Category: Construction Services

When OEM telematics first became available to heavy equipment contractors, one of the main concerns about the OEM systems was that they didn’t allow fleet managers to get a fleet-wide look at their machines. For every brand of machine, you had to go to a different website, and that made it difficult to get quick daily updates or compile aggregate statistics for periodic analysis.

The FleetWatcher Construction Management Solution from Earthwave simplifies maintenance planning across the entire fleet, regardless of equipment type or manufacturer. Instead of having to log into the telematics platform for each equipment manufacturer, CMS aggregates the data across the fleet so users can see at a glance where they stand on maintenance due. 

The maintenance-due reports are color-coded providing supervisors with an at-a-glance status report. Yellow indicates equipment that is within 36 hours of its required maintenance. Equipment at or past its maintenance due date shows in red. This allows fleet maintenance managers to better manage in-shop personnel, equipment availability and service trucks in the field. FleetWatcher data can be shared with all applicable personnel via cellphone, tablet or computer. 

Reports are available online or in Microsoft Excel format and can be shared with any team member. Over 20 reports and hundreds of filtering options allow users to customize the information they needed to manage their business more effectively and efficiently. 

In addition to maintenance, FleetWatcher tracks cycle times, productivity, downtime, equipment utilization and underutilization, project status, budgets, shop costs, rental expenses, trends and behaviors. It also integrates with all major management programs including accounting, estimating, invoicing and more.

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Toromont Industries, based in Ontario, Canada, is reporting a revenue increase of 8 percent in the third quarter and 18 percent year-to-date.

“We are pleased with our operating performance, financial results, cash generation and financial position through a challenging business environment,” says Scott J. Medhurst, president and CEO. “The Equipment Group reported strong prime product deliveries and excellent order bookings. Rental activity and fleet utilization improved with more favorable markets. Tight supply of equipment from manufacturers coupled with stronger sales activity versus last year have resulted in lower equipment inventories.”

The company’s Equipment Group saw revenues up $389.1 million to $2.7 billion year-to-date with similar trends as the quarter. Strong equipment sales drove growth, while product support and rental activity continues to increase as well.

Driven by mining and construction, bookings increased 45 percent to $539.9 million in the quarter and 85 percent to $1.9 billion year-to-date.

Production timing and tight supply of equipment from manufacturers is beginning to drag out delivery to end customers. Backlogs were at $903.5 million as of September, an increase of 253 percent from the same time in 2020, according to the company.

“Activity remained sound as demonstrated by new bookings and our current backlog levels, but production schedules and supply chains are challenged,” says Medhurst. “This has restricted availability and is likely to result in delivery date extensions. We continue to monitor cost pressures, supply-demand dynamics and potential distribution disruptions as the pandemic unfolds.”

Toromont Industries’ Equipment Group includes Caterpillar dealer locations for the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Québec, Ontario and Manitoba, in addition to most of the territory of Nunavut. The group also includes rental operations, an agricultural equipment operation and a material handling business. In addition to its Equipment Group, the company also designs and installs industrial and refrigeration systems through its CIMCO division.

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Construction equipment gets its fair share of head turns while operating or parked on the side of the road. But custom-painted equipment? Those are real neck breakers.

Not only do custom-painted machines look slick, owners say there are numerous marketing benefits too.

Having a professionally branded fleet with a unique color scheme is like having a billboard at every job site. The use of the right color can boost your brand recognition by 80 percent, according to a 2019 survey released by Reboot.

We talked to several contractors with custom-painted fleets to see how the unique paint job has given them an edge.

Here areareas where they’ve seen results, and a few drawbacks to consider:

Marty Lenum’s bright red equipment is hard to miss.Dirt Monkey Excavating

Increased Brand Awareness

Painting your fleet a custom color can create some serious buzz in your community and attract potential customers. With word of mouth still considered a top marketing tactic, a flashy fleet can help increase the frequency of organic conversations about your company.

