equipmentworld.com | June 2019
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ALL HANDS ON DECK: Joining forces to solve the technician shortage P.34
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Vol. 31 Number 6 |
Cover Story
table of contents | June 2019
24
P. State-of-the-art
DOZERS
OEMs load these hardworking earthmovers with smart technology
Equipment 12
Bauma 2019
High-tech machinery was on display at world’s largest construction equipment trade show
54
Road Works
Motor graders: OEMs simplifying these complex road workers
65
Pro Pickup
Test Drive: 2019 Ram 3500 doesn’t break sweat towing 35,000-plus pounds.
EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019
5
table of contents | continued
Features 34 Special Report: Tech Shortage Part 2 All hands on deck: Dealers, OEMs, schools step up incentives, cooperation to fill growing technician gap
®
equipmentworld.com facebook.com/EquipmentWorld twitter.com/Equipment_World Editorial Director: Marcia Gruver Doyle Executive Editor: Tom Jackson Online Editor: Wayne Grayson Senior Editor: Don McLoud Contributing Writer: Richard Ries editorial@equipmentworld.com Media Sales Geoffrey Love: gdlove@randallreilly.com Pete Austin: paustin@randallreilly.com Drew Ingram: drewingram@randallreilly.com Patsy Adams: padams@randallreilly.com Jordan Arsenault: jordanarsenault@randallreilly.com Art Director: Tony Brock Advertising Production Manager: Leah Boyd production@equipmentworld.com
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49 Maintenance Simple steps to increase CTL track life of the Year Finalist 61 Contractor Michel Noury, Noury Construction, Coral Springs, Florida
Departments 9 On Record A brutal spring
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11 Reporter It’s on! Cat challenge will determine top global operator
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47 Quick Data
Jesse H. Neal Award finalist, Best Subject-Related Package, 2019, American Business Media
Skid steer loaders
59 Technology JLG, Skyjack use app-based driving to reduce aerial-lift trailering hazards 67 Safety Watch
Demolition robot injures worker
74 Final Word
Global warming and skin in the game
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A brutal spring
T
his spring has been an especially brutal responsible for each job’s safety had heeded one in the trenches. the common-sense rules OSHA enacted 30 In early April, three workers died in years ago. trench collapses on separate sites in Ohio and As it has for the past three years, the NaTennessee within five days of each other. On tional Utility Contractors Association is hostApril 16, two men – one a father of five and ing its Trench Safety Stand Down this month. the other a father-to-be – died in a 15-foot-deep During June 17-21 – or really anytime in June trench that was all of 4 – NUCA is asking comfeet wide. panies to devote just one DEATH BY TRENCH The April 16th incisafety meeting to trench dent had an especially safety. They’ve got all poignant aspect: one of the materials you’ll need, the victims was able to including how to prepare 7 ways to dig talk through a PVC pipe for the meeting, jobsite an early grave that had been inserted posters, a trench safety into the trench by workpresentation, toolbox talk ers before emergency and handout (https:// responders arrived. This www.nuca.com/tssd). enabled his family to We’d also like to add talk with him before he another handout, one died, before fire departthat appeared in our ment personnel recovered report last June: “7 ways his body after a 13-hour to dig an early grave.” It operation. details some of the great As we detailed in our advice we received from “Death by Trench” special trench safety experts. Just report a year ago, dirt use the link in the box to doesn’t discriminate. It download the document doesn’t care how old you and print as many copies To download a copy of this poster, are, how much experias you want. go to http://bit.ly/7waystodig ence you have or even if Smart contractors are you own the company. In persnickety about safety, our analysis of 51 trench deaths that took place especially trench safety. But it does no good if during 2016-2017, the youngest victim was 18 only you know the rules. Do you have a firm and the oldest was 66. Four construction comgrasp on how well your foremen and crews are pany owners were among the dead. following trench safety procedures? Now is a Trench safety experts refuse to call these great time to review what you’re doing right – “accidents.” The term they use is “incident,” and what needs improvement – when it comes because each death was preventable – if those to keeping your people safe in the trenches.
1
2
Machine positioned at edge of trench.
Spoil piles on edge, instead of 2 feet back.
5
No hard hat.
6
Observer standing on trench edge
3
Trench deeper than 5 feet.
4
No protection in trench
7
No means for entering or exiting the trench.
Equipment World would like to thank Oregon OSHA for this graphic idea.
EW0618_Early Grave.indd 53
EquipmentWorld.com | June 2018 53
5/25/18 1:45 PM
EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 9
“THEY JUST WORK BETTER!” A TRUSTED NAME.
“At At Selge Construction, we’re a family business. We’ve constructed a wide range of projects, built on a foundation of integrity, industry knowledge and quality workmanship. Selge has gained respect throughout the Midwest for the highest quality work built in the safest way possible. Komatsu builds a quality product that performs as promised and helps us get the job done. That’s why Komatsu works for me!”
Marv Selge / Selge Construction, Inc. / Niles, MI
That’s why I am Komatsu komatsuamerica.com
035 © 2019 Komatsu America Corp. All Rights Reserved
reporter
| by Tom Jackson |
TJackson@randallreilly.com
It’s on! Cat challenge will determine top global operator
I
n any field of endeavor, there are people who are good, people who are very good, and then people like Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. A little less than a year from now, we’re going to find out who the superstar equipment operators of this world are, thanks to Caterpillar’s Global Equipment Challenge competition, the finals of which will be held at ConExpo 2020. Caterpillar used Bauma, the big German construction machinery show, to officially launch the Global Operator Challenge. More than 30 countries and 70 dealerships are participating, says Jason Conklin, vice president of global construction and infrastructure.
The challenge will start with regional competitions, and then three finalists will emerge from each of the regions: the Americas, Europe/ Africa/Middle East, and Asia. Those nine top dogs will go blade-toblade in Cat’s outdoor booth in Las Vegas on March 8, 2020. Regionals for the United States will be October 21 to 25 in Clayton, North Carolina, headquarters for Cat’s Building Construction Products division. Competitors will perform regular heavy equipment operations using machines, such as wheel loaders, compact track loaders, dozers, articulated trucks and several sizes of excavator, and will be judged on speed, accuracy and precision.
Cat has three goals in mind in creating the Global Operator Challenge, says Conklin. First: “We know that our customers make or lose money based on operator skill,” he says. In a recent European operator challenge, the company measured the time difference between its winner and the No. 10 operator. What they found when they projected those numbers over a year of machine operation was a difference of 580 hours a year of extra work and 2,100 gallons of fuel. “Then think about the top 10 guys versus the average or novice operator,” says Conklin. Second: The company also wants to promote the ease of use features on their machines, features like the Stable Blade system on dozers, the swing fence on its excavators and Cat’s payload management system. “All those features will have to be embraced in order to become proficient and win the competition,” says Conklin. Third: “The last thing is just celebrating the operator, promoting the skill and promoting the profession,” says Conklin. Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs” TV show fame will also be at the event to help promote it. “We are also looking to promote female operators. A lot of our customers tell us that female operators do a good job and yet we don’t get enough signing up for these careers,” Conklin says. For more information on the rules and participating dealers, go to catglobaloperatorchallenge.com. EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 11
Bauma | staff reports
THE LARGEST SHOW’S
LARGEST CROWD
This year’s Bauma lived up to the event’s reputation as the largest construction equipment trade show in the world.
B
etween April 8 and 14, a record crowd of more than 620,000 attendees flooded the 65-year-old event, held every three years in Munich, Germany. That was 40,000 more visitors than the previous Bauma in 2016. Exhibits were spread over 6.6 12 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
million square feet – 2.5 times larger than ConExpo 2017. Attendees hailed from more than 200 countries. Bauma organizers say the turnout and the exhibits also bode well for the construction industry. “Bauma 2019 highlighted the opportunity and tremendous outlook of the industry
as a whole,” said Klaus Dittrich, chairman and CEO of Messe München. Equipment World staff was on hand to cover the mammoth event. The announcements unveiled at the show first appeared on equipmentworld.com, where they were reported in more detail.
