DirtJockey Weekly Digest - Friday, April 8th

Caterpillar unveils 630K wheel tractor-scrapers

Caterpillar unveiled their 630K wheel tractor-scrapers while also previewing their upcoming 631K and 637K prototypes. Among the new features are high tech “Sequence Assist” that allows users to easily give the machine 14 different commands, “Load Assist,” which helps further control the cutting edge during the loading process, and a spin reduction feature for enhanced safety. Read More

Tier 4 Benchmark Report

In 2004, the EPA introduced the Tier 4 emissions standards under the Clean Air Act. From ’08-’15, these regulations were phased in in order to reduce emissions of off-road and diesel equipment. In that time, EquipmentWatch and AEMP partnered to survey the heavy equipment industry and report their findings on the industry’s progress. Read More

Yoder & Frey Announces Grand Opening Auction

Yoder & Frey Auctioneers, Inc. has announced that they will be holding a Grand Opening auction in Ashland, Ohio. Hoping to meet the needs of local businesses, the company, successful auctioneers with a global client base, decided to work closer to home and serve the needs of their own community. This is a major event for the area, considering that most dealers are used to travelling to Florida for annual auctions. Read More

Buyers finding bargains in mining equipment glut

Amidst the global slowdown in the mining industry, dealers and companies are looking to make up for their loses by selling equipment to companies that are thriving in spite of the slowdown. At the height of the market in 2011, specialized equipment was in short supply and companies could wait nearly 2 years for parts. Currently, however, the equipment is piling up and dealers are looking for creative ways, such as marketing the machinery to road construction and gravel companies, to make do. Read More

Pay attention to government contracting hotspots

Government bid data provider Onvia suggests that construction companies (and in result, equipment dealers) need to pay attention to repairing aging water systems, design-build projects, and industrial and marine projects as some of the 10 fastest growing government contracting jobs. Oniva lists these among these construction-specific areas as rising to the top of the total $1.5 trillion U.S. governmental procurement. Read More