is standing on the Wright Stander, mowing for a long per of time like for example the 5 acre property account that you have?

Pizza is a good worker but you need to keep a tight lead on him

Great video as always. Carelessness in a business can cost you alot of money in the long run. Brando seems to be getting that mower down pat. Hope everything works out. Good luck.

Great videos btw hope u grow and achieve your goals this season

I have an interview for a lawn care company tomorrow. I don't know much but I know how to use a zero turn, a weed eater, and a few more basics. What should I do to prepare for a job in landscaping?

nick, about the headphones, I sure do think they are a risk I use ear buds so I can hear a tune while mowing, however they are not loud enough that I can't hear my mowers engine, that's a big no no for me, I've got to hear the engine. I want to know the exact second something happens if/when. And was that green paint in the scratch on the deck of the V-ride?

Hey Nick about the ear/headphones while mowing I listen to music while using mowers and I still manage to hear things hitting blades or if the mower is bogging down

Just wondering if you guys out there providing lawn services charge customers for sales tax?

Hey nick I think it was two different incidence @7:57 he ran over something and the mower jump up. If he or someone hit something on the front of the deck it most likely push the deck downward not up.

So how do you like the Ferris? Also seems like brando is still going backwards at times.

Joking on the job leads to carelessness, the attitude needs to go, but keep the joking inside the truck!

Nice job Brando for ur first time on that mower

Pizza got to treat the equipment likes it’s his mom and Brandon is going to be the future mower and pizza the weedeater

I always listen to music but I can hear. And I always make sure I don't hit anything mow over anything.

Looked like he hit a flower pot from what shot out.

Nick I feel ya pain bro if Pizza was working for me there'd be no suspension he's be fired and looking for employment elsewhere and I'd make sure to add this to his future employers

I don’t play my work tunes that loud so I can still hear my mower

You handled the situation with the Scab the right way. They're your machines and the employees should respect those machines. If the machines are broken you aren't able to meet the daily goals that make you money and the employees aren't going to make money. As far as the music, I have to say how can someone be listening to what the engine and mower is doing when they're listening to music. I definitely would go with regular ear muffs.

I mow with noise cancelling ear buds with music. I can still hear the engine and blades. I can hear when I hit stuff. Taking away that option won't help.

What did he run into a garden edge retaining wall? Couldn’t tell you how many times my guys drove the right side belt impeller fan for the bagging unit on my Scag zero turns. One went straight into a tree and destroyed the whole thing.

Nick I personally don’t listen to music when mowing. I was always told to not because you want to be able to hear the mower and what’s going on around you. Normal hearing protection is fine, but no music

Simon from the UK here... oh pizza AGAIN. Great video though and brando coming along great guns. I'm against music headphones whilst operating any power equipment. When I was working cranes my banksman had a pair on and I couldn't let him know through the radio that a girder was going to hit him. He felt it though. Also you do miss stuff when your jamming along so NO See you tomorrow ninjas

Hey Nick I would be pissed also especially if i got a response like that also. Are you sure it was operator error that caused that damage? The chain twisted was definitely his fault from hitting that mound. You know the scag brakes dont hold to well! Could've mower shifted during trailering and the deck rubbed another mower like the front caster wheel ect?

S happens but you know if you hit something.

Pizza needs to go

Looked like a green metal pole....gotta wonder what it was and what of the customer's is damaged and if it cost.....headphones....I have used both...either way it doesn't excuse operator error...headphones helps pass the time of day but they are not necessarily a need

Not only is music distracting to some extent, it is against occupational health and safety standard when considering the fact that people need to communicate in an event of an emergency. So the noise of the machines on its own is already a problem in that regard. Not only do you have the noise of music over the engine noise and environmental noise, you now have a distracted employee in an environment that can quickly turn deadly if someone was to make the wrong turn because they could not hear a co-worker signaling them/ calling out to them. Or they could just damage a clients property because they could not hear the warnings.

That yard looks like a nightmare. Stuff everywhere

You know when you hit something. Apologize and admit you F up which pizza did. Would it have been helpful if pizza did it right away, probably. But at least he did.

