CalContractor - 2022 Grading & Excavating

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Long Beach, CA (562) 272-7400

Bakersfield, CA (661) 399-3600

Santa Maria, CA (805) 922-8329

Meridian, ID (208) 888-3337

McCall, ID (208) 634-3903

Elko, NV (775) 777-7070

Santa Ana, CA (714) 265-5500

Oxnard, CA (805) 485-2106

Sylmar, CA (818) 890-3353

Jerome, ID (208) 324-2900

Las Vegas, NV (702) 399-2700

John Deere Construction Equipment is packed with powerful technology like JD Link, to help maximize productivity and power up your project, from the factory. Customers can take advantage of John Deere Crawler Dozers, Motor Graders, and Excavators with Topcon 3D grade control built-in, and our team of machine monitoring experts are their to watch your equipment and stop downtime before it happens.

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Bakersfield 9150 Golden State Hwy. Bakersfield, CA 93308 661.387.6090

Corona 22099 Knabe Rd. Corona, CA 92883 951.277.7620

Fresno 4501 E. Volvo Ave. Fresno, CA 93725 559.834.4420

Lakeside 12345 Mapleview St. Lakeside, CA 92040 619.441.3690

Redding

4963 Mountain Lakes Blvd. Redding, CA 96003 279.201.4869

Sacramento 8594 Fruitridge Rd. Sacramento, CA 95826 916.504.2300

San Leandro 1944 Marina Blvd. San Leandro, CA 94577 510.357.9131

Turlock 1275 Venture Ln. Turlock, CA 95380 209.410.6710

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With high-performance equipment from Volvo Construction Equipment, you can tackle excavation, trenching and grading projects with ease. With powerful and reliable machinery on the ground, running pipelines, digging for utilities, and moving and grading the earth can be done more efficiently. Dig deeper and move more earth with Volvo.

Contact your local VCES location today to learn more.

Boudreau Pipeline Corporation Installs Onsite and Offsite Water, Sewer, and Storm Drain Infrastructure at Agua Mansa Commerce Park Center in Riverside

By Brian Hoover, Senior Editor / Photos provided by Boudreau Pipeline Corporation

Construction has been underway on five buildings for a 3.6 million-square-foot master-planned commerce park since the fall of 2020. Agua Mansa Commerce Park is a brand-new state-of-the-art industrial park located in the distribution hub of Riverside County. The new industrial park is owned and managed by CT Realty, a national real estate investment and development firm with headquarters in Newport Beach. CT Realty specializes in logistics and e-commerce solutions for corporate America. They contracted KPRS Construction Services, Inc. (KPRS), out of Brea, as the general contractor in charge

of constructing the new Agua Mansa Commerce Park in Jurupa Valley.

KPRS contracted Boudreau Pipeline Corporation (Boudreau) out of Corona to install onsite and offsite water, sewer and storm drain to serve the five buildings that encompass the 300-acre site. Chris Christiansen is the Senior Project Manager overseeing the infrastructure work being performed by Boudreau for the 3.6 million square foot LEED-accredited industrial and logistics space. Building 2 was the first to be constructed, and Boudreau was also contracted to install the water, sewer, and storm drain around this structure. “We eventually

moved on to the 24-inch waterline extension on Rubidoux Boulevard and the 84-inch Belltown Market Street storm drain extension for Riverside County Flood Control. Our team had to dig down 27 feet on the Belltown Market Street section to demolish an existing manhole and connect into the existing line with 84-inch RCP.”

According to Christiansen, a lot was happening, all at once, throughout construction on the Agua Mansa Commerce Park project. The work included the installation of approximately 6,150 linear feet of sewer pipe, ranging from 4-inch to 12-inch pipe. Additionally, 14,680 linear feet of

Above: Installation of MC-3500 Storm Drain Chamber System (61,836 CF).

Above Left: Prepping for Storm Drain Manhole, where the 84” RCP pipe transitions to 66” RCP, and a 54” RCP lateral is out.

Above Right: Digging trench for offsite street work on Rubidoux Blvd. and getting ready to install 84” RCP pipe.

