Longview Work Replaces Two Texarkana Spans
By Irwin Rapoport
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recently opened the new and long-awaited bridge on State Highway (SH) 8 that links Bowie and Cass counties in the Texarkana area.
The $37.7 million, constructed by Longview Bridge and Road Ltd. replaces two smaller bridges built in the 1950s that crossed Wright Patman Lake.
“The width of the old bridges was not up to our current standards for a highway like SH 8,” said TxDOT Texarkana Area Engineer Tommy Bruce. “Our new bridge is going to be 44-feet wide, which includes two, 12-foot lanes with 10foot shoulders on each side. The previous bridges were 26feet wide.”
The new structure, with several spans, replaced two smaller bridges that were built in the 1950’s.
“We’re so proud to open this new bridge that is longer, taller and wider than the former bridges,” said Atlanta District Engineer Rebecca Wells. “Our ribbon cutting ceremony is a celebration of new infrastructure that is safer for the traveling public.”
While open to traffic, Longview still has work to do to complete the job.
“What we have left to do is remove the existing roadway and the two existing bridge structures,” said Longview Bridge and Road President Casey Johnson. “There’s a little bit of tie-in work as far as the concrete paving on either end of the bridge at the approaches and several cubic yards of rock riprap to put in for slope protection. And, that will pretty well complete the project.”
Agricultural Tractors
2015 JOHN DEERE 6215R......................$120,000
2020 JOHN DEERE 6130M....................$115,000
(5) 2018-2021 JOHN DEERE 6120M....From $67,500
2018 JOHN DEERE 5125R......................$98,500
2022 JOHN DEERE 5125M ....................$125,000
2023 JOHN DEERE 5115M......................$98,500 (3) 2021-2023 JOHN DEERE 5100M....From $81,000
Artic Trucks
(2) 2019 CATERPILLAR 745............From $289,500 (2) 2019 CATERPILLAR 740GC................$439,500 (2) 2022 CATERPILLAR 725............From $395,000 (9) 2023-2024 ROKBAK RA30....................$CALL (5) 2023 ROKBAK RA40............................$CALL
Attachments
(3) CATERPILLAR LIFTS......................$5,000 Ea.
CATERPILLAR D6 ANGLE BLADE................$7,500
CATERPILLAR D8T ANGLE BLADE..............$7,500
CATERPILLAR D10T SS RIPPER..................$CALL
CATERPILLAR ANGLE BLADE....................$7,500
Ea.
Crawler Carriers
(2) 2019-2020 MOROOKA MST4000VDFrom $259,500
(2) 2018 MOROOKA MST3000VD......From $159,500
(3) 2018-2019 MOROOKA MST2200VD..From $124,500 2020 MOROOKA MST660VD....................$72,500
Compactors - Padfoot/Smooth Drum
(2) 2007-2023 CATERPILLAR 815................$CALL 2017 CATERPILLAR CS66B....................$119,500
(7) 2016-2022 CATERPILLAR CP56B..From $109,500
(6) 2017-2022 CATERPILLAR CS56B..From $119,500
2013 HAMM H13I................................$72,500 2020 HAMM H12I..................................$CALL
Dozers - Crawler
2023 CATERPILLAR D10T2..................$1,950,000
2023 CATERPILLAR D9............................$CALL
(6) 2012-2022 CATERPILLAR D8T....From $279,500
(2) 2020 CATERPILLAR D6..............From $319,500
(12) 2019-2024 CATERPILLAR D6 LGP..From $299,500
(3) 2019-2020 CATERPILLAR D6XE LGP................ ..............................................From $269,500
2020 CATERPILLAR D6 XL....................$369,500
(2) 2016-2018 CATERPILLAR D6T XW..From $154,500
2018 CATERPILLAR D6N XL......................$CALL
2023 CATERPILLAR D5 LGP..................$415,000
2019 CATERPILLAR D5K2XL..................$169,500
2023 CATERPILLAR D4........................$275,000
(2) 2022-2023 CATERPILLAR D3......From $205,000
2022 CATERPILLAR D2............................$CALL
2019 JOHN DEERE 700K LGP..................$142,500
2017 KOMATSU D61EXi-24....................$229,500
2021 KOMATSU D71PX-24....................$259,500
(5) 2023 KOMATSU D71PXi-24........From $445,000
Dozers - Wheel
2015 CATERPILLAR 834K......................$285,000
Excavators - Crawlers