Pizza kinda reminds me of a employee I saw u=on Undercover Boss last night who told the president of the company "ive learned ways to cut corners overtime". Sometimes people get lazy and relaxed, it happens.

Nick, I personally have had a large stick(dead elm) scratch up my deck like that before doing a leaf cleanup. As they are very stiff branches when dead. But I do feel the same attitude as you do about keeping him off for awhile. And I do feel the head phones do distract people. I prefer ear plugs as I can listen to my surroundings if kids sneak out into the yard, dogs barking or even if the mower isn't running properly. One way to tell is unhook a plug wire on the rider and see if they notice it with the music and try it later on if you switch to no music.

y'all inspired me to start my own lawn Care service I have two workers and we're all 12

I run heavy equipment and we don't wear earbuds or anything like that incase engine starts knocking or a alarm go's off you hopefully can shut it down without causing further more damage.

I work on mowers on the side out of my garage and have also worked for a landscape company myself. I would love to start my own company and I would forbid listening to music 100 %. Not only for some examples you said, but also, what if the boss is trying to say something to that person or if your listening to music and you are cutting by a road, you need to hear if cars are trying to honk at you.

Brandon did great on the mower! Hopefully the rest of the season goes smoothly.

Glad he's off the mower, pretty sure he was starting to think he was the boss....

We always switch on the mowers every property. Gives everyone a break and keeps everyone in check.

if you look at a lot of vids pizza is rough with lots of the equipment especialy the blowers how he throws them in truck/trailer little diff.know with the racks but before u installed them

Yes if they are over the ear headphones but as long as you don’t over power your equipment I don’t see a problem but as for the business owner it has benefits because you can answer your phone thru your headphones if you get a call or you can make them only have one headphone in and one out

But Nick, it’s only the Scab. LOL

Should start at bottom of hill and work up

Pizza always been like that, even when Jimmy was around way back when, but you overlooked that cuz he was all buddy buddy with him and he showed up for his money. I can tell just from his demeanor. You have had better employees than him in the past but they weren't consistent

I smurked and said f you then i started my own lawncare company. I looked back once and gave them the finger. Lmao

I've owned and operated a small business for 31 years now..I feel your anger. That's the attitude that some ppl get when you become friends with an employee. Sad but true

I have the 3M headset that brando has. I can hear my equipment better with the music than I can with regular plugs or earmuffs. Just thought you should take that into consideration. I own my own lawn care business as well. Highly recommend the 3M

Nick, I would be irritated also if that happened. Yes, I think that music can affect what the operator hears.

Yes but the Vibrations from whatever you hit you should feels. If I hit a stick I'll feel that. But if I hit piece of metal. I'm sure enough will feel that. It was lack of care.

that's called having a business nick

I use the 3M headset like brando has and I can tell if or when the engine bogs or acting wierd

Nick my brotha...i feel u man! I just gotta say the poor attitude I’m sure is what really caught you off guard, but let that be a reminder to still maintain a boss/employee attitude because that unfortunately was a sign from an employee that has gotten too comfortable with u and felt he could blow off esteem in a sense back at you. I personally am not a fan of music while working but I do feel the walk thru especially in the coming months will help to avoid running over things that tall grasses won’t let u see. Pizza recognized his poor attitude and that was a good sign of character so Hopefully move past it and keep grinding in positive atmosphere together.

Ooooo Nick. Pizza better get some boots made for walking.

Glad to be a solo operator 😂. What was pizza doing just sitting on the lawn???

I agree that the music is a total distraction can hear what the mower is doing for sure. When I worked for big companies all you could wear was hearing protection that it. You zone out to much or drive faster than you realize!

I really don’t think headphones with music do anything, to me I put mine on and I get in the zone and really helps me last through the day and makes it more enjoyable then it already is!

I've been cutting for 10 years and have always listened to music. You can always tell if something is wrong or just not right with the mower. Most of the time I know because of feel, not sound. Either way, I think part of the problem is the hate for the Scag now, this might be making them (pizza) care less about the equipment.