Volvo unveils electric ECR25 excavator, L25 wheel loader When Melker Jernberg, Volvo Construction Equipment president, is asked why North American contractors would buy a battery-powered electric-drive machine, he quickly counters, “Why should they not?” Volvo CE turned heads in January when it announced it would unveil its ECR25 compact excavator and L25 compact wheel loader at Bauma. Not because they were zero-emission electric machines – that’s becoming an every-other-day announcement – but because the company also announced that it would eventually no longer offer diesel versions of these machines. “The electric-drive market right now is not there, so
the feeling was, ‘let’s create it,’” Jernberg says. “We also feel the timing is right. Someone needs to start.” The engines on both machines have been replaced with lithium-ion batteries. The excavator uses these batteries plus one electric motor to power the hydraulics, and it will last eight hours in most common applications. The L25 uses two dedicated electric motors, one for the drivetrain and one for the hydraulics, and also has an eight-hour cycle. Charging is accomplished overnight using a common household outlet. Volvo also plans to have a fast-charging option. The L25 and ECR25 are expected to be available in Summer 2020. –Marcia Doyle
Mecalac “skid-excavators” in category all their own With speeds up to 6.2 mph, the MCR Series of excavators are “the fastest in the world,” according to French manufacturer Mecalac, which entered the U.S. market two years ago. The 8MCR model can use up to a 0.69-cubic-yard bucket. And the 10MCR can handle a 0.98-cubic-yard bucket, which Mecalac says means it can move 77 percent more compared to standard samesize excavators. The MCR Series can use both skid and loader buckets in the reversed position, allowing operators to push and load larger volumes, says the company. In fact, the company refers to these machines as “crawler skid-excavators” in a nod to their skid-steer-like capabilities. Loader buckets also allow users to spread material or fine grade ground level in one pass only without the need to swing or move the boom, according to Mecalac. –Marcia Doyle EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 13
Bauma | continued Case unveils natural gas-powered loader concept While most OEMs at the show were touting electric drive and hybrid systems for greenhouse gas reductions, Case Construction Equipment took the wraps off its natural-gas wheel loader concept dubbed “ProjectTetra.” The 6-cylinder, 230-horsepower engine for the Tetra, which can run on natural gas, biomethane or liquified natural gas, was developed by Case and its sister company FPT Industrial. According to Case, it delivers the same performance as its diesel equivalent. In addition to the low-carbon fuel angle, the Tetra concept employs futuristic styling and an advanced operator environment that makes extensive use of touchscreen and voice-control technologies. Additionally, the loader’s safety systems include biometric and obstacle-detection systems derived from CNH’s industrial autonomous vehicle research. –Tom Jackson Hydraulic controls for full automated excavator digging Topcon introduced a new edition of its 3D modular control system, the X-53x automatic, for excavators. It adds hydraulic control for fully automated digging while otherwise using the same components from the original system. It is designed to be easily upgradeable from the 2D and 3D systems. The calibration is done wirelessly using a total station and stored in an app on the machine. You can also program in the size and geometry of unlimited different buckets and choose your bucket with a touch on the screen or enter custom bucket values. Topcon also built in a self-learning capability. “It figures out the best balance on the hydraulics settings to get the ideal performance out of the machine,” says Kris Maas, director of product management machine control. “It will keep learning and improving itself through the life cycle of the system.” With fully automated GPS excavator control, even relatively inexperienced operators can cut trenches, slopes, embankments and complex contours often without the need for a finish dozer or grader. Topcon also announced an upgrade to its jobsite monitoring system – Sitelink3D 2.0. This pay-as-you-go account-based system, replaces the yearlong, prepaid subscription model. 14 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
Sitelink3D 2.0 allows multiple operators on different machines to see what the other operators are doing. It also has a Haul Truck mobile app that provides a real-time, cloud-based haul truck management system, including geofenced sites, truck counting, routing and reporting. Topcon’s Pavelink, also announced at Bauma, is a cloud-based system that connects in real time everybody involved in the paving process: the asphalt plant, truck drivers, site supervisors, equipment operators and office personnel. Pavelink automatically gathers and centralizes all relevant information, like quantities, temperatures, truck locations, pave speed and amount of roadway paved. –Tom Jackson
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Bauma | continued Trimble debuts Earthworks Go for skids, CTLs Trimble’s new Earthworks Go is a 2D, laserguided grade control system built for skid steers and compact track loaders running Caterpillar or Bobcat grading attachments. What makes it unique is you can use your smartphone or mobile device in the cab as your primary machine interface – otherwise known as BYOD, or “bring your own device.” The BYOD design makes setup simple, and the system can be pulled off one machine and stored or hooked up to another machine in minutes. Simply attach the laser receivers to masts on the blade, run the cables to the Trimble Go box on the frame of the grading attachment, mount your smartphone or device in the cab, turn on your laser and start working. The easily portable Trimble Go box is not much bigger than a large lunchbox. Earthworks Go is also 2D automatic ready. The system works in multiple configurations including dual laser, single laser plus slope, and slope only. “You can buy the device online, we ship it to you, and you install it,” says Scott Crozier, general manager of Trimble’s civil engineering and construction division. Integrated installation and calibration tutorials make setup easy, Crozier says. You can also save machine profiles to the Go box, so you only have to set up a particular machine once. The target market for Earthworks Go is the small contractor – owner-operator types whose jobs are typically completed in two to three days, he says. –Tom Jackson Prinoth unveils Panther T7R crawler carrier Prinoth’s new Panther T7R crawler carrier focuses on increasing productivity while lowering operating costs. It is powered by a 4-cylinder engine with optimizations to the transmission and electronics that, along with a lightweight design, give the machine additional speed. The speed increase accounts for most of its increase in productivity, the company says. Prinoth also promises more than 10 hours of use between refueling. The machine is under 8 feet wide for easy transport. Prinoth says it has a smoother driving suspension and a wider cab, which also features improved visibility in all 360 degrees of rotation. –Wayne Grayson 16 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
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Bauma | continued
Wirtgen intros W 380 CRi cold recycler The Wirtgen outdoor booth was chock full of new iron for contractors in the paving business. Contractors saw a new W 380 CRi cold recycler designed to meet the needs of the aging global road network. It offers a way to rehabilitate roads quickly and economically while reusing the paving material in an environmentally friendly way. The cold recycling process grinds up and reuses the surface and base materials of a deteriorating road and mixes it into a homogeneous material with binding agents, such as cement, bitumen emulsion or foamed bitumen. With working widths of 126, 138 and 150 inches and a recycling depth between 4 and 12 inches, Manitowoc’s first mobile, self-erecting crane Manitowoc previewed the Potain Hup M 28-22, its first Hup lineup crane to prioritize mobility. The crane will launch as the most compact crane in its class, at only 38 feet long when folded. The crane also features double steering axles, a 91.8-foot jib and 16 configurations for a high degree of flexibility in adapting to a range of applications. The crane has a maximum capacity of 2.2 tons and can lift 1,875 pounds at the jib end. It is controlled through an ergonomic remote-control unit with a large color screen with intuitive navigation. –Wayne Grayson 18 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
in most applications, the W 380 Cri can feed up to 800 tons per hour of material to a paver via its discharge conveyor at the rear. Wirtgen also unveiled its new SP124i and SP124 slipform concrete pavers, which have a working width of 39 feet. They feature four steerable and slewing crawler units and an optional slew drive steering system with a steering angle of up to 260 degrees. This maneuverability allows you to pave a surface adjacent to a building and turn almost on the spot without wasting time on repositioning. Wirtgen’s W 210 Fi, W 200 Fi and W 200 F milling machines offer milling widths from 4.9 to 8.2 feet and milling depths to 13 inches. –Tom Jackson
PRECISELY THE CONTROL YOU WANT. INDUSTRY-EXCLUSIVE UNIVERSAL MACHINE CONTROL provides universal wiring, mounts, harnesses and machine configuration. This allows the machine to be outfitted at any time with your choice of Leica, Topcon or Trimble machine control system, helping to improve resale value since it is not tied to a single system solution. Add to this best-in-class drawbar pull, exclusive SCR technology, maximum visibility, a quieter cab, adjustable controls, and time-saving serviceability features, and you’ve got the ideal dozer for any job and operator. CaseCE.com/Universal
Find your local dealer at CaseCE.com/Dealer
ProCare is a factory fit program available on new heavy machine orders. Š2019 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. CASE is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.
Bauma | continued Grove all-terrain cranes introduced Manitowoc unveiled three new all-terrain cranes under its Grove brand – the five-axle GMK5250XL-1 and the three-axle GMK3060L and GMK3050-2 models. The GMK5250XL-1 couples the longest main boom and heaviest lifting capacities of any five-axle, allterrain crane on the market, the company says. The 250-ton capacity crane has a boom length of 257 feet. Its compact footprint allows it to work in tight spots. An available option is a VIAB turbo retarder clutch that enables wear-free starting and braking. The three-axle GMK3060L is a 60-ton-capacity crane with a seven-section boom. The main boom is 157 feet and has a maximum tip height of 213 feet when working with its full jib. With the most compact footprint in its class, Manitowoc says, the GMK3060L can fit into tight spots and sets up quickly. The 50-ton-capacity GMK3050-2 features a 131-foot main boom and a single counterweight configuration for ease of use. Like the GMK3060L, the GMK30502 has the most compact footprint in its class and features best-in-class load charts when configured in taxi-mode, at 12 tons per axle. –Wayne Grayson Indeco intros its smallest hammer, rotating pulverizer Italian attachment maker Indeco announced the expansion of its lineups of demolition hammers and rotating pulverizes, with the smallest models yet in their respective offerings. Designed for mini excavators between 0.7 and 0.8 tons, the new HP 100 hammer weighs in at only 130 pounds and reduces demolition times when compared to other hammers in its size class, Indeco says. At 1,256 pounds, the IRP 5X rotating pulverizer is Indeco’s smallest rotating pulverizer, designed to “adapt to the increasingly smaller dimensions of” machines. Indeco says the pulverizer reduces work times, thanks to oversized hydraulic cylinders and the “widest jaw opening of its kind on the market.” –Wayne Grayson
Liebherr’s cab-less 7XX concept dozer Liebherr offered attendees a glimpse at future technologies during demonstrations of a remote-controlled dozer and wheel loader. During the demonstration, an operator working in a remotecontrol station switched between operating the concept cab-less 7XX dozer to an adjacent operator-less Liebherr L 550 wheel loader. “The operator becomes more like a machine manager, watching what happens and changing the parameters,” says Alexander Katrycz, head of marketing, Liebherr-Werk Telfs GmbH. –Marcia Doyle EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 21
Bauma | continued
Vögele unveils biggest paver yet Vögele unveiled its biggest asphalt paver. The company’s flagship Vögele Super 3000-3(i) can pave widths up to 59 feet, the equivalent of a four-lane highway, without joints when used with the company’s SB 350 fixed-width screed. To pave this wide, the Super 3000-3(i) lays down up to 1,800 tons of mix per hour. An innovative material transport system allows the height of the rear section of the chassis, the conveyor and the auger to be adjusted with the push of a button, to get the mix feed coming down on the augers from above resulting in an optimum head of mix in front of the screed. As part of Vögele’s Premium line of pavers, the Super 3000-3(i) offers the company’s ErgoPlus 3 operating concept with automated features and enhanced convenience. Paving job parameters can be saved and retrieved at any time using the AutoSet Plus function for easy repeatability
Fayat fires up Robomag autonomous roller As part of its exhibition area, Fayat Group showed off an autonomous tandem roller. Dubbed Robomag, this BOMAG concept machine uses LiDAR, GPS and other positioning sensors to work independently within a defined work area, BOMAG says. It looks similar to a giant Roomba when it’s in action. Beyond working in full autonomous mode, operators can also control the machine remotely or set it to follow manually entered patterns, Fayat says. –Wayne Grayson 22 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
from day-to-day and job-to-job. Vögele’s new fixed-width screeds, the SB 350 and the SB 300, can pave base courses as deep as 20 inches. The SB 350 can put down surface courses up to 2 inches thick. Both screeds are available in the TV version (tamper and vibrators), as well as the high-compaction versions, TP1 (using the tamper and one pressure bar) or TP2 (tamper and two pressure bars). The screeds are hydraulically adjustable up to 8.2 feet at the push of a button, thanks to extra-wide hydraulic bolt-on extensions. Vögele also showcased two new compact pavers in the Classic line – the Super 1000(i) tracked paver and its wheeled counterpart, the Super 1003(i) – for small and medium-size construction projects. Both pave widths up to 12.7 feet. The models use the ErgoBasic operating system, which covers the most necessary functions and status indicators. Both pavers run on 74-horsepower diesel engines. –Tom Jackson
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machine matters
| by Richard Ries
STATE-OF-THE-ART
OEMs load these hardworking earthmovers with smart technology
T
he general public may perceive dozers as simple, lumbering beasts. But those in the construction industry recognize them as focal points of advanced technology. One of the most obvious advances in dozer technology is ever-improving machine control. “You could argue that no product category has been more affected by the continued adoption of machine control than dozers,” says Nathaniel Waldschmidt, product marketing manager, Case Construction Equipment. One challenge with machine control is to present the greatest value and flexibility in a segmented market. Waldschmidt says Case accomplishes this with Universal Machine Control, introduced in 2018. “This allows customers to buy the machine from the factory with a universal blade guidance-system harness and universal machine brackets and mounts that integrate into any of the major machine control systems on the market.” With Universal Machine Control, customers can install the machine control system they prefer. When the machine is ready to go to the secondary market, the second owner enjoys
24 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
the same flexibility in system choice, and the first owner can easily remove the system for use on other equipment. Case is also going mastless with their new on-cab dual GNSS machine control system.