Right: Installation of 48” RCP pipe on Rubidoux Blvd. connecting to an existing 84” line approximately 26’ deep.

water pipe was installed, along with 48 fire hydrants. Regarding storm drain, Boudreau installed approximately 12,500 linear feet of 6-inch to 60-inch HDPE (HighDensity Polyethylene) pipe and 5,320 linear feet of 18-inch to 84-inch RCP (Reinforced Concrete Pipe). “We installed two StormTech Chamber Systems for Building 2, along with three Modular Wetland System units and three new pump systems,” says Christiansen. “This project also included five railroad crossings underneath the active Union Pacific Railroad Spur. Two of the storm drain crossings required our crews to assist the Union Pacific Railroad with removing and resetting the tracks for the installation of the 84-inch and 66-inch RCP storm drain crossings.

The two railroad crossings had to be done separately and meet a very specific timeframe. “Shutting down this railroad spur stopped all shipments to CalPortland. After additional planning, scheduling, and pricing, it was finally agreed that we would work 24 hours a day for 96 hours, and the 84” RCP was the first crossing on the schedule,” says Christiansen. “The date was set for Thursday, July 7th, and once we helped the railroad move the section of track out of the way, our 96 hours would start. We were to be finished on Monday. No exceptions because CalPortland had a shipment coming. After the first three or four hours of work, it was evident that things were going exceptionally well and continued { Continued on page 10 }

Above: Installing 24” CML&C on Rubidoux Blvd.

Above: Installing 54” HDPE Storm Drain pipe onsite.

Background: Installation of 66” RCP Pipe.

Right: Installing onsite 42” HDPE Storm Drain line for Building 2.

{ Continued from page 8 }

that way through completion. Even though we encountered an existing 6” pipe, and the soil conditions changed to a very hard dig through some rock, we beat the 96-hour deadline, and the tracks were reopened.”

Boudreau was scheduled to begin the second railroad crossing on July 28th. “We were to start and complete the second railroad crossing with the 66” RCP. Unfortunately, we were given less time for this crossing, but everything went exceptionally well, and once again, we met the deadline for reopening the tracks,” says Christiansen. Boudreau crews also performed two additional Jack & Bores to install the 16-inch waterline under the railroad tracks and another for the 10-inch sewer crossing. Christiansen says that the excavation for the sewer installations ranged from 10 feet to 21 feet in depth and the waterline from 5-to-9 feet. “We utilized OSHA-approved engineered shoring and trench shields on the sewer, storm drain, and water line installations on Rubidoux Boulevard, around Building 2, and

throughout the site.” continues Christiansen.

The Agua Mansa Commerce Park Center project also faced material shortages and lead time issues. “This was during the height of COVID, and we were asked to procure materials right away due to long lead times and availability. We were four weeks out for delivery of the water pipe, and the plans changed from ductile iron pipe to C900 PVC pipe,” continues Christiansen. “We should have been working north to south alongside the grading contractor, but things changed, and it was all hands on deck with the supply issues. KPRS asked what we could do to compensate for the unforeseeable lost time. We looked at mobilizing team members from other projects, but instead ended up going with overtime every day, including Saturdays, and were able to meet their schedule.”

Christiansen explains that Boudreau was running six crews and around 39 team members at the project’s height until they got the water up to Building 2, tested chlorinated, and online. The next step was to get the sewer to

connect from the building back down to the tie-in. “In an effort to meet a time-sensitive schedule and overachieve expectations for our client, we were able to mobilize a total of 6 crews to simultaneously work at different portions of the project. This included two crews working on the 24” CML&C waterline on Rubidoux Blvd who encountered hard rock conditions. Additionally, two crews were installing the 16” C900 run onsite, while another team installed the 84” RCP Belltown Storm drain line. The final crew installed the HDPE rough grade storm drain line.,” says Christiansen. “All crews were full steam ahead, working a long 10-hour shift, six days a week to stay ahead of scheduling needs. In addition, our superintendent, Rigo Rodriguez, continued to move his crews around to accommodate priorities, such as getting the sewer into building 2. I don’t believe there is another pipeline contractor that would have been able to man this project the way we were able to.”

