Equipment World 1019

equipmentworld.com | October 2019

®

P.18

TECH ADVANTAGE:

Compact excavators get technology boost

P.33

SERVICE TRUCKS:

How to add features, increase productivity

KOBELCO-USA.COM

Cover Story

Vol. 31 Number 10 |

table of contents | October 2019

18

P.

MACHINE MATTERS:

COMPACT EXCAVATORS: More tech packed into lower-cost machines Equipment 15

Marketplace

New Cat skids and CTLs, Deere wheel loaders, Komatsu dozer, Gehl CTL, Dynapac paver, Brokk demo robot

33 Maintenance

65 Concrete/Asphalt Attachments

Adding features, productivity enhancements to medium-duty service trucks

Pave, mill and more with these add-ons for skid steers and CTLs

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019

3

table of contents | continued

Features 42 Road Works

Paving apps enable scheduling, tracking material haulers – even hiring truckers

49 Contractor of the Year Finalist

A&A Paving, Bob Olson and Todd Eichholz, Roselle, Illinois

®

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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Departments 7 On Record

Great Recession lessons not going away for equipment users

9 Reporter CNH splits off-highway, on-highway segments into 2 companies 55 Technology Komatsu’s new dozer machine control can be used ‘100% of the time’ Watch 57 Safety Invisible defects Data 61 Quick Backhoes Pickup 63 Pro Test Drive: 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel delivers impressive power, fuel economy

74 Final Word Analog vs. digital

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October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

Chairman Emeritus: Mike Reilly President and CEO: Brent Reilly Chief Operations Officer: Shane Elmore Chief Financial Officer: Kim Fieldbinder Senior Vice President, Sales: Scott Miller Senior Vice President, Audience: Linda Longton Senior Vice President, Audience Data: Prescott Shibles Vice President, Digital Services: Nick Reid Vice President, Marketing: Julie Arsenault Vice President, Business Analyst: Joe Donald Director of Media Sales: Seth Becker Vice President, Strategic Accounts: Michael Newman For change of address and other subscription inquiries, please contact: equipmentworld@halldata.com Editorial Awards: Azbee Award of Excellence, Special Section National Gold Award, 2019 American Society of Business Publication Editors Jesse H. Neal Award, Best Single Issue of a Tabloid/Newspaper/Magazine, 2019, American Business Media Jesse H. Neal Award finalist, Best Subject-Related Package, 2019, American Business Media Best Editorial Series, 2018, Construction Media Alliance Eddie award for B-to-B Series of Articles, 2016 Highways 2.0, Folio: magazine Editorial Excellence, Original Research, Silver Award, 2016 American Society of Business Publication Editors Jesse H. Neal Award, Better Roads, 2011 American Business Media Robert F. Boger Award for Special Reports, 2006, 2007, 2008 Construction Writers Association Jesse H. Neal Award, Best Subject-Related Series of Articles, 2006 American Business Media Editorial Excellence Special Section Gold Award, 2006 Midwest-South Region, American Society of Business Publication Editors

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on record | by Marcia Doyle MarciaDoyle@randallreilly.com

Great Recession lessons not going away for equipment users

T

here may be a tendency, especially after such a stellar 2018, for us to think the Great Recession is solidly in the rearview mirror. Not so fast.

The early 1980s construction industry recession, which prompted the breakup of industry stalwart International Harvester, resonated in this industry for years. I believe our more recent Time of Trouble, however, not only has had but will continue to have a much greater impact on how contractors view their equipment assets.

The survivor tales are familiar by now and include frozen bank accounts, liquidated fleets, crew reductions, pay cuts, and relying on personal lines of credit.

When your local market goes from 150 housing pads a year down to two in the course of 6 months, you learn lessons that last a lifetime.

Number one is attention to numbers, including debt. Rae Peters, who along with her husband, Don, was named our 2018 Contractor of the Year, declares, “Debt is your enemy.” While other contractors may not share Rae’s debt avoidance philosophy, they are certainly much more debt aware.

Pride of fleet ownership was on its way out before the Great Recession, but that door is now kicked shut. It’s not about how many excavators you have but how productive and efficient each one is in accomplishing a job. Equipment is now an asset, part of an equation, an equation that is much more easily calculated with today’s telematics data.

In writing my headline for this piece, I

changed “equipment buyers” to “equipment users.” The age of usership versus ownership is well underway. The American Rental Association’s Rental Penetration Index – which measures the amount of equipment rented as a percentage of total construction equipment – has been above 50 since it was first introduced in 2013. It is now at 53.

More telling was ARA’s recently published Rental Customer Needs Survey, in which 93 percent of contractor respondents ranked their overall satisfaction with their rental experience as “very positive.”

And 89 percent of those respondents say they are planning to rent next year. It’s no wonder that United Rentals, Sunbelt and H&E Equipment Services have posted rental revenue growth topping 20 percent in quarterly and yearly reports this year.

I would add that these lessons weren’t just learned by the adults sweating over the spreadsheets in 2009. Many construction firms are family firms, so many family members breathe in construction from an early age. When the Great Recession hit, these may have been Gen Xers in middle management or Millennial young adults in their first job, or even Millennial pre-teens with a closeup view of their parents’ worried faces. These lessons are now part of a family firm’s DNA and will last for generations.

Now that some caution lights are flashing on the general economy, contractors will especially want no-nonsense equipment numbers from their dealer and rental providers.

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 7

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Delivering a standing ovation worthy performance all day, every day. Learn more about America’s best-selling diesel utility vehicle* and find your local dealer at KubotaUSA.com.

* Kubota RTV Series is America’s best-selling diesel utility vehicle according to Power Products Marketing North American Utility Vehicle Market Reports, May 2016. $0 Down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 48 months on purchases of select new Kubota RTV-X Series equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply. Example: 48 monthly payments of $20.83 per $1,000 financed. Offer expires 12/31/19. For complete warranty, safety and product information see dealer or KubotaUSA.com. © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2019.

reporter

| staff report

CNH splits off-highway, on-highway segments into 2 companies CNH Industrial, parent of Case Construction Equipment and New Holland, has announced a new fiveyear business plan that will separate its off-highway segment of agricultural construction and specialty assets from its on-highway assets of commercial vehicles and powertrains.

The new off-highway company, with 2018 revenues of $15.6 billion, will focus predominantly on agricultural products, which will represent 75 percent of its revenues, followed by construction at 19 percent. The agricultural brands – Case IH, New Holland Agriculture, and STEYR – will “build on their market positions,

The on-highway company, with 2018 revenues of $13.1 billion, will include the Iveco, Iveco Bus and Heuliez Bus commercial vehicle brands (69 percent of vehicles) and the FPT Industrial powertrain business (31 percent of revenues). The spin-off of the on-highway company is expected to be completed in early 2021, subject to regulatory approvals.

“The bold plan will lead to the creation of two new global leaders in their respective fields,” says Suzanne Heywood, chairperson of CNH Industrial.

CEO Hubertus Mühlhäuser says the plan will allow the two companies to boost innovation and be more nimble, as well as improve and simplify operations and product lineups.

“When a customer wants to buy now he has too many alternatives when he can get a similar machine immediately from a competitor,” says Mühlhäuser.

“We want to eliminate the confusion.”

Carl Gustaf Göransson, CNH construction president, told the group that by 2022, CNH planned to eliminate and bundle product options, introduce differentiated service levels and offer customization for a price premium.

Planned 2020 construction model introductions include the Minotaur, an integrated compact dozer Photo: Marcia Doyle loader Case Construction Case CE’s futuristic Tetra concept loader on display outside the New York Stock Exchange.

Equipment unveiled as a concept during ConExpo further strengthened product lineups and improved 2017, B Series compact track loaders and skid steer distribution,” says CNH. Specialty vehicles, such as the loaders, and G Series 2 wheel loaders.

Magirus firefighting and defense vehicles, make up the CNH says it will reduce claims in its construction remaining 6 percent of revenues. products by 25 percent and time to repair by 20 perThe company’s construction brands – Case Construccent by 2024. tion Equipment, New Holland Construction and ASTRA New aftermarket solutions will include a dealer equarry trucks – will focus on “improving profitability, commerce platform, reman and attachment offerings, product range simplification, and growing share in and digital and connected services.

–Marcia Doyle application-specific segments,” says the company.

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019

9

reporter |

staff report

Colorado contractor charged with manslaughter after trench death

R

osario “Chayo” Martínez was working in an 8-footdeep trench in Granby, Colorado, attaching a copper pipe to a main line when the trench collapsed and buried him June 14, 2018, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

OSHA later cited residential and commercial general contractor ContractOne of Avon, Colorado, with one willful violation – OSHA’s most severe penalty – for not having a protective system to prevent cave-in, as well as 12 serious violations and one other violation. OSHA fined the contractor a total of $57,463 on December 6, 2018. The contractor contested the penalty, which was

later reduced to $40,000.

Bryan D. Johnson of ContractOne was charged August 22, 2019, with manslaughter after the OSHA investigation and an investigation by the Granby Police Department. District Attorney Matt Karzen decided to file criminal charges in the case against Martínez’s employer.

“Worksite safety regulations exist for a reason, and here we are reminded just how important it is for employers to adhere to those regulations.” Karzen said in a statement to Sky-Hi News.

–Don McLoud

Toro-brand large directional drills, riding trenchers discontinued

T

oro is discontinuing its line of Toro-branded large horizontal directional drills and riding trenchers, following its acquisition of Charles Machine Works this year.

The phased-out units include Toro’s DD226 and DD4050 directional drills and RT600 and RT1200 riding trenchers. Toro plans to continue producing all of its walkbehind trenchers, as well as its ProSneak 365 vibratory plow.

In announcing the realignment of its underground construction business, Toro says it “intends to combine certain aspects of the Ditch Witch, American Augers and

10 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

Toro’s RT1200 ride-on trencher

Trencor business,” three of the brands included in the acquisition.

The plans include a “streamlined approach to the marketing, sales and service functions of those businesses to more effectively support customer needs,” according to the company.

Toro says its Toro-brand products – including Dingo compact utility loaders, concrete and masonry mixers, compaction equipment, and tree and specialty turf products – will continue to serve rental and specialty construction markets.

–Marcia Doyle

Briefs John C. May will be the next chief executive officer at Deere & Company after Samuel R. Allen, who has served as CEO for 10 years, will step down November 4. Allen will continue as board chairman. May, 50, who currently serves as president and chief operating officer, will be the 10th CEO in the company’s 182-year history.

Tony Satterthwaite has been named Cummins’ new president and chief operating officer following the retirement of Rich Freeland, who served the company for 40 years. Satterthwaite has served as distribution president.

Case Construction Equipment has named Steve Cianci its new vice president for North America. Cianci replaces Michel Marchand, who left the company in August. Cianci comes to Case with more than 25 years of experience at various global heavy equipment and industrial companies.

ASV Holdings stockholders have approved the all-cash $70.7 million purchase by Yanmar America, first announced in June. The transaction closed on September 11th, and ASV common stock was delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market.

For more on each of these stories go to equipmentworld.com.

5

Ask The Experts | Chevron Lubricants Advertisement

questions about COOLANT SYSTEMS

1

WHAT IS THE CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE BRAZING (CAB) PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING ALUMINUM RADIATORS, AND HOW DOES THIS PERTAIN TO VEHICLES? The CAB process refers to how the aluminum parts of a radiator are joined together. This is done using a flux or chemical cleaning agent that prepares the aluminum for brazing. The CAB process has been around for approximately 15 years and has become more popular over the last few years, including with waste vehicles.

2

WHY ARE CAB RADIATORS A CONCERN?

The outside of the radiator that is exposed to the atmosphere becomes oxidized or passivated over time, meaning a natural protective coating forms on the aluminum. However, inside the radiator, the aluminum treated with the flux remains unpassivated and lacks that protective layer.

When a nitrited coolant is introduced to the radiator, it has a tendency to react with the unpassivated or unoxidized aluminum. This can create ammonia, which leads to an unpleasant odor, and other

reactions that can cause the formation of precipitants that clog small orifices in the coolant system.

3

HOW DO THESE CAB RADIATORS AFFECT NITRITE-FREE COOLANTS? When using a nitrite-free coolant, the presence of flux can change the concentration of the additives in the coolant depending on the additive chemistry. This can cause the formation of precipitants, which again, can clog small orifices in the cooling system. pH imbalance, either too high or too low, can also lead to coolant system metal corrosion.

