COMPACT EQUIPMENT ISSUE
DRAVES PIPELINE, INC. AND COMPACT EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS, INC. CONTINUE TO BUILD THEIR BUSINESS MODEL AROUND THE EFFICIENT USE OF QUALITY COMPACT CAT CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY PG. 6
1.9% for 48 Months on Select New Cat Machines* ®
Get a New Cat ® Machine
3 Years of Planned Maintenance Parts Kits**
Powertrain Equipment Protection Plan (EPP)*
For a limited time, get 1.9% financing for 48 months when you purchase a select new Cat ® machine by December 31, 2018. This offer also includes planned maintenance kits and equipment protection plans, so owning a machine is worry-free. Take advantage of our latest offer to get the machine and support you need to help grow your business. For more information contact your local California Cat dealer today.
www.hawthornecat.com San Diego County 858-264-0185
www.quinncompany.com Central & Southern California 888-842-2155
* This financing offer is valid from July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 on the following new machines manufactured by Caterpillar Inc.: Cat Compact Track, Multi Terrain, Skid Steer, Backhoe, Compact Wheel and Small Wheel Loaders; Mini Excavators; Small Dozers; and Telehandlers. Financing and published rate and terms are subject to credit approval through Cat Financial for customers who qualify. Not all buyers may qualify. Higher rates may apply to buyers with a lower credit rating. Offer available only at participating Cat dealers. Offer includes a Powertrain Equipment Protection Plan (EPP). **The Planned Maintenance parts included cover the first 1,500 hours (estimated 3 years) of machine utilization. The kit contains one set of parts for regular planned maintenance under normal operating conditions. In some severe applications where maintenance parts need to be replaced more frequently, the additional parts will be at the customer’s expense. Additional restrictions apply. Visit catresourcecenter.com/offers for complete details. Offer is available to customers in the USA only and cannot be combined with any other offers. Offer subject to machine availability. Offer may change without prior notice and additional terms and conditions may apply. Contact your Cat dealer for details. © 2018 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, BUILT FOR IT, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow”, the “Power Edge” trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. www.cat.com www.caterpillar.com
COASTLINE Equipment
See Coastline Equipment for Your Compact Equipment Needs
0
% APR for
48 MONTHS*
TAKE DELIVERY OF ANY OF THESE MACHINES BY AUGUST 31, 2018 AND RECEIVE 0% FINANCING FOR UP TO 48 MONTHS!
*Offer ends August 31, 2018. Prices and models availability may vary by dealer. Some restrictions apply; other special rates and terms may be available, so see your dealer for details and other financing options. Available at participating dealers.
California
Long Beach, CA (562) 242-7400 · Bakersfield, CA (661) 399-3600 · Oxnard, CA (805) 485-2106 · Santa Ana, CA (714) 265-5500 · Santa Maria, CA (805) 922-8329 · Sylmar, CA (818) 890-3353
Idaho
Jerome, ID (208) 324-2900 · McCall, ID (208) 634-3903 · Meridian, ID (208) 888-3337
Nevada
Elko, NV (775) 777-7070 · Las Vegas, NV (702) 399-2700
www.coastlineequipment.com
Compact
CONTENTS
Equipment Issue
Feature Articles 06
DRAVES PIPELINE, INC. AND COMPACT EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS, INC. Continue to Build Their Business Model Around the Efficient Use of Quality Compact Cat Construction Machinery
12
16
6
FORTTE CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Quickly Building a Reputation for Excellence and Reliability in Communications and Electrical Installation Construction Niche
12
FORMOST CONSTRUCTION CO.
“Doing One Thing Well” and Leading the Way in Golf Course Irrigation Construction
16
22
INDUSTRY NEWS
30
ADVERTISER INDEX
CalContractor Magazine / www.calcontractor.com PUBLISHER: Kerry Hoover khoover@calcontractor.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Brian Hoover Ian Hoover
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Aldo Myftari
CalContractor is published twelve times each year by Construction Marketing Services, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. P.O. Box 892977, Temecula, CA 92589 / Phone: 909-772-3121
FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION: Please call: (909) 772-3121
More productivity. More reliability. Every day.
RDO does that.
$500 CREDIT* ON PARTS AND SERVICE with the purchase of a John Deere Compact Track Loader, Skid Steer or Compact Excavator
INCLUDES A 2-YEAR/2000 HOUR FULL-MACHINE WARRANTY** See more and GET A QUOTE at rdoequipment.com/500-dollar-credit ARIZONA Chandler Flagstaff Phoenix Prescott Tucson Yuma
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CALIFORNIA Imperial Indio Lakeside Riverside
760-335-7800 760-342-8900 619-270-4300 951-778-3700
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*Offer ends 10/31/2018. Receive a $500 credit towards parts and service with the purchase of a new John Deere Skid Steer, Compact Track Loader or Compact Excavator. Prices and model availability may vary by dealer. Some restrictions apply, other special rates and terms may be available. See participating dealer for details and financing options. **As of June 1, 2018, applies to purchases of new John Deere Skid Steers, Compact Track Loaders, Compact Excavators, and Compact Wheel Loaders from John Deere or authorized John Deere dealers. Warranty expires two years after the delivery receipt date or after 2,000 machine hours, whichever occurs first. Offer valid at participating dealers only. Some restrictions may apply. See your dealer for complete details.
