Category Archives: construction equipment

Heavy Equipment Parts

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Heavy equipment are prone to vulnerabilities due to the nature of work they are into. At times, the operator has to keep the machine in the working state for hours which indeed takes a toll on the machine. Moreover, when heavy equipment are made to work in rough terrain or in extreme weather conditions, it becomes all the more difficult for the guy working on the machine as well as the equipment to get the desired work done. It has to go through a lot of wear and tear when it performs in such nasty weather and thereby needs frequent servicing. It often happens that a part of the machine gets faulty and there comes a situation when the equipment just stops working and there is a dire need to replace the faulty part of the machine with a new one or else it just won’t work.

Heavy equipment is made up of various essential parts and it becomes the duty of the operator or the person who owns it to ensure that all the parts of the machine is in place and in order. In case, if anything is not in order then that needs to be checked and should be sorted in time. It has been that you do not always get a particular part of the equipment in a store as he may not have it in stock.

You have to wait for the stuff to come and if it is an important part of the machine then you are presumably not working till you have that part. Therefore, it becomes very important that you keep a stock of the important parts the moment you realize that it is wearing out and will sustain only for the next few days. In this way, you do not have to wait for anything. Just replace the part with the faulty one and get it up and running.

Parts are available in stores:-

Getting parts of the machine can be a problem for people who do not know the place from where they can get it. However, that should not be so tough. All you have to do is reach out to a heavy equipment store that deals with only parts of the machine. Here you will find different parts of the equipment of several brands. So you do not have to go to CAT dealer in order to buy a part of the CAT machine. You simply drop in at the store and get what you need. The only challenge that you may encounter is that he may not have the item handy. This is something that you need to counter by some other means.

Buy the parts online:-

This is an excellent option for people who do not have the time to visit a heavy equipment parts store or find it convenient to do things on their computer. All they got to do is just visit an online heavy equipment parts store and check for the things they have in stock. There has hardly been a moment when people did not find the stuff they were looking for. You can find almost everything with the click of a button.

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What is the ultimate small dozer?

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You do not always need big things to get smaller work done. Similarly, in case of heavy equipment when you see some petty work, it would be highly unwise of the person to bring in the big heavy equipment to get that small work done. In case, if he tries to work with the big machine, he may get everything wrong and may have to start things from all over again. Therefore, it is always advisable to identify the machine and check if it is compatible for the work before you start doing your work. The sight in a big construction company will have all huge machines however; you will also get to fix your eyes on some small machines. Wonder why? It is only because they understand that not all work can be done with the help of these big equipments. They also need small heavy equipment to complete certain kind of work.

We would be discussing about small dozers and how they are effective in many scenarios.

Why do we need a small dozer when we already have the bigger ones?-

A big dozer is a heavy machine and at places where we do not need the strength of a bigger machine, a small dozer comes handy. For instance, you just want to work with the garden area at the front of your house and you need to do some digging work and after that dump the dirt at a place that is meant to do so. In this situation, you can’t use those big dozers because they will simply pull off the entire mud making it improper for you to work on it. You will need those small dozers which have less strength and can get the required work done. Moreover these dozers are quite user-friendly. You will not have a tough time dealing with them and can get your work done in a smooth manner.

No need of specialized operators to work on it:-

Big construction companies have specialized operators who work heavy equipment. It is believed that the function buttons of these equipment are quite complex and it needs good deal of training to completely understand the different buttons and levers which is not possible for a naïve person to do. As the small dozers are quite simple than their complex counterparts, a person will definitely go for it. They just want to get their work done without wanting to know the complexities involved in operating a bigger version.

Companies that manufacture small dozers:-

There are many companies that are manufacturing small dozers. However, some of the prominent companies are Cat, John Deere, and Case, etc. Caterpillar has 4 models of small dozers. All the dozers are less than 130 hp. All the models have full power turn potential, dynamic braking. Steeples speed range and few other important features that one may find helpful while operating the machine. The joystick of the machine takes care of speed, direction and steering lessening the strain of the operator.

 

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Does Caterpillar have the best track loader?

It seems that almost all the heavy equipment manufacturing companies have something best to offer to its consumers. Some of the companies are good in manufacturing dozers; some are good in excavators while some are good in manufacturing track loaders. However, if one has to decide which one should he be using for completing his projects, then that would be a hard decision for him. There are few companies who have earned their goodwill in the industry by providing quality machines and offering great after sales services. In today’s time, it is just the brand that makes the sales for them. Out of these many companies, the name Caterpillar has made its mark in almost every kind of heavy equipment. Be it back hoe loaders or crawlers or track loaders, Cat seems to be the best.

