Tag: construction equipment mechanics

Dealers

The two tiered technician field—and why dirty hands will still be required

In recent weeks we’ve published a couple of stories that provide an interesting contrast. If you click here, you’ll find our fourth and final report on the technician shortage. This article focuses on the future of technicians and all the digital tools they will be wielding soon. Click here and you’ll find ourour article on […]

December 30, 2019

Construction Equipment

The Top Construction Equipment Stories of 2019

1. Diesel technician shortage a perfect storm gathering for decades Today’s market heights have put an exclamation point on the construction equipment technician shortage, one that’s having a direct impact on contractors. Contractors can’t find the people they used to hire to take care of the equipment to the level they did in the past. […]

December 27, 2019

Dealers

As construction equipment evolves, basic technician skills are still needed (Part 4 in series)

Editor’s Note: This is the final part in our four-part series on the challenges brought on by the shortage of diesel technicians in the U.S. You can read Part One of the series by clicking here. Read Part Two, here. Read Part Three, here. Talk about the future of construction equipment technicians and several terms […]

December 19, 2019

Dealers

Alta Equipment joins with financial company to form publicly-traded construction equipment firm

Alta Equipment Holdings, Livonia, Michigan, has merged with B. Riley Principal Merger (BRPM), a special purpose acquisition company, to create a publicly-traded equipment dealership platform valued at approximately $550 million. Alta carries Volvo Construction Equipment and JCB lines, among others. When the deal closes, BRPM says it will change its name to Alta Equipment Group and […]

December 13, 2019

Business

Nominate your best for AEMP’s Technician of the Year Award; deadline Sept. 15

Everybody complains about the shortage of qualified technicians in the construction industry. So let me ask you a question: How many of you do anything to recognize or reward the technicians you have? For all the griping about the labor shortage, there are few fleet managers or construction companies that do the most important thing […]

September 7, 2016

Dealers

This diesel tech finds intuition, experience and a bit of Googling helpful in move to management

Richard Waitz got his first taste of equipment repair tinkering with tractors and four-wheelers at his grandfather’s ranch in Cotula, Texas. And after blowing the engine in his first pickup truck, he learned some automotive skills the old fashioned way. But Waitz took a shine to diesel equipment when he attended Texas State Technical College […]

August 12, 2016

Construction Equipment

Master Status: JCB launches a technician training program and national championship rolled into one

Calling service technicians the “unsung heroes” of its dealership network, UK-based equipment manufacturer JCB has launched a new program in North America that seeks to celebrate these techs’ achievements in a decidedly more heroic manner—championship ring and all. Dubbed the Master Technician program, the initiative is equal parts training and competition. First comes the training. Dealers […]

July 29, 2015

Construction Equipment

Shell debuts Rotella ELC-NF, a nitrite-free, multi-vehicle coolant

Modern diesel engines run hotter, no getting around it. To help these emissions-compliant engines keep cool, Shell Lubricants has introduced a new nitrite free coolant, Rotella ELC-NF. The “ELC” in the product name stands for extended life coolant and the formula is designed to last for 600,000 on-highway miles or 12,000 hours in commercial applications. […]

February 19, 2015

Oils & lubricants

New heavy-duty diesel oil standard: What you need to know

There’s a new heavy-duty diesel oil standard in the works. It will not be available until late next year or early 2017, but the performance requirements for it tell you a lot about where the diesel engine industry is headed. The industry periodically updates standards to address performance and emissions requirements from OEMs, says Sam […]

February 10, 2015

Workforce

How one construction firm is using drag racing to recruit new talent

If you want to catch a fish you need bait. And if you want to catch the attention of a mechanic, a 10,000 horsepower, 300 mile-per-hour car is a good start. Mechanics and technicians, as we all know, are in short supply. To recruit them Herzog Contracting, the Association of Equipment Management Professionals and the […]

September 4, 2014