In Praise of an Overlooked Earthmover — Mobile Track Solutions' Latest Scrapers

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:23:15

Jordanne Waldschmidt

When it comes to earthmoving, excavators and dozers tend to get all the attention. But when you've got millions of cubic yards of dirt to move, it's not just about what machine can dig it. It's about what machine can move it most efficiently. I'm Jourdan Schmidt, and today on Iron Insider, we're talking tractors and scrapers with the good folks at Mobile Track Solutions.

00:00:23:17 - 00:00:49:29

Jordanne Waldschmidt

Earlier this year, MTS introduced three new machines the 3775 tractor, the 3630 t Duplex Drive tractor and a 20 cubic yard straight tongue scraper. So we're going to get an overview of their latest products. Talk about where scrapers make the most sense and what contractors can do to keep them productive. So let's get into it.

00:00:50:01 - 00:00:58:02

Jordanne Waldschmidt

For those who aren't familiar with mobile track solutions, could you give us a quick rundown of the products that you manufacture and what customers they're really for?

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JACOB BICKETT

Yeah, that's a good question. So the basis of what mobile track has for a portfolio is pulled pants, right? Dirt scrapers, tongue poles like the one behind me. Gooseneck scrapers. They can be pulled by our switchback tractor or an articulated dump truck that is so converted tractors both tracked, wheeled, and then we offer switchback and standard. We also offer the kits to convert those articulated dump trucks.

00:01:19:21 - 00:01:27:09

JACOB BICKETT

And we also offer a full support equipment. So discs, sheep's foot rollers, roller blades and then some custom one off excavator attachments and things like that.

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Jordanne Waldschmidt

Awesome. Could you give us some more information about the latest latest machines to hit the lineup?

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JACOB BICKETT

Yeah, so we rolled out three things in Vegas at Expo this year. The first one being our in-house built 3775. So we took the years of experience that we have with the 3630 platform that you see behind me, rolled that into a higher horsepower platform to try and get less dependency on def, improve uptime, improve serviceability, all of the things that MTS is known for as a tractor brand into a higher horsepower platform to better self load 38 yard scrapers.

00:01:58:13 - 00:02:16:12

JACOB BICKETT

We also unveiled a duplex drive 3630, and the reason we call it a duplex drive is the rear axle isn't a rigid axle. It has two beams on it that walk and allow it to oscillate over soft ground, any obstacles in its way. It has a tires on the back and full steel fenders. The third product that we offered is actually the scraper behind me.

00:02:16:13 - 00:02:45:00

JACOB BICKETT

It's our 20 C, so that is something new for MTS. Typically we're into customers that do mass excavation. A lot of dirt work. Our smallest pan today is 23 yards. So the 20 gets down into a more competitive market space. And what that allows us to do is work with operators that maybe aren't familiar with the name. Right, might be familiar with somebody else, but still get our caterpillar dealers who we sell our equipment through leverage in that smaller space, as a lot of them have been very successful with MTS product in their rental fleet.

00:02:45:01 - 00:02:57:07

JACOB BICKETT

And this gives them just another tool in their arsenal for the earth mover. Like I said, this one's typically for smaller operators, somebody that's maybe doing a lot of land leveling, maybe some agricultural work, and not the large mass ax projects that we've typically targeted.

00:02:57:09 - 00:03:03:23

Jordanne Waldschmidt

Well, since we're here, let's get close up with this and check out some of the features and benefits.

00:03:03:26 - 00:03:39:13

JACOB BICKETT

Yeah. So this 20 C is equipped with the heavy duty hitch from MTS that all of our customers have come to know and love from our 2328 all the way up through our 3338 as the industry leading 3.5in cross pin. But it's still built with the same 630 mentality as far as the rugged design, the construction grade, the 360 degree rotation pin that you see here, the same steering angle that everybody knows, an MTS pan, same safety locks, and then a number of hydraulic setups can be configured on this.

00:03:39:15 - 00:03:58:15

JACOB BICKETT

So back here what we're looking at is our tongue. So this tongue has been sized for both weight transfer to the tractor and the turning radius of the shorter pan and smaller tractor for smaller job sites. Better accessibility. By the same token, we've actually implemented something new on the design side on this pan for the size. And that is this bolt joint here.