If we talk about CAT 953, it has a free wheel power of 148 horsepower with a bore of 4.13in and stroke is 5.0 in. It has a displacement of 402.76 in. It has been fitted with the state of the art technology and seems to be one of the best in the industry. The track shoe type is double grouser and its standard width is 18.9 in and optional width is 15.0 in. The number of shoes installed on each side is 37 and the track on ground is 91.4 in. The drive system is one of its kinds as it has hydrostatic drive with a speed of 10 km/hr.

Apart from this, the loader is multi-specialty equipment as it can be used for many applications like excavating, landscape contouring, grading and truck loading. Ideally, heavy equipment manufacturing companies produce machines that are multi-specialty equipments and are meant to do more than one job.

Cat has another track loader model (CAT 963), that is at par with the 953. Having almost similar specification, it has been branded as one of the best track loader in the market. The one thing that distinguishes CAT 963 from the 953 model is its bucket that can be of general purpose, multipurpose or for extreme multi-purpose use. The bucket is meant to do heavy clearing, shredding topsoil, excavating, backfilling, carrying material truck loading and other loads of things. The earlier model may have certain restrictions. However, the engineers have taken notice to those limitations and therefore designed this model that is more or less based on the same line as the previous model but given few added benefits.

In case if people want to place orders to buy either of the models, they can directly approach the company and check if they can offer them with any deals. A discount in the price is what one can expect the most. Alternatively, they can also sign up for after sales service for a lesser price and in case if any of the part goes faulty, then that can be replaced or fixed without being charged an additional penny. Overall, if a survey is done wanting to know what people would prefer to buy, it would be undoubtedly either of the models.

 

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Job Prospects and Career Guidelines of becoming A Paving Machine Operator

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Want to become a paving machine operator. Read this article carefully to know more about the career opportunities and professional outlook in this field.

Education and Training required for Paving Machine Operators

Most paving machine operators start as apprentice or a trainee and work under an experienced operator. Training can also be taken from vocational schools. The best institution is The International Union of Operating Engineers which offers training to an apprentice and to those who are interested to make a career in this field. The duration of the course is up to 4 years.

Proficiency Required

An operator should possess good communication skills, as he have to take and give directions while operating the machine.

They should easily deal with large and complicated heavy equipment and also have comprehensive knowledge about them so that the machines can be maintained and repaired well and quickly.

Career Prospects

The career prospects in this sector are lucrative, bright and full of optimism. There are 54,460 posts available to the operators in a research conducted by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2012.This sector will witness a employment growth of 20 percent by the end of the year 2022 according to the BLS.

Other Career Options Available

Apart from driving a paving machine an operator can also find jobs as Material Moving Machine Operator and Heavy Tractor Driver.

Material Moving Machine Operator

A material moving machine operator makes application of heavy construction equipment such as cranes or conveyor belts to move thing from one site to another. They can find work in different industries, or in places like a storehouse, mine or sea harbour and ports. There are no proper education qualification for becoming material moving machine operator , but a high school diploma and experience in the construction industry will stand you in a good stead as many industries prefer it.; You can start as an apprentice and there are scopes for growth. However in order to be a crane operator you will need special license for operating it.

In future the job opportunities of  material moving machine operators is  believed to remain  unaltered starting   from the year  2012-2022, with job  growth  approximately at 1%.

Heavy Tractor Driver

Becoming heavy tractor driver is another option available to the operators. A heavy tractor driver is a professional driver who complies with the rules laid by the federal regulations. A proper commercial driver’s licence is a prerequisite, as you need to drive the machines carrying hazardous materials and other perilous cargoes. The tractors are heavy and can weigh up to 26000 pounds. The operator also needs to keep in touch with the dispatcher for solving various tractor related problems. They are also responsible for maintaining mileage and also plan the long distance routes.

To sum up paving machine operation is a specialised job and the operators have to undergo extensive training to develop and gain good skills and comprehensive knowledge to operate them. They also need practical experience and exposure to drive such large and complicated equipment.