Draves Pipeline, Inc. and Compact Equipment Specialists, Inc. Continue to Build Their Business Model Around the Efficient Use of Quality Compact Cat Construction Machinery By Brian Hoover, Editor
D
ale Draves established Draves Pipeline in 1979 after working several years for a large underground contractor in Southern California. “After being discharged from the Air Force, I took a job with a well-known underground contractor and worked my way up to superintendent,” says Dale. “There were several family members involved with the company, and I could see that I was not going any further up the ladder, so I decided to start my own construction company.” Dale started out with a rented backhoe and one employee and began taking on small water service jobs. By the mid-80s, Draves had expanded to where he was working on larger projects at trailer parks and smaller sized track homes. “This was when I began taking on more people and investing in construction equipment,” says Dale. “I knew that I wanted to remain small and efficient and choosing the right people was at the top of my priority list.” Jon Draves graduated from high school in 1994, and he remembers thinking that at the time, he was not interested in going to work for his father’s (Dale Draves) company. “I did some work in sales and moved to Oregon for a short time,” says Jon. “When 6
I returned, I decided to go to work for Pops, and like any new employee, I started at the bottom.” This meant working as a laborer and digging trenches, before earning the right to begin installing pipeline. My dad taught me that to effectively direct people; you must first, have done the task yourself. I spent 10 years proving myself until finally being promoted to foreman where I was running a crew of my own.” The company was incorporated in 2006 (Draves Pipeline, Inc.), and at this time, Jon started gaining ownership in the family business. Draves Pipeline, Inc. now works primarily on wet and dry utilities on custom home projects up and down the San Diego coastline and in coastal inland communities
2018 Compact equipment ISSUE CALCONTRACTOR
Jon Draves, Draves Pipeline, Inc. and Compact Equipment Specialists, Inc.
like Rancho Santa Fe, La Jolla and Del Mar. They perform a variety of tasks every day, ranging from water services, sewer laterals, electric and gas utility work, as well as storm drains, fire hydrants and fire bioretention basin construction. They are also taking on a good deal of tear down and rebuild work where entire infrastructures are being upgraded on custom home rebuild sites. Draves Pipeline has experience with all sorts of heavy equipment on large pipeline projects. They, however, do not own any big heavy construction equipment, but instead own efficient, compact equipment from Hawthorne Cat. www.calcontractor.com
Left: Diego Santillan uses the Cat 305.5E2 Mini Excavator in tight quarters to excavate for fire and water service for a new commercial building. Top Right: Using a Cat mini excavator allows DPI and CES to navigate efficiently around existing utilities. Above: Cat mini excavator makes it easy to work around other trades, and job site obstacles such as survey stakes.
“Our work mainly consists of private development projects on custom home sites, and private subdivisions of around five homes or less,” says Jon. “When we need larger equipment, we rely on our Hawthorne Rentals salesman, Pete Roudenbush. If we don't own it, we call Pete, and he has never let us down. After 39-plus years in this business, I could see that the need for compact equipment, particularly in our niche industry, has grown and is now in great demand. Because of this, I recently started a new company that caters specifically to this particular sector,” says Jon. The name of Jon’s new venture is Compact www.calcontractor.com
Equipment Specialists, Inc. (CES), and of course, Draves Pipeline is his main client. “There is a huge need for operated compact equipment rental services for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and fire sprinkler companies that may not own equipment or have qualified operators in-house,” says Jon. “I really like this business model, and I will continue to expand our fleet without facing the massive overhead you can incur with the large machinery that requires so much maintenance.” Currently, both companies have a combined fleet of four Cat mini excavators, two rubber-tired skid steer loaders, two track skid steer loaders, one Cat backhoe,
three dump trucks, three Ford F550 crew trucks, and a fleet of attachments that include cold planers, sweepers and breakers. “In all of our years of business, we have never purchased our compact equipment from anyone other than Hawthorne Cat,” says Dale. “Going with Cat just makes good business sense for many reasons. They have excellent parts availability right here in North County, which is hard to find. They offer top-notch service that is second to none, and Cat equipment retains its value over time, with low maintenance costs to boot. Additionally, we have an outstanding working relationship with Hawthorne Cat,
2018 Compact equipment ISSUE CALCONTRACTOR
7
Left & Above: DPI and CES use a Cat 305.5 E2 CR mini excavator along with a Cat 259D Compact Track Loader instead of using a backhoe. This allows them to continue excavating while shading pipe, installing and backfilling.