00:03:58:15 - 00:04:14:06

JACOB BICKETT

So there's bolt joints for the front tube to the side walls, as well as the rear tube to the sidewalls. With what that allows us to do is build this in individual sections and then bolt them all together on the assembly line. It also makes it very economical for us to ship to other parts of the world, and that's traditionally not something MTS has done.

00:04:14:08 - 00:04:36:22

JACOB BICKETT

So back here at the bowl, you'll notice that the sidewall is much shorter than a lot of MTS scrapers. It's also a wider aspect ratio with a shorter floor. So what that does is that improves load ability with a lower horsepower tractor. It also allows customers to grade on a wider footprint and be more stable. It also has a caterpillar compatible ground, engaging tools for both the cutting edge and the router bits.

00:04:36:24 - 00:04:42:20

Jordanne Waldschmidt

All right. We've moved around to the back of the machine here. What are some other options that contractors have with this package.

00:04:42:24 - 00:05:01:22

JACOB BICKETT

So really the only optional equipment from the factory that we're offering on the smaller model is service brakes. So this machine isn't equipped with service brakes is configured now, but contractors can opt for that with their dealer. We did take the board structure and the large two tire design that MTS is known for on the gooseneck pan side, and we've brought that to the drawbar side in the smaller package.

00:05:01:22 - 00:05:10:08

JACOB BICKETT

So it's built with the same rugged ability and the same tire clearance that MTS customers are familiar with. But once again, trying to get into that smaller contractor space.

00:05:10:12 - 00:05:21:10

Jordanne Waldschmidt

Now, Jacob MTS doesn't make any self-powered units. So what is it that a pole type scraper can do, or maybe do more economically than a self-propelled unit?

00:05:21:13 - 00:05:46:16

JACOB BICKETT

So really it gives the contractor more flexibility, both with the power unit and the scraper itself. So let's say there's a service issue with the tractor or with the scraper. A contractor can uncouple them hook scraper to a different tractor. It also gives them a little more flexibility on the sizing of the machine for the job site. So if I don't need nearly as big of a tractor, I can run something that's maybe a little more economical and fuel for Saint Pan.

00:05:46:21 - 00:05:59:29

JACOB BICKETT

And it also gives our dealers a lot of flexibility on the rental fleet side, so they can rent our tractor separate from the scraper. They can prevent the scraper separate from the tractor and give customers with mixed fleets the MTS experience, as well as just full blooded caterpillar.

00:06:00:02 - 00:06:00:14

Jordanne Waldschmidt

Okay.

00:06:00:16 - 00:06:01:01

JACOB BICKETT

Customers.

00:06:01:02 - 00:06:10:18

Jordanne Waldschmidt

Okay. Because you are sold at caterpillar dealerships. And so if I run a Volvo or a ADT, these can be hooked up to any power unit.

00:06:10:19 - 00:06:29:06

JACOB BICKETT

So we offer a full suite of drawer bars, hydraulic configurations and scraper side hitches for different brands of tractors, different sizes of tractors. Whether you want to pull an MTS scraper with a green or red tractor, or you want an MTS tractor to pull a different brand of scraper. We have all sorts of options that our sales team can work with you on.

00:06:29:11 - 00:06:40:10

JACOB BICKETT

On the ADT side, that gets a little more complicated. So we have articulated dump truck kits for a bevy of caterpillar haul trucks. And we also have support for 40 and 45 ton Volvos.

00:06:40:12 - 00:06:49:05

Jordanne Waldschmidt

Awesome. And then is there anything in particular contractors should know when deciding which type of power unit to pair with these scrapers?

00:06:49:07 - 00:07:08:27

JACOB BICKETT

So the biggest thing will come down to consulting their EMT's representative as far as job site size, the way they lay out their haul cycles. A lot of that has to do with trying to balance ground speed, productivity in the flotation of the soil at hand. And our representatives are well equipped to help contractor make that decision.

