Tag: business: Page 59

Business

Bill calls for the elimination of federal transportation funding

While most are trying to figure out a way to free up more federal funding for transportation, two Congressmen have introduced a bill that would cut it altogether. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Tom Graves (R-Georgia) have filed the Transportation Empowerment Act (TEA), according to our sister site Better Roads. The bill calls for […]

November 18, 2013

Business

The latest in a string of closings, Caterpillar to shutter Virginia mining equipment plant, lay off 240 workers

The decrease in demand for mining equipment is still hurting Caterpillar as the company has announced plans to close another mining equipment plant and lay off an additional 240 workers. The Pulaski, Virginia plant manufactures coal haulers and other equipment and is slated for shutdown by mid-2014, according to a report from Reuters. The announcement is […]

November 18, 2013

Business

Martin Weissburg named next president of Volvo Construction Equipment

Martin Weissburg, currently the president of Volvo Financial Services (VFS), will be the next president of Volvo Construction Equipment. Near the end of October it was announced that current Volvo CE president Pat Olney is leaving the company at the end of the year. Olney has been named as the next chief operating officer of […]

November 18, 2013

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Rule 1: Skid steer O&O costs

Based on a Case 430/440 model, 1700 to 2200 pound operating load, 2007 model, 4 year ownership/depreciation, 750 hours of use per year.   Do the math Unit costs are a great analytical tool. Take your machine O&O costs per hour, apply that to how many hours it takes to move X amount of dirt, […]

November 18, 2013

Business

3 rules for calculating and managing skid steer Owning & Operating costs

People who work with big equipment have a saying: “You can be going broke in this business and not know it for six months.” And the one cost that can be very hard to gauge, if you’re a small contractor or new to this business, is the owning and operating cost of your equipment. To […]

November 18, 2013

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Rule 2: Skid steer O&O costs

Managing operating costs Your operator is always going to be your biggest expense. With that in mind, here are a few ways to lessen that expense. Invest in training for productivity improvements Enclosed cabs, newer equipment help retain quality employees and keep them productive. Match the machine capabilities to the job. You don’t want an […]

November 18, 2013

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Rule 3: Skid steer O&O costs

Money never sleeps. If it isn’t making you money, it’s costing you money. If you buy stock in a company and after a few years it quits growing or paying dividends, you get rid of it. Right? The same is true of equipment. Letting equipment sit idle is like stashing money under a mattress. That’s […]

November 18, 2013

Business

JCB donates $500k worth of backhoes, generators to Philippines typhoon recovery efforts

JCB has announced that it will send more than $500,000 worth of heavy equipment and generators to aid in the recovery efforts in the wake of the typhoon that hit the Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippine coast on Friday and swept across six of the country’s islands, displacing millions. The initial death toll estimate was […]

November 14, 2013

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3: Be Fair

Treating everyone fairly and treating everyone equally isn’t the same thing. If you treat everyone exactly the same, they’ll think you don’t care about them. Have an individualized approach to your employees, and clearly explain decisions you make that affect them. They’ll respect you for it.   < STEP 2           […]

November 12, 2013

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2: Be Open and Honest

Although it’s your company, you should want your employees to be interested and invested in the well-being of the firm. They’re never going to be able to do that unless you tell them what’s going on. Instituting transparency is a direct path to gaining the loyalty and trust of your people. If they feel they […]

November 12, 2013

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1: Have the “Right” People

Attracting and retaining people isn’t enough. You have to hire and keep people who are a good fit for the type of company you want to have. No matter how skilled the employees, sometimes their demeanor or attitude simply derails what you’re trying to accomplish. < INTRO                 […]

November 12, 2013

Business

3 culture-changing steps contractors can take to combat the skilled worker shortage

There’s been no shortage of attention lately to the skilled worker shortage. Although industry advocates like Mike Rowe have been beating the drum for a while, now everyone is catching on—analyzing what happened and trying to find ways to attract new workers to the trade. Some contractors have even created their own courses to train […]

November 12, 2013