4

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PROTECT AGAINST THE DEGRADATION OF COOLANTS AND CORROSION OF HEAVY-DUTY COOLANT SYSTEMS CONTAINING CAB-PROCESSED RADIATORS? Some manufacturers have addressed the issue by offering a radiator conditioner that effectively passivates the metal inside the radiator. This allows for the use of a coolant containing nitrites, which some OEMs recommend for protecting cylinder liners from cavitation, while mitigating the problems caused by the unpassivated aluminum and flux. While some manufacturers have gone to a nitrite-free organic additive technology (OAT) specification due to the aluminum radiator issue, a few OEMs still call for nitrated

pH imbalance, either too high or too low, can also lead to coolant system metal corrosion.

OAT or NOAT coolants. Most equipment users in North America, therefore, are still using NOAT-based coolants, even if they have mixed fleets, and choose to use the radiator conditioners in new equipment or replacement radiators.

5

extend system and coolant life.

With Delo ELC Advanced, equipment operators will no longer need to rely on a conditioner to reduce the risk of a chemical reaction with the nitrite and unpassivated aluminum in their coolant systems.

IS THERE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE, LESS LABORINTENSIVE METHOD TO PROTECT COOLANT SYSTEMS AND THE COOLANTS IN TODAY’S SYSTEMS? At Chevron, we have come up with an alternative solution, which is to change the composition of the coolant rather than treating the aluminum with a conditioner. Our new DeloŽ ELC Advanced extended life coolant is a NOAT formulation with patented technology that controls the reaction with the aluminum and the flux to

Dan Holdmeyer, Industrial Sector Manager for Chevron Lubricants, addresses common questions about coolant systems

COOL WITH PURPOSE Introducing Delo® ELC Advanced The heavy-duty coolant built for modern aluminum coolant systems.

Heavy-duty coolant systems have changed, but coolants haven’t—in over two decades. When new meets old, an adverse reaction can occur, causing increased coolant consumption, pH imbalance, and in some cases, engine failure.

NEW Delo ELC Advanced is built for modern aluminum coolant systems. Its patented formula won’t react negatively to CAB aluminum radiators, and keeps your coolant system doing what it should—controlling temperatures to extend system and coolant life.

Delo ELC Advanced. It’s protection with purpose. www.deloelcadvanced.com © 2019 Chevron. All rights reserved. All trademarks are property of Chevron Intellectual Property LLC or their respective owners.

Experience the Progress.

The Liebherr wheeled excavator Quality Liebherr components optimize entire machine performance Advanced proportionally controlled hydraulic system maximizes productivity New spacious cab design promotes operator comfort Generous glass surfaces increase visibility and enhance safe operation

Liebherr USA Co. Construction Equipment Division 4100 Chestnut Avenue Newport News, VA 23607 Phone: +1 757 245 5251 E-mail: Construction.USA@liebherr.com www.facebook.com/LiebherrConstruction www.liebherr.us/dealers-emt www.liebherr.us

marketplace

| by Don McLoud |

DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

Cat D3 Series equipped for Smart Attachments Caterpillar’s new D3 Series of skid steers and compact track loaders are designed for handling the company’s new line of Smart Attachments. The carrier machines automatically recognize and adjust machine controls to the attachments.

Cat also added other technology, including Return-to-Dig for setting the bucket angle; Work Tool Positioner for repetitive tasks, such as grading, digging and loading; and dual-direc-

tion self-leveling, which automatically levels the loader linkage when raising and lowering lift arms. The new D3 lineup consists of eight skid steers ranging in operating weights from 5,849 to 9,573 pounds and gross horsepower of 67.1 to 110. There are nine CTLs in the series, with operating weights of 7,434 to 12,764 pounds and the same horsepower range as the D3 skid steers.

EDITOR’S PICK

More comfort in the cab

John Deere focused on improving operator comfort with its latest L-Series wheel loaders. The new models – the 744L, 824L and 844L – are designed for demanding tasks and production. They are more powerful than their predecessors by up to 9 percent, with the 744L bringing 315 horsepower; the 824L, 343 horsepower; and the 844L, 417 horsepower. Deere added 3 inches of legroom in the cabs. Other comfort features include a heated, ventilated seat with pan and tilt, a door that is 80 percent wider and automatic climate control.

A dozer for soft ground

Komatsu has unveiled a new low ground pressure model of its 354-horsepower D155AX-8 dozer with longer, wider tracks and two blade options. The new model applies only 7.7 pounds per square inch of ground pressure, which the company says is the lowest in it class and is 47 percent lower than the standard D155AX-8 model. It achieves this by eight fixed-mounted track rollers on each side to distribute weight evenly and by increasing the ground contact area 72 percent over the standard model for better flotation on soft ground.

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 15

marketplace

| continued

Small but mighty CTL Gehl’s new RT135 compact track loader is designed to access tight jobsites yet still maintain power. The CTL runs on a 46.6-horsepower Yanmar engine that meets Tier 4 Final emissions standards through automatic regeneration and no fuel additives. It can lift 1,350 pounds at 35 percent operating capacity and has a maximum lift height of 9 feet 2 inches. It can be easily transported, the company says, noting that it is 57 inches wide and 76 inches in height. The RT135 also comes equipped with pilot joysticks and IdealTrax automatic track tensioning.

Electric demo robot can ride elevator Brokk has launched its smallest electric demolition robot, the Brokk 70, which weighs 1,235 pounds. At 35 inches tall and 12.5 inches wide, it can fit through narrow doorways and into tight spaces for interior demolition jobs. It can also be transported by a typical passenger elevator.

Its three-part arm extends 10.5 feet high and 8.8 feet horizontally. The demolition robot comes with Brokk’s BHB 105 hydraulic breaker, which produces 117 foot-pounds of striking force. It can also be paired with concrete crushers, drum cutters, grapples and buckets.

Pave large parking lots, rural roads Dynapac’s FC1700C commercial class paver is equipped with a 120-horsepower Tier 4 Final Cummins engine. The paver is designed to be versatile and handle such projects as large parking lots and rural roads. It can pave at 8 or 15.5 feet without the need to shovel asphalt at the end gates. The company says the paver offers best-in-class hopper visibility.

The hopper has a 9.5-ton capacity. The paver also has bestin-class paving quality and density behind the screed, due to its 4,500-pound VF0816 screed and mounted four-auger system, Dynapac says.

These product introductions are just a few of the many featured regularly on equipmentworld.com.

16 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

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making plays. Little by Little.

Choose a new Doosan ® Mini eXcavator

for power that’ll help you make each play on your job site.

Doosan® and the Doosan logo are registered trademarks of Doosan Corp. in the United States and various other countries around the world. © 2019 Doosan Infracore North America, LLC. All rights reserved.

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machine matters

| by Richard Ries

Dig depth on the Kubota U27-4 is 9 feet 5 inches, and bucket digging force is 7,014 pounds. A thirdline hydraulic return system allows oil flow directly to the tank when using one-way attachments such as a breaker to reduce back pressure and heat.

Two variabledisplacement pumps allow simultaneous operation of the boom, arm, bucket and swivel.

COMPACT EXCAVA

More tech packed into lower-cos

T

echnology has always been a tricky issue for compact equipment. Tech features can be expensive and represent a higher percentage of total initial cost than on larger mod18 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

els. And the same technology that provides clear value for productionclass equipment doesn’t have the same return on investment for compact machines, which handle varied applications and typically have lower utilization rates.

That said, the demand is there for technology on compact equipment. Perhaps nowhere is the demand stronger than on compact excavators. This is true even in the rental market, where residual value is a prime consideration.

As the largest of three models in the R Series lineup, the Bobcat E85 features selectable auxiliary hydraulic flow, selectable control patterns, two-speed travel and an integrated rear counterweight. Power comes from a turbocharged engine rated at 65.9 horsepower. Bucket digging force is 16,269 pound-feet, and rated lift capacity is 9,754 pounds.

ATORS:

st machines “In rental, everything is for sale,” says Greg Worley, product application specialist, Caterpillar, “and technology helps preserve resale value.”

OEMs have responded to this increased demand in various ways.

The smallest of six new models Case debuted in 2017, the CX17C has 16.8 horsepower, bucket digging force of 3,490 pound-feet and zero tail-swing overhang with the standard counterweight. Operating weight is 3,910 pounds with canopy and short arm, or 4,110 pounds with canopy, long arm and additional counterweight.

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 19

machine matters Adding tech Bobcat expanded their R-Series lineup with the launch of the E85 in 2018. It is among seven models offering the optional Bobcat DepthCheck System. With Depth-Check, sensors monitor the position of the bucket teeth for accurate and consistent digging. “We have seen a steady take rate for the DepthCheck System where customers are doing a significant amount of digging work,” says marketing manager Jason Boerger. All Bobcat models feature in-track swing frames. Swing castings and cylinders remain within the tracks when offset digging.

In-cab advances on the R-Series include optional automatic heating and air conditioning and a secondary auxiliary selector toggle switch on the left joystick for boom swing control with better metering than by foot pedals.

Case has included many features as standard, moving compact equipment closer to full-size amenities. “We want to simplify the buying process, include as many premium features as possible, and give operators a full-size excavator feel and experience,” says Ed Brenton, product marketing manager.

This is especially true as you move to the mid-size CX75C and CX80C. Proportional controls are standard on the full line. One set of oneway/two-way auxiliary hydraulics is standard; a second set is optional.

Caterpillar sought to bring the technology with greatest value to its next generation machines.

They currently have four models each in the 1- to 2-ton and 7- to 10-ton sizes. The monitor that had been only in the larger models is now standard all the way down to the 1- and 2-ton machines. All but the smallest models include a camera. Cruise control is found on the left joystick. Also on the left joystick is Stick Steer, which makes Cat’s compact excavators 20 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

| continued The Cat 307.5 is powered by a Cat C2.4 Turbo engine rated at 55.9 net horsepower. Maximum operating weight is 18,152 pounds. Operator comfort is enhanced with optional Stick Steer mode, adjustable wrist rests, control pattern changer and travel cruise control. Operator sound pressure is 72 decibels.

Compared to the older 27D, the new Deere 30G has 22 percent more bucket force, 11 percent more arm force, 17 percent more engine horsepower and a 16 percent more auxiliary hydraulic flow. Maximum dig depth is 9 feet 2 inches. Operating weight is 7,220 pounds. The control pattern selector is under the seat for easy access.

Choosing a mini excavator can be tough. Similar capabilities. Similar features.

Similar prices. Until now! The new JCB 18Z and 19C mini excavators have made your choice a whole lot easier. Tough as nails with all-steel body work.

Easy to maintain with 500-hour greasing intervals. And simple to haul from one job to another.

To find out how a JCB mini excavator can add value to your business, visit www.jcb.com or contact your local JCB dealer.

/JCBNA

@JCBNA

JCBNA www.jcb.com

5360

machine matters

| continued Powered by a Yanmar turbocharged diesel engine rated at 47.6 horsepower, the zero tail swing Yanmar ViO55-6A has a three-pump hydraulic system for consistent performance during simultaneous operations. A hydraulic quick coupler is standard. Operating weight is 11,850 pounds, and maximum dig depth is 13 feet 6 inches.

handle like skid steer loaders while traveling.

Doosan uses engines carefully matched with pumps to provide optimal hydraulic performance. Rubber hydraulic lines are routed through the lower portion of the boom swing casting, and steel lines are secured on the top of the boom structure for protection. And while attachments are popular and useful, “a blade can be an effective tool for operators,” says Aaron Kleingartner, marketing manager, Doosan. An optional angle blade gives 25 degrees of angle left and right. With it, operators can direct spoil from one side of the blade to the other without forming windrows on both sides of the blade.

Features on Hitachi’s six-model lineup include a heavy-duty X-frame that provides a stable platform and resists dirt buildup, wedge-style couplers for quick changes of a variety of buckets and attachments, rubber tracks, and Tier 4 Final Yanmar engines requiring no aftertreatment. A canopy is available on all models as a cost-effective alternative to a cab. Isochronous high idle reduces noise by maintaining a constant engine speed under varying loads.

While attending to all the features on compact excavators, Deere has paid special attention to hydraulics because “the secret sauce of any excavator is the hydraulic system,” says Jonathan Spendlove, product marketing manager, excavators, John Deere Construction & Forestry. Auxiliary hydraulics are standard. The 26G, 30G and 35G feature auxiliary selector valves with bidirectional, adjustable flow. Other features include an available suspension seat (standard in cab models), zero 22 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

The ZX30U-5 is the third smallest in the six-model line of Hitachi compact excavators. Powered by a Yanmar diesel engine rated at 23 horsepower, the ZX30U-5 has a maximum dig depth of 9 feet 2 inches and maximum dig reach of 16 feet 1 inch. Operating weight is 6,850 pounds. Foldable travel pedals are placed for easy use and ample foot room.