especially our machine sales representative, Matt Higgins, who has been there for us through thick and thin. We want to thank Hawthorne Cat for all of their support over the years, as well as our loyal customers that keep coming back to us for their equipment and construction needs.” According to Dale and Jon Draves, most of the job sites that Draves Pipeline and CES work on are located within small confined spaces. “People buy older homes and lots and they demolish the existing structure in favor of constructing a much larger and more efficient home,” says Dale. “Most times, these jobs require a complete rebuild of the underground infrastructure and utilities and calls for the use of compact equipment to maneuver around in tight working areas.” Jon points out that being able to mobilize with smaller trucks and equipment on these custom home sites is imperative to getting the job done right and on time. Beach communities in our area are busy year-round. Parking large 8
trucks and trailers are always a challenge. “Working with our Cat compact equipment has brought us a better return on our investment. The maintenance costs are a lot lower than you will find when owning the larger machines, and it has enabled us to carve out a nice niche where we are not competing with the bigger guys,” says Jon. “We fly under the radar on jobs that many larger contractors are not interested in, and smaller contractors are not able to bond or do not have the experience and capability to complete. We have built an excellent reputation in our particular field of service, and we are doing everything we can to maximize the potential of the current market.” Dale Draves admits that many things have changed over the past 40-plus years and that it is a much more regulated industry. “Dealing with environmental impact reports, Air Resources Board and the long list of regulations from the state, cities, and counties is not much fun,” says Dale. “The cost has to be passed on, and sometimes the
2018 Compact equipment ISSUE CALCONTRACTOR
client does not understand that we will spend thousands of dollars on permits and other paperwork before even loading a machine or touching the dirt. You must be able to sell your services properly and educate a future customer upfront on every cost involved.” Jon says that how you physically appear as a company on a job site also matters greatly. “We show up on our job sites looking good and clean and with the newest and best carb compliant equipment available on the market,” says Jon. “We always have the right tool, because we put most of our profits right back into our company by purchasing and owning all of the necessary equipment for any situation. This keeps us versatile and ready for whatever a job has to throw at us, and in the end that will lead to a better bottom line.” Additionally, Jon points out that they approach and work on every job as if it was their own home or property. “We have great relationships with the inspectors and city officials and no matter what the cost, we always maintain honesty through www.calcontractor.com
Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA 661.387.6090
Corona
Corona, CA 951.277.7620
Fresno
Fresno, CA 559.834.4420
Sacramento
Sacramento, CA 916.504.2300
San Diego
Lakeside, CA 619.441.3690
San Leandro
San Leandro, CA 510.357.9131
Turlock
Turlock, CA 209.410.6710
Volvo performance. at any size. Your equipment fleet should be scalable to meet any job site needs. Good thing Volvo power and productivity come in a full range of sizes. Volvo compact equipment brings the same engine performance, well-matched hydraulics, and ease of operation as their larger siblings. All Volvo, all sizes.
www.vcesvolvo.com
Push Boundaries.
Left: Jon Draves demos a septic tank prior to DPI connecting a new city sewer lateral install for a private residence. These tanks are often in tight spaces. Top & Above: DPI and CES trucks, equipment fleet and yard in Bonsall, CA.
practiced, ethical principles,” says Jon. “We work for a long list of high-end clients that have come to expect service that goes beyond the average offerings. You either perform at the level of their expectations or risk damaging your reputation and future work. For us, the customer's needs are the main focus, and we go above and beyond to satisfy their expectations.” Both Jon and his father, Dale, agree that remaining a small family business is what is going to take them into many more years of success. “We insist on keeping things manageable and treating our employees like family and making sure that they continue to earn a nice comfortable living is very important to my father and I,” says Jon. “Our employees share our family philosophy, and they have our back when it comes 10
to maintaining our quality and reputation.” Jon says that they only want the best, family-oriented employees and he has a lot of praise and admiration for each and every one of their inside and outside staff. “Jaime Pacheco is our office manager, and she does an exceptional job keeping up with things like permitting processes, payroll, and continually selling our services to clients. She also does a lot of our job coordinating and scheduling, and she is just so good with our clients,” says Jon. “I also want to thank and recognize our foremen, Cody Noblitt and Diego Santillan, who do a great job out in the field running machines and crews.” Dale Draves serves as the company president for Draves Pipeline, Inc. and Jon Draves is the vice president, while also being the owner and president of Compact Equipment Specialists,
2018 Compact equipment ISSUE CALCONTRACTOR
Inc. When asked about what both men see in the future for both companies, Dale replied, “Well I sort of see myself traveling in my RV and going to places that I have always wanted to see. His son, Jon, says that he would like to be in the luggage compartment of his father’s RV when this eventually becomes a reality. “In all seriousness, we will remain small, but continue to push toward greater efficiencies and better profits. I think the future is pretty bright for us right now and we are very content with what we have worked so hard to build over these many years,” concludes Dale. Draves Pipeline, Inc. and Compact Equipment Specialists, Inc. are headquartered in Bonsall, near Fallbrook. For more information, please visit www.dravespipeline.com. Cc
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CARB Compliant DBE/WBE/MBE/SBE
Savala has a fleet of T4F mini excavators. Models available are: CAT 305.5, CAT 308E2 CR, and JD85G. Variety of buckets, 18” compaction wheel and 1,000lb. breaker. Please contact dispatch for rates.
OTHER SUPPORT EQUIPMENT
SINCE 1978
• 2000 Gallon Water Trucks
• Blades
• Backhoes
• Dozers
• Excavators
• Scrapers
• Loaders
• Rollers
• Skiploaders
• Compactors
24 hour Emergency Service
(800) 672-8252 / (949) 552-1859 YEARS
Serving: Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, & Riverside Counties
www.savala.com
16402 Construction Circle East Irvine, CA 92606 26340 Lester Circle Corona, CA 92883
Proud Member
Quickly Building a Reputation for Excellence and Reliability in Communications and Electrical Installation Construction Niche
By Ian Hoover, Contributing Editor
J
oel and Alma Blanco recently started their own general engineering construction company with a focus on the installation of conduit for communication systems and electrical systems, as well as offering landscaping and concrete construction services. After working for landscaping and underground utility contractors for more than 20 years, the married couple decided that the time was right to go out on their own and put their many years of practical field experience to work. “After 12
working for other companies for many years, I decided that the time was right to begin looking and planning for a better opportunity for future growth and prosperity,” says Joel. “We started putting everything together in November 2016, and by March 2018, we had our contractors license and everything else we needed to officially start taking on jobs under our new company, Fortte Construction, Inc. I felt like we were capable and ready to put our experience to work for ourselves.”
