NEWMAN BACKHOE SERVICE, INC. Family Owned Union Operated & Maintained Equipment Rental Since 1954

Past, present and the future generation

Above: Dalton Hanna, Kimberly Hanna, Janet Newman Ferguson, Pailyn Matson (future 5th Generation), Nikki Worden, Amanda Matson and Ciara Hanna.

Newman Backhoe Service, Inc. has been providing quality construction equipment for site work and road construction since the early 1950s. It all started in 1954 when Herbert and Swanna Newman purchased their first Ford backhoe and began offering their operated equipment services. From the beginning, Herbert and Swanna Newman recognized the role that their loyal customers would play in the success of their business. It is these very relationships that have driven Newman Backhoe Service to continued excellence as their reputation for quality, friendly and expert service proceeds them from one job to the next.

Janet Newman Ferguson is the current owner and president of Newman Backhoe Service, Inc. “We are a family-owned and operated company with the fourth generation currently working here at Newman Backhoe Service. We live and work by the strong work ethic and exemplary values that were instilled in us by my mother and father, Herbert and Swanna Newman,” says Janet. “My daughter, Nikki Worden and granddaughter, Amanda Matson, are following in these footsteps by staying true to the past while teaching future generations the importance of providing quality service. Nikki and Amanda are both integral parts of helping me run the day-to-day operations of this company.”

Newman Backhoe Service’s 2020 John Deere 410L backhoe on the Ontario Airport FedEx Facility Project.

Newman Backhoe Service, Inc. is a 100% woman-owned business with the following certifications: WBE (Woman Business Enterprise Certification), DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification), SBE (Small Business Enterprise Certification). Newman Backhoe Service also subscribes to Veriforce as one way they continue to enhance safety, remain in compliance and mitigate risk. They are also current members of AGC (Associated General Contractors Association), SCCA (Southern California Contractors Association), and I.U.O.E. Local Union 12 (International Union of Operating Engineers).

Newman Backhoe Service has played an essential role in numerous public works and private development projects over the past 67 years. They have successfully grown and adapted to meet the transitioning construction industry and each unique, individual customer need. Newman Backhoe Service has been by their customer’s side from the days of the orange groves in Garden Grove to the construction of the I-15 Express Lanes. They were there when Disneyland was being built and helped to construct the Sofi Stadium. Newman Backhoe Service continues to be a 24-hour, seven-day a week driven company. “We pride ourselves on our experience to deliver quality union operators to ensure safe and ontime completion,” continues Janet. “Whether you need backhoes and operators during the week or a skid steer at 3:00 a.m., we will be there for you.”

Thomas Walsh, one of Newman Backhoe’s many great operators, working on a night job on the I-15 Freeway for Skanska-Ames JV.

Nikki Worden serves as the vice president for Newman Backhoe Service, and she reflects on some of the defining moments of the company’s growth. “We have worked on some of the largest construction projects in Southern California such as the Los Angeles River, 10 Freeway, 605/22 Freeway, 91 Freeway Expansion, 10/57 Freeway project, I-15 Freeway, Devil’s Gate, various Disneyland expansions, and a long list of projects at LAX and the Port of Long Beach,” says Nikki. “In 2020, we wrapped up the Skanska-Ames JV I-15 Freeway project, and we are still working on the $500,000 contract for MCM Construction Schuyler Heim Bridge project. We continue to work at LAX and Port of Long Beach on jobs that started in 2020. Not every job is high-profile, but every job is important and big or small; we are there to give it our all.”

Newman Backhoe Service, Inc. (Newman) has also recently completed or is currently on many high-profile projects throughout Southern California. This includes the Midfield Satellite Concourse MSC North Los Angeles World Airport in Los Angeles. Newman completed this approximately $900,000 contract in Dec. 2020. Newman is currently working on the I-15 Express Lanes Project in Corona, which will come in at right around $1,000,000 when their work is complete. Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood are also in progress. Work at various locations for the Los Angeles Unified School District is also active, as is the ongoing I-15 Freeway project in Glen Helen.

Kenneth Bailey has been with Newman Backhoe Service, Inc. since 2004. He is pictured here augering one of 40 perfect holes for a client project in Moreno Valley.

Newman Backhoe Service has purchased and relied on various brands of construction equipment over the past 67 years. They started with Ford backhoes and eventually added specific task-oriented John Deere and Case units to their fleet. “We added a John Deere 710 backhoe to our fleet in 2011 and that was a real game-changer for us. The JD 710 represented the biggest, most powerful backhoe on the market at that time and we immediately added it to our fleet. We eventually converted our fleet to John Deere except for a few Case skip loaders,” says Nikki. “Our entire fleet will soon be all John Deere and include 710, 410, and 310 backhoes, skid steers, mini excavators, and skip loaders.” Newman also offers auger attachments, wheel compactors, vibratory compactors, breakers, adjustable Vee Ditch buckets, and a vast inventory of other specialty buckets. “We are well-known throughout the industry for the variety of specialty buckets and attachments that we provide to our customers,” continues Nikki. “This includes swivels for grading slope, as well as six-foot and seven-foot grading buckets.”

Kenneth Bailey doing what he does best, grading slope at the Port of Long Beach project for MCM.

Chris Cesa, from Coastline Equipment, is Newman’s John Deere sales representative. “No matter what the issue or question, Chris always has the right answer. Chris provides excellent customer service, and Jesse Sanchez their field service dispatcher and Albert Navarro in rental dispatch are always there when we need them as well,” says Nikki. “I will give you an example of how great Coastline has been to us over the years. We had one of our operators with a JD 410 backhoe working at the Port of Long Beach, and Coastline called to let us know that they were alerted to a serious potential problem. Their JDLink™ telematics monitoring program received these codes that indicated a serious issue with our JD 410 backhoe. Coastline was extremely proactive and sent out a technician to fix the problem even though our operator did not feel or notice any issues. That is just great service, and we appreciate the relationship we have with John Deere and Coastline Equipment.”

John Deere 410L working on a project for MCM at the Port of Long Beach.

Founded in 1954 and incorporated in 1967, Newman Backhoe Service, Inc. has grown and prospered by continuing to adhere to a few simple philosophies put forth by Herbert and Swanna Newman. Provide up-to-date quality construction equipment run by the industry’s most skilled operators. Always provide exceptional customer service and create an atmosphere that meets the challenges of an ever-changing landscape. Continuously maintain a safe work environment. Always strive to be viewed as “the best” in the eyes of clients, subcontractors and employees. “We have successfully grown and adapted to meet the needs of our clients,” says Nikki. “Our customers have become friends and our employees have become family, and for that, we are truly grateful.”

2019 John Deere 710L working on the Schuyler Heim Bridge project at the Port of Long Beach

Newman Backhoe Service specializes in providing contractors with operated and maintained equipment rental with experienced Union Local 12 operators. “Our union operators define excellence while adhering to strict safety guidelines. You can also count on our qualified mechanics and service personnel to keep your downtime to a minimum,” continues Nikki. “We got our A contractor’s license in 1970, and although it is not mandatory, it is preferred by most of the companies we serve. We remain committed to providing the highest level of operated equipment rental services and will continue improving and expanding our fleet. Whatever the future has in store, we stand ready to put our customers first and partner with them for a better and more prosperous tomorrow.” For more information on Newman Backhoe Service, Inc., please visit newmanbackhoe.com or call their Buena Park offices at (714) 739-2424. Cc