“Everyone knows it’s us at the job sites,” says Marty Lenum, owner of Dirt Monkey Excavating based in Cashton, Wisconsin. “Branding is a top priority when it comes to building our business, and our fleet is a critical part of that.”

Lenum’s dealer Fabick CAT coordinates the painting of his signature red equipment. 

“Why be like everybody else,” says Kimo Clark. “Make people curious about your brand.”Truth Excavation

Stretch Your Marketing Dollar 

Is your brand the opening act or the headliner? Making your brand the star of the show helps your marketing dollars go further. Billboards and digital ads have a shelf life, but painted equipment is permanent.

“When I was in a band, I learned that gaining a following is all about self-promotion. I took that experience into the heavy equipment world because nobody was really doing branding or creative videos around 2012,” says Kimo Clark, owner of Maui, Hawaii-based Truth Excavation. 

“As soon as I get new equipment, I take the decals off, paint it green and put our name on it. I consider it a marketing expense. A memorable company name paired with painted machines and great photo and video content makes a super-brand.”

In addition to painting your fleet, Clark says, look at the content being created in other industries, like surfing and skateboarding, for inspiration. Marketing for your construction business doesn’t have to be stuffy and boring. Make it fun and memorable. 

Stop them in their feed. Custom-painted equipment can help catch the attention of your future workforce on Instagram or TikTok, says Dane Cotten.DC Excavation

ttract New Employees

Custom-painted equipment may also garner the attention of your future workforce. A millennial himself, Dane Cotten, owner of Bozeman, Montana-based DC Excavation, knows that branding, storytelling and a solid digital presence are critical factors in attracting the tech-savvy younger generation. Case in point, a video showing off his newly painted D6 received tens of thousands of views and likes on Instagram alone.  

“Our black equipment with the old school CAT decals is a differentiator,” says Cotten. “It has helped us attract employees. Operators want to run the latest equipment, and the unique look doesn’t hurt either. Anybody can have equipment, but custom-painted equipment gets recognized and remembered.”

Cotten thinks more OEMs should offer factory-direct custom paint options due to the increasing importance of branding in the industry.

The Downsides to Painting Your Equipment 

While none of the contractors we spoke to listed any drawbacks, here are a few you may want to consider.

Additional Expense

A custom paint job will set you back several thousand dollars. Owners should weigh if the cost is worth the potential benefits.

Issues When Selling

When selling or trading in equipment, some buyers may ask you to repaint the machine to factory colors. Just like that, more money has walked out the door.

Quality Control

Not all paint jobs are created equal. The technology and materials used to paint the machine by a third party may not be to the same quality standards as the factory. Premature peeling and chipping may occur.

As supply-chain problems tighten construction equipment availability, LiuGong North America in Katy, Texas, says it has a compelling message to customers and potential dealers:

We’re here, we’re growing, and in some cases, we have inventory.

Earlier this year, LiuGong detailed a major revamp of its offerings to U.S. customers, including a transition from the E-series to the F-series excavators, a new line of Dressta dozers scheduled to debut in the second half of 2022 and the introduction of new wheel loaders over the next 24 months. This fall, the company had select models including its new F-series compact excavators displayed at both the Utility Expo and the ARA Show.

During the shows, Equipment World sat down with the LiuGong executive team to catch up.

With most of its products manufactured in China, LiuGong is seeing the supply constraints impacting the construction equipment industry. “I’ve not seen anything like this in 29 years of being in the industry,” says Kevin Thieneman, executive chairman and vice president. “We have to choose what we ship from month to month because you can’t get space on ships.” 

Still, because China recovered earlier from the pandemic’s impacts and because more Chinese production is now directed overseas as domestic demand lessens, LiuGong North America finds itself in a better position than some of its competitors. It has inventory for sell, albeit much of it spoken for when it comes off a ship.

Take, for instance, LiuGong’s new F-series compact excavators, which LiuGong has limited inventory. “Availability equals retail at this point,” says Chris Saucedo, vice president and general manager, construction equipment, “and so just about everything that’s coming off the boat is already spoken for, and our dealers are working with each other to fill needs and get more business.” 