2018 Compact equipment ISSUE CALCONTRACTOR
Fortte Construction’s work is performed almost exclusively in the public works sector for well-known and respected companies like High-Light Electric, Inc., Griffith Company, Kaza Construction and Conti Construction. Joel is a working owner who does everything from bidding the jobs to operating the machinery that opens the trenches for the installation of utilities. Joel Blanco leads by example with a company concept that offers a wide range of diverse but related services throughout Southern California. www.calcontractor.com
Left: Joel Blanco, Owner, and Manuel Blanco, Superintendent, Fortte Construction, Inc. Right: Tujanga Wash - Glenn Varela & Jerry Tavarez trenching for electrical pipe installation for power pump. Below: Installing pipe for sensor loops adjacent to 58 Freeway in Bakersfield.
According to Alma Blanco, their entire office and field staff were hired because of their years of experience and competent abilities in management, estimating, fieldwork and overall excellent customer service skills. Their operators, superintendents, and skilled craftsman are some of the best in the business, and they have already begun proving their abilities to produce quality, professional work, that is completed on time and within budget. “The best advantage you can have in this business is, to be honest, and consistently work to build trust and provide total satisfaction on every project, large or small,” says Alma.
“We offer innovative construction solutions backed by the highest quality employees and the newest and most efficient construction equipment.” As a part of their commitment to excellence, Fortte Construction recently invested in a brand-new John Deere 35G compact excavator from Coastline Equipment. “We started out our business by renting the late model equipment we needed for each job, but soon found that we were so busy that it made sense to purchase our first machine,” says Joel. “We www.calcontractor.com
looked around at other brands, and both myself and my brother agreed that the John Deere 35G offered the best bang for the buck.” The John Deere 35G compact excavator was reportedly inspired and built with heavy consideration from the input given from equipment owners and operators. They wanted a spacious cab with a wide entryway, fuel-saving auto-shutdown and power/ economy work modes, greater visibility with a more expansive glass area and easily accessible maintenance/service doors. Along with these requests,
2018 Compact equipment ISSUE CALCONTRACTOR
13
Above: New John Deere 35G compact excavator with PA30 auger attachment, purchased from Coastline Equipment, drilling foundations for street light poles in City of Industry. The attachment can be quickly interchanged between compact excavators and track loaders with ease.
Fortte Construction and other customers also receive a directinjected diesel engine that meets EPA Final Tier 4 (FT4)/EU Stage IV emission standards and zerotail-swing design that is both maneuverable and productive in tight spaces. “We use our new John Deere compact excavator to install and backfill conduit for electrical and communications contractors. Our new Deere is fast and powerful, and we got a great deal from Coastline,” says Joel. “Our sales representative, JR (Van Osten), provided us with excellent financing terms and a two-year 2,000-hour full machine warranty. I can’t say enough about how professionally we were treated before and after the sale at Coastline Equipment. I am very impressed with both Coastline and our new John Deere excavator.” Fortte Construction recently utilized their new John Deere 35G compact excavator and other rental equipment in Bakersfield, where they excavated a 6’ x 5’ utility bowl for box installation and thousands of feet of trench next to the 68 Freeway. 14
“We recently installed several thousand feet of conduit for fiber optic installation in Bakersfield, and our John Deere 35G is just the tool we needed to be able to dig this much trench each day,” says Joel. “We also recently completed a job in North Hollywood where we trenched two 1,000 foot sections of conduit that will provide power to a new water pump installation. The new machine also came in handy on one of our longest projects to date, again in Bakersfield. We were on the job for around 10-weeks trenching around 5-miles of fiber optic conduit, and again our new excavator helped us complete this project on time and on budget.” Even though Fortte Construction has only been officially in business for less than one year, they have already built a reputation for high-quality services and attention to detail that you don’t see in these modern times. “It hasn’t been easy and it is a whole different thing working for yourself than for someone else,” says Joel. “Being the best, most reliable company, in our field is
2018 Compact equipment ISSUE CALCONTRACTOR
what we are striving for, and we will workday and night to prove ourselves to our clients and prospective customers.” While Joel and Alma Blanco are the majority shareholders in Fortte Construction, Inc., they are quick to point out that it is the efforts of their partners and other employees that have made this whole thing possible. “We would not have grown as quickly without the support and efforts of our business partners, Manuel Elias Blanco (Joel’s brother, partner and superintendent), Eduardo Aguilar (partner and project manager) and Jose Cruz (partner and project manager). We want to recognize them and sincerely thank them and our entire staff and crew for their outstanding work and dedication. We will continue to grow and add more employees, equipment, and trucks while we push forward with our plan to be the very best at what we do.” For more information on Fortte Construction, Inc., please visit their website at www.fortteconstruction.com or call their Buena Park headquarters at (714) 697-4714. Cc www.calcontractor.com
4701-B Little John St. • Baldwin Park, CA 91706 Phone: 800-813-8232 • Fax: 626-813-1594
www.ubequipment.com Email: chasminub@gmail.com
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UB Equipment Corp.