2022 CATERPILLAR 395........................$965,000
2019 CATERPILLAR 390FL....................$925,000
(2) 2019-2020 CATERPILLAR 374FL..From $619,500 (2) 2021-2222 CATERPILLAR 352-07........$475,000
(2) 2017-2019 CATERPILLAR 349FL..From $229,500 (4) 2021-2022 CATERPILLAR 349....From $495,000
2022 CATERPILLAR 340........................$395,000 (3) 2019 CATERPILLAR 336............From $165,000
2018 CATERPILLAR 336FL....................$209,500
(2) 2023 CATERPILLAR 330-07................$339,500
2020 CATERPILLAR 326-07....................$289,500
2020 CATERPILLAR 320........................$189,500
2017 CATERPILLAR 316FL....................$149,500
(2) 2018 CATERPILLAR 304E2..................$52,500
2013 CATERPILLAR 6030....................$1,050,000
Motor Graders
(2) 2022 CATERPILLAR 16..................$1,325,000
2024 CATERPILLAR 14........................$795,000
(3) 2020-2024 CATERPILLAR 150....From $329,500
2008 CAT 140M AWD............................$99,500
2017 CATERPILLAR 140M3....................$239,500
Skid Steers - Track
(7) 2020-2021 JOHN DEERE 333G......From $57,500 (2) 2021-2024 CATERPILLAR 299D3 XEFrom $62,500 (2) 2020-2022 CATERPILLAR 299D3 XPS.............. ................................................From $67,500 2021 CATERPILLAR 299D3..............From $67,500
Water Equipment - Tower/Tanks
Water Equipment - Trucks (3) 2022-2023 CATERPILLAR
One-of-a-Kind Bridge Links Trails Over Busy Highway
In Dallas, the Northaven Trail Bridge has been installed as a crucial connection for multiple regional bicycle and pedestrian pathways. The solution came in the form of the only known S-curved, network tied bridge in the world — which was efficiently set overnight by Mammoet’s team.
Prior to its installation, the heavily traveled Northaven Trail on the west side of U.S. 75 and the Cottonwood Creek and White Rock Creek trails on the east side abruptly halted at the roadway. In order to access the trails on the opposite side of one of Texas’ busiest highways, cyclists and pedestrians had to detour through a dim underpass.
Mammoet teams worked with Ragle Inc. and bridge designer HNTB to carefully plan the execution, considering multiple options to find the best fit.
Installation with a crane would prove risky and complex, with no suitable area to set the crane without causing a significant impact on area traffic and road closures. Additionally, the bridge’s design would require a complex bracing system if supported at mid-span, so the use of a jacking system also was ruled out.
Engineers decided on a method which utilized a gantry system with a jack and slide system on top. This would enable three directional movement to fine-tune adjustments during setting and account for misalignments.
The 201 ft. bridge was assembled away from its installation location. On the Friday evening of the installation weekend, it was jacked up and loaded onto a pair of double 8line SPMT trailers, then moved to the edge of
the road. The length and width of the bridge required the use of turntables on top of the trailers for added maneuverability.
On Saturday night, once the highway was fully closed to traffic, the bridge was transported to its installation position and the gantries were built around it. To ensure disruption was kept to an absolute minimum, at least one frontage road remained open, allowing traffic to move along U.S. 75 without a significant detour.
The bridge was then lifted off the trailers using the gantry/track combination. Steadily the bridge was raised
above the road surface, skidded over, and set it on its piers at about 11:00 on Sunday morning.
Mammoet Engineer Matthew Berlanga said, “I am very proud to have contributed on a project that provides such a positive impact to the Dallas community. The success of this job was only made possible through all the hard work of everyone involved. Our top-notch crew, equipment and standard of working within Mammoet is what sets us apart and makes jobs like these seem easy.”