Smart everything The markets are awash in smart products. Smart phones. Smart refrigerators. Smart cars. And now smart dozers. Integrating all these smart products is IoT, or the Internet of Things. Liebherr introduced INTUSI at Bauma in April. INTUSI (INTelligent User Interface), which will be used in all Liebherr earthmoving machines and material handlers, relies on IoT technology to share information widely, whether that’s between machines or between machines and humans. The human interface is via touchscreen monitor. To ensure accurate interaction in rough underfoot conditions, input can also be provided via haptic controllers. Individual user adjustments can be made using INTUSI and then saved in an operator profile. Improved dozing control logic on Komatsu machines is an example of the smart dozer trend. Derek Morris, product marketing manager, sums
The sealed-switch module on the Deere 950K provides keyless start and enables features such as auto shutdown and turbo cool-down. Grade control is fully integrated, eliminating vulnerable external masts and cables. Machine dimensions are preloaded into the grade-control monitor, reducing calibration time to about 30 minutes. The 9-liter PowerTech PSS 6090 is rated at 265 horsepower, and drive is via hydrostatic transmission.
The 204-horsepower Liebherr PR 736 Litronic has operating weights from 44,750 to 54,230 pounds and blade capacities from 5.36 to 7.27 cubic yards. Travel speed is 6.8 mph. The cab is a clean-sheet design offering easier access to controls and improved ergonomics. Operator detection is by means of a contact switch in the seat without a safety lever having to be actuated. EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 25
machine matters
| continued
Compared to a conventional drive system, the electric drive on the Cat D6 XE has nearly 90 percent fewer rotating parts. The electric drive is covered by a seven-year, 20,000-hour parts and service warranty. Other features include a wider blade on the LGP VPAT model for more efficient high-speed grading and an optional 10-roller undercarriage for smoother grades at higher speeds.
up the change by saying “dozer control has always been reactive; the new design is proactive.” By analyzing stored jobsite data, the machine can anticipate all aspects of machine function from initial cut-and-carry to final grading. The stored information is constantly updated, says Morris, “as the dozer continually refines what is effectively an as-built map at the tracks.” The result is up to 40 percent more productivity, Morris says. The benefits are clear everywhere, but especially on transitions. Jonathan Tolomeo, product marketing manager, Komatsu, says the system is designed to mimic the skills of seasoned operators. “This allows new hires to become proficient in far less time than they would have in the past.” He also notes that aftermarket systems tend to be used only for finish grading, or about 20 percent of a dozer’s duty cycle. Because the new dozer logic is useful from first to last pass, it has much higher value. System hardware is essentially 26 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
unchanged and relies on the same sensors and other components that have been in use on Komatsu dozers since 2013. The improved logic accesses much more information from that same hardware and makes better use of that information. Features that didn’t exist 20 years ago and had only limited availability 10 years ago are now standard equipment on most or all dozers in an OEM’s lineup. For example, John Deere provides a full range of features as basic equipment. Eco mode yields up to 20 percent fuel savings, while Auto Idle and Auto Shutdown further enhance fuel efficiency. SmartGrade 3D offers factory-integrated, mastless 3D grade control from first to last pass as a baseline of performance. Auto SmartGrade integrates the grade control system with the dozer’s power management system for even greater productivity and efficiency. JDLink telematics provide more data to more platforms, including mobile devices. Service Advisor Remote provides remote di-
machine matters
| continued agnostics but also remote delivery and installation of updated software.
The TD-8S is the smallest dozer in the Dressta lineup. Like all S models, it comes with a hydrostatic transmission; non-S models have conventional three-speed transmissions. Standard and LGP versions are available. Other options provide 78 to 94 horsepower; 18,078 to 24,912 pounds of operating weight; and blade capacities from 1.9 to 2.7 cubic yards.
Electric drive “Technology isn’t only about grade control,” says Sam Meeker, product application specialist, Caterpillar. Cat’s new D6 XE dozer features advanced technology in its electric drive system. It uses a single motor to drive the dozer in forward and reverse and a hydraulic differential steering system. Cat says the D6 XE offers up to 10 percent greater productivity and up to 10 percent fuel savings than previous models. Meeker says that while everyone enjoys the ease of electric drive, the numbers work best for longer-
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term owners (three years or more) and those putting at least 1,600 hours per year on a dozer. Diesel-electric drive has been a mainstay in the rail industry for decades and is seeing growing interest in shipping and other markets. The operating efficiency and instant torque of electric drive would benefit construction, too. So why has it taken so long for the design to migrate to earthmoving? Meeker says it’s been an issue with size and what he calls “packageability.” The D7E was a low-drive unit as a concession to this packageability problem. But recent advances, including big gains in the power density available in
Powered by a 6.8-liter, 168-horsepower engine, the Komatsu D61PXi-24 offers a choice between a quick-shift three-speed mode and a variable 20-speed customizable-transmission mode to suit operator preferences. A 7-inch, multilingual monitor with Ecology Guidance helps operators achieve maximum fuel efficiency and follow real-time integrated diagnostics for troubleshooting without a laptop. A rearview monitoring system is standard.
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machine matters
| continued generators, has whittled down those problems and the D6 XE is a highdrive machine. Another advancement is the use of switched reluctance motors, which are rugged, efficient and work well in variable-speed and reversing applications. This is critical for dozers, which, unlike locomotives and ships, are constantly changing speed and direction throughout their duty cycle.
The 74-horsepower Case 650M features 39,086 pounds of drawbar pull. An ROPS canopy is standard, with a sealed, pressurized ROPS cab as an option. Floor-to-ceiling straight-panel glass doors, a sloped hood and a cab-forward design improve visibility with the optional cab. Emissions from the FPT engine are managed with maintenance-free diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC).
Humans still required All the smart features in today’s dozers are meaningless if people are locked out of the process, so manufacturers have taken steps to improve communication between machines and humans.
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Caterpillar has an entire catalog of YouTube videos on the various functions and features of its new monitor. (Search for “next gen dozer monitor” for a list.) One example Meeker cites is the ability of an operator to define a work mode using the monitor as an interface. Up to 17 operating parameters can be set and stored as a profile, such as “heavy dozing” or “slope work” or “spreading.” Mode names are created by the operator. Waldschmidt says Case’s M Series dozers – specifically the 1150M, 1650M and 2050M – allow operators to independently set blade sensitivity, dozer steering sensitivity and shuttle sensitivity to one of three modes: smooth, moderate or aggressive. This allows operators to quickly and easily match machine performance to their preferences or to job conditions. Nick Rogers, product specialist, Liebherr USA, says Liebherr’s LiDAT system is available on every size dozer the company manufactures. An additional Teleservice package allows Liebherr service personnel to log in to machines remotely for diagnostics and repairs. LiDAT is enhanced telematics with much more robust data management, including the ability to manage data from multiple machines, whether they are all Liebherr or of mixed brands. Despite advances in information exchange, the value of the technology still rests on its use. “The
data stream is essential to productivity,” says Rogers. “But what are you doing with that information? Are you looking at it on a consistent basis? Being able to examine the information is important, but subsequently utilizing it is the key.”
Better basics While advanced technology is apparent in the marketplace, manufacturers are also building better basics. Dressta launched their S Series dozers in 2016 with a new powertrain. Features common to the full range of Dressta dozers include a modular powertrain design with Cummins and Perkins engines and hydrostatic drive, six-sided ROPS cabs and one-piece mainframes. Blade choices include a six-way option, and both single- and multishank rippers are available. While Dressta dozers employ three joysticks (drive, blade and ripper), their overall use of electronics is low, in part to keep costs down. This is not to say they’re primitive. For example, Cummins engines can be adjusted to give fuelconsumption options that were not available on earlier models, and shift presets can be altered to change how aggressively the machines respond to operator input.
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Tech Shortage special report
Part 2 of a four-part series On-the-job mentors are critical in intern and technician on-boarding. Here, Thompson Machinery trainer/mentor Josh Dabney (left) works with technician Mason Hudson.
34 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
Source: Thompson Machinery
ALL HANDS ON DECK
Dealers, OEMs, schools step up incentives, cooperation to fill growing technician gap.
E
by Marcia Gruver Doyle, Tom Jackson, Don McLoud
veryone now knows: this is serious. As the technician shortage grows, cooperation among dealers, manufacturers, schools, trade associations and nonprofit groups is kicking into high gear. “The industry itself won’t survive if we don’t all work together,” says Doug Hammond, department
chair for the Agriculture Engineering Technology Department at State University of New York at Cobleskill. “When I say ‘we,’ I mean the dealership groups, the equipment manufacturers, the educational facilities, and support for the kids coming up through the vocational training.” The sense of urgency is underlining some longstanding programs, such as Caterpillar’s ThinkBig ef-
fort and the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) Foundation’s diesel tech accreditation program, which accredited its first diesel technician program at Ferris State University in 2001. As the shortage grows, the industry is building upon such programs and coming up with new ones. It is also working harder to get the word out to the high schools and even
Taking techs to the next level With rapid advancements in construction equipment technology, diesel techs not only need a tech school degree or apprenticeship to get started but must remain willing to learn throughout their careers. No organization dedicates more time and effort to the advancement and professionalism of construction diesel technicians and heavy equipment fleet managers than the Association of Equipment Management Professionals. “The value of AEMP is realized in the education and training we provide on workforce issues through our conferences, online university and committee work,” says association CEO Donte Shannon. “AEMP is committed to a thriving talent pipeline for the current technician workforce, as well as equipment management professionals of tomorrow.” The association’s Certified Equipment Manager program for fleet managers with more than five years of experience covers such topics as financial management, procurement and acquisitions, parts management, and HR issues. Tim Morgan, fleet manager for Branch Civil and a recent inductee into the AEMP Hall of Fame, has mentored more than 50 equipment professionals through AEMP programs and pulled wrenches for 20 years before joining the organization and earning his CEM designation.