MAKE POWER MOVES.

MORE POWER TO YOU. Wherever the job takes you, Doosan Portable Power equipment is there with reliable, undeniable performance. With Doosan Portable Power on your side, you can Make Power Moves.

See the full lineup at DoosanPowerMoves.com/PortablePower. ©2019 Doosan Portable Power. All rights reserved.

machine matters

| continued

Doosan rounded out its lineup of compact excavators with three new models. From left, the DX50-5, DX42-5 and DX35-5 are available with a canopy or cab and can be equipped with a quick coupler, thumb and attachment package. Horsepower ratings are 31.2, 42.7 and 45.7, respectively.

tail swing models and an auto-idle feature that returns the engine to idle speed after 4 seconds of inactivity.

As part of Kobelco’s iNDr noise and dust reduction package, engine compartments are fully enclosed, resulting in much lower noise levels.

A thumb mounting lug is standard on most machines, and suspension seats are on many models.

Kobelco also addresses the North American market with higher capacity engine and hydraulic cooling systems, says George Lumpkins, general manager of marketing, Kobelco USA. In addition, the ability to change between steel and rubber tracks without modifying the excavator base is optimized for North America. Counterweights are heavier, or additional weights are available. North American models’ pattern changers include a tractor loader backhoe pattern.

Kubota also has enhanced its hydraulics architecture. Attachment flows can be adjusted from inside the cab. All 11 “-4” models have a hydraulic diverter valve in the arm for quick change of hydraulic lines with the thumb hydraulics connected. This simplifies attachment management on machines equipped with thumbs. An option for two service ports is available on KX040-4 and larger machines and is standard on the KX080-4. “The 24 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

number of attachments for compact excavators grows every year,” says Jeff Jacobsmeyer, Kubota product manager. “Sophisticated hydraulics allow the operator to match the flow to the attachment, preventing damage and optimizing performance.”

Doran Herritt, construction equipment brand marketing manager, New Holland, points to four tech features on the company’s compact excavators. The auto-shift travel system downshifts and upshifts automatically to maintain momentum as loads change due to condition changes.

Auto idle drops engine speed to reduce wear and conserve fuel when the operator is not using the travel or excavator levers. Fleetforce telematics includes usage monitoring, which helps with preventive maintenance scheduling, and geofencing. The smallest New Holland model, the E17c, has retractable tracks.

Keith Kramlich, national service and warranty manager at TakeuchiUS, cites the company’s advances in electronics that allow hydraulic flow and pressure, joystick sensitivity and travel speed to be adjusted by in-cab display. Electronics also augment comfort with better climate control, larger displays and controls that are more intuitive and easier to use.

Takeuchi compact excavators have

three work modes: Standard, ECO for fuel savings, and Highland for operation in high-altitude, low-oxygen environments. But, he says, “with these enhancements also comes more complexity. Wiring harnesses are bigger and controller communication requires shielded CAN bus circuits with stable power. And new hydraulic systems are less forgiving of abuse or lack of maintenance because of their higher performance and finer tolerances.” These are not reasons to shy away from new equipment, just things to consider in owning, operating and maintaining it.

While it makes the transition to electric compact excavators, Volvo will continue to offer 10 models of diesel-powered compact excavators. Nine are track-type, and the EW60E is wheeled. John Comrie, Volvo compact excavator product manager, says the company is targeting backhoe loader owners with the EW60E. “The compact size of the EW60E, its 360-degree swing radius, its attachment versatility and its ability to travel at 19 mph make it an excellent replacement to a backhoe.” The conventional tail swing EC35D and short swing radius ECR40D remain popular with the rental market. New to the lineup are the EC20E and ECR18E. The latter, with its rear over-

hang of only half an inch, is meeting the growing demand for short-swing machines.

Yanmar now offers eight compact excavators in two series. The ViO Series line, launched in 1993, has six models of zero tail swing machines.

Standard features include Eco and Auto-Deceleration modes for up to 20 percent fuel savings. The SV Series models are built around an ultra-tight turning radius for added versatility in confined worksites. The two SV machines bookend the Yanmar lineup as the smallest and largest models, the SV08-1B with 10.3 horsepower and the SV100-2A at 74 horsepower.

Both are diesel. The ViO 80 and SV100 come standard with second auxiliary hydraulics to the end of the arm. In addition, “SmartAssist Remote Service, Yanmar’s comprehensive telematics package, is also free for the first five years on all the ViO25 and larger excavators,” says Joey Queen, Yanmar construction equipment attachments engineer.

Electric surge Electric equipment is coming on strong, and compact excavators are ideal candidates. Their duty cycles, utilization rates and physical design make them well suited for electrification.

In addition to going all-in on electric, Beainy says, Volvo is also looking at hybrid and battery-enhanced designs. “Our research has shown that electrification is possible for many machine types and sizes, but diesel engines will remain appropriate for certain sizes, applications and markets for some time yet, so we’ll continue meeting that demand as well.”

JCB’s 19C-1E, introduced at the ARA Show in February, is the first of several planned electric excavator models. “The 19C-1E meets growing customer demands for a machine with zero emissions and reduced noise pollution,” says Chris Lucas, JCB North America product manager for compact excavators.

“This eliminates the need for costly exhaust monitoring and extraction when working indoors, underground or in sensitive urban locations.” He notes the electric machine is five times quieter than a comparably sized diesel machine, an important consideration when working outside of normal hours or in noise-sensitive environments such as schools and hospitals. The 19C-1E is tether-free

and powered by a three- or four-cell lithium ion battery pack. The battery can power the machine through a typical day without recharging.

JCB has not neglected traditional diesel-powered compact excavators and recently launched their next generation of 8- to 10-ton models.

Technology features include a Lift Overload System, which provides the operator with terrain information With an operating weight of 18,298 pounds, the 85Z is at the upper end of the compact excavator offerings from JCB. In its most popular configuration, the 85Z is fitted with a dozer float system, 18-inch rubber tracks, ISO and SAE switchable controls, a cab with air conditioning and a high-back fabric suspension seat.

The R35Z-9A falls in the middle of Hyundai’s seven-model lineup of compact excavators. It features a Yanmar engine rated at 23.7 horsepower and an operating weight of 8,470 pounds. This zero tail swing machine has maximum bucket breakout force of 6,170 pound-feet and a maximum dig depth of 10 feet 3 inches.

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 25

machine matters and indicates lifting limits based on the position of the machine. Other features include a twin-lock hydraulic coupler with an LED indicator, and a “below-idle” option that drops engine idle speed to 950 rpm for improved fuel consumption.

Wacker Neuson debuted their first electric compact excavator at Bauma, the 1.7-ton EZ17e. This is the frontrunner of a range of electric models the company has planned.

Wacker Neuson also offers the 803 dual-power machine, which runs on its diesel engine for typical applications but can also be powered by the company’s electrically driven hydraulic power unit (HPU). This allows one machine to work in traditional environments as well as those where emissions and noise are special considerations.

Other features on some Wacker Neuson models include an advanced color display and jog dial, allowing operators to easily set and store

| continued

The 24.4-horsepower New Holland E37C has a maximum dig reach of 17 feet 5 inches and a maximum dig depth of 10 feet 3 inches. Operating weight is 7,990 pounds with canopy and 8,300 pounds with cab. An available four-way angle blade reduces backfilling time by allowing the operator to travel parallel to the trench rather than perpendicular to it, reducing the need to reposition the machine. flow rates to match attachments.

“Maintaining the optimal system settings appropriate to the application makes work more productive and saves time when switching attachments,” says Wacker Neuson market product manager John Dotto. The EZ36 allows the operator to program the sensitivity and speed of the dozer blade. Combined with the model’s float feature, this makes cleanup work and backfilling faster and easier.

Standard equipment on the Kobelco SK75SR-7 includes a Yanmar turbocharged, intercooled engine rated at 70 horsepower, two-speed travel with automatic downshift, automatic travel priority and 23.6-inch steel tracks predrilled to accept bolt-on rubber inserts. An air-ride suspension seat and automatic climate control improve operator comfort.

26 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

VDS, or Vertical Digging System, allows the house of the excavator to be leveled on slopes up to 15 degrees.

This enhances operator comfort and allows the operator to dig flat-bottom trenches on uneven surfaces without overdigging.

Hyundai and Cummins have announced a collaboration on electrified compact excavator designs.

While that effort is being developed, new diesel models are coming above and below the current models, as well as second models within key size classes. Chad Parker, senior product specialist, notes that the compact excavator line is Hyundai’s largest and fastestgrowing in terms of units sold and new models being prepped for introduction. “This reflects the strong economy, especially new home and utility construction and landscaping.” The 9A series models feature four-way angle blades, thumb brackets, proportional hydraulics and pin-grabber-style dual-locking quick couplers. Buckets have lifting eyes and two-piece teeth for easier replacement. Dozer blades have replaceable cutting edges and an improved curve profile for better grade and cutting ability.

THE YELLOW BUTTON THAT WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU TRAVEL IN AN EXCAVATOR INSPIRED BY YOU: Introducing stick steer, which allows operators to control machine travel with the joystick, just like a skid steer. Go farther with less effort – exclusively on Cat® Mini Excavators.

To learn more, please visit: http://Cat.com/miniex-EW © 2019 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, LET’S DO THE WORK, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” the “Power Edge” and Cat “Modern Hex” trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

machine matters Business as usual There’s been a flurry of joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions recently, as OEMs expand their offerings. And while some companies cozy up to others, others prefer to go it alone on the path to growth.

By the end of 2019, Caterpillar will have 31 models of compact excavators worldwide and 21 models in

| continued North America. “We know some of these are niche products,” says Worley, “but we want to provide solutions.” One example is the 306 XTC, which swaps out the blade for a skid steer bucket. Variable-angle booms are available, as are niche products targeted at demolition, bridge work and other specialty applications.

Lifting, craning and placing are high-

demand applications. A 3- to 4-ton compact excavator can place pipe and hold it in place for welding or sealing. A 1-ton model can be used while still on the trailer for moving buckets, trees and similar loads on and off trailers and flatbeds.

Worley says compact excavators are one of the few products that show up in every market in the world, which is part of what drives this diverse range of models. They are also the smallest machines in the Cat catalog that require operators. When developing this extensive lineup, Cat spent two years conducting field surveys of owners of both Cat and competitors’ machines.

Some 80 percent of the tools Cat offers are their own. The rest are the result of branding or collaboration and are mostly low-volume specialty products requiring specific

The smallest model in the Volvo lineup of compact excavators, the ECR18E is designed to fit tight spaces. Overall width is 3 feet 3.2 inches, and overall length is 11 feet 3.1 inches. The Volvo D0.9A engine is rated at 16 gross horsepower. Bucket breakout force is 2,900 pound-feet.

28 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

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Enhancements to the transmission, backhoe, cab and controls make N Series more powerful, more versatile and more productive than ever before.

But don’t take our word for it. Go to CaseCE.com/NSeries to request your N Series demo today. And, while you’re there, check out the available special offers.

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©2019 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. Any trademarks referred to herein, in association with goods and/or services of companies other than CNH Industrial America, LLC, are the property of those respective companies.

machine matters

| continued

The Wacker Neuson ET65 has an operating weight of 13,400 to 15,331 pounds, depending on the configuration.

Maximum dig depth is 13 feet 6.4 inches, and maximum breakout force is 13,398 pounds. The Perkins 404F-227 engine delivers 60.97 horsepower. Hydraulic flow is 38 gallons per minute at a maximum pressure of 3,481 pounds per square inch.

BRINGING YOUR EQUIPMENT TO LIFE Power your ingenuity with John Deere engines and drivetrain components.

You work hard to develop innovative OEM equipment. John Deere knows how important it is to provide engines and drivetrain components that live up to that potential. Delivering nothing less than we’re willing to install in our own equipment. That’s why John Deere is the perfect power source for your equipment.

JohnDeere.com/JDPower

30 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

design and construction expertise.

As a result of a relationship dating back to the 1960s, Hitachi Construction Machinery and Deere & Company signed a supply agreement in 1983 to manufacture construction excavators, including compact excavators. says Spendlove.