Kira Larson, HNTB’s project manager of Construction Phase Services added, “the Northaven Trail Bridge is a highly complex structure with inherent erection challenges, and HNTB, TxDOT, Ragle and Mammoet needed to proactively communicate throughout construction to keep the project on schedule. When changes needed to be made at the construction site, the team would quickly collaborate to find solutions.
“Standing side by side with TxDOT out in the middle of U.S. 75 at 3-4 in the morning, watching a 201-ft., 800,000-lb. bridge be literally driven over us all while still letting traffic through was something I will never forget.”
Shortly after, traffic was allowed to flow again as scheduled — causing minimal impact to travelers. The highly choreographed move was executed flawlessly over a total of 20 hours in one weekend.
For more information, visit www.mammoet.com.
(All photos courtesy of Mammoet.)
Mammoet teams moved the Northaven Trail Bridge into place over of a weekend.
The Northaven Trail Bridge has established a crucial connection for multiple regional bicycle and pedestrian pathways.
Mammoet teams worked with Ragle Inc. and bridge designer HNTB to carefully plan the execution, considering multiple options to find the best fit
urchasesnote y.Musttaked tunitsindealer’scurrentinventor
Bobcat of Abilene 325-673-7361
Bobcat of Amarillo 806-622-9593
Bobcat of Austin 512-251-3415
Bobcat of Buda 512-884-5533
Bobcat of Corpus Christi 361-884-3959
Bobcat of Lubbock 806-745-1322
Bobcat of Marble Falls 830-220-6070
Bobcat of Marion 830-420-9020
Bobcat of Midland–Odessa 432-685-9298
Bobcat of Pleasanton 830-580-4020
Bobcat of the Rio Grande Valley 956-425-4300 Bobcat of San Antonio 210-337-6136
Bobcat of Temple 254-523-4900
Bobcat of Victoria 361-579-0922
Bobcat of Waco 254-488-7004
Bobcat of Wichita Falls 940-285-7777 Ranchers ATV and Tractor Kerrville 830-315-2330
Heavy Civil Contractor Shifts Fueling, Service Operations
AMS Company Inc. is more than a civil contracting construction firm. It is a business heavily invested in its employees. AMS has more than 65 field employees and 10 office personnel who bring hundreds of years of collective experience to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. A focus on training and innovation has contributed to its success and its ability to bid and win jobs on a regular basis.
“We probably have 30 open jobs and then another eight or 10 jobs waiting to get started,” said Gary Gilliam, general manager at AMS. “And some of them are not big jobs, but some of them are huge. Most of the jobs are private, like subdivisions and warehousing, but we also pick up local work for school districts.”
AMS started in 1982 with a focus on concrete and asphalt jobs, but have added field excavation, foundations, pre-construction and soil stabilization to its service offerings.
Executing large-scale projects requires a well-maintained fleet of equipment — from bulldozers and backhoes to track loaders, compactors and more. AMS found alternatives to its previous fuel and service methods with a trailer and truck upfits from Thunder Creek and has since gained efficiencies and cost savings. It’s also been able to address labor challenges.
Filling Need for Fuel
Gilliam handles all the maintenance for AMS’ trucks, tractors and other equipment, including managing a preventive maintenance schedule to minimize unexpected downtime. He, along with the president/owner of AMS, Chad Allen, selected the first piece of equipment from Thunder Creek after seeing it at ConExpoCon/AGG in Las Vegas: the No-HAZMAT fuel and service trailer — in this case the MTT 690.
The MTT 690 allows operators to trans-
port bulk diesel fuel without having a HAZMAT endorsement or commercial driver’s license (CDL), in many cases. This benefit was appealing to Gilliam and Allen given the difficulty with finding qualified labor. The company’s previous fueling solution was a full-sized tandem axle truck that carried 1,000 gal. of diesel fuel and limited the employees who could drive it.
“At the time we were at the expo, we had a couple of drivers with HAZMAT and CDL endorsements,” he said. “We thought the trailer was pretty cool. And then when we got in the pinch with certified drivers, we thought this trailer is going to be the way it needs to go. And that was a good choice.”