“DOING ONE THING WELL� AND LEADING THE WAY IN GOLF COURSE IRRIGATION CONSTRUCTION
Above: Ditch Witch RT115 Trencher/Vibratory Plow installing 2" lateral pipe at El Niguel Country Club in Laguna Niguel. Below: Formost Construction's exceptional crew working in Laguna Niguel at El Niguel Country Club.
By Brian Hoover, Editor
T
here is a certain, simplistic wisdom in the idea of doing one thing well. Offering multiple services and being a one-stop shop has also been recognized as a good business model, but nothing takes the place of being the best at what you do. Kenny Cloud started out in the landscaping business in 1964 and incorporated under the name, Formost Construction in 1966. Kenny's son, Charles (Chuck) Cloud, took over the 16
business in the 1980s, and although the company started out in landscape, Chuck Cloud's ultimate goal was always focused on irrigation and golf course construction. The use of irrigation on putting surfaces can be traced back to Scotland in the 1880s. Before the 20th century, many golf courses irrigated through the use of mule-drawn water wagons. Brentwood Country Club in Los Angeles is reportedly one of the first
2018 Compact equipment ISSUE CALCONTRACTOR
www.calcontractor.com
Right: Ditch Witch RT115 Heavy Duty Ride-On Trencher plowing in 2" pipe at El Niguel Country Club.
country clubs to employ a fullyautomatic irrigation system in the early 1950s at a cost of around $120,000 for the entire 18-hole system. When the game of golf spread West, builders and architects realized that maintaining a course would be impossible without irrigation. Completely automatic irrigation systems were made available after WWII, however converting quick-coupler systems did not gain momentum until after the 60s and 70s. Chuck Cloud had the vision to see what was coming, and by the 1980s, irrigation had become a must for almost any new golf course build. Chuck’s son, Scott Cloud (Cloud), had worked for his father’s company on weekends and summers for as far back as he can remember. He joined the company fulltime in 1995 after receiving an Anthropology degree from UC Berkeley. “I remember one of my first big irrigation jobs was on the island of Saipan, and this is where I met my wife Vangie,” says Cloud. “I learned a lot from my father and I have a lot of respect for his achievements and pioneering efforts in this industry.” Scott Cloud now serves as president and co-owner of Formost Construction (Formost), a company that has been around for more than 50 years. Recognized as one of the leaders and innovators in the golf industry, Formost has put their irrigation construction services to work on more than 250 golf courses in the USA, England, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, www.calcontractor.com
Thailand, Hong Kong, Saipan and the Philippines. Their work varies from the remodeling of a portion of an existing course to the development of an entirely new facility. Their work has been performed on all types of designs, topography, soils and climates. Their longevity in the industry allows them to draw upon their wealth of problem-solving techniques and solutions. Formost was the first to “pull” pipe, lay wire and make use of the “Spider” backfilling machine. This machine was developed and patented by Scott’s grandfather and was explicitly designed for compaction of ditches on established golf courses to prevent damage to the turf and eliminate settling. Formost Construction’s historically largest project occurred back in 2011 for the LA Country Club North, and they performed a full irrigation restoration on this course that will host the U.S. Open in 2023. They also did all of the new irrigation for the second oldest golf course west of the Mississippi, the Waverly Country Club in Portland, Oregon. “We have completed a long list of projects all over the world, including a complete rebuild for the Hong Kong Golf Club,” says Cloud. “We are on a pretty good run right now working on several top 100 courses. We recently
completed work out at the Valley Club of Montecito, as well as the Bel Air Country Club, and we are currently working at the Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.” Cloud explains that almost all of their projects are renovation and that new builds are rare in today’s golf world. “Some of our work is done as a subcontractor where we are hired to install new pipe in and around the tees, greens and bunkers. Other projects, we operate as the prime contractor, renovating and installing the 6” to 18” mainline pipe on every fairway. We then connect the mainline to the pump station and then install 2” lateral taps with our Ditch Witch vibratory plows.” Cloud explains that an average job calls for around 5 miles of 6” and larger mainline pipe, and around 20 miles of 2” lateral pipe. “We perform all of the mainline work first, followed by any necessary repairs to the existing system. As we begin plowing in the 2” lateral pipe, the sprinklers are installed, and the new system is brought online,” says Cloud. “We use our Ditch Witch RT90s or RT95 machines to plow in the laterals and our mini excavators to excavate the sprinkler locations. Our skid steers are used primarily for backfill operations, while
2018 Compact equipment ISSUE CALCONTRACTOR
17
Above Left & Right: Mini Excavator working in tandem with Cat 249D Compact Track Loader to excavate and backfill at El Niguel Golf Course. Right: Pulling 2" lateral pipe in with Ditch Witch Vibratory Plow in Laguna Niguel.