“The project has had multiple challenges and change orders, but we emphasize teamwork here at Boudreau. None of this could have been accomplished without the incredible coordination between our company, KPRS and CT Realty,” says Christiansen. “Communication was the key, and we all had to work together to immediately adjust to all the twists and turns on this project. We started this job in January 2022 and should have our work completed by the end of January 2023. We all worked together to make up a lot of the lost time on this job, which is directly due to

the hard work of everyone from CT Realty, KPRS, and Boudreau. Big thanks and recognition to everyone for a job well done.”

Alan Boudreau purchased his first backhoe in 1996 and worked as an owner-operator for his first company, A&B Equipment. He and his wife, Christie, ran the operation out of their home office while also caring for their four children. The company continued to grow to take on larger projects and rise to the next level with a name change to Boudreau Mechanical. Then in 2000, the company was incorporated and became Boudreau Pipeline Corporation

and continued to increase its services and annual revenues. After a downturn resulting from the Great Recession of 2008, Boudreau Pipeline rebounded to once again enjoy incredible growth over the past five years. Today, the company has over 350 employees and more than $100 million in annual revenue as it continues to serve its employees and community. For more information on Boudreau Pipeline Corporation, please visit their website at www.boudreaupipeline.com or call their Corona headquarters at (951) 493-6780. Cc

CT REALTY

Marc

Left & Above: Assisting Union Pacific Railroad to reinstall and reset tracks after the railroad crossing was complete.

R.W. Scott Construction Co., Inc. Currently on Phase 4 of Pasadera Homes Project in Guadalupe, California

Known as the “Gateway to the Dunes,” Guadalupe is located 10 miles west of Santa Maria in northern Santa Barbara County. The town is packed into 1.3 miles of natural beauty, with a population of 8,057. At first glance, it looks and feels like the old west. Once a stagecoach stop, Guadalupe is rich in history and a popular destination for visiting recreational dunes and various restaurants, including authentic Mexican cuisine.

The city of Guadalupe has been named one of the top 50 safest cities in California. However, Guadalupe has struggled in the past to maintain a balanced budget. Santa Barbara County civil grand jury recommended that the city status be dissolved due to its deficit just six years ago. Fortunately, the area has enjoyed a renewal of such, with hundreds of new homes already built or under construction. Planning for

the Pasadera Development began over two decades ago and is now underway on 209 acres south of West Main Street. The City annexed the development site in 1995 from DJ Farms located within Guadalupe. The initial phases of home construction began in 2015, with the first 120 homes on the market in 2019. When fully complete, the more than $400 million Pasadera Development will have over 800 residential

Senior editor Brian Hoover with contribution by Donna Polizzi, Keys 2 the Coast / Photos by R.W. Scott Construction Co., Inc.

single-family homes within a neighborhood commercial district. Currently, Pasadera Homes has more than 400 homes sold and occupied or on the market.

R.W. Scott Construction Co., Inc. (R.W. Scott) won the bid from the developer, MLK 2005, Inc., for the multi-phase development and is responsible for performing the site work on the Pasadera Homes project. The work includes everything from clearing and grubbing to excavation and compaction, soil stabilization and fine grade. R.W. Scott is also performing the street improvements, including grading, concrete and paving. Owners Steve and brother Mike Scott carry on the legacy of their parents, Robert and Sheryl Scott, who founded the company in 1969. Steve serves as the President and General Manager, while Mike assumes the Vice President of Operations role. “We broke ground on the first phase in the spring of 2015. We’re now on Phase 4 and will be here another three to five years. In addition to the four major phases, we have taken on some smaller scopes of work along the way,” says Mike. “Our yardage of earth moved to date is just under 750,000 cubic yards, and we probably have another 200,000 to go. We will have almost a million cubic yards

by the time we are complete. We’re out here from the cradle to the grave on all the sitework, and that is how we like it.”

The Pasadera Development is built on agricultural land that has been irrigated for decades which presented some challenges with the earthwork and general integrity of the soil. “We worked with the developer and soils engineer to create a program that would allow us to stabilize the soil economically and sustainably so that the project could move forward. The solution was to use a geotextile product underneath the house pads and select roadways. Our crews excavated five to six feet below the pad elevation and put the geotextile in place. Then, we place and compact the stable fill on top of the geotextile material,” continues Mike. “The soil conditions have continued to change throughout every phase of this project. Our job is to mitigate those changes as they present themselves. What worked last week does not necessarily work this week. We may hit some drainage tile and have to import some rock to get those areas stabilized. It is a constantly flowing situation.”