Nick, that's what happens when you put a wild ginger on a mower. DRUG TEST!!

Music does play a factor in being focused while working

I know that playing certain music can greatly affect my driving style. When I play some of my favorite metal bands I find myself flyin down the road. IMHO it may be motivational but it can also be very distracting plus block out sounds you should be listening for such as someone yelling at you, car horn or a mechanical failure of a machine.

Just one earbud in. I work in a hospital pharmacy and as long as we can communicate well and hear what is needed headphones are not a problem.

Positive vibes bro!

I listen to music when I cut. But I also make sure i hear the motor and deck. If you listen to music it shouldn't be so loud that you can't hear the machine.

Dammit man, I bet it sucks knowing you're training your replacement!!!

Anybody know the song at 7:35!?!?

I saw your post on Instagram about this video so I just had to watch it

I personally use music while mowing on full volume on my ear phones. I can still hear my engine change and when the mower goes over sticks and hits something etc. I don’t think it is a problem but again I don’t have 2-3 guys that work for me.

I never use headphones while I'm at a customer's house I think they are distracting I like to be aware of my surroundings and yes I think it does distract you from paying attention from hitting rocks or sticks or chunks of metal or whatever it is but that's my honest opinion it's nice to see Brando on the mower he's almost at official ninjas status enjoyed the video Sensei Nick. as always ninja Mike out

I have been mowing commercialy for 14 years, ( I DO NOT jam to music for tons of reasons mainly because you can prevent so much damage to a mower if you can catch a noise out of the oridinary early...the list of reasons is huge that's just one ya know ... And i have found what works best is the honesty open minded and willingness way of thinking, if I hit or damage something I RUN or CALL my boss and tell him immiedaditly what happened before he finds out on his own or worse a customer calls and tells him that way it doesn't look like I'm hiding it ... be open minded that (things) do happen but carelessness is not an option, all someone has to do is show you don't care one time and your reputation is ruined forever with that person or boss, always show and have the willingness to take care of the equipment and act as if it's yours and have slaved away for years to pay for it , and last if I have done every single thing in my power to prevent ( something) from happening then it's a honest mistake or accident and me just not giving a CRAP....I'm not a know it all but loyalty has brought me my royalty's and all comes with experience

This is just my opinion but I think if it's a yard where you don't need to help Nick then I'd go to the backyard while pizza and Brando are in the front and pick stuff up. This way when they get to the back it will be already for them. This seems the most efficient way.

I always mow with head phones and other yard work as well but I always keep one head phone out

First off he must of hit either a piece of steel in that dirt mound he shot out the shoot or a steel dog tie out he hit it on top bent it over and out the shoot or a rock head phones are fine as Long as its not to loud. Thanks Rocco

Having head phone's on can I've been there done that so i only keep one head phone in one ear at all times to hear.

I use music as well, that could definitely effect you knowing you hit something small like a driveway rock.if you hit something big enough to lift the deck you definitely know. You can not hear the change of the engine though

I wouldn’t worry nick......pizza is going to quit. This is as the beginning of the end

Noise elimination headphones to protect hearing is mandatory, but no music headphones. Headphones with music is a distraction to the task and like you said little nuances of trouble wether it be the engine, the deck or the mower blades scraping something one has to hear these sounds. Your employees are there to work, not to be bebopping to music all day. This is how accidents happen!

A thought as to the origin of the deep scratch on the Scag. My trailers are packed (loaded) rather tight as your trailer appears to be. Taking into consideration the issue with the Ferris being lite on the front half of the machine (one reason we no longer run Ferris) could the Ferris have risen up during a turn and the decks hit as the Ferris came back down ? We have had this type of damage on several of our mowers and found this to be the cause. Not saying that is the absolute cause of your damage, just a possibility. I will also add / comment as to the dropping or allowing the ramp gate to slam on the ground. I have had to make this one of the very few things I will fire someone over. It sounds harsh, but when you take into consideration the time spent to repair damaged ramps, not to mention broken toes (yes, I've had crew members intentionally drop the ramp on other crew members foot) it is an issue that can not be over looked. I know accidents do happen and a gate can slip out of your hand, but the difference between and accident and an intentional act are not that hard to tell apart. Love the videos, keep up the good work and let the haters hate.