pneumatic powder puffs are used to compact around the newly installed sprinkler heads.” Formost also utilizes their Ditch Witch moles to bore under cart paths, powered by their Ingersoll-Rand 140 CFM compressors. After all of the work is done and backfilled, they bring out their 3 to 5-ton rollers to flatten out the pole lines. “For the mainline work, we primarily use our Vermeer T555 trencher and the special backfilling machine that my grandfather invented,” says Cloud. “We have converted many or our machines like our mini excavators and skid steers to turf tracks so that we minimize the wear and tear on the existing golf course.” The golf course irrigation construction business relies heavily on compact equipment, and Formost has an entire fleet of construction machines at their disposal. They currently own six skid steer loaders, seven mini excavators, several Ditch Witch plows and two Vermeer T555 trenchers, as well as five Kubota RTV900 utility vehicles 18
and a long list of implements and attachments. “Our operators like the three newer Cat track loaders and I think we will be moving our fleet to Cat skid steers in the future. We also have one Cat mini excavator that we recently added to our fleet that the operators also seem to enjoy running,” says Cloud. “We add new machines as our workload deems necessary, however right now it is harder than ever to find and add good, qualified operators and laborers and that is keeping us from bidding and accepting more work at this time.” Formost is out at El Niguel Country Club right now where they began a partial renovation back in April. “We are the subcontractor to LeBar Golf Renovations out of New Jersey,” says Cloud. “Under their direction, we are redoing all of the green complex surrounds, the fairway bunkers and many of the tee complexes. LaBar is stripping and fixing everything around these fixtures, and we are plowing in the 2” pipe, along with relocating a few existing mainlines a few hundred feet. When we complete
2018 Compact equipment ISSUE CALCONTRACTOR
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THIS WAS THE
this project in a few days, we will send many in this crew to the job in Tulsa where we are doing a full irrigation renovation.” Scott Cloud explains that many golf courses are undergoing turf reduction as a means to conserve water supplies. “Golf course owners and administrators are looking to be much more efficient with the water they are allocated, and this means installing the newest and greatest irrigation technology that is much more conservation oriented. We are also using higher rated HTP pipe whenever possible that is thicker with greater flexibility and longevity,” says Cloud. “This will all be good for business, as we continue to push our margins higher and continue our search for well qualified workers. Our current staff of approximately 50 employees is already working five 10-hour days and six hours on the weekends, and our first order of business is to hire more people. Our goal is to do one thing well and continue to be the leader in golf course irrigation construction.” For more information on Murietta based Formost Construction, Inc., please visit their website at www.formostconstruction.com or call (951) 698-7270. Cc www.calcontractor.com
CHALLENGE Safely and cost-effectively shore up a range of pipeline or pit excavations up to 35 feet deep, while maintaining required vertical clearances.
THIS WAS OUR
SOLUTION
Does your project require shoring a deep excavation in either pipeline or pit configuration? Are high pressure gas lines or specific vertical clearance key components? Trench Shoring Company’s SBH® Triple Slide Rail Shoring System can handle any challenge, because we have the most complete inventory in the Southwest. Why is our large inventory of multiple slides critical to your project? Let’s say your pipeline or pit configuration is upwards of 35’ deep. Or perhaps you must accommodate a 10’ diameter pipe, 33’ deep and 17’ wide. Maybe it crosses a 30’ high pressure gas line. Trench Shoring Company knows every project is different and we’re prepared to affordably service all your shoring issues. Trench Shoring Company will be there for your challenge too! We offer same day service from our 10 locations to Southern California, Bakersfield, Fresno, the California Central Coast and the Las Vegas, Nevada areas.
800-423-4411 TrenchShoring.com ENGINEERING RENTALS SALES INVENTORY TRAINING © 2018 Trench Shoring Company
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INSURANCE COLUMN
WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER PURCHASING AN EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES LIABILITY INSURANCE (EPLI) POLICY? By Steve Cota, Patriot Risk & Insurance Services
Employment Practices liability insurance, known in the trade as EPL insurance or EPLI, protects employers against claims made by employees and prospective employees alleging discrimination (based on sex, race, age or disability, for example), wrongful termination, retaliation, harassment and other employment-related issues. Charges against employers for these types of claims are at all-time highs. Here are the top 8 reasons on why you should consider purchasing Employment Practices liability insurance: 1. Three of five employers are sued by current or former employees every year in California. 2. Over 40 percent of EPL claims are against firms with fewer than 100 employees. 3. Some federal and state employment laws apply to all employers- any size company has exposure. Small or new businesses are often the most vulnerable to employment claims. 4. The financial ramifications resulting from the cost of defending against the allegation whether or not warranted can be crippling. 5. The median compensatory award to plaintiffs is $325,000. 6. There is no EPL coverage under other insurance policies such as general liability. 7. Wage and hour litigation has quadrupled. (e.g. failure to pay overtime). 8. Gender discrimination, age discrimination and retaliation claims are on the rise.
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Here are some actions that you should take to help lower your Employment Practices liability risk: A. Develop an employee handbook detailing your company’s workplace policies and procedures, including attendance, discipline, and complaints. B. Create a job description for each position that clearly defines expectation of skills and performance. C. Conduct periodic performance reviews of employees and carefully note the results in their file. D. Use an employment application that contains an equal employment opportunity statement along with a statement, that if hired, employment will be “at-will”. E. Conduct background checks if possible. F. Institute a zero tolerance policy regarding discrimination, substance abuse and any form of harassment. G. Develop an effective record-keeping system to document employee issues as they arise, and what the company did to resolve those issues. Cc
Steve Cota, CRIS, directs the Construction Program for Patriot Risk & Insurance Services in Irvine, California. For more information regarding the above or any other insurance-related questions, he may be reached at (949) 486-7947 or scota@patrisk.com.