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Guide to start a business of heavy equipment

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The industry of repossession is growing continuously. It offers a lot of business contingencies to the people who want to start their own business of heavy equipment. This kind of business has lot of growth opportunities. It is because this constructional heavy equipment are used for forestry, construction, mining and transportation purposes. But, to start a business, it is very important to have a strong business plan so that you can easily take your business to the top. You only have to do a little hard work and calculations to build up your successful business strategy. You don’t have to search over the internet to make your business plan. Just follow the simple steps given below and you will definitely rock.

Business plan for heavy equipment

  • The first thing which matters is the budget. You should plan your budget in such a way that you won’t face any financial crisis afterwards. Create a list of all the equipment that you are planning to get. If you have a low budget, then go for buying used equipment. Your budget should include all the money that you have to pay to the marketers as well as to the employees.
  • Now, choose a proper name of your business. Then you have to file all the exact information of DBA with the local government. After that, try to get the license of your business as soon as possible.
  • Your driver’s license should contain the appropriate classification for hauling heavy equipment. Get the license checked by the motor vehicle’s local department of the state. If you are planning for driver hiring, then check their driver license too.
  • Purchase or rent a space for commercial office. The space should have large storage yard so that you can keep big and heavy equipment in that.
  • You can also employ contractors who work independently. By doing this, you can save a lot from your budget. But, the independent contractors should have a proper insurance.
  • Lease or purchase the equipment for your company. The equipment should bear the necessary info of your company like name, address, logo and contact details.
  • Develop strong marketing strategy. Contact with the companies who are involved in financing the constructional equipment purchases. Meet them face to face and try to give them every information of your company which will help you to explore your business.
  • Now, one of the most important steps towards marketing is developing a website with proper logo and company’s name. Your website should have an attractive design to draw more traffic to the website.
  • You should join the industrial agencies such as American Recovery Association. It will help you to apprize with local and national news of business referrals.

Starting a business of heavy equipment is not so easy. You have to be very careful of every step that you are going to take. But, this thing shouldn’t demotivate you. Be brave enough to face the challenge and explore your heavy equipment business globally.

6 Myths About the Heavy Equipment Fleet Management Software That You Need To Know About

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There is no doubt about the fact that the entire construction industry heavily relies on the heavy equipment in order to finish off a construction project within the given deadline. As such, one really does not have to explain the importance that heavy equipment fleet management holds in the entire scheme of things. Though it has been shunned and criticised by a number of people, one cannot deny the fact that heavy equipment fleet management has enormous competitive advantage of its own.

Heavy Equipment Fleet Management- Myths That Need Busting

The heavy equipment fleet management software has been successful in giving rise to a number of preconceived notions in the market. Needless to say, these are quite untrue.

  • It is true that heavy equipment fleet management software allows you to have access to a number of data on the hardware of the equipment. However, if you expect the software to work of its own accord and give you returns on investments, then you are going about it in absolutely the wrong direction. You have to know the way of utilising the data s availed optimally so that you can receive huge profit.
  • People also feel that they can go for any fleet management software and the result will turn out to be the same. However, that is not the case. The heavy equipment fleet has its own set of concerns and therefore, the solution for the system, too, differs from one another. It is therefore, best to consider this aspect and go for fleet management software that caters to the individual requirements of the heavy equipment.
  • The heavy equipment fleet management software allows the concerned authorities to monitor the behaviour of the equipment operators and put a stop to misuse of the equipment along with tracking them. This allows them to cut down on fuel consumption, thereby, cutting down on the overall expense of the company. Hence, one could easily conclude that this heavy equipment fleet management software in no way intrudes on the privacy of the workers.
  • Contrary to the common preconceived notion, the heavy equipment fleet management software cannot be said to be an expensive deal in the long run. The initial purchase and installation charges might prove to be a pocket pinch, but the subsequent benefits more than makes up for it.
  • A lot of people consider operating the heavy equipment fleet management software to be an exhaustive procedure. On the contrary, operating the entire thing is quite easy only if the concerned authority have a commendable system administrator at their disposal.
  • A lot of smaller heavy equipment fleet management companies tend to think that they do not require fleet management software because of the small size of the company. However, this is a myth as small fleet management companies can make use of this system to improve things.

The heavy equipment fleet management software is quite a lucrative deal if one manages to get past the myths existing in the field.