Dealers, dealers, dealers

The green areas in this map indicate locations that LiuGong North America is targeting for dealer acquisition. (As of September, 2021; Alpha & Omega in Texas has since signed on.)LiuGong North America

Job number one for LiuGong North America is to strengthen its dealer network, says incoming president Andrew Ryan. “We have representation in about a third of the most important North American markets. We want to rapidly increase our representation, not by adding just numbers of dealers but by adding quality dealers that believe in our brand story.”

LiuGong is specifically looking for dealers in the Southeast, Pennsylvania and the central Midwest, among others. (See map above.)

“We don’t have any hard and fast rules about working with LiuGong at the expense of working with others,” Ryan says. Multiline dealers, he says, have an existing infrastructure that allows the company to build incremental relationships. “When you’re in a multiline dealer environment and that dealer is deciding to make an inventory investment with us or a competitive brand, that sharpens you.”

LiuGong’s vision here is to become a full-line OEM. Potential U.S. products waiting in the wings in the company’s plants in China include motor graders, compactors and backhoes. (LiuGong already sells Tier 3 versions of several products in Mexico.)

Another thrust for Ryan is to grow LiuGong North America’s aggregates business. “We’re asking our dealers to be prepared for expansion of our line into larger products over the next three to five years, specifically wheel loaders and excavators and, eventually, 100-ton rigid-frame haul trucks,” he says. 

“Quarry and aggregates have been a great success for us,” Thieneman says, who also points out that KHL’s Yellow Table now ranks the global company as the 15th largest construction equipment manufacturer in the world, with more than $4 billion in sales revenues in 2020. 

Another thrust is rental. The company has about 30 distributors, and about half of them are in the rent-to-sell space with a few in rent-to-rent. “It’s likely we will complement our dealers’ rent-to-sell strategy with certain regional account customers,” Ryan says. “We can be a very good supplier to a midsize regional rental company.” And in areas where there is no current dealer coverage, “there will be big opportunities for us to form relationships with rental companies, and perhaps see them choose to represent us as a dealer over time.” 

Ryan is also working on building the North American team. “We want to make sure they feel empowered and entrepreneurial,” he says. “It’s a very different environment in this startup space than it would be with one of our more mature competitors. This is a see-a-problem-solve-a-problem kind of place.”

LiuGong also wants its dealers to know the brand’s clear expectations of product support. “You have to have buyer confidence that you’re going to be there long term after the sale,” Ryan says. “You’ve got the parts stocked, the technicians and the service infrastructure to keep customers running and productive.”

Head-to-head with the big guys

LiuGong’s 835 wheel loaderLiuGong North America

For those who hesitate to buy a Chinese-made machine, Thieneman points out that LiuGong produces global equipment. It uses Cummins engines and ZF transmissions. “When you break it down that way, it then becomes a question of dealer support.”

Moreover, the company will put its compact excavators “head-to-head with the big guys,” Saucedo says. “The product is very strong.”  The 1.8-metric-ton 9018F and 2.7-metric-ton 9027F started arriving earlier this year. LiuGong will also introduce two additional models, the 4.5- and 5.5-tonne units, that will round out the F-series line, says Saucedo. The full-size excavator offering is now in transition, with the last E-series machine sold in September. The F-series full-size excavators will appear early next year. 

Although LiuGong expected its revamped Dressta dozers to first make their appearance this fall, that schedule has been pushed back to Q2 next year. It now has five machines in a test program here. 

Ryan comes to LiuGong after 25 years at Caterpillar where he worked on Cat’s expansion into the rental and compact equipment segments, along with working with dealers and in aftermarket parts. After a two-year stint in financial technology, Ryan returned to construction, signing on with LiuGong in late summer.

“We have that startup energy and the excitement of creation combined with the experience and financial capacity of a global brand,” Ryan says of LiuGong. 

Tight lot lines and crowded jobsites render many excavators unsuitable, but Bobcat has three new solutions.