“You learn about the iron and the dollars – that’s the easy part of the job,” Morgan says about AEMP. “The most important thing you will learn is about the people. You learn what it takes to manage people and surround yourself with people who are better than you, and you’ll learn to lead with a servant’s heart. If you do those things, you’ll have a very long and satisfying career.” For contractors and shop managers looking to recruit more techs, AEMP recently created the Workforce Development Committee, which has created the Guide for Hiring Veterans workbook. “We are developing roadmaps and a tool bag of resources to help members find experienced technicians coming out of the military,” says Keith Barrett, the committee’s past chairman. The committee is also creating a video on finding qualified technicians, as well as a series of webinars, podcasts and job posting portals. “While technology is changing most jobs,” says Brett Faucett, current committee chair, “the need for skilled equipment technicians who are willing to learn and adjust to new technologies is going to endure – meaning skilled technicians have a great future.” –Tom Jackson
EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 35
special report
Tech shortage | continued
younger grades that the profession offers good pay and advancement opportunities. Without further such cooperation, industry and school leaders say, the problem will only get worse.
36 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
Source: CAT-North
Dealers joining together
High school students who graduate from the two-year Center of Applied Technology-North Diesel Power Technology program are heavily recruited for entry-level technician jobs.
Source: CAT-North
In Colorado, construction equipment dealers got so concerned about the shortage they decided to combine forces to tackle the problem. “We had tried a number of resources to find service technicians, and it almost got to the point there was no one left to even interview,” says Giles Poulson, president of Faris Machinery in Commerce City, Colorado. Then in 2014, Poulson says, local Caterpillar dealer Wagner Equipment invited Faris and other dealers in the state to help grow a diesel power mechanics program at the Community College of Aurora. The one-year college program alternates on an accelerated four-week rotation of classroom instruction and paid internships. “This gets them out in a year, and then it’s on-the-job training,” Poulson says. The Colorado dealers now participate in two open houses each year at the college’s diesel tech building to give prospective students and their parents insight into career opportunities for technicians. A panel of dealers also interviews candidates for internships at their dealerships. “It’s a way for all of the dealers to have all of the same questions answered at the same time,” says Marty Winters, service manager for Faris, which represents GOMACO, Gehl and Wacker Neuson, along with several other lines. “From that we determine which of the candidates we want to interview one on one and make offers to the ones we want. If they have multiple offers, they choose whichever dealership they feel would be a better fit.”
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special report
“
Tech shortage | continued
You have to just dive in and get some stuff going with those guys. We have to engage with them about four to six times in order to get them to commit to our company. – Doug Mehner, RoadBuilders corporate service manager
Hitting the high schools RoadBuilders Machinery and Supply has also found success in reaching out to high schools and offering scholarships and internships. The Komatsu dealer based in Kansas City, Kansas, employs about 85 technicians companywide. “We’re taking the long approach, and we’re going to invest in high school and college kids and grow our own,” says Doug Mehner, RoadBuilders corporate service manager.
”
“We have the opportunity to mold them into who we want as techs.” RoadBuilders’ approach involves grassroots work, including 20 to 30 recruiting events at high schools and seven to eight events at colleges each year. The dealer builds relationships with instructors, parents and students. “You have to just dive in and get some stuff going with those guys,” Mehner says. “We have to engage with them about four to six times in
High school students in the CAT-North Diesel Power Technology program take a field trip to John Deere construction equipment dealer JESCO.
38 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
order to get them to commit to our company.” Such an aggressive approach is urged by the AED Foundation, which now has 45 accredited heavy technology programs at 34 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. This includes Caterpillar’s ThinkBig, Komatsu’s Advanced Career Training and John Deere technician programs. Combined, the AED-accredited programs certified more than 400 technicians last year. By the end of this year, the foundation plans to have more than 60 accredited programs at more than 50 colleges and for-profit entities, in addition to five high schools. High schools are now integral to technician recruiting efforts. “We wanted to formalize some of the pipelines going from high schools into the college programs,” says Steve Johnson with the AED Foundation. “A lot of decisions are being made even early in high school about student career decisions. We actually recommend to our dealers they start working with the kids at the middle school level.” In 2017, the Center of Applied Technology-North (CAT-North) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, became the first high school diesel technician program to earn the foundation’s Certification of Recognition. Students travel by bus from their home high schools and spend part of the day in intensive instruction and hands-on learning in CATNorth’s Diesel Power Technology Program. They can take a fourweek introduction to the career as early as ninth grade. They can then take Level 1 starting in 10th grade and move on to Level 2 the follow-
ing year, giving them two years of instruction and training. Graduates have the skills for entry-level technician positions, says Lori Chearney, the school’s assistant principal. “The majority of our kids in diesel are very interested in getting out and getting right into the workforce,” she says.
Preparing tomorrow’s techs Those who seek diesel tech grads should be prepared to wait in line. “I’m not joking when I say we have four or five jobs for each student,” says Craig Kuehl, instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
“People come in and recruit right from the school, and there are way more jobs than I have students.” It used to be that the top students got the best offers, Kuehl says. “But today, honestly, employers don’t even ask what their grades are; they need them that bad.” There are a variety of college degree programs for budding technicians. Programs include those that graduate students within a year, while others require at least two years of instruction. Many integrate internships, while others require campus attendance for much of the day. Some programs are sponsored by manufacturers
“
I’m not joking when I say we have four or five jobs for each student. People come in and recruit right from the school, and there are way more jobs than I have students.
”
–Craig Kuehl, instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College
Job-ready students enrolled in diesel technician training programs. At the SkillsUSA National Championships, winners of state competitions come to Louisville, Kentucky, for a skills challenge. In the diesel equipment technology competition, contestants cycle through 14 stations where they test and troubleshoot engines, electrical and electronics systems, and powertrain systems, as well as demonstrate a variety of mechanical and general shop skills. They are then evaluated on their job interview skills and take a written test. Winners advance to a global challenge. During the week of the national championship, students also participate in community service projects, such as building park benches, cleaning and painting, says Gearheart. “I don’t know of anyone who has participated in this and not come away inspired by the students and the corporate citizenship,” he says. “Come to Louisville and find out what’s right about America’s youth.” –Tom Jackson
In the diesel equipment technology competition, SkillsUSA students cycle through 14 stations where they’re tested on engines, electrical and electronics systems, and powertrains.
Photo: Lloyd Wolf for SkillsUSA
Photo: Janet Cantore-Watson for SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is the largest organization in the country dedicated to developing students with manual arts abilities. The career and technical student organization serves more than 395,000 high school, college and middle school students and professional members enrolled in training programs in trade, technical and skilled service occupations. “If you work with your hands or you are in an industry that hires people who work with their hands, we have students who are studying occupations related to your business,” says Eric Gearhart, the organization’s director for partnerships. “We are aiming for world-class workers, leaders and responsible citizens. Our graduates are job-ready on day-one.” SkillsUSA boasts a 98 percent graduation rate in the past five years – compared to 82 percent for kids in non-career/ technical education. More than 20,000 instructors teach members in 4,300 school chapters. There are currently 3,932 student members
Job interview skills and a written test are also part of the SkillsUSA National Competition for student diesel techs. EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 39
special report
Tech shortage | continued
and are open only to those selected by dealerships, while others are college-sponsored and open to all students who qualify. Most of the disel tech degree programs are designed to prepare graduates for entry-level technician positions with contractors, fleet shops, dealerships and other businesses in need of diesel technicians. Students who gain work experience before and during their college attendance can also start in positions with salaries above entry level. For instance, State Technical College of Missouri is heavy on internships, with four internships required for its fivesemester Associate in Applied Science degree in heavy equipment technology. “We work to marry a student 40 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
Photo: McClung-Logan
A CAT-North student gets a hands-on introduction to a Volvo L110H wheel loader at a middle school summer camp sponsored by Volvo Construction Equipment dealer McClung-Logan Equipment in Baltimore. with an interning employer,” says the program’s department chair, Ed Frederick. After completing the program, students can usually obtain the equivalent of an entry-level position plus two to three years of experience, he says. The college is also one of 11 U.S. sites for Caterpillar’s ThinkBig program, in which local Cat dealerships sponsor students to undergo two years of classroom and handson instruction while also gaining experience in the dealership’s service departments. The program is based on Cat proprietary curriculum and focused on Cat equipment. Students have to be sponsored by a dealership to qualify. John Deere is another construction equipment manufacturer that
has developed partnerships with technical colleges to offer diesel tech programs. “These programs are at the forefront of recruiting students,” says Doug Hammond, of the Deeresponsored construction and forestry program at SUNY Cobleskill, “because it connects with the student before they’re even here, and they know where they’re going when they’re done.”
Dealers finding what works Dealers say their most successful recruitment efforts are close to home, seeking students for scholarships and internships within the surrounding community for nearby colleges and tech schools. “We try to get our interns fairly close to our branches,” says Mike
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special report
Tech shortage | continued
High school students get to compete for prizes in equipment-operation contests, among other activities, at the annual High School Day put on by SUNY Cobleskill. The event allows dealers to connect with prospective diesel techs before they enter the college’s diesel technology program.
“
When people hear that we have an internship program that will give you a degree in two years with zero student debt and a job, that’s attractive.
”
–Tony Tice, training manager with Cat dealer Thompson Machinery
42 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
Bond, training manager with Komatsu dealer Roland Machinery out of Springfield, Illinois. “Sometimes we’ve had students that have to drive an hour to one of our shops. Those are the ones we typically end up losing because they don’t want to travel that far after they graduate.” Dealers also find success in outlining the professional paths students can take, beyond working in the shop. “I talk about career development from day one,” says Mehner, who started as a mechanic after graduating from a two-year diesel tech program. “You can start as a diesel technician, and this career will take you anywhere you want to go.” Providing paid internships and scholarships to tech school students also gives dealers another selling point for attracting techni-
cians – no college debt. “When people hear that we have an internship program that will give you a degree in two years with zero student debt and a job, that’s attractive,” says Tony Tice, training manager with Cat dealer Thompson Machinery, headquartered in the Nashville area. In most cases, dealers require students to pay or finance their tuition upfront. Students can get reimbursed after they have graduated and worked with a dealer sponsor for an agreed upon period. “They need to have skin in the game, especially in the diesel technician field where it’s not easy,” Mehner says. Dealers approach tuition reimbursement on different time schedules; those we interviewed for this story paid out after two to five years of full-time employment.