00:07:09:03 - 00:07:31:06

Jordanne Waldschmidt

Awesome. Well, thank you so much Jacob. This has been a great overview of the new 20 CE. Up next, we're going to switch gears a little bit. We're going to talk earthmoving productivity. And for that we're going to bring in Phil Roush. So Phil tell us in what applications would someone want to pick a scraper versus an excavator and a whole truck set up?

00:07:31:08 - 00:07:53:16

PHIL RAUSCH

Sure. One of the main things is material types. Tractors and scrapers do a great job in almost all material types, but you start getting into rockier materials. They're really not place for that. That's where truck and excavator makes more sense. If you get into deeper excavating, you get into a pond application. The trucks and excavators can make more sense there.

00:07:53:18 - 00:08:09:06

PHIL RAUSCH

A benefit, though, of scraper in a excavating scenario is the ability to tap load that scraper. So while you can get in line with the other trucks, the excavator can still swing over the top of the scraper and can tap load the scraper as well.

00:08:09:12 - 00:08:16:15

Jordanne Waldschmidt

Any other jobs that are a real sweet spot for these? Or also, is there anywhere that they might start to lose their advantage?

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PHIL RAUSCH

So? So the sweet spots are definitely wide open spaces where you got a lot of job site balancing going on, a lot of places where you're cutting the highs and filling the lows. The tractor and scraper is going to load itself. It's going to haul the material itself, and then it's also going to dump and maintain the fill itself.

00:08:34:07 - 00:08:38:05

PHIL RAUSCH

So you need to make sure you have adequate space for that.

00:08:38:07 - 00:08:52:19

Jordanne Waldschmidt

So there's a lot of folks who may have never operated a tractor in a scraper before. Can you talk a little bit about operator technique and maybe what are some of the things that set apart a really good scraper operator versus an average one?

00:08:52:23 - 00:09:12:02

PHIL RAUSCH

Yeah, the operator can really make or break a scraper operation. You want a steady operator? I'd rather have a guy that gets a consistent 80 loads a day, then 60 loads one day and 120 loads. The next day he's always forward thinking about his next cut. You know, as he's cutting here, he's trying to think, where's my next spot?

00:09:12:04 - 00:09:29:09

PHIL RAUSCH

Thinking about, you know, his hole where he's going to dump next. So you got one guy that's doing the job of essentially three different people, pure compared to a truck, an excavator and a dozer. So that guy's really got to be on his game to make sure that he's thinking the whole time he's operating the equipment.

00:09:29:14 - 00:09:43:02

Jordanne Waldschmidt

So if a contractor decides that they are going to go with a scraper and tractor or ADT set up, what are some of the biggest mistakes that you see them making that maybe inhibit the maximum productivity or excavation that they could be capable of?

00:09:43:04 - 00:10:08:09

PHIL RAUSCH

Yeah. Being open minded to opening up the job site, spreading the equipment out a little bit with tractors and scrapers, with the amount of material you're moving, you need to also be able to process the material as well. So having your cuts and Phil set up for tractors to come in on their own and then fills that up on their own, that they can actually farm the material so they can disc it to dry it, or they can disc it to incorporate moisture to it.

00:10:08:11 - 00:10:11:26

PHIL RAUSCH

So you can keep the tractors and the trucks and scrapers moving efficiently.

00:10:11:27 - 00:10:22:15

Jordanne Waldschmidt

And if there's one big myth or misconception out there that you want to dispel about using scrapers versus maybe a more traditional earthmoving setup, what would that be?

00:10:22:17 - 00:10:55:01

PHIL RAUSCH

Yeah, I think the misconception is, not taking tractors and scrapers is a legitimate mass earthmoving system. The construction nature of the tractor and scraper is really based around the uptime, the productivity of the efficiency and the customers that do get into the tractor scraper platform. They really see that and end up taking it seriously.

00:10:55:03 - 00:11:13:17

Jordanne Waldschmidt

And we're switching gears one more time. We're talking maintenance. And for that we've brought in Caleb Shay. So, Caleb, we know that you know, the cutting edge and the router bits can have a big impact on scraper performance. So how do contractors select the right cutting edge for the type of material that they're working in?