The company just introduced a new series of compact excavators sized for landscape and residential construction or anybody who needs to work in tight spaces or minimize site disturbances. The series includes two 25-horsepower models and one 33-horsepower model. All three machines weigh under 8,000 pounds, which means they can be trailered with a half-ton pickup truck.

Redesigned Bobcat engines power the trio and feature simplified maintenance and improved cold-weather operation. Low-effort joysticks and new hydraulic control valves deliver smooth, precise control. Advanced hydraulic controls enable you to simultaneously swing the boom and operate an attachment without sacrificing power. An optional clamp diverter improves your ability to run attachments without having to disconnect the clamp. Auxiliary hydraulics come with arm-mounted couplers and selectable flow rates.

Additional standard features include auto-idle and auto-shift, two-speed travel, LED work lights, keyless start with password protection, and fingertip hydraulic and boom swing control. Optional features include a 7-inch touchscreen monitor, reaview cameras, heated seat with headrest, temperature-controlled cab, angle blade (on the 25-  and 33-horsepower E35s), add-on counterweight and a machine IQ health and security package.

 Additional Specs

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Hitachi’s new ZW100-6 is a small, yet powerful wheel loader well-suited for lighter applications, including landscaping, excavation, earthmoving and utility work.

With an operating weight of 17,042 pounds, the compact model is powered by a Deutz engine providing 101 horsepower and 9,680 pounds of breakout force. The engine meets Tier 4 Final emissions requirements through a selective catalytic reduction system that injects urea into exhaust gas to reduce nitrous-oxide from emissions and eliminates the need for a diesel particulate filter. Hitachi says the engine also features a quick power switch that increases engine output when required or when driving uphill.

Bucket capacity on the ZW100-6 is 1.4 cubic yards, and the machine has a maximum hinge pin height of 11 feet 6 inches.

A hydrostatic transmission control system makes the machine easier to maneuver. Operators can choose between two work modes based on the task and terrain. The oscillating rear axle provides more stability and traction than loaders with a fixed axle, the company says. When working in wet or slippery conditions, torque proportioning differentials help avoid tire slippage, preventing wear and fuel waste. The ride-control feature minimizes machine pitching for a smoother ride and to reduce bucket material spillage.

Compared to previous models, the ZW100-6 uses 6% less fuel during V-shape loading and 19% less fuel during traveling operations. Fuel waste is further reduced through the standard auto idle shutdown.

The ZW100-6 offers a clear view of the jobsite with 360-degree visibility from the cab. The repositioned muffler and air intake improves visibility out the back window. The curved engine hood further enhances visibility and safety. Improved insulation in the cab reduces noise levels, making for a quieter work environment.

An easy-to-open wide engine cover allows for easy access for ground-level maintenance. The engine air filter has been relocated to the rear of the engine compartment. The reinforced front frame features heavy-duty axles, designed in-house for increased durability. An optional belly guard can be added to protect the powertrain and driveshaft.

The ZW100-6 is also equipped with Hitachi’s Global e-Service for 24/7 remote monitoring of machine performance. The company’s ConSite program sends automated monthly service reports on daily working hours and fuel consumption data; statistics on the operating mode ratio, plus a comparison for fuel consumption/efficiency, and emissions.

After adding the new ZW100-6, the Hitachi ZW-6 wheel loader lineup now includes 15 models.        

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For contractors who want to prevent underground utility strikes but don’t need big equipment, Super Products is rolling out its new Mud Dog 700 vacuum excavator.

The company equipped the Mud Dog 700 for working in tight, small spaces without sacrificing payload, with its 7-cubic-yard debris body and a 600-gallon water tank. It’s also much safer and faster than using shovels, the company says.

The vacuum excavator can dump at up to a 50-degree angle and into a 48-inch container. It has a low overhead height and center of gravity. The dump body also has an electric vibrator to shake material out of the bed and an auto-deploying tailgate.

The Mud Dog 700 vacuum excavator features a 7-cubic-yard debris body and a 600-gallon water tank.Equipment WorldThe boom can extend to 18 feet and rotates 270 degrees. At 8 inches in diameter, it is mounted to the rear of the truck. It can tilt 10 degrees.