However, Wagner Equipment, the Caterpillar dealer in Colorado, does provide upfront tuition and tools for its students, says Randy Myer, manager, Wagner Training Institute. “We go through an extensive interview and vetting process, and we ask them to sign a four-year contract,” he says. “We really don’t get our revenue offset – which we estimate to be around $250,000 per student – until somewhere between 42 and 46 months of employment.” Successful recruiting dealerships don’t stop with internships and scholarships. They match what students learn in the classroom with experience in the shop. They also link their students with experienced technicians who can serve as mentors. “Mentors have got to volunteer,” Mehner says. “It’s got to be something they want to be a part of.” It also involves its own training,
especially on how to build effective relationships with younger people. “I tell my mentors that I want them to learn more from the younger generation than they teach them.”
Higher pay Graduates are also earning higher pay than in previous years, with starting hourly wages ranging from $20 to $24, depending on the student’s experience and geographic area. “Two years ago our students were leaving our program with effectively nine months of education and making about $18 an hour,” Kuehl says. “Today that number is probably $20 to $21.” Graduates are also finding increasing pay and advancement opportunities within a relatively short time. One of Bill Kleman’s former students at Salt Lake Community College worked for four years in a
construction equipment dealership and is now a shop foreman at a large construction equipment rental store. Kleman, assistant professor in the Diesel Systems Technology program, expects his former student will move up to service manager or a similar position soon. He also has students who have been diesel techs for five or so years and are now making over $100,000 a year with overtime. “There’s just an immense amount of opportunity for somebody that’s entering this field that may not want to be a technician their entire life,” Frederick says. “This will give them the foundation and groundwork to move into other facets of the field.”
Business partnerships crucial Today, technical colleges and schools have become the middle man between prospective high EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 43
school talent and employers. All avenues are sought in the effort to attract students to the field. “We are trying a lot of different things to see what works,” says Hammond. “Right now, we don’t have anything where we’re saying, no, we won’t try.” As a result, one of Hammond’s priorities is building relationships among everyone involved: students and their parents, high school personnel, companies needing diesel techs and SUNY Cobleskill. Businesses are also getting into the act. Shell Lubricants, for example, was hearing from its customers about their troubles in finding qualified diesel technicians and decided to form a partnership in 2014 with Universal Technical Institute, including its diesel technology program. Shell Pennzoil provides annual scholarships to young entering students as well as to military veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce, says Nancy Bruner, Shell Lubricants director of influencing marketing for North America. It also provides scholarships to students who have completed UTI’s core program and are ready for advanced education or OEMspecific training. Concerned about students who may encounter unexpected hardships, Shell also formed a program with UTI in which students facing an emergency can receive prepaid Visa and Shell gas cards to help them through the crisis. Beyond helping students, the company donates its lubricants to UTI’s automotive and diesel programs and provides training to instructors on lubricant technology, fuel technology and future energy alternatives, Bruner says. Such business/school partnerships are essential.
44 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
Tech shortage | continued OEM support for technician training
Source: Thompson Machinery
special report
Jesse Morris, a recent Caterpillar ThinkBig graduate, on the job at Thompson Machinery. Kleman recalls that when he first came to the diesel tech program at Salt Lake Community College, the hydraulics program was sorely in need of updated equipment. Having formerly worked at a John Deere construction equipment dealership, he called in some favors in the industry and got newer equipment for students. “The students get around some of that construction equipment and think, ‘Wow, that would be fun to work on,’” Kleman says. For dealers to have consistency in their technician pool, they need to start looking at recruiting and tech college partnerships as an ongoing effort, Hammond says. That means sticking with these programs even during economic downturns. “You’ve got to keep that pipeline full,” Kleman says. “Every time you have a recession, the economy booms after.”
While schools and associations do their part to bring more young people into the equipment technician world, OEMs are also cognizant of the challenge, and most of the majors dedicate resources to promoting the industry. Some examples: • The Caterpillar Foundation has worked with its dealers for more than 30 years to provide $850,000 in cash grants to educational partnerships focused on developing entry-level technicians throughout North America. Caterpillar and its dealers also currently partner with 20 secondary-level educational institutions and 68 dealers in 10 countries to deliver its ThinkBig program. • John Deere supports a number of educational programs and scholarships and engages its employees in volunteer opportunities in those areas. The John Deere Tech program creates a mechanism for dealers to prepare future technicians. It has also connected dealers with exiting military personnel through events hosted at military facilities. • Volvo partners with SkillsUSA and Skills Competences Canada to promote awareness of the skills gap and encourage young people to consider training in the trades, including diesel mechanics. The company sold a commemorative gold-colored 50th anniversary A40G articulated truck at a Ritchie Bros. auction in Orlando, Florida, and donated the proceeds of the sale to the two organizations. –Tom Jackson
Up next This is the second installment of a four-part series that will appear throughout the year. Upcoming stories will examine: • Best practices in recruiting and retaining technicians • Future machines, future techs
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quick data
MarciaDoyle@randallreilly.com
Skid steer loaders
A snapshot of new and used sales trends from Randall-Reilly’s Equipment Data Associates and TopBid auction price service. Year-over-year change*
Auctions
NEW: DOWN 9%
Skid steer auction prices, May 2018-April 2019 $21,500
High: $19,828 May 2018
$21,000 $20,500
Current: $18,578
$20,000 $19,500
*Comparison of number of skid steer loaders financed Apr. 1, 2018 to Mar. 31, 2019, and Apr. 1, 2017 to Mar. 31, 2018. Source: EDA, edadata.com
Apr. 2019
1-year average: $
18,207
$19,000 $18,500
Top three states for trencher buyers*
$18,000 $17,500
New
$17,000
In January, the average price for the top 10 models of skid steer loaders sold at auction was 9 percent below the 12-month high for these machines in April 2018.
$16,500 $16,000
Low: $17,012
$15,500
Sept. 2018
$15,000
May
Jun.
Jul.
Aug.
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
2018 2019 Trend prices for the top 10 models of skid steer loaders sold at auction, not seasonally adjusted.
42,500
OTHER TOP BID:
Top auction price paid for a 2017 Caterpillar 272D2 XHP with 369 hours at a Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers sale Sept. 14, 2018, in Nashville, Tennessee.
42,000
$
State
# of buyers
Texas
887
California
825
Wisconsin
734
Used
PRICE
$
USED: UP 1%
2015 Bobcat A770 with 738 hours, Ritchie Bros., Jun. 12, 2018, in Sacramento, California.
State
# of buyers
Minnesota
1,235
Wisconsin
1,017
Texas
879
Top financed new skid steer loader*
6
9 9 2 , $21
HIGH
$
0 ,00
AVERAGE
May 1, 2018 – Apr. 30, 2019; prices for skid steer loaders 5 years old and newer, U.S. sales only. Only includes bids $5,000 and above. Source: TopBid, topbid.com
LOW
Final bids unit count: 650
New
Skid steer new, used sales trends, 2009-2018* 16,000 15,000 14,000 13,000 12,000 11,000 10,000 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000
Used low: 2009, 11,900 units
0 0 5 , $42 Used
Used high: 2014, 13,640 units
Other top selling new machine: Cat 262D, 791 units
Top financed used machine* Kubota SSV75, 446 units
New high: 2017, 14,001 units New low: 2010, 6,980 units
UNITS 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 *Financed equipment, 2009-2018, number of units sold by sale or lease. Source: EDA, edadata.com
Bobcat S650, 978 units
2016
2017
2018
*In terms of number of financed units sold Apr. 1, 2018 to Mar. 31, 2019. Source: EDA, edadata.com (Note: EDA reports are continually updated.) EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 47
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CTL TRACK CARE maintenance
| by Tom Jackson |
TJackson@randallreilly.com
Just one of the many types of tread designs, the C-shaped block in the tread on this Bobcat CTL track helps prevent mud and debris buildup.
Simple steps to double or triple the life of this component
T
he rubber tracks on which all compact track loaders ride give contractors the ability to go where skid steers and other equipment dare not tread. The low ground pressure and excellent flotation characteristics of these undercarriage systems protect turf and sensitive paved surfaces, provide great traction in snow and ice and allow contractors to keep working even on wet and soft ground where other machines would sink.
Keeping these tracks in good condition is the number one maintenance consideration for CTLs. “It is the most expensive wear component on the machine,” says Ryan Anderson, product marketing specialist, skid steers and CTLs at New Holland. Best practices for CTL maintenance aren’t rocket science, but neglect will cost you. Depending on how you treat them, the tracks could last as little as 400 hours or up to 2,000 hours. The average
is somewhere between 1,200 and 1,600 hours. “I hear about guys who get 2,000 hours on their track, but they’re the owner-operators who know how to take care of their machines and run them efficiently and effectively,” says Anderson. Getting your tracks to last as long as possible depends on two things: ground conditions and operator skill.
Site conditions As with tires, the conditions underfoot make a big difference in the EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 49
maintenance
| continued Skillful operators, proper tension and the selection of the right track for the job will greatly increase the longevity of your CTL tracks.
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vacuworx.com 50 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
longevity of your tracks. Hard paved surfaces produce more abrasion and wear. Rocky conditions cause cuts and chipping. In soft dirt, sand or turf tracks can last a long time. “I talked to a customer who was using a CTL to build a golf course where all the contoured surfaces were done on hard shale, via a breaker or blasting,” says Mike Fitzgerald, Bobcat loader product specialist. “He said one week on those surfaces put more wear on his tracks than they had experienced in the first 400 hours of operation on softer surfaces. In cases like that, you have to ask if a CTL is the right machine for the application. Maybe a skid steer would have been better.” Above all, avoid running over the “three Rs:” rocks, roots and rebar. Inventory the site before you start work and remove these tread killers if necessary.