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Caterpillar Jacket

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Jackets are not only required to protect you from cold winds but it is got to do more than what we presume. Jackets that have reflective stripes in the front and the back are there to protect workers working in industrial and construction sites. Times are gone when people worked only during the day. In this generation, where people want everything to happen at the click of a button, you have to build things faster and for that you have to deploy people who are ready to work at night. So for those resources, you have to provide them with reflective stripes jackets so that people from far can make out someone working in the site.

There are several companies who excel in producing excellent apparels but there is one name that lies above the rest of them. Caterpillar is termed to be the best when it comes to producing quality produces. Though Caterpillar is never into production of any merchandise, they have companies working for them who produce different kinds of merchandise for the end users. Once it is produced, it is emblazoned with the CAT logo. This is just one part of the story. The primary part is CAT selects the company that promises to produce the best before getting emblazoned with the CAT logo. Several companies send their products for inspection to CAT officials who on the other hand take due care to inspect the product very minutely. Only if they find the product is worthy to be inscribed with a CAT logo that they collaborate with the company and give them business.

In the same manner, jackets that have CAT logo on it are not produced by Caterpillar but before they put their logo on the merchandise, they ensure that the product is worthy to have their logo. They believe that people have faith on their logo which is why they do not bother if it is produced by them or by some other company, they just buy it seeing CAT’s name.

Caterpillar’s jackets are available in all major merchandise stores so that people do not have the trouble to buy their products. As of now, CAT has not opened its own merchandise store and puts up its products in big malls and marts all around the country. So getting a CAT jacket will not be a difficult task and one also need not worry much about its price. They are well within the budget of a common man. This means that CAT does not manufacture merchandises for the elite class but pays more attention to the wants of everybody.

CAT does not want to limit itself to heavy equipment and has spread its horizons into various zones benefitting the entire mass. One can also buy Caterpillar jackets from online store. Internet has helped the end users to be able to buy products by staying at home. Gone are the days when we had to go to a mart to buy things. Now transactions can happen at the click of a button. You like something, you pay for it and it gets delivered to your place. This is how simple buying things have become.

Becoming an expert mechanic of heavy equipment can ensure lucrative career

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It takes ages for a person to establish his career in any sector and top of it is abundantly painful as you have to strive for every inch that you make of yourself. In today’s time when time is money, it becomes difficult for people to wait this long. However, patience always bears fruit and thus the one who works harder can expect good returns. Same goes for becoming heavy equipment mechanic. A person who aspires for this profession as his career may have to go through lot of troubles and hardships and then he can expect to start getting some returns. Nevertheless, the one who is able to stick his foot to the ground and take all the struggle with a smile can make it to the top. Becoming an expert mechanic of heavy equipment is not a joke. One has to invest a lot of his time and energy studying about different kinds of machines, know the in and out of the machine and only after gaining enough experience can expect a lucrative career in this profession.

One thing is for sure that the guy who knows the most of a machine has huge demand in the construction sector and sky is definitely not a limit for him to grow. We will be discussing on few pointers that one should keep in mind if he has decided to make it big as a heavy equipment mechanic.

Getting basic education on heavy equipment is a must:-

Basic education on heavy equipment is a priority for any aspiring person. You need to know certain terminologies that can only be explained in a classroom session. Therefore a classroom training of approximately 1-2 years is essential. Once the classroom training is cleared, then the basic practical training begins and it is from here that one can pull it off.  Classroom training helps an individual to understand the basic principles which becomes very important when the person goes for practical training. He gets to know the jargons which otherwise is never taught in a practical class. There you are expected to know those jargons and if a person is not aware of it, he will have a hard time knowing things.

Always ask questions:-

Asking questions is something that we basically like to avoid. We get the feeling that our question is a stupid one and everyone knows what could be its answers. However, the reality is not many know the answer and you should not think if it is indeed a stupid one or a sensible one. A question is a question and if it has come to your mind, you need an answer for it.

Work under an expert:-

If you ever get the opportunity to work under an expert heavy equipment mechanic, stick to him for as long as you have gathered enough knowledge from him. Please understand that everybody wants to have good mechanic who can get their machines fixed in no time. Therefore, working under an expert will give you all the knowledge that you require to establish yourself as an expert heavy equipment mechanic.