Steve Scott points out that the unstable soil conditions also meant that R.W. Scott would have to use

specialized equipment to move and work the earth. “We had to perform a lot of the grading with low ground pressure Case 620 Quadtrac rubber track tractors pulling dual John Deere 1810, 18 cubic yard pans,” says Steve. “We were also able to use selfloading scrapers in some areas, along with motor graders, D5 and D6 dozers and water trucks. We don’t use rubber-tired equipment that could aggravate the soil’s condition. Most of the finish grade has been fairly flat topography and did not vary more than five feet from the original grade.”

R.W. Scott has completed over 500 house pads and there are 300 plus more to go. “As it turns out, Pasadera Homes is one of the largest subdivisions in Santa Barbara County. The new development offers reasonable home prices, is only miles from

Below: R.W. Scott Construction overexcavating and grading in Santa Barbara County.

the beach, and is currently sold out,” says Mike. “When all the homes are sold and occupied, the population of Guadalupe will be nearly double what it was before construction began.”

According to the website, www.newpasaderahomes.com, Phase 1 has 154 homes with five unique floor plans and is referred to as the Paseo Collection. Then there is Phase 2, named the Cielo Collection. It offers 217 homes with four different floor plans. The other

two Phases are yet to be offered to the public but stay tuned if you are looking for a lovely home, at a fair price, near the Central Coast.

According to both Steve and Mike, the backlog for 2023 looks very promising. “We are doing a lot of multi-family projects, and apartments seem to be what’s needed on the Central Coast.

The Presquile Winery is a flagship project in Santa Maria. We constructed miles of roads and built retention basins and pads for

the winery. We were out there for a good two years,” says Mike. “Right now, we are also finishing up at

Top: R.W. Scott Construction uses a Case 620 Quadtrac low ground pressure tractor for pulling two John Deere 1810, 18 cubic yard pans at the Pasadera project in Guadalupe.

Left: John Deere 350D 80,950 lb. excavator to excavate building pads at Centennial Square Apartments in Santa Maria.

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Centennial Square Apartments, where they are erecting eight large apartment buildings. Our crews are digging out a large buried debris field, and then we will begin the fine grading.”

R.W. Scott is a turnkey sitework contractor capable of performing everything from demolition, excavating, grading, in-house extruded and formed concrete, flatwork, sidewalks, curbs and gutters. The company also has built long-term strategic relationships with underground, paving, and other specialty subcontractors that help them take on every aspect of a project. “We like to take on jobs that allow our company to get it all done for the prime contractor so that they can begin the vertical work when we are finished. Turnkey projects are what we like to go after, and that is where we shine. However, we also work on grading or concrete only projects, which works for us as well,” says Steve. “We are all about teamwork here at R.W. Scott. We have a great group of individuals that work their

tails off at least five days a week. In addition, there are exterior team members like Donna Polizzi, who helps with our marketing, and the other amazing vendors and suppliers we have worked with for 30-plus years. They are a big part of why we are still here, and we enjoy working and interacting with them every day.”

R.W. Scott Construction Company, Inc. is a General Engineering Contractor founded in 1969 by Robert and Sheryl Scott. Their two sons, Steve and Mike, were a large part of the family business and assumed company management in the early 1990s. Steve and Mike Scott are committed to continuing the family philosophy of a team-oriented business with the same values and integrity that has made them a respected leader in the industry for over 50 years.

For more information on R.W. Scott Construction Co., Inc., please visit  www.scottconstructioncompany.com  or call their Santa Maria offices at (805) 925-5540. Cc

R.W. Scott Construction serviced the Gateway to the Pasadera Homes Project in Guadalupe.

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Courage

To have the mental strength to persevere in the face of difficulty, fear or even danger. Courage is the ability to do something difficult even when there is risk. It is the ability to respond fearlessly despite the presence of anxiety or worry. Courage is understanding what you fear and refusing to allow it to paralyze or slow you down. Courage is rare, but courage is at the heart of the best of us.