00:11:13:19 - 00:11:42:22

CALEB SHEA

So all of our MTS scrapers come standard with a stinger setup cutting edge. And we also offer a large variety of different cutting edge styles for different material types. So we recommend three quarter inch thick cutting edges for standard clays here in the Midwest, one inch thick cutting edges for more abrasive materials. When you get down into the southern areas, and then even a cutting edge option that is more designed for hard pack wears a little bit faster, but it also allows a lot less strain on the machine that's pulling it.

00:11:42:29 - 00:11:49:09

Jordanne Waldschmidt

And how do they know when it's time to replace that worn edge? Is there any signs or indication it's time to swap those out?

00:11:49:10 - 00:12:02:07

CALEB SHEA

Great question. We highly recommend anything less than two inches between the leading edge of the cutting edge and the frame of the scraper that were either flipping those or change them out, depending on how that cutting edge configuration set up.

00:12:02:10 - 00:12:11:19

Jordanne Waldschmidt

And beyond the cutting edge. Are there any other maintenance considerations that contractors need to stay on top of to really maintain the productivity of these pans?

00:12:11:21 - 00:12:38:25

CALEB SHEA

Yes. So these are fairly maintenance, minimal machines. We utilize greasers every ten hours. They're clearly marked throughout the entire machine. We also utilize a wheel bathed bearings in the rear wheel bearings to very, very little maintenance there as well. Really we just recommend following the standard daily operational checks, walk around checks that we outlined in the on em manuals to keep an eye on anything like floor rollers, guide block where things like that.

00:12:38:28 - 00:12:44:00

Jordanne Waldschmidt

All right. So when you do have downtime, what type of support is there to back these products up?

00:12:44:04 - 00:13:07:12

CALEB SHEA

Well, the team at MTS has done a lot of work to make sure that we are working through our cat dealer network. A lot of our machines utilize a lot of caterpillar components, so a lot of these components are already on cat shelves throughout the country. We also have these machines integrated into the Cat inspect app. All of our hydraulic hoses are available on the Cat his system, so you can walk into a cat hose bench anywhere in the world and get the build sheet for the hoses on any of our machines.

00:13:07:12 - 00:13:15:28

CALEB SHEA

And also we push our part stocking really heavily with our stocking dealers to verify that they are able to support these machines when they do actually go down.

00:13:16:00 - 00:13:36:19

Jordanne Waldschmidt

Great. Yeah, that's awesome to know that you guys have that many parts in stock at dealers that are right in people's backyards. So if you've got a lot of earth to move, don't automatically assume that an excavator and a whole truck is the only solution depending on the application. A tractor and a scraper could be your best bet for some serious earthmoving.

00:13:36:22 - 00:13:42:20

Jordanne Waldschmidt

And up next, we're going to send it over to Ben Thorpe for this month's data download.

00:13:42:22 - 00:14:05:11

Ben Thorpe

Thanks, Jordan. Today we're going to do something a little different. We're going to look at the latest market report from our sister company, Equipment Watch. To get an idea of where construction equipment values are at as we enter the final quarter of 2026, in its August report. Equipment Watch found forced liquidation values on construction equipment are finding firmer footing after some prolonged pressure.

00:14:05:16 - 00:14:38:23

Ben Thorpe

However, the hurdles identified earlier this year that's primarily continuing aging of equipment and secondary market pressure remain in the construction market. For July, construction equipment, fair market value in the U.S. were down 1.1% compared to those same values one year ago, and forced liquidation values were down even more at 6.5%. Despite this, Equipment Watch says the US construction equipment market specifically has seen some of the clearest evidence of pricing stability compared to the agriculture and lift access markets.

00:14:38:25 - 00:15:03:04

Ben Thorpe

July. Fair market value on construction equipment were mostly unchanged from June of this year, and forced liquidation values were down only 0.8% in that same 30 day period. Check the link in the description below to download a copy of the August market report, and dive into the data yourself. And that's all for this edition of Iron Insider. Be sure to head over to equipment Worldcom to sign up for our newsletter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos.

00:15:03:04 - 00:15:07:16

Ben Thorpe

Diving into the latest construction equipment hitting the US market. We'll see you next time.