The MTT 690 features a multi-tank solution that mitigates the need for the HAZMAT and CDL. It consists of six separate, 115-gal. diesel fuel tanks connected to a commercial grade pumping system via a common manifold.
“The trailer really broadens your pick of employees that we can have operate this machine and that helps,” Gilliam said. “If we’ve got a guy that understands the mechanics and stuff of doing PMs or fueling, we can put him in there and he can go to work today.”
Adding to the convenience of staffing, the MTT 690 has brought other benefits to AMS — namely cost savings and efficiency.
“The overall cost of the trailer is much less than our previous fueling solution. When you go to buy a full-size truck, put a full fuel and lube bed, that’s an expensive piece,” Gilliam explained. “But when you go back to this trailer, we cut our costs significantly right there.”
According to Gilliam, AMS fuels 80 to 90 pieces of earthmoving equipment daily, along with 25 to 30 trucks.
“Our whole company is dependent on diesel fuel. I can’t explain it enough to our
fuel supplier how critical they are to us operating day-to-day,” he said. “We burn around 2,300 gallons per day and being able to get fuel to the equipment in a timely manner is critical.”
With a capacity of 690 gal. of diesel fuel and the ability to travel to the equipment for fueling, Gilliam and the AMS crews were able to gain efficiency. They can easily refill the tanks either at their facility or at their fuel supplier. They added a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank that also has simplified fueling.
“The trailer works really well. We hook it up behind a one-ton truck and tow it to where it needs to go,” Gilliam said. “As of now, we’ve dedicated the trailer to our tree chipping and tree grinding crew and they pull it with them to fuel their equipment.”
Benefits of Truck Upfits
AMS has augmented its daily fueling with another piece of Thunder Creek equipment. With the purchase of a No HAZMAT Fuel & Service Truck Upfit (MTU), AMS gained the same benefits as the MTT 690 in terms of the driver pool. This truck has the same multi-
tank diesel fuel system, so it doesn’t require operators to have a HAZMAT endorsement or CDL. It has two more 115-gal. tanks for a total of eight tanks and a 920-gal. capacity and is fitted on a medium-duty truck chassis, so it’s easy to maneuver on job sites.
“We like the ease of operation and being able to get around the Metroplex with all the traffic,” Gilliam explained. “For the day-today operations where we’re going to visit six to eight job sites with that truck, it’s easy to get around town.”
The MTU also provides Gilliam and the crews with flexibility, which is much appreciated when working in what can be unpredictable circumstances.
“We’ve got to be able to shift and change fueling schedules as the day goes on. A plan we had at six o’clock in the morning won’t stick until noon probably,” said Gilliam. “Having our own fuel truck, I just make a phone call or send a text, change up how we’re running and away we go. If we need to visit a particular job first because it is running low on fuel, we can do that.”
AMS has more than 65 field employees and 10 office personnel who bring hundreds of years of collective experience to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
AMS found alternatives to its previous fuel and service methods with a trailer and truck upfits from Thunder Creek, and has since gained efficiencies and cost savings. It’s also been able to address labor challenges.
690
Robstown 3205 Highway 44 Robstown,TX 78380 361-387-5010
Houston 11113 Wallisville RD Houston,TX 77013 713-670-0733
•
•
Burnet 1103 S. Water St. Burnet, TX 78611 512-234-8178
AMS Company Focuses On Training, Innovation to Win Bids
To support its equipment service needs, AMS invested in a Thunder Creek Service and Lube Truck Upfit (SLU) that it bought from Trademark Truck & Equipment in New Boston, Texas.
“We worked with Brian Craig, our rep there and he is a really responsive, good guy,” Gilliam said. “We worked through it and got everything ordered and he got us the truck we wanted.”
The SLU provides AMS with a full-scale mobile service solution on a medium-duty truck chassis, and allows them to initiate preventive maintenance daily across multiple job sites. It can carry service fluids like coolant and oil, and can also include tanks for reclaim for in-field oil changes. It can also hold daily fluids such as top-off diesel, grease and DEF; AMS is strictly using the SLU for service, not fueling.
