Construction Equipment’s mission is to be the best-read publication by helping subscribers improve performance in acquiring and managing equipment & trucks.
Chicago, IL
Joined February 2009
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🥶 Cold weather thickens engine oil, stiffens grease, and slows hydraulic performance. Before temperatures drop, check oil viscosity, make sure grease can reach bearings and bushings, and test coolant concentration. A little preventive maintenance can prevent expensive downtime.
ALT Clear bubbles of varying sizes submerged in liquid, with a blue tint on the lower left.
ALT A tube of thick, yellow grease is shown with some of its contents oozing out onto a white surface.
ALT Close-up of construction machinery in a snowy environment. The image shows a large rubber tire on the left and a metal caterpillar track on the right, both partially covered with snow.
🚁 Drone data meets machine data. @TrimbleCorpNews new WorksManager Drone software lets contractors overlay drone imagery with project designs, calculate stockpile volumes, measure cut and fill, and track jobsite progress — all in one platform. Available January 2027.
ALT A person in a high-visibility vest and helmet operates a drone near a parked Chevrolet vehicle on a construction site with a mountainous background.
ALT This is an aerial view of a construction site, displaying a digital map with highlighted areas and icons. The map includes design layers and measurement tools, with various earthworks and building pads visible. There is a marked legend detailing dimensions and elevation, and a small structure is located in the upper left corner.
30,000 attendees. 1.3 million square feet of exhibits. Thousands of machines. @equipexposition 2026 broke attendance records again! From CTLs and mini excavators to mowers and UTVs, the show was packed with iron. 🎥 Take a tour of the sights and sounds of Equip Expo.
🏗️ Before modern hydraulic cranes, Robert G. LeTourneau developed single-axle cranes controlled by cables from a tractor. His best-known Tournacranes paired with Tournapull prime movers, while other designs were pulled by Army trucks — or even pushed from behind. Check it.
Hitachi/Landcros is expanding into two new equipment categories.
🔹 Yanmar will build Landcros CTLs starting in 2027.
🔹 Bell will supply 30-, 45-, and 50-ton ADTs.
Hitachi/Landcros also announced more partnerships and equipment categories could follow.
🛠️ Replacing a dozer blade? Start with machine age and upcoming work, then compare new OEM, aftermarket, and used options. For used blades, inspect pinholes, edges, corners, moldboards, arms, and cylinders. Choose blade geometry for the job—not just the price. @HRParts
Where should you look for the real cost of your equipment?
🔧 CMMS: Strong on maintenance and repair history
🚧 Project tracking: Strong on utilization and job costs
💰 Accounting/ERP: Most accurate for total equipment costs
The key is knowing what each system misses.
🎸 Meet heavy iron with a rock-and-roll twist. JCB is auctioning a one-of-a-kind 3TS-8T Teleskid signed by Joe Walsh and Lord Bamford, with proceeds supporting veterans and their families through VetsAid. The winning bidder gets a few extras, too. bit.ly/4yTTf68
Fleet managers can now pull Motive vehicle and equipment data directly into @hcss Fleet. Hours, mileage, fuel use, location, and maintenance triggers flow automatically—cutting manual entry and giving shops fresher data for service and utilization decisions. 🔧
Fleets have another disposal option for damaged, aging, surplus, or end-of-life equipment. CAS Automotive’s Damaged Equipment service provides on-demand quotes, guaranteed offers, and access to a global buyer network. Check it: bit.ly/4gMFShg
Before hydraulic loaders, there was this. 👇 The Trackson High Loader used cables, a belt-driven winch, and a trip-release bucket to turn Cat crawler tractors into digging machines. By 1953, Caterpillar had moved to its first purpose-built, all-hydraulic crawler loader.
Dozer machine control isn’t one-size-fits-all. 2D handles slope work and simpler grades, while 3D adds elevation for complex sites. Mastless systems now dominate, and GNSS can also capture as-built records, material movement, passes, and project changes.
What happens when Baja racing suspension tech meets a service truck? 🛻 Acela DuraLink system brings more wheel travel, ground clearance, and damping control to Class 3-5 Ford and Ram 4x4 chassis — with tires up to 42 inches.
🔧 Undercarriage life often comes down to the basics:
• Keep tracks properly tensioned
• Clean out packed debris
• Limit high-speed travel
• Avoid unnecessary counter-rotation
• Inspect tracks and components daily
• Watch for uneven wear
Construction equipment is getting smarter. Are you keeping up? 🤖 Grade control. AI cameras. Telematics. Fuel-saving tech. Autonomy. Our Smart Machines eBook breaks down the technology changing today’s equipment — and how fleets can actually use it.
bit.ly/47RSI9Y
3D grade control is getting a lower-cost entry point. @TrimbleCorpNews new Earthworks configuration uses dual DA2 GNSS receivers to bring 3D machine control to cost-conscious excavator owners, with subscription pricing designed to reduce upfront costs.
KOBELCO’s new SK650DLC-11 demolition excavator weighs up to 178,100 pounds, reaches nearly 93 feet, and handles tools up to 13,450 pounds. Four front configurations, a tilting cab, and a retractable undercarriage help it tear through big demo jobs. #baddass
🚛 Volvo is going heavy with its all-new VNX vocational truck. The VNX delivers up to 540 hp, 1,950 lb.-ft. of torque, an 86,000-lb. GVWR, and a 200,000-lb. GCWR for construction, heavy haul, logging, and other severe-duty work.
Switching attachments changes more than the job your machine can do. It can change visibility, stability, hydraulics, and the machine’s operating footprint. Before you go to work:
🔧 Verify the connection
👀 Check sight lines
💧 Inspect hoses
⚠️ Know the attachment’s limits