Hard Work and Courage –

At the Heart of Jack Kraus and JPR Land Development

By

Jack Kraus started his company, JPR Land Development, in 2018 after working several years as a heavy equipment operator for well-known earthmoving companies in Southern California. But to fully understand Jack’s story and the development of his company, we should go back to the beginning. Literally, the beginning. Jack Kraus (Kraus) was born with a heart condition. The right side of his heart was not formed correctly and at just two days old, the surgeon placed shunts designed to re-route the blood straight to the lungs. Then, at two years of age, the doctors operated on the right side of his heart, making it one chamber that could now pump straight to the lungs for reoxygenation.

Everything remained good and stable until Kraus turned 17, when he once again needed surgery. As it turned out, this would be a bit of a crossroads for young Kraus as he took the time to ponder his future. Kraus was 17 and about to receive a specific type of heart surgery that had only been performed on a few others in the world. Surgeons rebuilt the right side using bovine

pericarclium and pig valves. The surgery was a success and this was the first time that Kraus had a heart that performed normally.

Unfortunately, at the age of 21, one of the pig valves failed and UCLA doctors decided to perform a procedure that had never been done previously at their hospital. The less invasive procedure allowed the surgeons to push a new valve within a shunt and into place through the arteries without having to make a major surgical incision.

After all of the surgeries, anxiety and worry, Kraus was ready to move on with his life with a healthy, fully functional heart. “This is when I decided to go full throttle into motocross. I just figured that nothing is promised for tomorrow, and I wanted to live life to the fullest. From that point forward, I have lived a life of chance and risk, and I took this mentality from motocross and moved it forward with how I run my business today. Not reckless and irresponsible, but without fear,

doubt or regret. That is how I like to live my life and run my business. I also owe a great deal of thanks to my girlfriend, Kayla McQuay, who believed in me and aggressively encouraged me to start JPR in 2018.”

Kraus began his career in motocross in 2002 and was eventually sponsored in 2005. He traveled the entire country on tours and did numerous events and demos. “I remember we did 37 shows in three months across 30 states. Those were exciting times,” says Kraus. “My dad is a doctor, and he was not all that enthused about me riding motocross. But I just loved everything about freestyle motocross.” As a result, Kraus left high school early in favor of home schooling to pursue his motocross dreams. “I graduated six months before my classmates and started doing 3 shows a week for $1,000. Making that kind of money for just a few hours each week at 18 was hard to pass up, so I rode it out for as long as possible.”

Above: JPR Land Development’s work truck, 2,500 gallon water truck, 2020 Cat 307.5 mini excavator and 2022 Cat 259 compact track loader.

Brian Hoover, Senior Editor / Photos provided by Matt Panella Contracting

Kraus continued to ride professional freestyle motocross for 18 years, joining the Monster Jam tour, the MotoXtreme Circus tour and hosting several Red Bull contests at his family’s ranch in Santa Barbara County. “We used our ranch as a training facility and Red Bull came out and developed the property and held several competitions and television productions,” says Kraus. “They would rent heavy equipment to create the landings and lifts and other parts of the track. This was when I was first introduced to operating heavy machinery. I was able to get on and operate some of the equipment and I took an instant liking to it all.” Kraus was known as Jack “Jackpot” Kraus back then, and everyone referred to the training facility as Jackpot Ranch. Although he dearly loved freestyle motocross, his wheels began to spin as he contemplated a career in operating heavy construction machinery.

Kraus continued to ride in motocross events, while also working as a heavy equipment operator for several companies. “Before long, I was operating machines for grading contractors on major developments in Southern California. I moved to Huntington Beach and eventually left my job in Perris and moved with a friend to Colorado, where we did oil pad excavation work,” says Kraus. “This is where I learned to run the dozers and scrapers and I eventually went back to California to my old job, and they put me on the scrapers, dozers, rock trucks, and other larger equipment.”