Operator care Though the job determines the ground conditions, you can control how you or the operator runs the machine. “In less aggressive situations – mud, sand or soil – anyone can operate and have minimal impact to an undercarriage,” says Buck Storlie, product line manager for ASV. “But when the material gets aggressive, then the operator can have more of an impact on the life of the equipment.” Storlie recommends avoiding excessive spinning and counter-rotation. Three-point turns are a better choice, and that’s true for all brands of tracks and CTLs. “A quick look in the operator’s manual will explain those things,” Storlie says. Slope is another consideration. Running side-slope puts wear on the imbedded steel guide lugs on the downhill side of the track. Flanges on the drive sprocket and idlers help keep the track on the
undercarriage, but if the track tension is loose, running side-slope can result in the machine detracking. When possible it’s much easier on the tracks to go straight up and down a slope rather than lengthwise across it. “When working on hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete, some operators will sprinkle a little material like sand or dirt on the surface to help the tracks slide instead of skid,” Fitzgerald says. Also, when you go over a curb or obstacle, come at it head-on rather than at an angle. Hitting a curb at an angle increases the chances of tearing the track, especially along the edges.
Track tension On most CTLs you adjust the tension by adding or removing grease from a cylinder. Pump grease into this cylinder, and it pushes the drive sprocket and front idler apart; let
some grease out to reduce tension or remove the tracks. Other track tensioning methods use hydraulics, and some maintain tension with an adjustable spring. “Some operators working in sand will run the track loose because it minimizes some of the wear on the track’s metal imbeds and sprocket,” says Fitzgerald. “It doesn’t grind that material quite as hard, and they don’t have larger material or debris to worry about. Someone who is working in the mountains or areas with a lot of rocky material may run their tracks with tighter tension to prevent rocks and debris causing the tracks to come off. Once the operator knows what his application and conditions are, he can set that tension accordingly.” “I’ve seen situations in harsh, deep woods environments where a loose track caused an idler to fracture,” says Anderson. “When you have that much play in the track,
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maintenance
| continued
ASV’s CTL tracks use polycord rather than steel reinforcing in its tracks to help them stretch and flex over obstacles for increased ground contact. The horizontal bar-lug design is particularly good on turf or for snow removal. you start stressing those idlers.” Inevitably some material will get pushed up in and around the idlers, he says. “We recommend you clean out and inspect the tracks and undercarriage every 10 hours. If you keep the small stuff cleaned out regularly, that will limit the amount of debris that’s going through.” Some OEMs will give you a specific measurement for track sag. Others depend on feel. What is important is to check the tension every 10 hours or so. Tracks stretched too tight across the undercarriage can cause the machine to work harder than necessary, eating up horsepower and fuel.
Replacement tracks When you need to find a suitable replacement track, the easy choice is to go with the same brand and type that came as original equipment on the machine. But before you do this, spend some time analyzing how well the original tracks performed in your 52 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
typical applications and on jobsites. You may want to change to a different type of tread pattern, a different rubber compound, or a different width if your machine allows it. “For a compact working width, go with a profile track,” says Anderson. “Landscapers need a smaller machine, smaller footprint and have a less aggressive tread style to work in tight environments. When the width of the machine is not an issue, they’re more likely to go with a wider track to gain more surface area and better traction.” Tread types make a difference, too. The two main differences are between the multibar or “turf tread” with straight horizontal lugs and a block-style tread, says Anderson. The turf tread will minimally disturb the surface. But for a quarry, mining or forestry environment, you can get a block-type tread that will better resist punctures, chipping and abrasion. You can also find smooth track with no tread for landscapers and nonmarking tracks to prevent black
marks on finished surfaces. Some CTL owners in northern latitudes will use a bar-lug tread for snow plowing and a blockstyle tread for summer work, says Fitzgerald. Aftermarket brands of CTL tracks are also a possibility but be aware that there is no “universal” track design because OEM undercarriages have a variety of sprocket, roller and flange designs that dictate the design of the interior elements of the track. Companies like Bobcat will even have different undercarriage designs for different sizes of CTL, and ASV has a unique system that uses polycord instead of steel-cord reinforcing inside the rubber, says Storlie. All to say, the track spec is brand- and model-specific, so do your homework. After that, all you have to choose is tread type and manufacturer. Getting a warranty of at least 1,000 hours, regardless of whose track you choose, is also a good idea.
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road works
| by Don McLud |
DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com
MOTOR GRADERS:
S
OEMs simplifying these complex road workers electing the right motor grader for building a road depends upon a variety of factors. “In general, it really comes down to the job size, the material, the ground conditions, the ground pressure, the price point for the customers,” says Luke Kurth, John Deere product marketing manager, motor graders. “It’s a very regional thing. Every customer, every area has their popular sizes in what they’re looking for and the room they have to work with.” But when it comes to moving lots of dirt for a major road job, power and torque are at the forefront, he says. The machine also has to be able to achieve high accuracy to meet DOT standards for the finished grade. And as more veteran operators retire and less experienced operators fill their seats, motor graders with advanced machine control and automation fea-
Smaller graders When it comes to smaller road jobs and maintenance, motor graders with less horsepower and weight can get the job done. Here are some smaller graders on the market in the 120- to 190horsepower range:
tures begin to become more popular. Motor grader manufacturers have understood the challenge of simplifying a complicated machine for years and continue to make headway toward helping younger operators get up to speed. “All of these technologies and advancements have been able to help the operators get more proficient,” says Eric Kohout, Caterpillar product application specialist. “They still obviously need to understand material management and where to move the material, but there are technologies to get them up to speed faster.” The manufacturers have also been keeping an eye toward veteran operators who want the same types of controls they’re used to, but also appreciate the new technologies that are improving comfort and accuracy. “Some of these advancements have helped operators who are considering retiring maybe extending their tenure as an operator a
NorAm calls its 65E Turbo a compact machine with a big grader design, featuring an articulated frame, a torque proportioning rear axle, wheel lean and inch control. The grader weighs 16,900 pounds and is powered by a 120-horsepower Cat or Cummins engine. The ZF power-shift transmission has a heavy-duty torque NorAm 65E Turbo converter to deliver power and torque to the tandems. A 10-foot moldboard is standard, and a 12-foot moldboard is optional. An air-ride seat
54 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
little bit longer,” Kohout says. The advancements include automatic grade and slope control and autoarticulation, along with lower-tech upgrades, like improved visibility, convenient controls and increased comfort. John Deere recently upped the ante in technology with the industry’s first mastless grade-control system for motor graders, called SmartGrade. Manufacturers say more such advancements are on the way. “I think we’ll see technology continue to evolve in the years to come,” says Bruce Boebel, Komatsu senior product manager, wheeled products. “Engineers will find more creative ways to integrate more features into the machine and make doing work even easier for the operator.” With all the choices available to road contractors and the changes that continue to be made, we asked manufacturers to highlight their current top all-around roadbuilding motor grader.
and low-effort hydraulic controls are standard. The grader is available with a canopy or with an airconditioned cab.
John Deere 772GP with SmartGrade When combining SmartGrade with Deere’s 772GP motor grader – at 44,570 pounds and 275 horsepower – the operator not only has power and torque for moving lots of dirt, but precision when laying the grade. SmartGrade means contractors no longer have to set up a masted machine control system and dismantle it each day. There’s also no more worrying about damaging the cables and mast when getting near trees and brush. The grade-control system is integrated into the grader at the factory and comes calibrated and ready to run when it gets to the jobsite, Kurth says. “Now you’ve got a machine that you can use top to bottom on that jobsite,” he says, including site clearing. “You can do it all without having to mess with masts or coil cables. Now you are just hitting a button.” The new system allows more than just the convenience of going mastless. Kurth explains that it allows the operator to harness the motor grader’s full potential.
“Now the grader is the captain of the jobsite,” he says. “They’re the one in charge, and everyone will match that grade, so I know I’m never undercutting or leaving too much behind. We have now pushed the boundaries of what a grader is capable of doing.” Deere has also added automation into the mix to make it easier for less experienced operators to get up to speed and to help veteran operators focus more on production and efficiency. Such automated features include
Case C Series Case Construction Equipment designed its new C Series motor graders for small to mid-sized grading operations for municipalities, road maintenance and general construction. The models include the 836C at 138 to 156 horsepower and an operating weight of 24,466 pounds, and the 856C, with 173 to 190 horsepower and weighing 33,966 pounds. All-wheel-drive versions are available for both models. The C Series’ engines feature selective catalytic reduction. A power-shift transmission and torque converter provide smooth, automatic shifting. An automatic differential lock instantly transfers torque from a slipping tire to one with more traction. The graders feature low-profile cabs with floor-to-ceiling tinted glass.
auto articulation, in which the back of the machine follows the front wheels; and automatic cross slope, which holds a consistent slope with a single lever. Kurth says SmartGrade will also pave the way for future motor grader automation to make the machines easier to use. “We’re changing the way people expect the machines to perform,” he says. “They don’t have to work as hard as they did to get to grade, and this is just one major step forward in that direction.”
Rhino RM123 Rhino calls its RM123 an easy-running grader, featuring a tall mainframe for handling large loads and navigating obstacles. The grader is powered by a 140-horsepower Rhino engine and has an operating weight of 31,967 pounds. Rhino designed the RM123 with enough clearance for a mid-mount scarifier. It also features simple blade setup and ergonomic control panel. The top surface of the circle teeth is made of hardened, forged steel to reduce wear. Hoses are made to be durable and require fewer changes. A large tapered roller bearing at the lower pivot carries loads evenly and smoothly. EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 55
road works
| continued
Komatsu GD655-7 Komatsu’s new GD655-7 motor grader features a hexagonal cab for increased visibility. The cab viewing area has a narrower center section and then two large, clear doors on the sides that the operator can see through. “There are no cab posts in your way, so you can see down to the moldboard and make proactive adjustments,” Boebel says. “You can also see immovable objects so you can avoid them, such as posts or curbs. It provides excellent awareness of the jobsite around you.” Komatsu also added electronic controls that are situated back toward the seat in a more relaxed position for the operator, instead of 56 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
the upfront, traditional antler rack configuration. The company also split the 10-section hydraulic control valves into two, five-valve sections to further improve visibility. Linking to 3D grade control is simpler, too, no longer requiring an aftermarket valve to plug into the system. “The cab is prewired,” Boebel explains. “You just plug in to it with the grade-control system, mount your components on existing provision mounts, calibrate, and you’re ready to go.” The new Topcon GX55 monitor is part of the machine-control kit for the GD655-7. The GD655-7 also comes with a dual-mode, torque-converter transmission, which keeps the grader from stalling when you’re
spreading a heavy load. “So you’re able to power through those big loads and spread that material out,” he says. “If you had to stop, you’d have to back up and start over again – that’s less productive.” The transmission also boosts fuel economy while maintaining power. The 38,140-pound motor grader runs on a 218-horsepower engine. Komatsu also made the cab quieter and loaded it with standard comfort features, such as power raise and lower for the left-hand and right-hand consoles, multiposition adjustable armrests, air-suspension seat, rearview monitoring camera, AM/FM radio and auxiliary input jack.
