When it comes to making equipment decisions, every customer has a set of selection criteria that they evaluate the purchase against.
For James Batterson, vice president at James Rivers Grounds Management Inc. (JRGM) in Virginia, “getting a lot features at a competitive price” was an important selection criteria when he recently purchased three Terex® skid steer loaders from Tim Mathews at Mechanicsville Rental Center in Mechanicsville, Va.
“Tim and his staff at Mechanicsville really understand our business,” says Batterson. “We rely on them to help us determine which skid steer loader models best fit our needs.”
“James is a very savvy customer,” says Mathews. “He needs his loaders to be able to efficiently handle everyday production work but to also have the versatility to be effective in niche applications.”
To afford all of the options and upgrades his crews request, Batterson has mostly purchased used models in the past, including Bobcat, Caterpillar, John Deere and Mustang brands. But with the attractive pricing and financing offered by Terex, he was able to add brand-new skid steer loaders to his fleet this year.
“He does a lot of research before he purchases, looking for high-end, quality equipment that has the latest technology,” continues Mathews. “The new Terex skid steer loaders have all of the features and benefits that James wanted. He ordered three models without doing a demo or even seeing a unit first-hand, he had that much confidence in the product and our recommendation.”
“With Terex, we are able to get more options on our skid steer loaders at competitive prices,” continues Batterson. “That is a huge factor in selecting equipment.”
Batterson chose two Terex TSR50 and one TSR60 skid steer loaders for his fleet. The TSR50 is a 50-hp unit, and the TSR60 has a 60-hp engine. All three loaders have a radius-lift path design, which means the loader arms travel in a radius arch from ground level to full height when raising the boom, with a rated operating capacity of 1,500 lb.
According to Batterson, the radius-lift path units are ideal for the production work his crews are doing everyday with their loaders. “In the spring months, we primarily use our loaders equipped with a light-material bucket to move mulch,” says Batterson. “In warmer weather months, we’re also using the loaders with an auger or pallet forks for planting. In the winter months, these loaders are pushing with a snow blade and removing snow with a bucket.”
Batterson ordered all three Terex units with an enclosed, heated cab, sealed and pressurized for a clean operating environment. “When crews are working 12+ hour shifts, a comfortable cab isn’t a luxury, it’s a must,” recommends Batterson.
He also notes that the ergonomic, user-friendly hydraulic joystick controls with convenient attachment interface is also a big hit with his operators. These controls, allowing for quick, agile manipulation of the machines’ bucket, loader and travel functions, came standard on Batterson’s Terex loaders.
For quicker cycle times, especially when pushing snow during the long winter months, Batterson opted to get the 2-speed transmission feature — for travel speeds up to 12 mph — on his loader units. “This is not an option I normally would have chosen, but Terex priced it so affordably that Tim encouraged me to give it a try.
“The 2-speed transmission gives my crews the ability to do more projects in less time,” boasts Batterson. “I am extremely impressed with it and am happy that I got it.”
And with an impressive 8,453 lb of tractive effort, Batterson’s Terex skid steer loaders are designed to move more material per loader per day than other comparable brands. “We need move and load more than 100 yards of mulch everyday around our facilities (JRGM has eight locations in Virginia),” says Batterson “The quicker we get the trucks loaded, the sooner we can get to work on our customers’ projects.
“My guys will also really appreciate this feature when they are moving snow this winter,” offers Batterson.
Mainly working on asphalt and on finished surfaces, Batterson also notes that the unit’s 10.5ʺ of ground clearance and 28.3° rear angle of departure ensures that his crews do not tear up existing landscaping or get hung up on curbs or pavement seams.
“In a competitive market, the key to success is meeting customers’ expectations and producing quality landscapes,” concludes Batterson. “This means we need to have the right equipment in our fleet, at the right time, to do our jobs most efficiently and effectively.”
“We needed skid steer loaders with versatility to handle many different jobs,” finishes Batterson, “and our Terex models do just that.”
About James Rivers Grounds Management Inc.
Specializing in commercial property and large residential community landscaping, JRGM is the largest privately held provider of landscape management services in the central Virginia region. The company was recently recognized by Landscape Management magazine as the 43rd largest landscape company in the nation, 10th in the Southeast Region and one of 25 companies poised to grow.
JRGM serves customers from eight locations in Glen Allen, Richmond, Chesterfield, Charlottesville, Tidewater, Virginia Beach, Newport News and Williamsburg, Va.
About Terex
Terex Corporation is a diversified global manufacturer operating in four business segments: Terex Aerial Work Platforms, Terex Construction, Terex Cranes and Terex Materials Processing. Terex manufactures a broad range of equipment for use in various industries, including the construction, infrastructure, quarrying, mining, shipping, transportation, energy, refining, and utility industries. Terex offers financial products and services to assist in the acquisition of Terex equipment through Terex Financial Services. More information on Terex can be found at www.terex.com