In 2019, Doosan expanded its lineup with three new compact excavators, the DX35-5, DX42-5 and DX50-5. They joined the larger DX63-3 and DX85R-3, which are built in Doosan’s factory in South Korea.

The three new machines are manufactured by another division of Doosan.

The relationship between Kubota and Land Pride has evolved over time. Land Pride launched in 1986 as a division of Great Plains Manufacturing Inc., making tools and implements for tractors. It formed an alliance with Kubota in 2007 to build attachments specifically for Kubota tractors.

Kubota-branded construction attachments built by Land Pride appeared in 2015, and in July 2016, Kubota acquired Land Pride. Customers can now purchase Land Pride attachments separately or as part of the1 purchase VMAC_EquipmentWorld_Oct_CATMF.pdf 9/5/2019 12:16:54 PM of Kubota equipment.

The Takeuchi TB235-2 has operating weights of 7,418 pounds with canopy and 7,639 pounds with cab. The Yanmar engine is rated at 24.4 horsepower. Flow from the variable-displacement, open-center hydraulic system is 28.6 gallons per minute at a maximum pressure of 3,553 pounds per square inch. A mechanical quick coupler and main pin hydraulic thumb are among the available options.

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 31

B O B C A T. C O M / T O U G H C O N S T R U C T I O N

Everything we put into Bobcat ® equipment is designed to make more of whatever you bring to the job. Whether it’s strength, versatility, speed or agility, it’s built around you.

Bobcat is a Doosan company. Doosan is a global leader in construction equipment, power and water solutions, engines, and engineering, proudly serving customers and communities for more than a century.

Bobcat®, the Bobcat logo and the colors of the Bobcat machine are registered trademarks of Bobcat Company in the United States and various other countries. ©2019 Bobcat Company. All rights reserved. | 1357

maintenance management

| by Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

MEDIUM-DUTY SERVICE TRUCKS Got a mechanic without a CDL? Not to worry. Service truck manufacturers are managing to squeeze extra features and productivity enhancements onto the smaller Class 1 to Class 5 chassis.

T

here’s no substitute for size when you need a 12,000-pound crane or a heavy-duty, packed-to-thebedsides service truck. But chassis above Class 5 or a 19,500pound gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) require drivers with CDLs and not all mechanics carry such a license. And let’s face it, not every service call requires a massive welder/ generator or a 6-ton crane.

The solution is to right-size your service trucks, which also brings the added benefit of lower operating costs (fuel) as well as owning costs.

We asked the manufacturers of service body equipment to show us just what can be done with medium-

C

ranes are a big part of any service body program. Stellar’s Tim Davison says 90 percent of the trucks that leave the company’s facilities have cranes on them.

The big differentiator in cranes is electric versus hydraulic. Hydraulic cranes are typically spec’ed for bigger service trucks doing major work on heavy equipment in the field. They have more capacity and more advanced control systems, Davison says.

Proportional flow valves on hydraulic cranes allow you to feather the crane motion with enough precision to set a diesel engine down on a set of mounting bolts.

duty trucks, Class 5 and under, and what kind of productivity enhancements are proving popular in the marketplace today. Here’s what they had to say.

Room for accessories and tools The Class 2 chassis truck (3/4-ton) provides a niche solution for companies looking for a non-CDL vehicle to withstand off-road field service duty, says Bruce Bunting, industrial products specialist at Knapheide.

The Class 3 chassis (1-ton) dual-rearwheel variant enables customers to mount a light-duty crane. Knapheide can add air compressors, welders and drawer sides to these bodies to give technicians all the tools they need to

Lighter weight electric cranes see a lot of action in the oil and gas business and with equipment rental companies, Davison says. They offer less capacity but they’re less expensive, and you don’t need a pump and PTO on the truck as you do with hydraulic cranes.

Specs may vary a bit, depending on the truck body, but in most cases, you can put up to a 7,500-pound capacity crane on a Class 5 chassis. Class 6 chassis up to 26,000 pounds GVW can accept up to a 10,000-pound crane.

And Class 7 chassis up to 33,000 GVW gets you 12,000-pound cranes on either an 11-foot or 14-foot service body, says Davison.

fix many, if not most, of the maintenance problems they’ll encounter in the field, he says.

Sales of Class 5 field service trucks continue to increase, Bunting says, often as fleets use them to replace their Class 6 trucks. But making these smaller truck bodies perform like a large truck is challenging. Just making the upfit components smaller is not a solution, he says. Rather, choosing and sizing the components so that the specifications fit the users’ needs is the key. That requires close collaboration with your truck upfitter.

Maximizing the use of the storage space is crucial to having a safe and productive field service truck, Bunting says. You do this by balancing the right amount of drawer sets with the reality of weight distribution and weight limitations.

Aluminum saves weight At Stellar, Tim Davison sees a 50/50 split between Class 5 and Class 6-7 service bodies, but also saw an uptick in Class 5 service bodies this year.

But he says the biggest change in the industry is the shift to aluminum service bodies.

“It does two things,” Davison says.

“It eliminates corrosion. That’s big in the Upper Midwest and Northeast and Canada. And it reduces weight.

We’re saving guys anywhere from 800 to 1,100 pounds of unloaded EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 33

PARTNER SOLUTIONS | KUBOTA

COMPACT MACHINES OFFER BIG OPPORTUNITIES HOW CORRECT MACHINE SELECTION HELPS CONTROL COSTS

F

or contractors of all sizes, cost control reigns supreme in ways to boost the bottom line.

While there are measures to be taken at every step on the job, the most effective cost cuts can be made at the outset – with machine selection.

And when you need a machine that can handle heavy loads but also accommodate small spaces,

When equipped with high-flow hydraulics, the Kubota SSV75 skid steer loader becomes the most versatile piece of equipment in your fleet. From buckets to pallet forks to snow blades, there’s nothing the SSV75 isn’t ready to handle.

With a 1,950-pound rated operating capacity, the Kubota SSV65 skid steer loader is an economical solution for rugged jobsites.

A unique slide-up front-entry door rises overhead, and can be opened regardless of the loader position. The SSV65’s nearly 8-inch ground clearance ground clearance ensures traveling over obstacles with ease.

you’re choosing between two top-notch machines – a skid steer and a compact track loader. At first glance, it may seem as if you just need to evaluate your application – do you have a hard surface that accommodates wheels, or softer surfaces that requires a costlier tracked machine? In reality, there are a number of factors to be considered.

Dig deeper

For cost-conscious contractors, selecting the correct machine for your fleet entails looking beyond wheels and tracks. Initially, the out-of-pocket investment for a wheeled machine is usually lower than that of a tracked machine of comparable size; however, future needs could mean a bigger initial investment would make more sense in the long run.

How do you prepare for the future when you can’t necessarily see what’s on the horizon? An excellent way to set yourself up for success is to include a highflow option, such as with Kubota’s SSV Series skid steer line, or the SVL95-2 compact track loader. With high-flow hydraulics, your machine will match the flow requirements of any hydraulic attachment, no matter what attachment you might purchase down the road.

And with respect to attachments, they are true multipliers in the workforce. Assessing your needs and purchasing the correct mix of attachments can effectively mitigate the need for other dedicated equipment, which keeps operating costs down.

The Kubota SVL95 compact track loader has over 40 inches of reach for the most heavy-duty of lifting and loading chores, combined with the versatility to tackle plowing, slow-blowing, drilling or trenching.

Form and function

Finding the right equipment to boost productivity for your jobsites is yet another way to add to the bottom line. Looking for a machine that excels at lift and carry applications? Generally, vertical lift equipment performs better at these tasks. Need equipment for digging and pushing? Radial lift machines have traditionally been the go-to choice.

However, as machine technology has advanced, manufacturers such as Kubota have equipped their vertical lift machines with a vertical linkage design that tucks in the rear and sides of the unit when retracted, allowing the unit to push and dig more like a radial machine. The modern lift design enables the operator to enjoy the advantages of a vertical linkage design, but with the strength needed to endure the stresses of heavy digging.

Design improvements such as a lower profile integrated linkage system will improve the front to rear weight ratio, which delivers not only first-rate loader performance, but also boosts operator visibility throughout the loader lift and lower cycle.

An exceptionally high hinge-pin height of 128 inches on the Kubota SSV75 skid steer loader ensures easier dumping into trucks, and simplifies all lifting and dumping tasks.

Another design feature to look for is the location of the loader’s hinge pivot points. For example, Kubota places the pivot points in precise spots on the main loader chassis to deliver performance characteristics of a radial lift while retaining the benefits of the vertical linkage. Combined with large bucket pivot pins in the front bucket coupler and loader arms that evenly distribute the load and ensure long life in severe duty applications, the modern design allows for more opportunity to put profit to the bottom line.

Making the margin

Though budget is always a factor when adding to the fleet, bear in mind future applications, the range of high-flow attachments, and functionality of design in modern machines. Thinking ahead will not only positively impact your productivity and efficiency today, it will boost your profit margin in the days, weeks, and months to come.

For more information, visit KubotaUSA.com

maintenance management weight, which means 800 to 1,100 pounds of increased capacity. And this could be anything from welders, to light-duty cranes to inverters, lube skids or DEF dispensers.”

Customize every inch The ability to use every inch of available space on the truck is what drives a lot of users to customization, says Craig Moses, vice president of sales and marketing for Stahl. “Equipment buyers want to gain the maximum utility of their service truck purchases,” he says. “We see optional fea-

| continued

tures, such as tank compartments and transverse compartments, purchased to allow the worker to store and carry all the special tools necessary for their jobs. Workbench bumpers are popular and allow the contractor to have an extra workspace while on the job.”

Security is also a concern, says Moses. “Equipment buyers often add security options to eliminate theft of tools. Bar locks and power door locks secure service trucks and give peace of mind that tools won’t get stolen when the truck is parked in

the driveway at night,” he says.

Moses also advises potential service truck buyers to pay attention to convenience and ergonomics. “Compartments must be designed in a way that makes sense,” he says. Drawer packages are becoming more popular than shelving units and allow for maximum storage and organization.

LED strip lighting allows mechanics to see their tools at night. And easyto-close compartment doors with rotary latches allow the technician to bump the door with his hip when his hands are full of tools.

Product gallery overhead bow ladder rack, pullout trays, cable steps, cargo tiedowns, LED lighting, rear-vision cameras, a variety of bumpers, lift gates, and the company’s E-Track system for securing large items in the cargo areas. KUVCC truck bodies fit trucks from Class 3 to Class 5 and cab-to-axle (CA) lengths of 56 to 120 inches.

The Knapheide KLT5084 provides fresh oil product storage and dispensing from a Class 5, dualrear-wheel, non-CDL chassis. Additional models run from Class 6 to Class 8 chassis sizes. The modular body can be customized in a variety of product tank sizes and configurations in a fully enclosed or open design. Retractable reels are in the rear compartment and covered with a lightweight aluminum rollup door.

Halogen work lights provide illumination for afterhours service calls. Options include steel or aluminum mechanics drawers, split reels, new and used coolant tanks and a salvage oil system.

The Knapheide KUVCC gives you an enclosed truck body with all the functionality of tool storage along both sides of the bed. Options include an 36 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

Reading Cranemaster service truck bodies feature a half-inch-thick crane compartment top plate and an outrigger for added stability. Standard features include heavy-gauge, double-panel doors; a heavy-duty, slam-action tailgate; galvanized bumpers; a 12-gauge steel treadplate cargo area; patented concealed hinges; and a powder-coated finish. The Cranemaster 3200 is designed for cranes from 1,000to 3,200-pound capacities and a 10,000-pound GVWR chassis with 56- to 84-inch cab-to-axle length. The Cranemaster 6000 ups that crane capacity to 6,000 pounds on a 15,000-pound GVWR with 60- to 84inch cab-to-axle measurements.

At Progressive, we’re proud to offer truckers the kind of coverage and service that helps them drive progress.

Call your local agent or visit ProgressiveCommercial.com

Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affiliates.