“We tried a lube skid for a while to service our equipment, but it only had three different compartments on it. With the SLU, we’ve got seven different fluids on here that cover pretty much every brand of equipment we own,” explained Gilliam. “We can schedule our maintenance, but we can be fluid when it’s needed. We may have a machine that suddenly turns south and doesn’t want to run. If it needs a fuel filter, we can get back up and going.
There’s no money to be made by waiting.”
As with the MTT and MTU, the SLU does not require the driver to hold HAZMAT and/or CDL endorsements, maximizing the number of available drivers.
With both the MTU and the SLU, Gilliam and the crew like the comfort of the trucks and their ability to maneuver easily on job sites.
“There’s nothing complicated about them. If someone drove a pickup truck to work, they can get in this and drive it out there, make money for the day and then come back to get his pickup and go home. It’s all about the same,” he said.
Looking Forward
AMS has been so impressed with the Thunder Creek equipment that it has another MTU on order to further supplement equipment fueling. According to Gilliam, the benefits he and the crews have gained from their current MTU, the MTT 690 and the SLU have made the investment worthwhile.
“That’s a good thing that Thunder Creek has come up with and they’ve exceeded expectations. So, we’re going to keep running them,” he said. “I don’t see us ever going back to a full-size fuel or lube truck anymore. Thunder Creek is where we’re going.” (All
of Thunder Creek.)
e r • T ailer W
• Overall W
• Deck Length: 21’ Flat (model shown)
• 6’ Beaver
• Deck Height: 34" tail
• Brakes: Air (Full ABS System) ires: Eight 215/75R17.5 (H) i
• Ramps: 72" Long x 22”
• T R72"L22”
Wid
Durable Composite Decking is
Outboardbrakedrumsforeasier HUBPILOTEDWHEELS
Longview Bridge and Road Ltd. Builds New Bowie Bridge
Longview, which has constructed many bridges for TxDOT, began the project in May 2019.
SPAN from page 1
In a TxDOT video filmed during the construction, Johnson stated: “With the old bridges, we will demolish them down to where the ground is in the channel. You really won’t be able to tell there was anything there.”
Members of the community along with officials from both counties, joined in the ribbon cutting ceremony which was held on the old roadway with the new bridge in the background.
The bottom of the deck was not poured. Instead, cranes stationed on the old structures lifted prefabricated square-
“We’re so proud to open this new bridge that is longer, taller and wider than the former bridges,” said Atlanta District Engineer Rebecca Wells. “Our ribbon cutting ceremony is a celebration of new infrastructure that is safer for the traveling public.”
shaped concrete deck panels (1,000 lbs. each). Steel mats were then placed on the panels, followed by the pouring of the concrete deck.
The spans are held up by columns drilled into the riverbed. Each span has six prefabricated concrete beams on which the concrete panels were placed.
“The main reason we replaced the old bridge on Highway 8 was because the width was not up to our current standards for highways,” said Bruce. “My office managed the project. Now instead of the two bridges, it will be just one. When you see how much higher the new bridge is from the old bridge, [the difference is apparent].”
In another TxDOT video taken during the construction, Bruce stated “the bridge that is out there is a very narrow bridge, there is nothing wrong with it. It’s been out there for a number of years. There is nothing wrong with it.”
Longview, which has constructed many bridges for TxDOT, began the project in May 2019.
The new bridge is only a few feet away from the old ones.
The plan of attack permitted motorists to drive on the bridge and for Longview crews to use them as work platforms.
“Today is a special day, opening this new bridge that is longer, taller and wider than the former bridges,” said Rebecca Wells, TxDOT’s Atlanta District engineer, said at the ribbon-cuttong ceremony. “It’s a celebration of new infrastructure that is safer for the traveling public. We really thank Longview Bridge and Road, the contractor on this job, for being a great partner on this project.” CEG
(All photos courtesy of Longview Road and Bridge.)
Harbor Bridge Contractors Merge to Form One Company
ACS Group and HOCHTIEF, the respective owners of Dragados and Flatiron, announced that they have agreed on key terms for the combination of the two companies, with ownership of the integrated company held 61.8 percent by ACS Group and 38.2 percent by HOCHTIEF. The company will be managed by Peter Davoren as chairman (in addition to his current role as chairman, CEO and president of Turner) and the current CEO of Flatiron, Javier Sevilla, as CEO. The trans-
action closing is expected during the second half of 2024.