Cat 140/140M3 When it comes to a general, all around motor grader for roadbuilding, from greenfield work to finish grade, Kohout recommends the company’s 140 or 140M3. One of the main differences between the two models are the control systems, with the 140 having a steering wheel and levers, and the 140M3 equipped with joysticks. The 140 has an operating weight of 42,235 pounds and runs on a 250-horsepower engine, and the 140M3 has a 252-horsepower engine and an operating weight of 43,950 pounds. The joystick-controlled 140M3 includes auto-articulation. Cat added a Stable Blade option for both graders, which detects when the machine will bounce and assists in preventing it from occurring.
“These technologies are available for both novice operators to help the company get them up to speed faster, as well as for seasoned operators” to reduce fatigue, he says. Cat is also seeing more interest from customers in automatic grade and slope control systems. “They see the time savings,” he says. “They see the ability to hit accuracy.” Cat integrates its Cat Grade with Cross Slope at the factory, which has auto-control on one side of the blade with the operator controlling the other side. The motor graders can also be equipped with 3D grade and slope control through third-party providers. Cat focused on reducing operator fatigue through improvements to seat comfort, lines of sight, heating and air conditioning and operator controls. Cabs can be equipped
with a radio, Bluetooth and a phone charger. Kohout expects more advancements to make motor graders easier to operate, especially as the industry faces a continued labor shortage and needs to attract younger workers as well as keep the veterans. “All equipment, especially graders, need to help shorten their learning curve where it makes sense, and in many cases be able to hold onto a seasoned operator for a few more years,” he says. “Automation is going to help a lot. We can keep the machine up and going and do things to help prevent downtime, but there will still be the need for that knowledge to manage the material and know what to do on the jobsite, as we provide features to make motor graders easier to operate.”
EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 57
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technology
| by Marcia Doyle |
MarciaDoyle@randallreilly.com
Machine control by phone JLG, Skyjack attack loading/unloading
M
obile elevated work platform manufacturers are using a variety of ways to address the hazards of loading and unloading their machines on trailers, as evidenced by two announcements made at this year’s American Rental Association Show.
Drive via smartphone Instead of using a hefty control module connected by a cord to the machine, JLG’s Mobile Control app option allows users to drive, steer and load the company’s new R Series scissor lifts from an iOS mobile device. “We think that corded system will be a thing of the past,” says Rafael Nunez, JLG senior product manager for scissor, vertical and low-level access lifts. “All of our machines eventually are going to be controlled by an app.” The system is available as an aftermarket option and will debut on the company’s electric ES Series scissors later this year. The app allows users to operate a machine equipped with control hardware and in a stowed position. It’s designed to alleviate some of the hassles rental companies and others experience when loading and unloading machines for transport, such as requirements that drivers be on the machine when loading or unloading, or that truck drivers stand next to the machine. The app also shines when traveling through doorways, Nunez adds. “With this, you can just stand behind it and drive it.” The app displays the essential controls to run the scissor, along with battery and machine status. By pressing the horn symbol, operators can alert surround-
ing personnel to machine movements. An incoming phone call or text stops the machine being moved. Depending on customer discounts, the hardware to control the machine with the app will cost between $300 to $500 per unit, Nunez says. The app is free and can operate the machine from 20 to 30 feet away.
Skyjack’s autonomous project During the show, Rory Pullen, Skyjack’s technical support and service manager in Australia, controlled a SJ3215 scissor lift on the show floor in Anaheim, California – while he was 7,000-plus miles away in front of the Sydney Opera House. Pullen used a smartphone to move the lift forward and backward, steer left and right, and raise and lower the platform. One practical result of this concept project would be helping customers safely load and unload trucks, says Brad Boehler, Skyjack president. Another possibility: automated jobsite delivery, with the machines loading and unloading themselves on and off a trailer. “It will also be a time-saver, with machines being able to auto muster around the rental yard,” going through various stages of the rental ready process, Boehler says. EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 59
Shrock Premier Custom Construction, our 2019 Contractor of the Year, has a great story. So do you. One way to make sure it gets told is to become one of our 2020 Contractor of the Year finalists. equipmentworld.com | May 2019
Our Contractor of the Year program honors the forward thinkers, high achievers and just plain good people in construction. These are the construction companies that get the job done right, on time and within budget. Their clients sing their praises, their vendors wish all clients were like them, and their workforce is dedicated and loyal.
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2019 CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR Shrock Premier Custom Construction After operating from a phone booth, Joseph Shrock strikes balance between business success and Amish faith P.
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contractor of the year finalist
| by Tom Jackson |
TJackson@randallreilly.com
Ecuadoran immigrant builds successful company after hurricane
Michel Noury emigrated from Ecuador when he was 20 and built a successful construction company almost from scratch.
A
fter studying engineering in Ecuador, Michel Noury immigrated to South Florida at age 20 to see if he could make a go of it in the United States. He joined forces with his brother-in-law, also from Ecuador, and the two of them worked for several construction companies before starting out on their own in 1991. One year later, Hurricane Andrew rampaged through Florida, and its wake left plenty of work for companies like theirs, for cleanup and for rebuilding infrastructure. Starting small with limited capital on hand, the two men rented most of their equipment and got to work rebuilding South Florida.
his own. Noury’s background and ability to analyze all aspects of the business kept the machines running and the crews working as the recession wound down. The first years on his own were difficult, he admits. “You have to have money in the bank to continue to operate,” he says. “I had to rely on my own line of credit on my house to continue with the
Dealing with the downturn In 2010, during the Great Recession, Noury’s brother-in-law exited the business, and Noury struck out on
Markets served: Site development, structural excavation, underground utilities
Michel Noury, Noury Construction City, State: Coral Springs, Florida Year Started: 2010 Number of 28 employees: Annual revenue: $5 million to $8 million
business, and in this business, you have a lot of uncertainty.”
The loyal core Noury downsized his fleet, keeping just enough to do the work on hand and used rental purchase options to rebuild the fleet as business improved. He brought over a core group of people from the old firm, including his controller, general superintendent and three foremen. “They were people I knew that I could trust and vice versa,” says Noury. “They are all still with me.” Realizing early in his career that managing equipment cost is key to running a successful construction company, Noury paid close attention to these critical assets. He also kept two mechanics on staff to do all the regular maintenance, to repair and rebuild auction bargains and to keep the new equipment in good shape EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 61
contractor of the year finalist |
continued
One of the company’s crews (From left to right): Luis Ochoa, Michel Noury, Luis Hernandez, Jorge Valdivia, Manuel Beltran, Luis A. Ochoa, Wayne Spencer, and Marco Juarez. and help retain its value. On his own, Noury started small and took his time to make sure previous customers were comfortable with his ability to execute the projects. “The relationships you develop in this industry are critical,” he says. He also shied away from competitive-bid public work where the jobs were bigger but the margins smaller. “I’d rather go slow and get the right job than get a lot of volume and have all the headaches and change orders,” he says.
Noury picked up this Harsco 5-ton M923 6x6 truck at auction and had his mechanics convert it into the company’s water truck. 62 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
Growth strategy As the company got bigger, however, it landed bigger projects and pushed through the lean times. It won a bid to demolish the old tarmac, asphalt and warehouse foundations at the Fort Lauderdale airport and secured a $5 million job for the foundation excavation, utilities, drainage and roadways comprising Terminal 25 at Port Everglades, where cruise ships dock. “The work had to be done on time, no matter what,” Noury says, “because a new cruise ship was coming. The timing was the most complicated part of all of it because all the trades involved.” Having his own company is great, Noury says. “I see it like a baby. You grow it and nurture it, and you do it gladly because you see the benefits and fruits of it. But you have to be passionate about it. If you’re not willing to put in the time to getting it out of the ground, don’t get into it.” A thing for equipment While he spends most of his days in slacks and dress shirts, Noury is an equipment enthusiast. He’ll buy a good used piece of equipment if he sees the need, and he’s got an
eye for auction bargains. But he’s no collector. Everything he owns runs, has a role to play or is being restored by his mechanics. “When Michel is purchasing a machine, he knows what he wants,” says Denis Arguello at Kelly Tractor. “He’s been doing it a long time. When he calls you for something, he knows what he’s talking about.”
Technical proficiency Although small, Noury Construction has thrived by executing complex and logistically challenging jobs. Case in point was the structural excavation for the Panorama Towers in Miami. At 82 stories, it is the tallest structure in the city and required Noury to excavate 13 feet below grade for a 12-foot-thick concrete pad while working in between the pilings that had already been placed. In addition, the material was wet and had to be stockpiled on site to dry before it could be loaded into trucks and removed, all in a crowded urban environment. Jobs like these have the area’s general contractors singing Noury’s praises. Geoff Bunnell, Moss Construction Managers, subcontracted
An engineering mindset toward safety
I
Noury talks with Marvin Nunez, the company’s equipment manager. to Noury on a $100 million job that had to be completed in just eight months even though the drawings were not finished. “When the work started, we had to give it to him in tiny pieces,” says Bunnell. “Most other earthwork contractors would have told us to pound sand, but he stayed there all the way through it. It was a tough job, but they stuck with us and got it done. It was a successful project for us, and they
said they made money on it, too. They are as good as it gets.” A love of construction seems to run in Noury’s family. Even though he says he did not steer them in this direction, one of his daughters, Isabella, is studying engineering, and the other, Juliana, is studying to be an architect. Noury says women are the future of construction. “This is the way the business is going,” he says.