BEHIND EVERYTHING GREAT IN AMERICA, THERE’S A TRUCK.

maintenance management

| continued

Stellar TMAX Aluminum Service Bodies are designed for chassis from 16,000- to 19,500-pound GVWR, keeping you just under that Class 6 designation when a CDL becomes necessary. Thanks to their aluminum construction these service bodies weigh 780 to 1,440 pounds less than their steel counterparts while still incorporating the company’s TorqIsolator torsion box understructure. The extruded top is made from high-strength aluminum and features two built-in accessory mounting rails that eliminate the need to drill mounting holes in the compartment tops. For durability, the storage units include billetstyle stainless-steel hinges, three-point compression

In case you hadn’t noticed, diesel exhaust fluid is now required on almost every piece of heavy equipment running on a Tier 4 engine with more than 75 horsepower. So getting DEF to your machines in the field has become a logistical challenge. Thunder Creek’s DTT50 provides a portable 50-gallon DEF dispensing system that can fit in the bed of a service truck or even a pickup truck. The DTT50’s two-inone pumping system allows you to fill and dispense DEF using a single pump, eliminating the need for a separate DEF transfer pump. The system is closed to prevent dirt, dust and other contaminants from compromising your DEF quality, which can lead to engine problems or exhaust aftertreatment system failures.

38 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

locks, double-panel doors and double spring-overcenter door closures. The TMAX series comes in three sizes: 1-11 (16,000 to 19,500 GVWR, suitable for cranes up to 7,500 pounds) and the 2-11 and 2-14 (19,500 GVWR, suitable for cranes up to 12,000 pounds).

The small details can make a big difference in the productivity of your technicians in the field. Example: American Eagle’s Pull Handle option for service body drawer sets. The pull handle makes opening drawers easy, even when you’ve got gloves on or when your hands are almost full. It is available in either heavy-duty aluminum (500 pounds per drawer) or light-duty aluminum (250 pounds per drawer). The company’s drawers also come in a range of options, including custom colors, egg-crate dividers, non-slip drawer liners, oil filter drain drawer, drawer light bars, hinged worktop trays, and a space-saving flat top.

“Level Best is Best in Class”

Precision grading to

of spec

Doug Whitlock, Sales Ozark Laser, Springfield, MO

“ There are wannabes, but Level Best is tops in fine grading equipment.”

AS SALESMAN AT OZARK LASER, DOUG WHITLOCK IS AN EXPERT IN LASER GUIDED GRADING EQUIPMENT. HE’S SOLD ON LEVEL BEST.

“My job is to create happy customers. For fine grading equipment I always recommend Level Best because I know it’s extremely well made, highly maneuverable, and they always have the latest technology.

Basically, Level Best makes my customers very happy.”

See Doug at Level-Best.com

Lower costs, better bids, more jobs.

For about half the cost of a new pickup truck you can grade with unrivaled precision and get a significant competitive edge on nearly every job you bid. Here’s how.

Always the latest technologies.

Works in both directions to help maximize production in precision grading.

% CONCRETE OVERAGE INCLUDED WITH EVERY BID 10 % 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 STANDARD 1 10% material 0

overage estimate

Added margin for submitting bids that are more competitive Level Best Standard Bid Practice

With Level Best in Your Fleet

2 to 3 % material overage estimate

Level-Best.com

800-342-0905

maintenance management

Stellar’s new EC 3200 Aluminum Telescopic Service Crane hoists up to 3,200 pounds and offers 15 feet of horizontal reach, yet it weighs 30 percent less than its steel counterpart, making it ideal for medium-duty service trucks with crane reinforcement kits. That translates to 230 saved pounds you can put toward adding a welder, generator, lube skid or more tools to your truck. The low-profile design works well in confined areas, and a planetary winch ensures the crane will continue lifting until it reaches its full rated capacity.

| continued

The Reading Aluminum Classic II service body offers the same features as the steel body but with aluminum construction, which lowers the trucks overall weight, eliminates corrosion and improves fuel economy. According to the company, aluminum service bodies are up to 50 percent lighter than steel.

Reading sources the aluminum for these truck bodies from recycled materials, which require only 5 percent of the energy it takes to manufacture new aluminum.

LOOKING BEYOND THE HORIZON BKT’s extensive product portfolio comprises specific cutting-edge tire ranges to cater for the most demanding needs in a variety of fields such as agriculture, construction, and OTR, as well as transport and agro-industrial applications.

BKT USA Inc. 2660 West Market St., Suite 100 Fairlawn (Akron) - OH 44333 Toll free: (+1) 888-660-0662 - Office: (+1) 330-836-1090 Fax: (+1) 330-836-1091

40 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

Changing lubes and fluids is a big part of any field technician’s workload and Maintainer Lube Skid #7 fits well in a medium-duty service truck setup. This lube skid carries three 55-gallon composite oil tanks, a 55-gallon waste oil tank and a 120-pound grease kit. The oil systems feature five-to-one air pumps and 50-foot spring-wound hose reels.

Metered nozzles and in-line filters can also be added as options. It is 93.5 inches long, 42 inches wide and 55.5 inches tall. Weight is 1,657 pounds empty and 3,064 pounds with tanks full and the evacuation tank empty.

PERFORMANCE THAT’S GROUND BREAKING MORE POWER, MORE UPTIME, MORE PRODUCTIVITY. ALL WITH LESS COMPLEXITY, LESS WEIGHT AND LESS SERVICING. THE B6.7 PERFORMANCE SERIES ENGINE FROM CUMMINS DELIVERS BENEFITS TO EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS AND OPERATORS ALIKE. THE HIGHER POWER OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE MACHINE CAPABILITY. ITS SIMPLER, EGR-FREE DESIGN IS EASIER AND LESS EXPENSIVE TO INSTALL. FOR THE USER, IT IS MORE EFFICIENT, MORE RELIABLE AND CHEAPER TO RUN. SEE HOW CUMMINS B6.7™ SETS THE BAR FOR PERFORMANCE AT CUMMINS.TECH/CONSTRUCTION

©2019 Cummins Inc. Box 3005, Columbus, IN 47202-3005 U.S.A.

CUIN-190737 Equipment Today 7x4.5.indd 1

9/10/19 3:27 PM

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 41

road works | by Don McLoud

| DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com

Paving apps for scheduling, tracking material haulers – even hiring truckers

With the HCSS Trucking app, the ticket-handler on a paving project can capture each load that enters the jobsite, as well as each third-party truck carrying it.

S

tartup businesses and longtime established companies are rolling out new systems to help the paving world go paperless and become more efficient.

The primary focus: get asphalt and concrete delivered to the jobsite in a way that keeps the paving crew rolling without costly interruptions.

“On a 2,000-ton day, you’ve probably stopped the paver a minimum of five times waiting on a truck,” says Dann Rawls with Caterpillar.

“If you can eliminate two of those stops, you’ve cut the cost down quite a bit.”

Some of the new logistics systems are as simple as downloading an app. Others provide sensors on trucks and pavers to give real-time information such as hot mix asphalt temperature and how much water has been added to the cement truck’s mix. Some systems can even

42 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

find haulers for contractors, similar to ordering an Uber or Lyft ride.

Departments of transportation around the country are also studying the possibility of switching from paper to electronic load and unload tickets. That could also make life easier for contractors stuck with filling out, filing and storing paper tickets.

“We have one customer where they do more than 100,000 paper tickets a month,” says Pace Davis, CEO of TruckIT. “They have warehouses full of paper tickets.”

Such inefficiency is also seen between the material plants and the jobsites. Sometimes a large batch of trucks will unexpectedly show up at once, or worse, trucks don’t show up at all. Haulers waiting at the jobsite and the plant cost additional money. And gaps in deliveries cause costly delays and can affect pavement quality.

“Quality also equals money,”

says Jan Mennink, Topcon senior product manager for paving. “If you don’t have to stop the paver, it’s less likely you will have bumps. If you have fewer bumps, you have fewer penalties. For smoothness of the surface, you can get bonus money. So it’s a mix of cost-savings and moneymaking.”

Now, thanks to the cloud and mobile technology, a variety of new products have been developed to reduce such headaches for contractors and give them a better view of their paving logistics so they can cut costs and boost profits. Provider companies predict rapid growth for their products.

“We think the construction world before long is going to be completely digitized like other industries,” says Jeffery Reeves, Trelar vice president of business development.

Here’s a look at some of the paving logistics products currently available or being developed.

Cat eRoutes 3.0 Caterpillar’s new eRoutes 3.0 system tracks each segment of the hauling, loading and unloading process so contractors can see where the asphalt trucks are and when they will arrive, Rawls says.

The system includes a truck tracking device about the size of a deck of cards that automatically captures ticket data at the plant. A mobile geofence around the paver allows collection of details about the unloading process, including truck wait time.

Through an app, workers on the jobsite can make adjustments as needed to balance material supply and production. The system also archives data, so contractors can measure driver performance and other information to improve efficiency and productivity.

“We give everybody visibility to production data in real time,” Rawls says. “The visibility really starts to create accountability, and accountability drives performance.”

ERoutes requires a yearly subscription. It is being distributed through Sitech, Trimble’s technology distribution network. (Trimble is Cat’s technology partner.) Contractors interested in the system can reach out to their local Sitech or Cat dealer, Rawls says.

Cemen Tech Accu-Pour Cemen Tech created its cloud-based Accu-Pour system for monitoring and reporting on its volumetric concrete mixers but has recently expanded the system to work with competitors’ machines.

Accu-Pour consists of two components, AP Office and AP Mobile, to let contractors know where their truck fleet is at any time and if any adjustments need to be made.

AP Office software is used for scheduling, dispatching and fleet management. Through telematics, the software tracks the status and location of each mixer in real time and documents key production statistics.

“They can see where delays are occurring and respond quickly,” says Trux CEO Jeff Gower of the company’s app that provides real-time tracking of haul trucks. “It gives contractors more control and insight.”

AP Mobile allows users to wirelessly send and receive production data between AP Office and the mixer by mobile app. Users can view mixing parameters in real time. And after the pour is completed, the final job data synchs automatically with AP Office.

AP Office allows for performance analysis, and information can be exported to the company’s accounting software. The system can also filter data based on mixer, operator, city or zip code.

Coretex 360 Coretex launched its next-generation Coretex 360 system for readymix concrete operations about a year ago in North America. Currently, the system is geared toward

ready-mix fleet companies, but company co-founder Dean Marris says plans are underway to bring the service to paving contractors.

With truck sensors, Coretex 360 provides a detailed view of readymix operations, from the concrete mixer’s comings and goings and every step in between, including drum rotation and water added, the company says.

Marris says the system tracks in real time how far the trucks are from the jobsite and plant, the distance between trucks, their wait times at the plant and jobsite, and the pouring status.

The Coretex 360 setup includes a black box sensor for trucks to receive job tickets. That data is EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 43

road works | continued more efficiently, be more productive and reduce manual data entry, the company says.

The TruckIT system provides a digital load and unload ticketing process in which drivers input the load weight and ticket number and confirm the drop-off and pickup through the app. also sent to the hauler’s tablet. The system’s mapping software directs drivers to the job and lets them know where the closest batch plant is for the next assignment.

HCSS Trucking The HCSS Trucking app is designed to eliminate paper truck tickets and remove fraud by using smartphones and tablets in the field, HCSS says.

The person in charge of handling tickets on a paving project can capture each load that enters the jobsite, as well as each third-party truck carrying it. The system monitors 44 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

cycle times and spots any reporting errors by brokers, the company says.

A contractor’s drivers can see daily schedules, clock in and out of jobsites, and log pickups and deliveries.

Bluetooth devices are used to automatically identify each truck that enters and leaves the jobsite and the material it is carrying. A new truck can be added to the system within seconds, the company says.

An unmanned “Loadbot” device placed at the jobsite automatically records and confirms counts, the company says. HCSS software provides data to help a contractor run

Topcon Pavelink Topcon’s new Pavelink provides a communication link between the asphalt plant, the hauler and the paving crew.

“It informs all stakeholders of what’s going on so they can make the right decisions,” says Mennink.

“Both the tickets and the trucks are tracked through the end of the project.”

For the contractor, the system lets them know exactly where the trucks are and when they will arrive.

Topcon Pavelink is an appbased system. Optional sensors are available for trucks and pavers, which allow for more detailed planning such as calculating how many truckloads will be needed for the paving area and the paver travel distance. The system will also determine average load and unload times, as well as wait times.

For pavers, Topcon provides an Android tablet with the Pavelink software and app already downloaded on it. The optional paver sensors also measure asphalt temperature from the screed and on the paving surface, as well as show how wide the screed extension is extended.

Trelar Startup company Trelar went live with its truck hauling and paving logistics app in July in Seattle, California’s Central Valley, the Phoenix area and in Florida. Reeves says the goal is to be available nationwide within a year.

The app- and cloud-based system allows contractors to hire haulers on a digital marketplace. They can also track their trucks and third-party trucks in real time between asphalt plant and jobsite. The contractor can go to his favorite truckers on the app or broadcast jobs over the marketplace.