The merger will create the second largest civil engineering and construction company in the United States.
“Bringing together Flatiron and Dragados creates a strong platform for organic growth in North America,” said Chief Executive Officer of HOCHTIEF, Juan Santamaría. “They have the expertise, the long-term clients and are geographically complementary, providing significant
synergies and economies of scale. We differentiate our commercial offering through our superior technical resources and skills.”
“Flatiron and Dragados North America employees have a long history of working together,” he added. “The new company will have the most respected and recognized value proposition in its sectors, having delivered renowned projects across the United States and Canada, and can look forward to an even stronger future.”
The company, named Flatiron Dragados,
will continue to serve clients across its existing diverse markets and support strong community and stakeholder relationships.
The transformation into a new and even stronger entity creates synergies and economies of scale. The simplified structure will ensure a consistent approach to operations, including tender processes, procurement strategies and risk management, and be value accretive for shareholders of ACS Group and HOCHTIEF.
(All photos courtesy of TXDOT.)
NPT1200
Niece Water Towers deliver reliability and durability when you need fast mobile water service. With a 12” discharge tube it fills your tanks at a rate of over 1,000 gallons per minute. Offers removable power pack for security, fifth wheel tow hitch, professionally engineered and constructed.
It features (8) legs for stability
5th wheel set up for quick “tow and go.”
OFF ROAD WATER TRUCKS OVER
FUEL AND LUBE TRUCKS
FUELER TRUCKS
Cowboy, Surfer Makes Name for Himself in Equipment Biz
Mark Gustin is a man with many interests and passions. At various stages of his life, he has been a cutting horse trainer, an avid surfer and low handicap golfer.
Today, those interests take a back seat to his career in heavy equipment as owner of Armadillo Tractor Inc. in Waller, Texas. That has not always been the case, though.
“All my life, I had trained cutting horses,” Smith recalled, adding that many of those years were spent at King Ranch.
“My body was giving out on me slowly," he said, “after surgeries on my ACL, elbow and back. I knew I had to do something else.
“I walked into Mustang Cat on crutches after my ACL surgery, intending to buy a dozer and go into business,” he added. “The guy I spoke with said, ‘hey, you should sell equipment yourself. There’s a guy down the street that needs a salesman.’”
The “guy down the street” was the owner of a now defunct dealership and Gustin was hired on the spot.
“I was both top salesman and top buyer,” Gustin said of his early years at the dealership. “After 10 years, I decided to get my own credit line and bought a yard out in Tomball. I sold and rented equipment from there until I found seven acres in Waller, where I still work out of.”
Buying quality used equipment required intensive travel at the time and eventually, according to Gustin, “my wife was getting poochie lipped about me traveling so much, so I took up surfing.”
The waves are not all that good on the beaches near Houston. So, in typical Gustin fashion, he looked for an adventure to combine with his newfound passion. He discovered the Mexican beaches north of Ixtapa, where he escapes to this day for the thrill of riding the waves, but now is accompanied by his wife, Julie.
“I still sell equipment to support my lavish lifestyle of golf and surfing,” Gustin said with a laugh. But his business is certainly no laughing matter to the 35-year veteran of the equipment world.
“My job is to help the buyer purchase the right machine for the job,” he said of yet another one of his passions. “There are a few different ways for a contractor to get a machine he needs on site. He can go to auction and roll the dice. He [or she] can call a dealership and sign up for a new machine. He could rent a machine for the job. Or they can buy a refurbished machine from me at half the cost and then sell it back to me after the completion of the job. There is tremendous value to the contractor in a used machine that has been fixed up and is in great running order. That’s where I’ve found a niche in the industry.”
Gustin has built his business doing just that – buying late-model, low-hour machines, refurbishing them and making them retail ready. He sells to end users, but also has a demand from new equipment dealers adding to their used inventory. According to Gustin, they trust his refurbished equipment.
Armadillo specializes in dozers, graders, excavators and compaction equipment. His sweet spot on dozers is D5-D8, while his excavators typically are in the 35,000 lbs. to 150,000 lbs. range. He also deals in roughterrain cranes and water trucks.