As the years went by, Kraus grew tired of the traffic and congestion in Southern California and began to long for the peace he had found on the family ranch in Santa Barbara County. “I had lived in Huntington Beach for around 12 years, and I just decided that it was time to put the bike away and put all of my energy and focus into starting my own business back

home,” says Kraus. “My family has owned and operated a 1,800-acre ranch in Santa Barbara Country since 1837 and I moved back there in 2018 to do mostly agricultural dirt work. Before long, and with the encouragement of my girlfriend, Kayla, I started JPR Land Development and started excavating and grading everything from buildings and horse stall pads to grading 300-foot roadways for local ranchers.”

Kraus had become good friends with a local soils engineer who turned him on to the developing phenomena of residents building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) on their properties. “It was not in my plan to primarily do ADU work, but it has been such a hot ticket, and we have completed around 30 of them since 2018. First, Dig Alert comes in and marks the gas lines and other utilities, and we begin excavation from the set of plans and soils report. Most of these ADU jobs require a lot of import and export as the native soil is clay, so we bring in the non-expansive soil,” continues Kraus. “These ADU projects are more complicated than they may seem at first glance. For starters, the access to these areas is usually very tight, with little room to maneuver. Then you have all of the import and export. It is a challenging process, but also very fun at the same time.”

According to Kraus, it is recommended that the foundations be excavated at 18 inches in depth, but most of the time, he and his crews take it down as much as 4 feet. “The clay soils are so poor that we excavate to 4 feet and then have the soils engineer do their testing. I have a good friend I use on many of our jobs that comes in with his trucks for all the import and export work,” says Kraus. “We usually bring in some good non-expansive sand or decomposed granite and compact it at 8 to 12 inches for each lift. Each section is tested and more material is placed and compacted until we reach the finish grade. After everything is signed off, the homeowner can move on to the foundation, and our work is done.”

JPR Land Development recently completed a 1,596-square-foot ADU excavation with a five-foot offset on all sides. Kraus points out that it is all about providing a level pad with proper elevation with a recommended drainage of five percent and 2-to-1 slopes all around. His crew will also relocate utilities, when necessary, on a time and material basis.

Kraus says that his company’s largest project in 2022 was a basement excavation for a new mansion being built in Montecito. “We did this particular job on a time and material basis because of the heavy rock material you run into

Above Left: JPR’s Cat 259 compact track loader generating material to build up 2:1 slopes.

Above Right: Communication is key as Jack Kraus directs his operator on the jobsite.

in the Montecito area. This was a huge 6,000-square-foot custom home where we excavated down 19 feet to bedrock. I am operating equipment daily, along with our two other operators and a field maintenance worker, and we all enjoy a challenging project,” says Kraus. “Most of our work is done in and around Santa Barbara County, but we have gone as far south as Temecula. For instance, we recently completed a huge overexcavation project for a new Amazon warehouse in Murietta. We are a small company, but we are eager and extremely capable of taking on the larger jobs when they come our way.”

JPR Land Development currently owns and operates several pieces of heavy machinery, including a 2020 Cat 307.5 mini excavator and a new 2022 Cat 259 compact track loader with a 6-way dozer blade. “The first thing I purchased when I started JPR was a 2,500-gallon water truck. We were in a huge drought at the time, and I figured that the water truck would get me on to the ranches to let them know what I could offer them in the future,” says Kraus. “There are a lot of cannabis, hemp, and other farms up here that were in desperate need of water. I brought in the water to fill their tanks and did dust control, which led to much more work in the future.”

Kraus says he has run almost every brand, make and model machine over his years in the field. “When I first went to start my company, I went to my mother and father for a personal loan. I presented them with my plan and how I would start with a water truck and they

believed in me and for that, I am forever grateful,” says Kraus. “I also needed some help on the heavy equipment side of the business.

I like Cat equipment, and when it came time to purchase a machine, Quinn Cat was there for me with professional guidance and the financing I needed to move forward. Jacob Bates is my representative from Quinn Cat, and he and I have known each other since high school. It is not that I had bad credit, just not much of any credit, and Jacob and Quinn Cat were there for me every step of the way. Our Cat mini excavator and compact track loader work together like peas and carrots, and I could not be happier with these machines and our local distributor, Quinn Cat. My favorite piece of equipment to operate is a dozer, and I hope to add a Cat dozer and a Cat mid-size excavator to our fleet as soon as it makes sustainable financial sense.”