Noury’s mechanics turned up another bargain, the 12-ton vintage Supertrack S-312 three wheel static roller. Rebuilt in 2009, it has a 102 horsepower Perkins engine and a two-speed piston motor driving the real axles with 69-inch rear wheels.
n addition to being named a Contractor of the Year finalist, Noury Construction also brought home the honors as this year’s Contractor of the Year Safety Award winner. Michel Noury approaches everything that can impact safety with an engineering mindset. Safety, continually evaluated and improved, is as much a part of the job as installing pipe. A hazard analysis is conducted for every job; the safety issues identified; and the results of these surveys communicated throughout the ranks every week. Regular toolbox talks keep the material fresh and relevant. Every foreman and superintendent get OSHA 30-hour certified. Almost every crew member is OSHA 10-hour certified. Crews are also trained to spot heat stroke and heat exhaustion and take steps to prevent them. Workers are provided with PPE: gloves, hardhats and vests. “We try to build this into our culture so that they know this is the way it is, that this is a requirement of the job,” he says. When his excavations go deep, Noury rents his shoring and shielding equipment from companies that specialize in such safety devices, and he relies on their expertise. He knows they will provide dependable shoring and shielding that has been designed to the demands of the job and the site. When the safety aspects of a job are particularly challenging, Noury will bring in his insurance representative to help him put together a plan. And twice a year, his agent will make unannounced visits at his jobsites to make notes of what’s being done right and what needs improvement. Given all this, it’s not surprising that this company’s experience modification rate is a low 0.76, or that its three-year lost-time incident rate is zero. EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 63
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uipment
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| by Tom Quimby
TEST DRIVE: 2019 Ram 3500 doesn’t
break sweat towing 35,000-plus lbs.
W
hat’s it like towing 35,100 pounds up and down a 6 percent grade with the 2019 Ram 3500? In a word, easy. With its latest heavy-duty lineup, Ram has hit a sweet spot amid impressive power, luxury and technology. The 6.7-liter Cummins diesel didn’t break a sweat while towing a Big Tex gooseneck trailer weighed down with a front loader and a packed pallet. That brought the load to the truck’s max tow rating of 35,100 pounds – the most ever for any pickup up to model year 2019. “It’s a no-compromise truck, really shattering the record for power and capability,” Jim Morrison, head of Ram, said before our test drive. The 3500 Limited dually we drove came equipped with a 12-inch screen that, among other things, allows multiple views of the trailer. Listening to the 17-speaker Harman
Kardon sound system comes easy, thanks to a quieter cab design. “We’ve used acoustic glass as well as active noise cancellation, and in general, it’s about a 10-decibel noise reduction,” said Ryan Nagode, Ram’s chief engineer of interior design. That adds up to about a 50 percent quieter cab over outgoing Ram trucks. And it’s not just quiet inside. You can easily carry on a conversation while standing beside the front of the truck with the hood up and the engine running. Besides driving on a 6 percent grade in historic Eldorado Canyon in Nelson, Nevada, we took the Ram 3500 on the highway. While we didn’t get the 35,100-pound load for the drive from Las Vegas to Nelson, we did haul a Big Tex dump trailer that weighed 14,900 pounds. The electronically controlled sixspeed Aisin automatic handled that record-breaking 1,000 pound-feet
of torque with ease and quickly did its part in getting us up to speed as we merged onto the busy Las Vegas freeway. One of the cool perks on the 3500 we tested was the class-exclusive active-level rear air suspension, which includes a bed-lowering mode. With the rear trailer camera view activated on that 12-inch screen, Ram demonstrated the system on a 3500 by lowering the bed, backing up to a gooseneck trailer and then raising the bed back up to connect to the trailer – impressive, to say the least. Other high-tech features that deserve notice include segment exclusive forward-collision and automatic emergency braking. And the brakes will definitely get the job done when it counts. Twice when we came to fast-changing yellow lights at busy intersections near Nelson, that 3500 came to a quick stop when the pedal was engaged. EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 65
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| by Tom Jackson |
TJackson@randallreilly.com
Illustration by Don Lomax
safety watch
Worker injured by demolition robot
R
emote-control construction robots are a great tool to keep workers out of the way during demolition operations. But they are no safer than any other machine if the worker doesn’t follow the safe procedures and operating instructions. The job was to demo a large commercial HVAC system. The victim had worked for this company for six months and was experienced with these types of machines. He usually worked with a partner but was working alone the day of the accident. The tool chosen was a demolition robot with a shear attachment guided by a waist-mounted remote-control panel. The operator was getting ready to reposition the machine and move the power cable before lowering the machine’s outriggers. As he was moving the cable, he accidently bumped the control panel against the machine. Date of safety talk: Attending:
67 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
Since he had not put the machine into the emergency stop mode, it moved, pinning him between the outrigger and a nearby wall. The victim tried to free himself but lost consciousness doing so. Coworkers saw that he was pinned and slumped over the machine and ran to his rescue. Attempts to free him with the remote control were unsuccessful. Others cut power to the unit, brought over a skid steer and tried to push the remote-control machine away from the operator. After multiple attempts they were able to free the victim; however, his chest was severely crushed causing him to lose several months of work.
How this accident could have been prevented • Supervisors or safety officers should prepare and communicate a job-hazard analysis for each Leader:
new job using the manufacturer’s safety instructions to establish the risk zone for the machine, attachment and task. • Operators should always stand outside the risk zone and never enter it until the machine is deenergized or put into the emergency stop mode. • Consider using a proximity warning system, such as those based on radio frequency identification (RFID), to maintain a safe distance between worker and machine. • Train workers to handle and move power cables safely. • Ensure all operators have read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. • Consider using a spotter to assist the operator. For more information on this accident see: http://bit.ly/demorob
_____________________
alerta de seguridad
| por Tom Jackson |
TJackson@randallreilly.com
Trabajador es herido por un robot de demolición
Fecha de la charla de seguridad: Asistentes:
Illustration por Don Lomax
L
os robots de construcción manejados a control remoto son un excelente recurso para mantener a los trabajadores alejados durante las operaciones de demolición. Pero son tan riesgosos como cualquier otra máquina si los trabajadores no siguen los procedimientos de seguridad e instrucciones de operación. La tarea consistía en demoler un sistema comercial de HVAC de gran tamaño. La víctima venía trabajando seis meses para esta compañía y tenía experiencia con este tipo de maquinaria. Solía trabajar con un colega, pero el día del accidente se encontraba solo. Estaba usando un robot de demolición con un accesorio de cizallas guiado con un panel de control remoto que tenía montado en la cintura. El operador se estaba alistando para reposicionar la máquina y mover el cable de energía eléctrica antes de hacer descender las estructuras de equilibrio de la máquina. Mientras movía el cable, accidentalmente golpeó el control remoto contra la máquina. Ya que no había colocado la máquina en el modo de parada de emergencia, ésta se movió, aplastándolo entre la estructura de equilibrio y una pared cercana. La víctima reaccionó y trató de liberarse, pero perdió el conocimiento mientras lo intentaba. Otros trabajadores vieron que se hallaba prensado y se arrojaron sobre la máquina corriendo en su rescate. Los intentos por soltarlo usando el control remoto fueron infructuosos. Otros optaron por cortar la corriente de la unidad y trajeron un montacargas y trataron de empujar la máquina para alejarla del trabajador. Después de múltiples intentos, finalmente lograron liberar a la víctima, aunque dado que su pecho había sido tan seriamente aplastado tuvo que perder varios meses de trabajo.
Cómo pudo haberse prevenido este accidente • Los supervisores o los encargados de la seguridad deberían preparar y difundir un análisis de riesgos del área de trabajo para cada nueva tarea, utilizando las instrucciones de seguridad del fabricante para establecer la zona de riesgo para la máquina, los accesorios y la tarea. • Los operadores deberían siempre pararse lejos de la zona de riesgo y nunca ingresar a ella hasta que la máquina haya quedado desactivada o colocada en modo de parada de emergencia. • Considere el uso de un sistema de advertencia de proximidad como los que utilizan frecuencia de identificación de radio (RFID) para mantener una distancia segura entre el trabajador y la máquina. • Capacite a los trabajadores para manipular y mover los cables de energía de manera segura. • Asegúrese de que todos los operadores han leído y que siguen las instrucciones del fabricante. • Considere el uso de un encargado de observación que ayude al operador. Para más información sobre este accidente, visite: http://bit.ly/demorob
Líder: EquipmentWorld.com | June 2019 68
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final word | by Tom Jackson
TJackson@randallreilly.com
Global warming and skin in the game
T
he government’s track record on fixing things isn’t particularly good. Remember when President Johnson declared war on poverty? We lost. I was still a teenager when the government declared war on cancer. We lost that, too. The war on drugs? A weed tycoon was the second-highest paid CEO in the country last year. Sounds like a surrender to me. This is not to disparage all government activity. The Environmental Protection Agency has done good work in cleaning up our waterways and air pollution. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration keeps our construction workforce a lot safer than it would be otherwise. What seems to separate the wins from the losses in government programs are the numbers. The EPA has concrete, measurable results when it comes to reductions in air and water pollution. OSHA puts out the numbers of injuries and fatalities in the workplace for all to see. If the numbers turn bad, heads will roll. But when it comes to global warming, what’s the number we want to achieve? Exactly how much CO2 do the activists and politicians want to cut from our industrial world and exactly how much will that cool the earth? Author Nassim Nicholas Taleb has some insights here. One of his common themes is, “Never trust anybody who doesn’t have skin in the game.” If you make a prediction and you’re wrong, there must be a penalty. Wall Street traders who bet on the wrong stocks take a hit to their finances. Every entrepreneur, business owner and employee in the private sector understands this. Skin in the game keeps folks honest. It kills bad ideas and rewards good ones.
74 June 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com
Only in government programs that lack measurable goals, do we find zero penalty for being wrong. Remember when Al Gore said, “We only have 10 years to save the planet.” That was in 2006, by the way. The planet is still here, and in fact, Yosemite National Park in California just recorded its latest and biggest snowfall ever. So all I want – before the proponents of the Green New Deal commandeer the biggest and most important sector in the world economy (energy), before they tax us to the hilt to combat this chimera, before they shut down all of the cars and trucks and heavy equipment, and we all are forced to grow our own food using draft animals – is to see the people promoting CO2 reductions put some skin in the game. Give us your best numbers, solid predictions based on real field measurements that say in the next five years, if we put X-amount of additional CO2 in the atmosphere, it will result in X-amount of temperature increase globally. If you’re right, let’s get to work on a solution. If you’re wrong, you lose your job, your tenure and pension; and you’re barred from working in a scientific or related field for life. The Romans, according to Taleb, required their engineers and architects to live with their families under the bridges and aqueducts they built. If the bridge failed, their family would be wiped out by the collapsing structure. A lot of those bridges are still standing after 2,000 years. The pronouncements uttered by Al Gore, and of late, Alexandria OctavioCortez, seem to reach their expiration date in about 10 years. That’s the difference you get with skin in the game.