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EMMETT MALLOY, FATHER OF TRENCH SHORING COMPANY FOUNDER, TOM MALLOY, INDUCTED INTO NATIONAL SPRINT CAR HALL OF FAME
KNOXVILLE,( IOWA), June, 2018. Emmett J. Malloy, who made the transition from successful race track owner to successful sprint car owner, was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (NSCHOF) during the twentyninth annual ceremonies in Knoxville, Iowa. Emmett Malloy, father of Trench Shoring Company owner/CEO, Tom Malloy, began his career as an excavator in the early 1900s. However racing was his passion and, to begin his transition from dirt mover to race car builder, he would construct and operate the famous “Gardena Bowl,” home to first the California Roadster Association, which morphed into the California Racing Association (CRA). A true visionary, Malloy anticipated the huge interest and opportunity for a “big car” racing venue. After a year of planning and negotiations, a half-mile track was carved out of a marshland and Gardena Bowl opened in 1940. Fan interest was immediate but was interrupted by World War Two. When racing resumed after the war, torrential rains almost brought an end to the 22
venue; undeterred, Malloy rebuilt the speedway on higher ground added upgraded facilities, and when the track reopened on July 4, 1947, opening weekend crowds were estimated at 33,000 people. His years as a track owner had whetted Malloy’s appetite to be a competitor in auto racing. He took a leap and purchased a race car from J.C. Agajanian. He then hired legendary builder and mechanic Bob Pankratz to
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modify and prepare the car for the 1949 racing season. Primarily driven by Hall of Famer Troy Ruttman, Emmett Malloy’s car won 26 features in two years. Malloy then set his sights on Indianapolis and was competitive there. After going through some chassis changes, the Malloy Special entered the 1954 Indy Race. Driven by Jimmy Reece, the car qualified 7th on the first day and finished all 500 miles achieving 17th place, www.calcontractor.com
By Brian Hoover, Senior Editor
a remarkable accomplishment for Malloy’s sophomore team. Successful finishes followed in other races, ranking the team fourth in the Championship standings at the end of the year. Emmett shared another passion with his son early on in Tom’s life: racing cars. His Dad owned two openwheel race cars and—as noted earlier—built/owned Carrell Speedway in Gardena, CA. Tom grew up loving the powerful, fast engines. Because of his passion to preserve the history of American auto racing, he has built a unique, private collection of cars and racing memorabilia, and in 2008, Tom purchased Ed www.calcontractor.com
Pink Racing Engines Company in Van Nuys, CA. Today, the company is one of America’s premier auto racing engine building, rebuilding, testing, design and development facilities. Persistence, passion and know-how, enabled Emmett Malloy to transition from track builder/operator to successful car owner and leave a permanent imprint on the history of sprint car racing in the United States. Cc Trench Shoring Company provides the construction industry with the largest inventories of highest quality
shoring equipment and customized support from their ten convenient locations servicing the Central Coast, Southern California, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Offering the construction industry firstin-class service, engineering, rentals, sales, inventory and training, the Company continues to be on the leading technological edge of their business. Trench Shoring Company has remained a family business with a proud legacy of commitment to safety and service since 1973.
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SUKUT CONSTRUCTION, LLC APPOINTS ERIC MAULDIN AS VICE PRESIDENT OF RESIDENTIAL GRADING MARKET Sukut Construction, LLC recently announced the appointment of Eric Mauldin as Vice President of Residential Grading market in addition to his current role as Vice President of Renewable Energy. “Eric has worked in many areas at Sukut during the past twenty-four years, most recently developing the customer base in Renewable Energy while continuing to grow the market geographically, as he did by expanding into Virginia, and seeking new opportunities. Eric will apply these same skills to help Sukut maintain our leadership role in the Residential Grading construction,” wrote Steve Yurosek, Sukut’s President, in his letter to the employees announcing Eric’s new position. “I have been working in the Renewable Energy world for the past six years and am very
fortunate to have been allowed to develop this market space for Sukut. We have built an amazing team here and have developed great relationships with some truly outstanding organizations working within the world of renewable energy. I am very excited to reenter the Residential
Grading market, where I spent the first eighteen years of my career,” said Eric. Eric began his career at Sukut as a project engineer for the Silverado Joint Venture building the 241 Toll Road where he focused on grading and drainage. Following this project, Eric joined Sukut in the estimating department, and in 1999 he became a Project Manager working out of the newly opened San Diego office. In 2005 Eric became the San Diego Division President, overseeing the Residential Grading, Energy, Public Works and Environmental markets for that office. In 2012 Eric moved to our main office in Santa Ana to assume the role of Vice President in the Renewable Energy market. Cc
Check out our Digital Edition at CalContractor.com Call Kerry Hoover at (909) 772-3121 for advertising information
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JOHN DEERE EXTENDS WARRANTY OFFERING TO TWO YEARS ACROSS COMPACT EQUIPMENT LINE Reinforcing its commitment to producing the industry's most reliable and durable machinery, John Deere extended its machine warranty on all Commercial Worksite Products to two years. This coverage includes new compact track loaders, skid steer loaders, compact wheel loaders and compact excavators. "Extending our warranty across our entire lineup of compact machinery reinforces our confidence in the quality of the equipment we produce," said Graham Hinch, division manager, John Deere Commercial Worksite Products. "Backed by
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The standard warranty now promises that Deere will fix any defects in materials or workmanship for two years after delivery or 2,000 hours – whichever comes first. The previous standard warranty was for one year. For complete warranty information, customers should visit their local John Deere dealer or visit www.JohnDeere.com. Cc our robust dealer network, this added protection offers our customers peace of mind so they can focus on maximizing productivity and profits."