Kraus’ great, great, great, greatgrandfather, Benjamin Foxen and his wife, Eduarda Osuna, were both Mexican citizens and were granted 1,800 acres by the Mexican government when California was still Mexican territory in 1829. Kraus represents the seventh generation and currently lives on the family ranch in Santa Barbara County. A historical white Victorian-style house, built in 1865, sits on the property, appointed with the original family furnishings. The beautiful home is used by Kraus and his extended family during holidays and other family gatherings. Kraus visits his cardiologist every five years or so, and his last checkup amazed everyone with reports of a strong and healthy heart. For more information on JPR Land Development, you can call their Orcutt office at (805) 708-2748. Cc

Below: Jack “Jackpot” Kraus getting big air on the family ranch in Santa Barbara County.

Above and Left: JPR’s Cat 307.5 mini excavator and other rental machines getting it done. Big jobs or small, these guys love working in the dirt.

GREG RENTS, INC.

First in California to Own and Rent Volvo’s New ECR25 Electric Compact Excavator

By Brian Hoover, Editor / Photos by Greg Rents, Inc.

Apioneer may be defined as an innovator who sees the potential in trying new things. A pioneer always enjoys breaking new ground and pushing boundaries to advance a cause or idea. Being the first to do anything requires courage, boldness, persistence, and the vision to see it through to fruition. Greg Webster definitely fits the definition of a pioneer, as he is now the first in California to purchase Volvo’s new and exciting ECR25 Electric Compact Excavator. “I have always aspired to be at the forefront of change, especially when it comes to modern technology. The green energy revolution is all around us, especially

here in California. I want to move along with the times and continue to offer our customers machines and technology that will keep them in compliance, working efficiently, while also continuing to be good stewards of our environment,” says Webster. “Do I think we are all the way there yet concerning going all electric? No, but it has to start somewhere, and a long list of cities and municipalities have already banned the use of gas-powered equipment. Purchasing our new Volvo ECR25 electric compact excavator has already proven to be a popular rental for various applications. We are proud to be the first to own and rent this incredible

all-electric Volvo compact excavator.”

Webster’s father was a contractor who eventually moved into buying and selling equipment. When he decided to get out of the business in 2007, Webster took over where his dad left off. “I ran the business for a couple of years and officially put it in my name in 2009 before incorporating in 2017,” says Webster. “I focused on renting equipment, tools, and some party rental items, to homeowners and landscapers. I purchased my first excavator through a customer repair in 2010 before finally finding an equipment distributor who believed in me in 2016. They gave

Above: Greg Rents team; Greg Webster (left), Gary Mims, Mike Walsh and Kelly Keegan at their Oak View rental location.

me credit, allowing me to purchase a brand-new excavator. We moved from that point forward, adding one machine after another to where we are now the first to own and rent the new all-electric Volvo compact excavator.”

This past August, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) said it would require all new vehicles sold in California by 2035 to be electric or plug-in hybrid electrics (PHEVs). This announcement came after Governor, Gavin Newsom, issued an executive order directing the move in September 2020. Webster’s rental business, Greg Rents, Inc., is located in Oak View, adjacent to the City of Ojai. According to Webster, Ojai and many other cities have ordinances prohibiting gas-powered outdoor equipment. Additionally, the City of Ojai voted on October 27, 2020, to phase out the use of gas in new building construction. This made Ojai the first city in Ventura County to embrace an all-electric future by reducing greenhouse gases and emissions. “It is quite clear where the future of gaspowered equipment is headed here in California. With that in mind, we recently attended the CRA (California Rental Association) 2022 Rental Rally Tradeshow at South Point Casino & Spa this past January. We got a good look at the

Volvo ECR25 electric compact excavator, and that started our wheels turning,” says Webster. “Then we went to “Dig This Las Vegas,” which is basically a heavy equipment playground where you can purchase the right to operate heavy machinery for various tasks. It was here that I met Ed Galindo of Volvo Construction Equipment & Services. The Volvo ECR25 electric compact excavator was onsite, and I took advantage of the opportunity to run it through the paces. This machine dug right through that hard, rocky Las Vegas desert soil, and I was instantly impressed. I was afforded the opportunity to be the first to own one here in California, so I pulled the trigger and am so proud and excited to help usher in this new and fascinating technology.”