The Mud Dog 700 comes standard as a hydro excavator but can be equipped with an air excavation package. It can be operated by wireless or wired remote control.

The water system pumps up to 11 gallons per minute at 3,000 psi. The vacuum system produces 3,100 cubic feet per minute of suction. A 3,700 cfm vacuum pump is an available option.

Other options include a scale system, grounding system, a debris body level sensor, a toolbox and safety cameras that give a 360-degree view around the truck. A variety of truck chassis configurations are available in either manual or automatic transmission. The Mud Dog 700 displayed at the Utility Expo in September was mounted to a Peterbilt tandem-axle truck.

A 4,000 BTU water heater is also available with heated lines for working in freezing temperatures. 

The Mud Dog 700 vacuum excavator from Super Products is designed to be compact yet powerful for smaller jobs.Equipment World

A federal appeals court has halted the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for businesses that employ 100 or more workers, so the rule can be reviewed.

The court’s stay of the mandate comes two days after the White House announced that employees of companies with 100 or more workers must be fully vaccinated by January 4 or wear a mask in the workplace and show negative Covid tests weekly. The mask requirement for unvaccinated workers was to take effect December 5.

Those filing the petition November 5 for review of the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s emergency temporary standard include Trosclair family-owned supermarkets and businesses in Louisiana; the states of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina and Utah; and various other businesses and groups. The Trosclairs are being represented by attorneys from the Liberty Justice Center.

Their petition states that the mandate exceeds OSHA’s and Congress’ authority. It adds that the Louisiana supermarket chains, which include Ralph’s Market, Butcher Boy and Save A Lot, employ about 500 workers. The mandate would adversely effect the company because it already faces a worker shortage, and the mandate “would make it even harder to hire and keep employees,” the petition says. That would also “diminish their ability to provide grocery options to the citizens of Louisiana.”

The petition also includes Texas workers of CaptiveAire Systems, which has 1,500 employees. They will be adversely affected because the mandate “will force them, against their will, to show their employer proof of Covid-19 vaccination or risk losing their jobs and livelihoods if they choose not to.” The testing and mask alternative would also be especially unfair and illegal for some of the employees who work mostly alone on roofs “and are highly unlikely to spread Covid-19” to coworkers and customers.

“Therefore, OSHA’s claimed authority over their private lives and vaccine status is an egregious government overreach,” the petition says.

The petition asks for the court’s review and to grant an emergency stay.

On November 6, the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, based in New Orleans, granted the stay.

“Because the petitions give cause to believe there are grave statutory and constitutional issues with the mandate, the mandate is hereby stayed pending further action by this court,” the court’s order says.

The vaccine rules were issued November 4. Along with the vaccine or mask and testing rules, it requires employers to provide paid time off for workers to get vaccinated and recover from any side effects from the shots. It does not, however, require them to pay for workers’ weekly Covid testing.

For that reason, the Biden administration argues that workers have a choice on whether they get vaccinated and that “there have been no ‘mass firings’ and worker shortages because of vaccination requirements.”

In a statement, Biden said vaccines have long been required in the U.S. “We’ve been living with them throughout our lives for all sorts of diseases. Safety rules in the workplace are nothing new either. We require hard hats in construction sites and safety goggles in labs. And with today’s actions, we now have requirements to protect people from something that has taken the lives of 750,000 Americans.”

Meanwhile, construction associations have come out in opposition to the mandate.

Ben Brubeck, vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors, says it “is likely to increase compliance costs and cause regulatory burdens that will exacerbate several headwinds facing the construction industry – which is currently facing a workforce shortage of 430,000, escalating materials prices and supply chain bottlenecks – and the American economy.”

The mandate also creates confusion within the construction industry and will lead to workers at larger construction firms quitting to work for companies with fewer than 100 workers to get around the mandate, according to Stephen Sandherr, CEO of the Associated General Constractors. “This is something many workers will easily be able to do in a labor market where nearly 90 percent of construction firms are having a hard time finding workers to hire,” he says.