Looks like velkey hit it on transport. If blades are good it was the velkey.dont be so paranoid Nick. It causes stress and stress is bad.I love your station like to have you around a while. God bless

that's no stick dammage looks like corner of a rock

Hmm. I think if he turned the music down. When I listen to music I always make sure I can hear my mower running and thinhs

Headphones to me make a big factor. When I mow I only have one headphone in so I can hear the engine, for what ever reason it bogs down or it the deck hits something or the blades cut something that it wasn’t supposed to. This is only my opinion and that’s how I use headphones with mowing.

Back in the day when I worked at a golf course there was a no music headphones policy because you can't hear if the equipment starts acting up or sounding funny. Twenty six years later I still think it's a good policy, especially now since it's our dollars having to do the fixing.🐱‍👤🐱‍👤🐱‍👤

You can usually hear running over anything, but when you’re jammin out you get in an attitude when you just want to get it done and stop paying as much attention to the yard as you should

I think it's very possible that music detract you when you cut grass because if you don't pay attention that can happen

I run my earbuds, I only run where I can hear music but I can and have heard changes on equipment and shut down quickly.

At least it was the Scab and not one of the Wright’s mowers, then Nick would have turned into the hulk

Don't take away the headphones. They don't detract from the employees doing the job and make it much more enjoyable. Pizza will be back on a mower next week.

Yes that music you can’t hear but I use the headphones that Brando uses they can not go that loud love them listen to music not to loud and can hear everything

Music makes it far more enjoyable but it becomes very distracting and leads to all kinds of Careless and lazy mistakes

Every one mistakes even the best. Pizza is young and confident which isn't always a bad thing. He just needs to humble him self other wise from what I've seen an awesome employee. I would hire him

Yes the music would be an issue. Even with a loud mower you should be aware of your surroundings as much as possible.

If I were you I'd be getting them blades checked out. And the music in the ear is a definite no where I work cause you can't hear other people or things in your surroundings

Time for the wright 36

yes music can prevent you from hearing changes in the engine but as far as hitting things you can most of the time feel that in the mower based on my experience. but for me it helps keep me focused and working harder. as far as the damage in my opinion i don't think it was just a rock or stick it seems that the deck was ran into something like a pole causing the deck to be pushed up and tweaked in such a way that it twisted the chain preventing it from falling back to it original position. i will be honest i have hit a few things by accident in my years of mowing and everyone has at some point and if anyone that has more than 1 year experience with commercial mowers says they haven't ever hit anything is lying i can almost promise that. anyways thanks for the daily content and entertainment.

Its suks when the employees think that been a business owner we can buy an other mower any time we want to. It does work like that mowers are expensive

My personal opinion on headphones, I feel like listening to music is more of a privilege, however I feel like it doesn't hurt anyone, either way, the mower is loud enough to not be able to hear anything. I am a business owner and allow headphones but if we are working on projects I ask that one headphone be removed and not loud enough for me to be able to hear it or potentially any customers he or she may come in contact with.

Wow Nick, that's defiantly a metal scrape. The damage is going to happen ( accidents ), but for pizza to not give a shit about it is the problem. Pizza walks around with a cocky attitude all the time, he always putting guys down, like he is better than anyone else. He apologized, because he was afraid of you placing him on another leave of work. RESPECT THE EQUIPMENT, IT PAYS THE BILLS.... The main thing is respect the equipment as if it is your own. ( for employees )

I personally think that they shouldn't listen to music because your not totally focused on the job at hand and you can't hear the other things around you. If you are going to implement a policy, probably best to do it now while the season is still young.

The head phones could definitely have a part of the problem I use them myself and at first I didn't like them because I was having an issue hearing my machines

I listen to music when I mow, but I don't have my music on really loud. I want to hear the mower too just in case something happens I can still hear it.