Ford Asphalt Company has provided commercial asphalt and concrete paving services to the St. Louis Metro area since the company was founded in 1975. Over the years, Ford has built a long list of repeat clients that continue to call on the company for quality paving work. In fact, more than 90 percent of the company’s work is repeat business.

Randy White of St. Louis-based CASE dealer Luby Equipment attributes this kind of longevity and success to positive leadership. “I think that it starts with the owner of the company (Bruce Ford) and how they treat their employees, and then that is reflected in their work,” says White. “It’s a people business. And when somebody at the top treats their people well, it’s just completely reflective of their day-to-day operations and work.”

Tracks and pneumatic tires represent a significant percentage of total cost of ownership (TCO) for any piece of landscaping equipment. Proper maintenance and operating practices can go a long way to ensure that equipment owners are getting the most out of their investment, as well as working towards a safe and productive job schedule.

This article serves to identify some initial purchase considerations that will ultimately affect TCO over the course of a machine’s service life, as well as maintenance and operational factors that will extend the life of each asset and ultimately lower its TCO.

CASE Construction Equipment and Sonsray Machinery provided equipment and product training support for a Team Rubicon operation and land-clearing project at the “Family Camp at Yosemite”, run by the City of San Jose Parks and Recreation Department, in Groveland, California. Several days of equipment training throughout the week culminated in the Team Rubicon & Tough Mudder National Day of Service—a nationwide event bringing together volunteers from Team Rubicon, Tough Mudder and other organizations. A total of 60 volunteers from Team Rubicon participated in the event, ten of which are new operators participating in the heavy equipment training program.

Located just ten miles from the western gate of Yosemite National Park, the Family Camp at Yosemite—leased from the U.S. Forest Service and operated by the City of San Jose, California—sits on 47 acres of land in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The camp provides an all-inclusive outdoor experience for the families of San Jose and offers fishing, hiking, swimming and other outdoor activities in the serene backdrop of the Stanislaus National Forest.

Rarely does a skid steer owner use only a bucket. The auxiliary hydraulic capabilities of a skid steer are one of the features that make it extremely versatile, and having a good understanding of the output you will need is important when you spec a machine. How much power is too much power, and how much power do your attachments need? In this article we’ll look at common hydraulic systems and how each matches up to attachment demand. Just working with a bucket and pallet forks? No problem. Running snow throwers and wood chippers? You’re going to need a higher flow.

Attachments drive the decision

Tires are critical when it comes to performance, and they are often the most misunderstood component that can have the greatest impact on productivity on a jobsite. Whether performing general dirt work, landscaping, roadwork, excavation or mining, it is important that equipment owners have the right tire for the application. Here is a basic rundown of the different types of tires that are available, and the applications for which they are best suited.

Standard Pneumatic
Standard pneumatic tires provide a cost-effective option for light to medium duty applications. Made of high quality natural rubber, these tires provide long wear life and puncture resistance for typical skid steer applications.