KC CONTRACTING LLC

KC CONTRACTING LLC

A DESIRE TO LEAVE THE ROAD TO START A FAMILY LEADS COUPLE TO START AN EARTHMOVING BUSINESS IN THE ALEXANDRIA AREA

Casey Basco has made a couple of major career changes in the past decade. After graduating high school, he became a welder. About four years later, Casey wanted to switch things up.

“My dad had logging equipment, and as a kid I operated it quite a bit,” Casey recalled. “I always loved that, and I guess I got the urge to do it again.”

Casey started running equipment for a right-of-way clearing company that contracted itself out to power line and pipeline contractors. The new job involved extensive travel throughout the Midwest and south central United States, which Casey said was not ideal for someone wanting to start a family.

Mackenzie Basco (left) and Casey Basco own and operate KC Contracting LLC, and their daughter, Charley, likes to visit its job sites. Based in Flatwoods, La., the company provides earthwork services and acquires dirt, sand and aggregate materials from its pit.

“Being on the road was not easy, so I made another decision — to come back home and try running my own business,” Casey explained. “That was about five years ago, and we have slowly been building it since then.”

The “we” in that statement is Casey and his wife, Mackenzie, who own and operate KC Contracting LLC in Flatwoods, La. Casey oversees field operations and estimates projects, and Mackenzie runs the office and handles bookkeeping.

“At first, I worked at another job as the business got off the ground,” Mackenzie said. “When our daughter, Charley, was born, I made the transition to full time with KC Contracting. That was about three years ago. It was really blossoming into something at that point.”

EXPANDING WITH A BORROW PIT

By the time Mackenzie came on board full time, KC Contracting had expanded from simply doing house pads to offering land clearing and other site services for residential and commercial projects within about a 70-mile radius of Flatwoods. Much of its work is done around the Alexandria, La., area.

Operator Carl Martin clears brush and trees with a Komatsu D39PX-24 dozer. “The balance and visibility of the D39 make cutting grade easier,” said Carl. “The slant nose increases visibility, so I can see the blade’s edges. That makes operators more productive because they can see the material and aren’t guessing. I also like the rear camera and that there is a lot of glass around the cab so I can better see my surroundings. In my opinion, that increases safety.”

“The jobs are bigger, take a little longer and generally involve moving quite a bit more dirt,” said Casey. “Instead of hundreds of yards, we’re often dealing with several thousands. We recently did a project that involved 35,000 yards. House pads are still a main part of our business, but preparations for roads, driveways and parking lots are now in the mix.”

To make sure they have materials for projects that involve importing, the Bascos bought 30 acres of land near Cotile, La. That gives KC Contracting access to dirt, sand and gravel.

“Adding the pit was a natural extension of what we were already doing,” stated Mackenzie. “Right now, pretty much everything that comes out of there goes to our own projects. We have two dump trucks, and if we need extra help, we hire out other contractors to haul for us.”

Casey added, “We have to give a lot of credit to Mr. David Martin for encouraging us to invest in a truck and for generally helping us get going. He did our hauling at the beginning, while I ran a dozer. Mr. Martin convinced us that having our own truck would be a great benefit. He was right. Once we got that, the dirt pit, a second truck and a trackhoe, things really took off.”

Carl Martin, operator

HELP FROM H&E

At the outset, the Bascos rented equipment to match whatever job KC Contracting was doing.

“Looking back, that was outrageous; it was definitely not sustainable,” said Mackenzie. “We needed a machine of our own that we could rely on always being available.”

They worked with H&E Equipment Services Sales Representative Thomas Turner to acquire a Komatsu D37PX dozer. Turner has since helped KC Contracting upgrade from that initial purchase to a D39PX-24 dozer and add a Komatsu PC210LC-11 excavator. Turner suggested KC Contracting choose the PX model because it has wider tracks that contribute to lower ground pressure, which is an advantage for working in the swampy conditions often seen in Louisiana. The PX model also sweeps to better protect the machine and operator during clearing.

“Thomas and H&E have definitely guided us to the right equipment that suits our jobs,” said Casey. “As we grew, it was obvious that the D37 was going to be too small. Thomas saw where we were headed and said the D39 was the best fit for our current needs. It’s our main production machine. We can push more dirt, and we can use it for clearing, while still having the ability to load it up and haul it quickly without permits.

KC Contracting’s Casey Basco (left) talks with H&E Equipment Services Sales Representative Thomas Turner at KC Contracting’s pit. “We look for quality machines backed by good service, and in our opinion, the combination of Komatsu and H&E is the best in the business,” Casey said. “There has been no significant downtime due to breakdowns, and if we do need something, Thomas and H&E respond quickly.”

“The dozer is very efficient — especially compared to another brand we have used — and with fuel prices going up, that’s a big advantage,” Casey added.

Casey emphasized that the PC210LC-11 provides versatility and good production.

“It’s our digging and loading machine at the pit, and two or three times a month, we move it out to job sites to help with clearing and grubbing, as well as digging and moving dirt if there is a need,” Casey noted. “It’s a great all-around machine. It’s large enough to handle big dirt jobs, while at the same time being small enough to maneuver around in some fairly tight situations.

“We look for quality machines backed by good service, and in our opinion, the combination of Komatsu and H&E is the best in the business,” Casey added. “There has been no significant downtime due to breakdowns, and if we do need something, Thomas and H&E respond quickly.”

Owner Casey Basco digs dirt at KC Contracting’s 30-acre pit near Cotile, La., with a Komatsu PC210LC-11 excavator. “It’s our digging and loading machine at the pit, and two or three times a month we move it out to job sites to help with clearing and grubbing, as well as digging and moving dirt if there is a need,” Casey noted. “It’s a great all-around machine. It’s large enough to handle big dirt jobs, while at the same time being small enough to maneuver around in some fairly tight situations.”

LOOKING FOR MORE GROWTH

The Bascos believe they are building KC Contracting the right way — slowly, steadily and by providing good customer service.

“Hard work and determination have really paid off,” said Mackenzie. “We do a little advertising, but most of our work now comes from word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied customers who like the quality that we provide. That’s ideal to us.”

That will continue to be the formula for growth going forward, according to Casey. He is hoping to move into other markets as KC Contracting expands.

“I’d like to be four or five times larger in the next 10 years,” he said. “I can see us keeping residential and commercial and adding other areas such as heavy highway as the opportunities come along. We want to get bigger and add more equipment and employees.”