Paving contractors can know exactly where their asphalt trucks are and when they will arrive with Topcon’s new Pavelink system.

Once a job is accepted, the driver receives all the job details by mobile app. At the plant, the driver clicks the phone app to start the job. GPS mapping software directs the hauler to the site. After dumping the load, the driver hits the app again to complete the job. The driver also uploads the ticket image, where it remains in the cloud for all stakeholders to see.

The system provides reports on average driver speed, cycle time, haul costs and other data.

Trelar charges the contractor a transaction fee, pays the driver through a PayPal-type system and later collects from the contractor’s accounts-payable software.

TruckIT TruckIT, an Atlanta-based company that started in 2014, went live with its truck marketplace and logistic app- and cloud-based system about a year and a half ago.

The system provides a digital load and unload ticketing process in which drivers input the load weight and ticket number and confirm

the drop-off and pickup through the app. The company also has an AirTicket system in eight locations in which drivers don’t have to input information at the scale house; the ticket is automatically uploaded, says Davis.

TruckIT allows contractors to track their trucks through the load and unload process. Contractors who need haulers can also post a hauling job through the app to the company’s marketplace, and haulers can accept the offer or bid a different price.

TruckIT operates in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina, as well as parts of Alabama, according to Davis, and has plans to spread throughout the Southeast.

TruckIT charges contractors a transaction fee. It pays the hauler on behalf of the contractor and then invoices the contractor at the terms agreed upon with the hauler.

Trux Trux formed in 2015 and enables material producers, such as asphalt plants, and contractors to request

haulers, and it allows drivers to select the jobs they want, says CEO Jeff Gower.

For contractors with their own fleets, Trux staff will train dispatchers and upload driver and truck information into the system. Contractors then can schedule hauling jobs.

If they don’t have enough trucks to complete a project, they can go to the Trux marketplace to post jobs for haulers. If contractors have more drivers than they need, they can also release them to the Trux marketplace to accept hauling jobs.

Contractors can track hauling jobs in real time. The system will also suggest whether more or fewer trucks are needed and show contractors whether they are achieving expected progress. If a contractor falls behind or gets ahead of schedule, trucks can be redirected accordingly.

Trux operates in 14 states and 20 metro areas and has 10,000 drivers in its network, Gower says. It expects to expand to 10 more states and 25 more metros by the end of the year.

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 45

PARTNER SOLUTIONS | MOTION INDUSTRIES

REALIZE ON-SITE ROI

By Jason Crain and Andrew Weisenstine, Motion Industries’ Conveyance Solutions Group

C

onstruction equipment rental sales in the U.S. are expected to reach $59 billion by 2021.

Much of this equipment uses a conveyor belt to move material, and these belts are generally a fraction of the cost of total equipment price. However, these conveyor belts are critical to the total operation of the machine; if the belts are not running, neither is the machine.

Production managers understand that a machine can produce a specific range of output.

When that machine is down, the output goes to zero. This gives them a cost per hour of material production loss. But there are many elements of production loss and costs associated with this downtime, including bringing manpower from other sections of the shop or worksite to repair, clean or replace the broken-down components. These employees are stopping their productivity, which affects the overall output of the entire operation, and equates to more production loss.

In any operation, much like keeping employees

functioning safely and efficiently, it’s crucial to keep an eye on your machinery — including components ranging from fluids, belts and bearings to motors and drives. When one of these components goes bad or gets hurt, the entire system snowballs into a full system breakdown.

Quality matters

Over the years, we have seen an influx of substandard material provided by online suppliers that flood the marketplace and target the construction, agriculture and road milling industries. These suppliers often offer a limited number of profiles with inferior rubber compounds and tension members (plies). In the long run, these poor-quality components are not cost-effective for these machines.

Finding a supplier partner with the right product mix, as well as the product knowledge to know what works best for your application, is key to longer run times.

In many cases, one cheaper component can cause many more to fail. For instance, a cheap idler with

bottom line. The right belt was quickly supplied, but this is a great example of how costs can compound in a hurry when the wrong product is supplied.

Additionally, we strongly recommend stocking replacement components and belting. In many cases, operations will carry a replacement roller due to the low cost of inventory and the fact that they are typically some of the first items to fail. However, many operation managers will overlook the belting aspect — custom-fabricated belting can take days, if not weeks, to produce. Production loss and cost due to downtime far exceed the overhead of carrying additional belting inventory. Finding a supplier partner with nationwide coverage is also key to reducing the cost of downtime; it allows you to work with local providers while limiting shipping time frames and cost. early failure due to poor design and quality of parts, affects the belt running on it. A frozen idler can cause tracking issues, which can cause spillage of material conveyed. It also can cause the belt to heat up, which causes early delamination of the carcass — eventually leading to early belt failure. Now, compare the cost of the higher-quality component with the small savings of the cheaper component, along with the manpower and downtime it takes to replace, as well as the potential additional damage one component can cause. Is that cheaper component truly saving you money?

The real ROI

The unexpected expense of changing out these cheaply made components prematurely goes beyond the items being replaced themselves. One customer shared that during a breakdown on an out-of-state job, they had to rent trucks, a crane and a forklift to perform a belt change — significantly eroding their

Jason Crain is Business Development Manager Heavy-Duty (HD) Fabricated at Mi Conveyance Solutions Group, and has been in the industry of conveyor belt/systems for 23 years. He started in the field with installs and teardowns, then transitioned to custom-fabricated operations and sourcing. Crain travels to help customers find a solution to their needs or problems.

Choosing your supplier

Preventive maintenance on conveyor equipment is imperative, and so is having a reliable product and supplier. The cost of the higher-quality product used to keep these machines running is low relative to the cost of a new machine or paying for a component twice in a shortened amount of time. Before partnering with an unfamiliar, low-cost supplier, ask yourself the following questions: • Does the supplier stand behind what they sell?

• Are they knowledgeable about your equipment?

• Are they reliable?

Finding a supplier partner where you can answer the above questions with a resounding yes, not only keeps your cost of downtime to a minimum, but it also keeps your equipment running at optimal performance. With the right partner, you get more time to do what you do best and more money to your bottom line — who wouldn’t want that?

Andrew Weisenstine has been working in the conveyor belt industry for the past 10 years. The majority of this time has been as the Heavy-Duty Belt Product Manager with Mi Conveyance Solutions Group. Weisenstine’s current role is Business Development Manager for Sidewall & Road Milling belting.

For more information, visit MotionIndustries.com/equipmentworld or discover more belting capabilities here: https://tinyurl.com/y3sxyvfn.

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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18

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| by Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

Todd Eicholz (left) and Bob Olson, different generations, same philosophy.

New owner builds on legacy of great service

W

hen Bob Olson started A&A Paving in 1960 he had a goal of running the best little asphalt paving and sealcoating company in the Chicagoland area.

With a great work ethic, personable style and innovative practices, Olson earned a cadre of loyal customers for the better part of six decades.

But when Olson started thinking about retiring a few years back, he realized he couldn’t just turn over this fine-tuned machine to anybody.

For Olson, the obvious choice was his best customer.

Enter Todd Eichholz, a self-described serial entrepreneur. Eichholz owns a commercial real estate development and property management firm and had hired A&A Paving to do parking lots at his various prop-

erties. The two men had great respect for one another and had both been honored as Business Person of the Year by the Roselle Chamber of Commerce. Five years ago they sat down to lunch and Olson popped Bob Olson and Todd Eichholz, A&A Paving City, State: Roselle, Illinois Year Started: 1960 Number of 25 employees: Annual revenue: $5 - $7 million Markets served: Asphalt paving, sealcoating, millwork, resurfacing, concrete barrier curb, curb and gutter, flat work including sidewalks, catch basin collars and loading docks

the question: “I’m looking for a partner and somebody to eventually take over the business.” Eichholz immediately said yes. For Eichholz it was a chance to combine two of his favorite things: entrepreneurship and heavy equipment.

Modern management Eichholz set to work analyzing the business components and looking for opportunities to gain efficiencies. He also brought modern management thinking to bear on the business to help it grow. Eichholz remembers the days in the not-too-distant past when A&A Paving had secretaries with yellow legal pads and typewriters.

“So we started bringing in technology,” Eichholz says. They started using drones to record parking lot layouts and take photos for marketing purposes. “Bob embraced the EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 49

To E (l a B O d e g ti sa p p

contractor of the year |

continued

Bob Olson taught himself to fly and took photos of jobsites from an airplane. Today the company continues the tradition using drones. technology quicker than guys 20 years younger,” says Eicholz. “He taught himself Excel and created our multi-tab bidding workbook for paving sealcoating and excavation and concrete. Bob’s son Nate Olson joined us, and we started teaching people different ways to do things.

“Bob and I took the company and shook it hard. He is very cautious and I’m all about calculated risk.

The company’s first piece of equipment was a custom fabricated half truck, half paving machine.

50 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

But for us to be polar opposites and bring ourselves together has been one of the best experiences of my life.”

In the field, A&A Paving added a setup crew to increase efficiencies so the jobs could be prepped ahead of time for the larger paving crew. “We ventured into multi-state sealcoating and recently completed almost 50 jobs for Walmart,” Eicholz says. “I added a concrete division to better serve our customers by self-performing more work and keep the scheduling control and quality.”

Eicholz also instituted an equipment replacement program and has been trading up to bigger and more efficient machines.

Personality and style Eichholz is adamant about breaking down communication barriers in the company. He built a breezeway that connects the office and the shop to

reinforce the idea that crews were welcome in the office and office personnel were welcome in the shop.

“We are one team,” says Eicholz.

He also had everybody in the company take a personality inventory and then used the results to help employees deal with each other in a way that made sense for their personalities. That enabled the people who were eager and outgoing to understand that those who may be more introverted or gruff weren’t been negative – that was just the way they were wired.

One of the surprising benefits to Eichholz’s management style is that the company is gaining a reputation as a woman-friendly workforce. “We just hired our first female pavement consultant and female project coordinator,” Eichholz says. “They see the culture and the way we treat people and they want to work here.”

Hire for character, train for skill A&A Paving, both Olson’s and Eichholz’s version, doesn’t so much hire for skills as it does for character. One of its best salespeople, Roy Johnson, was a retired school principal who liked the job and stayed for 30 years. When Johnson passed away in 2018, the company honored his legacy by naming its annual sales award after him.

Dave Pawelek, the company’s newly promoted president, came on board in 2018, as vice president of operations after working in management for the Disney company.

Pawelek hadn’t worked in construction before, but his operational genius has been key to freeing up Eichholz’s time to take on more big-picture tasks.

“I’m a good entrepreneur, a good idea guy and a good 30,000-foot leader, but I had way too much on my plate,” says Eichholz. “Now with Dave running operations, I can delegate and trust my team.

We’re doing much more than I ever thought we could, and I’m half as stressed because I trust the people who work for me are doing their jobs well.”

Eichholz is also keen on evaluating what employees are best at and turning them loose. “Employee selfevaluation plays a big role in this process to help identify where their passions are,” says Eicholz. “We may change seats on the bus, but everybody stays on the bus.”

asphalt, everybody had a job, and everybody was busy.”

That two-day turn-around for the hospital was a record. “They ended up painting all of our fire lanes and doing a lot of striping work that wasn’t in the scope of the project simply because Tom Swinger, the account manager, wanted to make it look right,” says Cooksey. “He felt like if they just left it as blank asphalt, it wouldn’t show the workmanship they wanted to accomplish. They striped quite a bit more than they were asked to do, or that we paid for, just because they wanted it to look good.”

Customer satisfaction Craig Cooksey, of Northwest Community Hospital, says A&A Paving is the best he’s seen in 21 years at the job. “We repaved half our campus a few years ago, 17 acres, and we were given a limited time to do it,” says Cooksey. “A&A accomplished the job in two days with minimal disruption to the traffic flow in and out of the hospital. These guys went out of their way to make sure everything went perfect. When they weren’t actually laying down

Finding a niche Eichholz readily admits that A&A is not the cheapest, nor does he want to be, and that requires educating the customer. “We continually educate our staff on what that means and how to sell it,” says Eicholz.

“That’s what Nate does now. He created our Asphalt 101 program that we use to educate property and facility managers.”

“We want to get involved in the toughest situations, like the high-end residential homeowners

At left, Nate Olson, sales manager, brings family continuity to the company. Dave Pawelek, president, brought big-corporation management skills from a previous job at Disney. association jobs,” says Nate. “They can be tedious and stressful jobs because everybody is looking over your shoulder. But we do it well and it gives us a chance to have relationships with people.”