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CATERPILLAR RELEASES NEW UTILITY COMPACTORS WITH SIMPLICITY IN MIND Customers expect Cat® Paving products to offer machines and services to help them become more efficient and profitable. These new models do just that by making them easy to operate, simple to transport, and quick to service. The new CB1.7 and CB1.8 utilize a weight based nomenclature that signifies its standard operating weight in metric tonnes, making it easy for customers to choose the machine that best fits their needs. These new models provide excellent versatility in the 1.7 mt to 1.8 mt size class. Typical applications include: bike paths, courtyards, patchwork, parking lots, driveways, town centers, and shoulder work. Easy to Operate Simple operating features include toggle-type switches for quick and easy activation of machine functions. The mechanical propel lever provides quick reaction for precise control, while vibrant LED lights on the console simplify operation in low light conditions.
Simple to Transport Moving to a new job site has never been easier. The single point lifting option and durable hitch design makes hoisting these machines onto transports quick and easy. The foldable ROPS option provides a short height and enables the machine to move under and around low structures when performing compaction procedures. Efficient Compaction Performance The high amplitude vibratory system combined with large diameter drums and the exclusive, eccentric weight
design delivers excellent compaction performance. With automatic activation and front or both drum vibratory capabilities, this machine provides the results that job sites require. Closely Monitor These new models are designed to easily fit in the rental fleet. Product Link™ capability enables close monitoring to keep owners informed of machine location and service needs. The simple control panel and spacious platform offer comfort to suit a variety of operators. Durable components and the fuel efficient engine maximize uptime and lower lifetime operating costs. Straight-Forward Service Full access to remote drains, sampling ports, and filters makes service fast and easy. Long service intervals for the engine oil and vibratory drums keeps the machine on the job site longer for optimal operational needs. Cc
Don’t Miss Upcoming Issues of CalContractor Magazine! Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your products to our readers. The remainder of the 2018 CalContractor issues will be focusing on Concrete Construction, Owner/Operators, Specialty Contractors, Landscape Construction and Grading and Excavating.
Contact CalContractor Magazine to see how you can be part of an upcoming issue.
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SPECIALTY USES FOR BACKHOE LOADERS A backhoe loader truly is one of the most versatile pieces of equipment available—whether it’s on the jobsite, in a disaster response situation or a variety of other specialty applications. CASE has recently introduced several enhancements to the N Series line of backhoe loaders—improvements to the cab and drivetrain, as well as enhancements to the electrical and hydraulic systems—that make these already versatile machines even more robust and productive. We’ve made several features standard that were only options before, like our fuel economy package, which includes ECO mode switches for both the loader and backhoe functions, allowing for greater fuel savings, as well as optimal power and performance. CASE N Series backhoe loaders now feature an all-new Pilot Control hydraulic system for optimal precision and smoothness, offering the operator more control in applications where precision is critical. Limitless Configurations Backhoe loaders can be configured in an infinite number of ways to suit specialty applications—options like sirens/PA systems, high-visibility paint, strobes, LED light bars, remote spotlights and advanced lighting packages can help improve visibility and effectiveness in any situation. Access is Critical One of the most critical challenges in specialty applications—particularly in disaster response, firefighting 28
etc.—is access. If access to a worksite is problematic, you want to make sure that the equipment you are able to get on site is going to be as versatile as possible in order to maximize effectiveness and productivity. In applications where access is a challenge, contractors try to bring as few pieces of equipment on site as possible. In addition to their material handling work and cleanup, the auxiliary hydraulics on a backhoe loader serve as a powerful platform for running hydraulic hand tools, eliminating the need to bring compressors or other equipment on site. Adding an extendable hydraulic hose reel to a backhoe allows contractors and first responders to use hydraulic saws, grinders, Jaws of Life and other hydraulic tools. Many backhoes now come standard with telematics – a powerful equipment management and utilization technology that is particularly helpful for decentralized operations like railroad work, firefighting or other disaster response applications.
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Telematics provides an easy way to know the current location of machines and their crews. This can be helpful in many ways: It simplifies maintenance by keeping track of engine hours and maintenance alerts. It provides a record of how equipment is being used (idle vs. working mode, etc.) and helps identify underutilized pieces of equipment that may be put to use in areas where they are needed. And it provides an extra layer of security, as geofences (virtual perimeters) can be established to send alerts when a machine leaves the staging area (identifying possible theft), and unauthorized after-hour use can be easily identified. The possible number of configurations for specialty backhoe applications is too great to be completely covered in this one article. If you are in need of a specially configured backhoe, or need to tackle a unique application, visit your local CASE dealer to explore the possibilities. Cc www.calcontractor.com
916.440.8090 www.coastlinecd.com
Headquartered: Sacramento, CA
cranesales@coastlineequipment.com
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ADVERTISER INDEX
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California’s Largest General Line Construction and Municipal Equipment Dealer. So. California: 2044 S. Vineyard Ave., Ontario, CA 91761 • (909) 930-1822 No. California: 800 E. Grant Line Rd., Tracy, CA 95304 • (209) 830-8600 www.nixon-egli.com