How to be successful salesman selling heavy equipment

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We all know to sell and as a matter of fact we do various things in our daily lives but some are good in selling things and some are simply great. It depends on what exactly you are trying to sell. Not everybody can sell everything except for few exceptions. Selling heavy equipment is quite a difficult job and the one who can sell heavy equipment can definitely see a bright career as a successful salesman in the heavy equipment industry. So if you are good in selling investment avenues, you may find it difficult to sell heavy equipment as they are not at all related to each other in any fashion. In order to become a successful salesman, one needs to understand few very basic principle of selling and then practice those principles on a daily basis. Slowly and steadily, he will find himself getting groomed into a better salesman and then sky is the limit for him.

Having thorough product knowledge:-

This is the first and one of the most important criteria one needs to possess in order to become a successful salesman. Firstly, you need to understand the kind of heavy equipment you got to be selling and only after that you sharpen your skill by learning more about the product. Knowing the intricacies will always help you in dealing with a tough guy who knows almost everything about the machine. You will not see yourself walking out with your tail between your legs feeling embarrassed with your performance. Having good product knowledge is an essential criteria when it comes to becoming a successful salesman. It actually boosts your confidence as you know that you will be able to answer anything that’s put across to you.

Work on grooming up yourself:-

No one likes to talk to a lousy person. So if you are the guy who is least bothered about grooming yourself up, that will go against you. You may be quite knowledgeable about your stuff, confident enough to speak without fumbling or stammering but your personality speaks louder than you. If you are not able to carry a good personality and look like a lousy lad, things will not go your way. So wear formal when you go for the meeting. Make sure that your shirt in tucked in, shoes polished, hair properly combed and face clean shaved. Sport a good perfume and do not wear anything that is flashy.

Know about your competitor’s products:-

Just limiting your product knowledge to your company will not help. You also need to know the features of the products manufactured by your competitors. Do not criticize their products but you can definitely speak well about yours. So knowing a bit about them will always help you in the long run.

Understand the need of your customer:-

A good salesman is not the one who can sell anything to anybody but he is the one who sells his product after understanding the need of the customer and linking it with his product. So you got to hear him first, understand his requirements and then try to associate it with the product. This will convince the buyer and he may go for the stuff.

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Principal Questions to Be Asked When Financing Your Heavy Equipment

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Established contractors prefer to finance their bulky apparatus instead of procuring it with a huge amount of money. This financing technique brings the benefits of cash flow in their trades. If the contractors want their procured equipment to be disbursed for itself as it is being employed, then the process of financing can be a development engine for their businesses. When the suppliers desire to differentiate the asset purchase with the appointing of an employee, they crave for both so as to produce their keep at the end of the day. An excellent analogy assists the employers to get the salary of the entire year on first day.

If you take the direction of financing, it is necessary to know that all the apparatus finance contracts are applicable for agreeable tariff treatment according to the benefit of Section 179 hastened depreciation. In most of the cases, the contractors can deflate the total amount of the paraphernalia in a year as opposed to lettering it off over a five year term period. The sum of write off differs from time to time. Most of the weighty apparatus companies have more than one financial organisation to vend their equipments in profitable price. Here in the article, you will get to know the most important questions that usually determine the performance of your selected finance firm.

Is the funding company a key lender?

Many kinds of money mongers are available on the souk so it is important for you to know which type of lender is suitable for your business. Usually, brokers collect money from other loan companies to run their process of business deal. Their interest rates are higher and the contracts are unsecured. The publicly-traded and bank-possessed investment organisations are mostly preferred by the construction industry.

Current Rate in the Financial Heavy Equipment Market

Generally, every moneylender in the construction paraphernalia offers fairly same rates. Be cautious of the shortest rates because the money mongers may take other charges and fees to cover up this gap. It is essential for the contractors to find out those organisations that maintain a valuable relationship with their end clients.

To enquire about the disbursement options

It is good process to verify the authenticity of the financing concerns. The reputed funding organisations proffer flexible payment alternatives for instance 12, 24, 36, 48 or 60 months. It is sensible for the contractors to choose the long term so as to decrease the amount of monthly imbursement.

Is the financing organization proffers tax benefits?

The construction business contractors should examine that whether their desired funding organisations offer any tariff benefits or not. Most of the finance deals are based on balance sheets and depreciation. It is advisable to the suppliers to discuss the matter with the tax consultants so as to select the best financial company.

Financing is an extremely effectual method of attaining new heavy equipment while controlling the monetary budget and capital flow. Knowing, with which financial company you are working, enquiring the important queries and reassessing your contract will assist you to avert unpleasant bombshells in future.