Underground utility and site preparation contractors also make up a large part of his business, along with dealers.
About Amarillo Tractor
Armadillo Tractor Inc. is a worldwide source of late-model heavy construction
equipment. Owned and operated by Mark R. Gustin and drawing on 30 years of professional heavy equipment transactions, their customers’ interests are a top priority.
Their operation is based in Waller, Texas, approximately 30 mi. northwest of Houston. It services the majority of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central & South America. It ships internationally from the Port of Houston.
With access to top technicians, mechanics and paint crews, it has knowledge and the technology to do any necessary work on today’s newer machines.
Armadillo Tractor strives to direct its clients and customers to the best earthmoving machine for the best price for the job they require.
(All photos courtesy of Aradillo Tractor.)
Owner Mark Gustin has built his business by buying late-model, low-hour machines, refurbishing them and making them retail ready.
Under Mark Gustin, Armadillo specializes in dozers, graders, excavators and compaction equipment. His sweet spot on dozers is D5-D8, while his excavators typically are in the 35,000 lbs. to 150,000 lbs. range.
Fluor Names Two New Executives
Fluor Corporation recently announced during its second quarter earnings call the appointments of a new chief operating officer (COO) and chief legal officer (CLO), effective immediately.
Jim Breuer has been appointed to the newly created position of COO. In this capacity, Breuer will drive a more holistic view of Fluor’s markets, strengths and needs in project delivery and talent allocation across the company’s three business segments — energy solutions, mission solutions and urban solutions.
Kevin Hammonds has been appointed CLO, succeeding John Reynolds, who will retire from the company after nearly 40 years of service. Reynolds will remain as corporate secretary of Fluor’s board of directors until May 2025.
“I could not be more pleased with the progress we have made over the past few years under our building a better future strategy,” said David E. Constable, chairman and chief executive officer of Fluor. “As we wrap up the first chapter of this strategy, it’s time to develop plans for the next chapter, including maximizing opportunities in growth markets, remaining laser focused on execution, generating consistent operating cash flow and continuing to develop the company’s most important resource, our people.”
About Fluor
Fluor Corporation is building a better world by applying expertise to solve its clients’ greatest challenges. Fluor’s nearly 34,000 employees provide professional and technical solutions that deliver safe, well-executed, capital-efficient projects to clients around the world. Fluor had revenue of $15.5 billion in 2023 and is ranked 265 among the Fortune 500 companies. With headquarters in Irving, Texas, Fluor has provided engineering, procurement and construction services for more than a century.
For more information, visit www.fluor.com.
(All photos courtesy of Fluor.)
Jim Breuer
Kevin Hammonds
The Worldwide Leader in Concrete Paving Technology
Next Issue Closes September 11th
TxDOT Earns Award From WASHTO for SH 146 Project
At the 2024 WASHTO conference in Omaha, Neb., TxDOT was presented with the award for Safety by America’s Transportation Awards.
The hardware went to TxDOT’s $217 million State Highway 146 Expansion Project, which included the construction of a 2.1-mile express bridge as well as sidewalks, shared-used lanes, and a mile-long bike lane.
“The purpose of this project was to address design deficiencies on the roadway that greatly impacted the safety and mobility of the corridor and the economy of surrounding communities,” said Jamal Elahi, TxDOT Houston District area engineer. “Such communities had a lack of hurricane evacuation routes, lack of pedestrian/bicycle facilities, increased congestion, and more.
The new express bridge diverts high-speed, freight traffic from local lanes, improving traffic situations in local areas with schools, businesses and residents. It also provides a reliable, high-capacity evacuation route in the event of hurricanes for coastal communities.
SH 146 runs through Seabrook and Kemah, popular tourist destinations that welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. To increase safety for pedestrians, cyclists and golf cart users, a 14-foot-wide shared used lane was added to the frontage roads and arterial lanes as well as sidewalks.
TxDOT also partnered with the cities of Kemah and Seabrook to build a 14-foot-wide, 1-mile-long bikeway with barrier protection.