At A&A Paving the relationships that start with asphalt often branch out into joint efforts to help and improve the community, a process the company calls “Pave it Forward.”

These projects include funding for backpacks and school supplies for local kids, volunteering to set up a low-cost “Holiday Gift Mart” so struggling parents can afford to buy their kids Christmas presents, and working with the Shriners, churches and other organizations, willing to pitch in.

“You never know what that relationship is going to turn into,” says Nate. “That’s why every relationship, every cold call, every potential customer, every current customer is important. You may get a chance to share your faith or find a new sponsor for a community project. Our goal is not just the job. It’s to do the job and then ask what’s the next step in this relationship. You never know what kind of value you can bring to them.”

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 51

PA R T N E R S O L U T I O N S / V O LV O C O N S T R U C T I O N E Q U I P M E N T

IT’S TIME TO PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO

WHEELED EXCAVATORS W

hen you picture a fleet for road or bridge work, it probably includes a crawler excavator, a backhoe and possibly a truckmounted excavator. But that picture could be missing a machine with the versatility to do the work of any of those other machines with efficiency, performance and possible cost benefits: a wheeled excavator.

support numerous attachments — tiltrotators, buckets, hydraulic breakers, mower heads and more — that allow them to be used on a variety of jobs. Also, a two-piece boom provides extra lift capacity in tight quarters and more flexibility to work around obstacles like guardrails.

Truck-mounted excavators, on the other hand, are quite limited in arm and attachment options.

The wheeled excavator has long been embraced in Europe and Asia, but in North America it’s been viewed as more of a niche machine, partly because of a lack of visibility within the market. But that’s starting to change. Industrywide wheeled excavator sales increased nearly 25% in the U.S. from 2016 to 2018. Volvo CE has seen an even greater growth rate, thanks in part to an expansive lineup of seven models ranging from 6 to 26 tons.

Maneuverability also factors in. When working in tight spaces on or under a bridge or alongside a road, it may be more difficult to maneuver a backhoe that has a 180-degree working radius than to maneuver the 360-degree radius of a Volvo wheeled excavator. Also, a short-swing excavator can often work in one lane of traffic or along the side of a road, reducing traffic disruptions.

It’s time you learn about wheeled excavators before your competition does and starts outbidding you, leaving you in the dust.

Mobility

Versatility Wheeled excavators are great for road and bridge work (and many other applications) due to their versatility. They

The biggest difference between wheeled and crawler excavators is mobility. Travelling on the road to different jobsites or various locations within a single job can be a huge time- and money-saver compared to hauling equipment. The Volvo EW60E compact wheeled

excavator has a top speed of 18.6 mph, and larger Volvo models can hit up to 22 mph. Outfitted with a hitch, a wheeled excavator can tow a trailer of attachments or another piece of equipment — another way to reduce transport costs.

Performance Wheeled excavators typically have significant advantages over truck-mounted excavators when it comes to lift capacity and breakout force. Volvo’s wheeled excavators have up to two times greater lifting capacity than truckmounted excavators with similar operating weight. Volvo also tested the digging power of an EW60 against a competitively sized backhoe, and the wheeled excavator finished the job up to 38% faster while consuming four times less fuel.

A common misperception about wheeled excavators is that they have less power than crawlers. Volvo wheeled excavators have the horsepower and lifting capacity to go head to head with crawlers. Outriggers provide stability on uneven terrain, and the rear dozer blade provides additional stability.

Cost Significant operating cost savings are immediately apparent when factoring in the versatility, roadworthiness, fuel efficiency and digging power of wheeled excavators. In case you figured all these perks would come with a higher price: wheeled excavators typically cost less than comparable truck-mounted excavators and backhoes.

Don’t overlook the potential of wheeled excavators when it comes to road and bridge projects.

Learn more about Volvo CE’s wheeled excavators at volvoce.com/wex.

technology

| by Wayne Grayson |

WayneGrayson@randallreilly.com

ADVANCING AUTOMATION: Komatsu’s new dozer machine control can be used ‘100% of the time’

K

omatsu has upped the ante in dozer machine control – again.

Six years after the company became the first equipment OEM to bring a fully integrated machine control system for dozers to market – called intelligent Machine Control – Komatsu is back with an update that is “far more advanced” than other systems on the market today, says Derek Morris marketing manager for Komatsu’s Intelligent Machine Control and Smart Construction divisions.

Morris adds that the new dozer machine control system “opens up a world of possibilities.” More specifically, Komatsu says, the new Proactive Dozing Control (PDC) system isn’t just capable of finish grading. It can perform autostripping, auto-spreading and high production dozing as well.

“Traditionally, GPS machine control focused on finish grade, which meant operators could only use the technology approximately 10 to 20 percent of the time,” Morris explains. “Proactive Dozing Control

logic is a game-changer because the integrated system now lets operators use automation any time, whether for general site cleanup, backfilling trenches and more.”

The key difference between the new PDC system and the integrated intelligent Machine Control system found on Komatsu dozers since 2013 is that PDC understands how the terrain is changing in real time.

“Our system collects data at the tracks, while aftermarket solutions collect data at the blade,” Morris says. “Because data is collected at the tracks, the system provides a real-time picture of the ground around the machine, allowing the system to make calculated decisions based on the current terrain.”

Because of its more thorough understanding of the terrain and ground elevation, the system is able to “drive the blade to the precise grade needed.” That’s what makes this new system important, Komatsu says.

Komatsu is introducing the new PDC system on four dozers: the D51EXi-24, the D51PXi-24, the D61EXi-24 and the D61PXi-24.

How it works Like the intelligent Machine Control system before it, PDC uses a combination of a GNSS positioning sensor and an inertial measurement unit (IMU). In the past, those sensors focused on machine location and blade position, calculated through sensors in the blade cylinders. But now Komatsu has the tandem calculating the exact position of the dozer and where its tracks lie on the ground.

Komatsu says the system measures the ground around the machine, determines “what has been done on the area being graded, then stores that data.” And when the dozer goes back over that area, “the system understands what it was like from its previous track and, therefore, follows the existing terrain – the very terrain that was just created.”

“We’ve created machine control that is far more advanced, offering an entirely new level of efficiency, whether you’re an operator who has 20 years’ experience or someone new to the job,” Morris says.

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 55

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safety watch

| by Tom Jackson |

TJackson@randallreilly.com

I

f you were looking at it, you’d see nothing wrong.

At a scrap metal recycling and shipping facility, several employees were working around a crane that picked up vehicles, appliances and other large metal objects and fed them into a 4,000-horsepower hammer mill that tore the vehicles to shreds.

On the day of the incident, a piece of metal jammed in the hammer mill. Employees followed the standard procedure. First, they turned the hammer mill off. Then they jogged the grapple on the end of the boom to try to free the stuck piece of metal. When that didn’t work, a welder climbed into the hammer mill chamber with an oxyacetylene torch to cut up the jammed piece of metal.

While the welder was cutting the metal, the mast that supports the boom of the crane fractured and caused the boom to fall onto the welder, pinning him against the wall of the mill chamber and crushDate of safety talk: Attending:

Illustration by Don Lomax

Invisible defects

ing his torso. He died hours later at the hospital. Three others were injured in the incident: the foreman fell down the stairs of the crane platform; the crane operator suffered a shoulder contusion; and a laborer received a concussion when he fell off the platform as the crane collapsed.

After the incident, inspectors found numerous issues with the crane. The crane, rated for 7,000 pounds at full extension, was more than 20 years old and had been designed to be mounted on a truck. There wasn’t a preventive maintenance log for the crane, nor any load chart present at the crane location. Employees told the inspectors they were not aware of the need to observe the load weights put on the crane.

Inspectors concluded that the age of the crane, overweight loads and the regular jogging of the grapple led to a number of small cumulative stress fractures in the boom that caused its sudden failure.

Leader:

How this could have been prevented • Develop and adhere to a site-specific crane safety program based on OSHA regulations and NIOSH guidelines.

• Develop a critical lift plan reviewed by a professional engineer.

• Train crane operators to follow all OSHA and NIOSH regulations and give operators model-specific training.

• Regularly inspect cranes for safety and structural integrity and maintain a preventive maintenance log.

• Use load-moment indicators on new cranes and retrofit old cranes with these devices to prevent operators from exceeding maximum loads.

• Avoid side loading and shock loading crane booms.

For more information on this case: www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/documents/ fatal-injuries/05nj099.pdf

_____________________ EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 57

alerta de seguridad

TJackson@randallreilly.com

Defectos invisibles

i lo estuviera viendo, no le encontraría nada malo.

En un local de reciclaje y embalaje de chatarra, varios empleados estaban trabajando en torno a una grúa que levantaba vehículos, electrodomésticos y otros objetos grandes de metal y los introducía en un martillo mecánico de 4,000 caballos de fuerza que los hacía trizas.

El día del accidente, una pieza de metal quedó atascada en el martillo mecánico. Los empleados siguieron el procedimiento establecido. Primero, apagaron el martillo mecánico. Luego, manipularon el gancho al extremo del brazo extensor intentando soltar el metal atascado. Cuando esto no funcionó, un soldador trepó la cámara del martillo mecánico con un soplete de oxiacetileno para cortar la pieza atorada de metal.

Mientras el soldador estaba cortando el metal, el mástil de soporte del brazo de extensión de la grúa se rompió, haciendo hacer el brazo de extensión sobre el soldador, fijándolo contra la pared de la cámara del martillo y aplastándole el torso. El trabajador falleció horas después en el hospital. Otros tres resultaron heridos en el accidente: el capataz cayó sobre los peldaños de la plataforma de la grúa, el operador de la grúa sufrió una contusión en el hombro, y uno de los trabajadores sufrió una contusión al caer de la plataforma cuando la grúa colapsó.

Después del accidente, los inspectores hallaron numerosos problemas con la grúa. La grúa original, catalogada para 7,000 libras totalmente extendida, tenía más de 20 años y había sido diseñada originalmente para estar montada en un camión. No existía un registro de mantenimiento preventivo para la grúa ni había una tabla designando cargas máximas. Los empleados les dijeron a los inspectores que no tenían idea de que era necesario ceñirse a los pesos de carga establecidos para la grúa.

Los inspectores concluyeron que la antigüedad de la grúa, las cargas excesivas y la manipulación constante del gancho condujeron a una serie acumulativa de Fecha de la charla de seguridad: Asistentes: 58 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

Líder:

Illustration por Don Lomax

S

| por Tom Jackson |

pequeñas rupturas por estrés en el brazo que llevaron a un colapso repentino el día del accidente.

Cómo pudo haberse prevenido este accidente • Desarrolle y siga de cerca un programa de seguridad específico para grúas basado en las regulaciones y directrices del NIOSH. • Desarrolle un plan crítico para levantar cargas revisado por un ingeniero profesional.

• Capacite a los operadores de grúa a seguir todas las regulaciones de la OSHA y el NIOSH e imparta a los operadores una capacitación específica para el modelo que usan.

• Inspeccione regularmente la seguridad e integridad estructural de las grúas y mantenga un registro de mantenimiento preventivo.

• Use indicadores de momento de carga (marcando el peso crítico que afecta el equilibrio de la grúa) y modernice las grúas antiguas con estos dispositivos para que los operadores no excedan las cargas máximas.

• Evite las cargas laterales y los golpes en brazos extensores durante las cargas.

Para mayor información sobre este accidente y las acciones preventivas a tomar visite: www.nj.gov/ health/workplacehealthandsafety/documents/fatalinjuries/05nj099.pdf

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| by Marcia Doyle |

MarciaDoyle@randallreilly.com

Backhoes

Year-over-year change*

A snapshot of new and used sales trends from Randall-Reilly’s EDA equipment financing data and TopBid auction price service.

$

86,000

Top auction price paid for a 2015 Caterpillar 450F with 1,092 hours at a Ritchie Bros. sale Sept. 21, 2018, in Sacremento, California

80,000

OTHER TOP BID:

$

2015 Deere 824K-II with 2,682 hours, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Jun. 4, 2019, in Chehalis, Washington.

Final bids unit count: 331 Sept. 1, 2018 – Aug. 31, 2019; prices for backhoes 5 years old and newer, U.S. sales only. Only includes bids $5,000 and above. Source: TopBid, topbid.com

USED: NEW: DOWN 6% DOWN 17%

*Comparison of number of backhoes financed Sept. 1, 2018 to Aug. 31, 2019, and Sept. 1, 2017 to Aug. 31, 2018.