According to Webster, the Volvo ECR25 electric compact excavator has been out on rent to various contractors and homeowners since it was delivered to Greg Rents, Inc. on November 29, 2022. “The Volvo ECR25 has been popular with homeowners, masonry, concrete, and other contractors.

The machine recently came back from rental where it was digging footings for a block wall on a residential site, and from another concrete cutting and

1) The new Volvo ECR25 Electric Compact Excavator provides quiet excavation, you hear the dirt not the machine. Pictured here digging a retaining wall for a homeowner in Oak View.

2) Greg Webster booking the next Volvo ECR25 Electric Compact Excavator rental.

3) Greg Webster in the Greg Rents showroom at the rental office.

demo company using it indoors to break concrete,” continues Webster. “This unit is quiet and does not burn diesel or any other noxious gas, making it ideal for indoor applications and for municipalities where electric-only equipment is mandated in certain applications. The all-electric excavator can be charged by 110 or 220 and offers power and performance that is equal to any gas-powered machine in its class.”

Regarding return on investment, Webster has a slightly different way of looking at how he chose to rent his new Volvo ECR25 electric compact excavator. “We need more time and data to accurately determine the return on investment for this new Volvo ECR25 excavator. Right now, we are doing great with the machine. It is paying for itself and generating profit,” says Webster. With this in mind, a typical rental yard might want to rent out this excavator for $500 a day. I can tell you that no one will want to pay that for a daily rental. The approach I am taking is the exact opposite of what a traditional rental company might want to take. I am at $199 a day for this Volvo ECR25 electric compact excavator. Any other competing gas-powered make and model is at around $250 per day. I want contractors and homeowners to try out this machine and see how incredible it is so they will return to rent it in the

future. We offer a great price point, and all-electric is simply better for our environment. What is there not to like? We hope our Volvo will be so popular that we will soon offer an all-electric fleet of excavators and wheel loaders.”

Webster says he wants to add the Volvo L25 electric compact wheel loader to his operation as soon as possible. “I got a chance to operate the Volvo L25 electric compact wheel loader, which would be ideal for our bulk materials yard. I love the machine and am currently researching grants, tax credits, and other incentives to offset the cost of adding it to our fleet,” says Webster. “I have to say that Ed Galindo of Volvo Construction Equipment & Services has been there for us every step of the way, from financing to getting us the charge cord and plug installed in our shop. I am motivated and excited to continue working with Ed in the future as we continue to grow our electric fleet.”

Greg Rents, Inc. has been serving the Ojai Valley, Ventura, and surrounding areas since 1992. They are a proud and active member of their community and offer just about everything you would expect to find at any professional equipment and tool rental store. Currently, Greg Rents, Inc. provides an entire fleet of excavators, backhoes, skid steers,

dozers, skip loaders, forklifts, man lifts, reach lifts, scissor lifts, water trucks, dump trucks, rollers, generators, air compressors, compaction equipment, concrete tools, full line of lawn and garden equipment, trailers, attachments and a long list of other tools and equipment. Greg Rents, Inc. also sells 25-plus types of bulk materials like rock, sand, and gravel. Additionally, they offer mobile cart-away concrete systems for customers that want to pour their own concrete. “We are one of the few remaining independents that have not been bought out by some massive corporate entity. I work directly with our customers and make decisions right on the spot. This is a great benefit for our customers who have unique needs and circumstances that have to be evaluated and serviced immediately and not after hearing from the corporate of fice,” says Webster. “We are not and have never been money driven. It is all about service, and we will go anywhere for our customers. The addition of our new Volvo ECR25 electric compact excavator is just another way that we are serving our customers to keep them coming back in the future.” For more information on Greg Rents, Inc., please visit www.gregrents.com or call (805) 649-2590. Cc

Left: Greg Webster providing a demonstration of the  Volvo ECR25 Electric Compact Excavator to a rental customer.

A GRADE ABOVE