This year, America’s Transportation Awards introduced Safety as a new category, aimed to celebrate projects that were initiated to address safety concerns and successfully did so.
“I felt incredibly proud of the team that delivered this project,” Elahi said. “From the TxDOT designers at the Houston District, to the area engineers and project managers who have managed it, to the CEI team who inspected it, the contractor who built it and the communities who lived through it and supported the project.
“This was truly a team effort and will provide long lasting safety, mobility and economic benefits to road users and communities.”
TxDOT photo
TEXAS STATE SUPPLEMENT ADVERTISER INDEX
WRI Tractors Joins Takeuchi’s
North American Dealer Network
WRI Tractors, located at 6920 W. State Highway 21 in Bryan, Texas, is now carrying Takeuchi’s full line of compact equipment, including track loaders, excavators, wheel loaders and crawler dumper.
“We’re very pleased to now offer Takeuchi’s quality equipment here in southeast Texas,” said Quinton Williams, president of WRI Tractors. “Since we opened for business back in 2016, we’ve focused on providing this area with the highest-value agricultural equipment. By adding Takeuchi machines to our line-up, we’re able to provide a wider range of customers, including construction professionals, with equipment that can help them be more efficient and productive.”
Family-owned and operated, WRI Tractors has built a strong reputation over the years by delivering exceptional service and cultivating long-term customers. The dealership now adds Takeuchi equipment to its inventory of tractors, hay and tillage equipment, UTVs, outdoor power equipment, lawnmowers and trailers. WRI Tractors also offers several helpful services, including financing, parts ordering and service.
The dealer serves many communities in the Texas Brazos Valley, including College Station, Huntsville, Madisonville, Navasota, Rockdale and Brenham.
“Over the years, WRI Tractors has served the Brazos Valley region with dedication and
expertise,” said Austin Wells, Southwest regional business manager of Takeuchi-US. “They represent the kind of quality and customer service that we strive for at Takeuchi every day. Through our new association with WRI Tractors, we’re able to expose more Texas farmers and ranchers to the Takeuchi brand, as well as the construction and landscape professionals who’ve come to rely on our equipment over the years.”
For more information, visit writractors.com and www.takeuchi-us.com.
Hitachi Global Air Power Buys Texas-Based Sullair Distributor
Hitachi Global Air Power US LLC, an industry leader in innovative compressed air solutions, announced the purchase of Longview, Texas-based Sullair distributor, Air Power Sales and Service. Air Power specializes in 24-hour sales and service of air compressors, air treatment products, accessories and related equipment.
“The East Texas and Dallas-Fort Worth regions are strategic territories for us due to the high concentration of high tech and oil and gas companies — among others — who all rely on compressed air to power their operations,” said John Randall, president and CEO of Hitachi Global Air Power.
“Air Power Sales and Service’s customer-first approach and strong presence in the market expands and secures our sales and service capabilities to our current and future customers in this important region. It’s also another step forward in our strate-
gy for growth as a total seamless solutions provider.”
With locations in Longview and Euless, Texas, Air Power has been a Sullair distributor for more than 35 years. Current employees and leadership will remain in their positions and the company will continue to sell Sullair brand air compressors and related equipment while providing service to a variety of compressed air systems.
“As a Sullair distributor for over 30 years, we could not be more excited for the acquisition of our company by Hitachi Global Air Power,” said Craig Peterson, owner, Air Power Sales and Service. “We look forward to new opportunities for growth, improved efficiency and a competitive edge in the compressed air market.”
For more information, visit www.hitachi.com.
Takeuchi photo
WRI Tractors, located at 6920 W. State Highway 21 in Bryan, Texas, is now carrying Takeuchi’s full line of compact equipment, including track loaders, excavators, wheel loaders and crawler dumper.
Specialized machines for waste
Waste Management
Top quality for top performance
Bane Machinery is a family owned and operated business that offers heavy machinery sales, rentals, parts, and service. We are proud to offer Liebherr equipment with full service including preventative maintenance and warranty up to OEM standards.
Liebherr machines are custom-engineered to perform efficiently. From material handling to waste management, these machines showcase a range of what’s possible.
Contact us today to find the right solution for your project application.