RUIZ DEMOLITION & EXCAVATION, INC.

Where a Strong Work Ethic and Treating People Right Has Brought Continued Growth and Prosperity

By Brian Hoover, Senior Editor

Rafael Ruiz immigrated to the United States in 1986 with a belief that if he worked hard and treated people right, he would succeed and prosper. He started taking on whatever work he could get and eventually became a delivery driver. After getting married and having children, Rafael knew that he would need to find a way to make more money to support his growing family. His answer to this was to buy a truck and start his own hauling business in 2011. He named his new venture, Gladys Trucking, and eventually incorporated it in 2014. Business was good, but Ruiz knew that he would need to continue to grow and find a way to bring in more revenue. He decided to start taking on grading, excavating and demolition projects. This meant getting his C21 demolition license, which he just recently accomplished, while officially changing his company name to Ruiz Demolition & Excavation, Inc.

Rafael Ruiz Jr. and Rafael Ruiz Sr. standing in front of their Cat fleet in the Sylmar yard.

Ruiz Demolition and Excavation, Inc. now works in both residential and commercial demolition. Rafael has added both of his sons, Rafael Alexander Ruiz Jr. and Miguel De Jesus Ruiz, to the payroll. “My sons both work for me full time, and together we primarily do jobs in the San Fernando Valley and other areas in Los Angeles County,” says Ruiz. “We stay busy doing demolition, foundation, and trench work and have been purchasing a lot of equipment to keep up with our growth.”

Rafael Ruiz Jr. of Ruiz Demolition and Excavation, Inc. uses their Cat 249D track skid steer to load demoed materials into one of their trucks.

Ruiz purchased his first piece of equipment in 2015, a skid steer loader to help load the trucks and work on small commercial grading and residential projects. He made his first Cat purchase from Quinn Company Cat in 2016, when he bought a brand-new Cat TC680 dump truck to enhance his hauling capabilities. Then in 2017, Ruiz added a new Cat 303E CR mini excavator and a new Cat 249D compact track loader, as his company continued to take on more excavating and backfill work. “The addition of our Cat equipment has allowed our small company to grow faster and more productively than I ever expected. The Cat 303E CR mini excavator is small and compact and perfect for our residential work and the Cat 249D with tracks allows us to work on any terrain and in any conditions,” says Ruiz. “I like dealing with Luis Fragoso and the rest of the team at Quinn Company Cat. They have been there to help me choose the right machine with great financing options and I appreciate their support.”

Rafael Ruiz Sr. of Ruiz Demolition and Excavation, Inc. uses their Cat 314C LCR excavator to load their Cat TC680 dump truck.

Ruiz continued his impressive development through 2017, so he decided to add another Cat machine in 2018. “We were using our Cat 249D track loader so much that it made good business sense to add another machine in 2018,” continues Ruiz. “We also just added a brand-new 2020 Cat 301.7 next-generation mini excavator from Quinn Company Cat six weeks ago. This new mini excavator has some cool features, and it drives and operates like a skid steer loader.”

Rafael Ruiz Sr. operating their Cat 314C LCR excavator on a jobsite in Los Angeles.

Ruiz’s transition to the demolition business is already paying off as they recently completed the demolition and removal of four West Hollywood homes. They are also staying busy in the excavation end of their business, recently completing digging and compaction on 105 feet of trench line in Lancaster. “The reliable Cat equipment that we have added is a big part of why we have grown so much in the last few years. We also purchased a used 2007 Cat 314C LCR and another mini excavator for getting into backyards and those really tight spots,” says Ruiz. “We trust Cat because they are built strong and have the best resale and support in the industry. Cat equipment is also extremely easy to operate and maintain, and both the boys and I love running them out in the field every day.”

Rafael Ruiz Jr. operating their brand-new 2020 Cat 301.7 next- generation mini excavator on a jobsite.

Rafael Ruiz is confident that his company will continue to grow, and he looks forward to leaving behind a legacy for his sons to take to the next level. “I love what we do and that every day is different. We will continue to expand, and we will buy more Cat machines. As soon as I get these last few units paid off, I will be looking at adding a Cat track dozer and even a Cat 320 excavator in anticipation of the larger jobs we will be starting soon,” concludes Ruiz. “We are living the American dream, where if you work hard and treat others properly, you will succeed and prosper. I am excited to see what the future holds for my family and me as we push our dream further forward every day.” For more information on Ruiz Demolition & Excavation, Inc., please call their Pacoima office at (818) 310-1235. Cc

Miguel De Jesus Ruiz operating their Cat 314C LCR excavator on a jobsite in the Valley.