Source: EDA, edadata.com

Top three states for backhoe buyers* New State

# of buyers

Texas

374

California

236

Pennsylvania

102

0 6,8

0

37

$

,606

HIGH

$

AVERAGE

LOW

Used

$

86

,000

State

# of buyers

Texas

728

Oklahoma

280

Georgia

225

Top financed new backhoe*

Brand market share for new, used financed backhoes* New machines* Brand

Used machines* Financed

Brand

Financed

Deere

42%

Deere

33%

Cat

34%

Case

29%

Case

19%

Cat

22%

JCB

4%

New Holland

6%

New Holland

1%

Ford

4%

JCB

3%

Deere 310SL, 644 units

*In terms of number of new and used financed units sold Sept. 1, 2018 to Aug. 31, 2019. Source: EDA, edadata.com (Note: EDA reports are continually updated.)

New

Backhoe new, used financed sales trends, 2009-2018* 11,000 10,000 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0

UNITS

Used high: 2013, 7,313 units

Used

Used low: 2018, 5,820 units

New high: 2014, 4,317 units 2010

Cat 420F2, 351 units

Top financed used machine* Case 580 Super N, 221 units

New low: 2010, 1,620 units

2009

Other top selling new machine:

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

*Financed equipment, 2009-2018, number of units sold by sale or lease. Source: EDA, edadata.com

2016

2017

2018

*In terms of number of new and used financed units sold Sept. 1, 2018 to Aug. 31, 2019. Source: EDA, edadata.com (Note: EDA reports are continually updated.)

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 61

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pro pickup

| by Tom Quimby

2020 Ram Laramie Longhorn

TEST DRIVE

A

2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel delivers impressive power, fuel economy

nd diesel for all.

Following a three-year hiatus and allegations of emissions cheating, every truck from the 2020 Ram 1500 lineup is again available with the new, more powerful, more fuel-efficient third generation 3.0-liter EcoDiesel.

The V6 oil burner twists out 480 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm, a 14 percent increase from its prior iteration, giving it classleading torque in a half-ton diesel. Horsepower is up 8 percent to 260.

Ram gets best-in-class towing at 12,560 pounds, compared to 11,400 pounds for the 2019 Ford F-150 3.0-liter PowerStroke diesel (440 pound-feet torque) and 9,300 pounds for the 2020 Chevy Silverado 3.0-liter Duramax diesel (460 pound-feet torque).

The 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel can tow 340 more pounds than the 5/8-ton 2019 Nissan Titan XD 5.0-liter Cummins diesel (yet another punch to Nissan, which is nixing diesel from its 2020 lineup). Interestingly enough, the 2020 Ram 1500 gasser with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 can out-tow

them both at 12,750 pounds.

Ram credits the improved performance of its third-gen EcoDiesel to several changes, including a new generation watercooled turbocharger, redesigned intake ports, a dual high- and low-pressure EGR system, new 16.0:1 compression ratio (from 16.5:1) and redesigned aluminum alloy pistons.

The 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel mated to an eight-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission proved impressive during a recent test drive event in Gilbert, Minnesota. While towing EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 63

pro pickup

| continued

2020 Ram 1500 Tradesman two Yamaha YXZ side-by-sides on a tandem flatbed (roughly 5,000 pounds), the 4×4 Laramie Longhorn (ahhh…the smell of leather) accelerated quickly in city and highway traffic, handled its

load confidently and stopped on a dime. According to Ram’s trip odometer, the truck averaged 14.7 mpg during the 12-mile run.

I was especially interested in the 2020 Ram Rebel, which for the

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first time now has a diesel engine option. With 4×4 low engaged and the electronic rear axle locking differential turned on with the push of a button, the truck ate up some tough terrain, including a 30-degree hill climb at the Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area. No doubt, diesel induces confidence – both onand off-road.

Finally, because Ram expects to get best-in-class fuel economy with its latest EcoDiesel, I had to drive their best fuel sipper – a 2020 Ram 1500 4×2 Tradesman Quad Cab with a 3.21 rear axle (3.92 is the other option). The hills along Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota, can be tough and demand heavy throttling at times.

During a 30-mile, roundtrip run on Interstate 35, the truck averaged 31 mpg with the air conditioning going full blast, the tailgate up and the side mirrors folded out.

Fuel economy is where it gets interesting. The 2020 Chevy Silverado 3.0-liter Duramax delivers an EPA-estimated 33 mpg, thus far the best fuel economy in a halfton truck. But Ram’s not done yet.

The automaker says the thirdgeneration 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel is “expected to lead the segment on fuel economy.”

We’ll have to wait and see.

In the meantime, prices have been released. The 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel starts at $36,890 (Tradesman 4×2 Quad Cab), plus $1,695 destination. EcoDiesel is a $4,995 option, or $3,000 premium over the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 eTorque ($3,300 on Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Rebel and Laramie base models). Third-gen Ram EcoDiesel trucks are expected to go on sale in the fourth quarter.

The second-gen 3.0-liter EcoDiesel is still available in the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic.

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concrete/asphalt attachments | by Don McLoud | DonMcLoud@randallreilly.com Pump concrete mix up to 250 feet Blastcrete’s RD6536 Skid Steer Pump attachment is designed to provide a fast, efficient way to pump grout materials, 3/8-inch shotcrete and 3/4-inch structural concrete mixes in a variety of concrete and shotcrete applications. It is compatible with any skid steer or CTL, the company says.

The RD6536 pumps at speeds up to 25 cubic yards per hour. Contractors can pump materials 250 feet horizontally and as high as 50 feet with the use of a rubber delivery line. The receiving hopper’s hydraulic agitator is designed to keep the mix well-blended.

Turn your skid steer into a planer

The Bobcat planer attachment enables your skid steer to cut and mill concrete and asphalt. The milling process involves low-angle, high-velocity blows in a controlled pattern to uniformly chip pavement. Depth, width and slope control are easy to set and maintain by the operator. Milled material can be immediately recycled to finish asphalt or repair jobs. The planer attachment costs less to maintain and is easier to maneuver than dedicated planers, Bobcat says. It comes in four models, including high-flow versions.

Mix, scoop, dispense bag-mix concrete

Danuser has upgraded its Mega Mixer material handling bucket with an easier-to-operate discharge end. The mixer also features an 8-inch diameter pitch steel auger for faster mixing and dispensing and a 22.8-cubic-inch motor for improved torque. The Mega Mixer is designed to mix, scoop and dispense a variety of materials including bag-mix concrete. It mounts on both sides of a compact track loader or skid steer for left or right dispensing. The mixer comes with pin holders, easy-to-read yardage markers and two 2-foot multilink chutes.

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 65

concrete/asphalt attachments | continued MINI SKID STEER •SKID STEER •EXCAVATOR TELEHANDLER • TRACKS & TIRES • MORE!

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Built tough with reinforced construction, Skid Steer Concrete Breakers from STANLEY can break and power through the most demanding material on the job.

Toro’s cement bowl attachment allows operators to haul material, mix cement and pour concrete in a single attachment.

The cement bowl attachment can handle up to 200 pounds of dry cement at a time. The auger flighting inside the cement bowl is designed to keep the material contained during mixing to reduce spillage. Cement can be poured into fence post holes while posts are in place. The barrel is made of fabricated, welded steel for durability. The attachment is compatible with all Toro Dingo auger power head attachments.

Versatile cement mixer

Worksaver’s new SS-590 Hydraulic Cement Mixer is designed for all mixing jobs. The direct hydraulic drive eliminates chain and sprocket maintenance. An 11-cubic-foot drum allows the operator to mix, transport and place 5 cubic feet of concrete.

The SS-590 replaces the SS-585 and is designed to be more efficient. It features all steel welded construction of the drum with internal angled paddles for uniform concrete mixing and clean dumping. Standard equipment includes connect-under-pressure couplers and a flow control valve for mixer speed.

Road widening with skid steer

Road Widener’s FH-R model for skid steers and compact track loaders is designed for road shoulder work and aggregate dispersal. It can lay down asphalt in widths of 1 to 4 feet and can be ordered for left- or right-side discharge. A closure plate blocks material from spilling out of the side that is not being discharged from. The attachment comes with remote control, enabling the operator or another worker to control the Road Widener from a safe distance. The attachment requires hydraulic flows of 17.5 to 24.2 gallons per minute.

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EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 67

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97386

97477

57428

57725

0

0

3

0

0

0

57431

57725

39346

39426

0

0

0

0

371

128

e. Total Nonrequested Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3), (4))

39717

39554

f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e)

97148

97279

Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail (4) (include Pickup Stands, Trade Shows, Showrooms and Other Sources)

g. Copies not Distributed

238

198

97386

97477

59.12 %

59.34 %

a. Requested and Paid Electronic Copies(Sum of 15c and 15e)

0

0

Total Requested and Paid Print Copies(Line 15c) + Requested/Paid b. Electronic Copies

0

0

Total Requested Copy Distribution(Line 15f)+ Requested/Paid c. Electronic Copies

0

0

0.00 %

0.00 %

h. Total (Sum of 15f and 15g) i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation ((15c / 15f) times 100) 16. If total circulation includes electronic copies, report that circulation on lines below.

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EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 71 8/19/14 3:02 PM

5/9/13 4:18 PM

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progressivecommercial.com

37

Skid Steer

skidsteersolutions.com

66

Trail King

trailking.com

11

Verizon Connect

verizonconnect.com

5

VMAC

vmacair.com/mf-cat

31

Volvo Partner Solutions

volvoce.com/wex

Wirtgen America, Inc.

wirtgen-group.com/america

BC

World of Concrete

worldofconcrete.com

68

59 46-47

52-53

EquipmentWorld.com | October 2019 73

final word | by Tom Jackson

TJackson@randallreilly.com

Analog vs. digital

I

n the news this summer was an interesting bit about the Navy doing away with touchscreen controls on its destroyers.

Sailors complained that the digital interfaces were too complex and confusing, and investigators blamed the touchscreens for collisions involving the USS Fitzgerald in June 2017 and the USS McCain in August 2017. These collisions led to the deaths of 17 sailors.

Subsequent investigations revealed that sailors much prefer manual controls such as wheels and throttles. According to Wired magazine: “The problems with the touchscreens seem to result from a deadly triumvirate: bad design, bad testing and bad training.”

That ought to be a warning shot (across the bow?) to anybody involved in the design or operation of heavy equipment, trucks and vehicles.

Touchscreens are now found on every piece of new equipment and every vehicle sold today. I understand why OEMs like them. You can put more functionality on a touchscreen than you can on 100 levers, wheels or push buttons. Add in GPS navigation, hands-free phone access and GPS machine automation graphics (on earthmoving equipment) and you’ve got the kind of functionality nobody even dreamed of 10 years ago.

But when it comes to vehicles that barrel down the highway at speeds in excess of 70 mph, and that includes everything from dump trucks to pickup trucks, I think the OEMs need to revisit their designs for these interfaces.

About a year ago, I bought my first new car

74 October 2019 | EquipmentWorld.com

in a long time, a sedan, but it has the same basic interface for climate controls and radio as most trucks. The problem is the controls for the radio on/off and volume, the AC/heat on/off and fan speed, the engine start/stop button and the trunk-open button are all the same size and same shape. You have to look away from the windshield to read the small white lettering on the button to know which one you’re pushing. To select a radio station, you have to go through a touchscreen tap dance that again takes away from windshield time. And the temperature controls force you to find a tiny +/- sign that floats around out there in this sea of buttons.

In every previous car I’ve owned or driven (since 1967), these controls were always in the same place and always accessible without having to take your eyes off the road. The radio was controlled by two knobs, between them was a row of buttons for station preselects. The climate controls were three sliding levers. They were tactile and analog and with few variations always in the same place. You could find them blindfolded, even in otherwise quirky British and Italian sports cars.

But in today’s vehicles, accessing any of those functions means taking your eyes off the road. With all the noise about distracted driving and cellphones, automotive OEMs should not let the digital whiz-bang features take precedence over tried-and-true analog/ manual features. Technology should make our vehicles, and equipment, safer, not less so.

Hands-free phone access and GPS navigation are great. The rest of these dashboard and console components should be able to pass the blindfold test.

Alaska DOT is ready for any weather.

Powerful, durable and versatile, the Mack® Granite® can handle any job, in any condition. Toughness is just one way we earned Alaska DOT’s trust, and we’ll work hard to do the same for you. Because Mack delivers confidence and performance to get the job done. See how Mack does more, so your business earns more at MackTrucks.com/Alaska

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