Sandherr says AGC has advocated vaccinations, and instead of mandates, the administration should focus on “providing additional resources and support to encourage workers to do the right thing.”

The federal government has until 5 p.m. November 8 to respond to the petition, and the petitioners have until 5 p.m. November 9 to file any reply, according to the Appeals Court.

 

 

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Don’t let its small size fool you. New Holland Construction says its economy class backhoe loader still has plenty of power and reach for a variety of jobs. Introduced at GIE + Expo, the B75D offers 74 gross horsepower, over 18 feet of maximum digging depth and standard four wheel drive.

“Adding the economy level B75D loader backhoe is the new solution for diverse operations,” says Ryan Anderson, construction product marketing manager, New Holland North America. “Its high-performing lift capacity, comfortable operator’s platform and outstanding digging depth will increase productivity in a wide range of work. The B75D is fit for operations needing something a bit smaller, but still looking for competitive and productive power.”

The B75D is powered by a Tier 4 Final 3.4-liter FTP engine. And forget about adding fluids or changing diesel particulate filters, the engine features a diesel oxidation catalyst.  

Standard four wheel drive and a power shuttle synchromesh transmission with four forward and four reverse gears enhance operator control.  

The cab includes features normally reserved for larger models, such as an ample interior, 360-degree visibility, two-door access and a roll-up rear window. The canopy is ROPS/FOPS certified. Four front and two rear halogen work lights come standard. 

Quick Specs

Operating weight: 18,298 lbs.

Gross horsepower: 74

Max torque: 233 ft.-lbs.

Hydraulic flow: 32 gpm at 2,200 psi

Loader bucket: 1 cubic meter

A $102 million reconstruction of the first section of Interstate 40 built in North Carolina has won a top national transportation award.

The I-40 section was built in 1958 and has been reconstructed into a 1.2-mile gateway to Winston-Salem. It was recently named the Grand Prize winner in the 2021 America’s Transportation Awards. The honor is sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The roadway had been known as I-40 Business, but in February 2020, it opened as the new Salem Parkway – six months ahead of schedule, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation. The contractors were able to achieve the faster schedule after a decision was made to close both lanes of traffic on the highway – a first for the state.

“This has been an unprecedented feat,” said NCDOT Division 9 Engineer Pat Ivey at the time of the parkway’s opening. “Never in the history of our state has a section of freeway been closed in both directions at the same time for reconstruction.”

One of two new pedestrian bridges over the reconstructed Salem Parkway in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.NCDOTIt was estimated the project would have taken six years without the complete closure. Instead, it was completed within two years.

The contractor was a joint venture of Flatiron Constructors and Blythe Development. It hired 41 contractors and subcontractors, involving about 600 workers, according to NCDOT.

The project consisted of 10 bridge replacements, two new pedestrian bridges, a walking and biking path and extended sidewalks, as well as aesthetic improvements. Other improvements included pavement rehabilitation, safety upgrades and reconstructed shoulders and ramps.

People’s Choice Award

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s project to revamp an old Kansas City interchange that had been a dangerous eyesore won the People’s Choice Award, which is based on online voting.

The Turner Diagonal Interchange was built in the 1960s and was supposed to have toll booths, but they were never installed. That left miles of “obsolete and hazardous ramps, cutting off land prime for development,” according to AASHTO.

The $30 million KDOT project redesigned the interchange to make it safer, reduce traffic congestion and improve access to public transit. It also boosted the local economy by improving access to area businesses and created thousands of jobs, AASHTO says.

The reconstruction of the Turner Diagonal interchange in Kansas City, Kansas, won the People’s Choice Award in the America’s Transportation Awards competition.Kansas DOTThe NCDOT and KDOT each won $10,000 to be donated to a charity or transportation-related scholarship program of their choice. They were chosen among a field of 80 nominations and 25 state DOTs.

For more details about the award, click here.

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