From Antique Tractors to Modern Innovation w/ Phil Rausch of MTS – DT 334

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dirt Talk by BuildWitt Episode: From Antique Tractors to Modern Innovation w/ Phil Rausch of MTS – DT 334
Release Date: May 1, 2025

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Introduction

In episode DT 334 of Dirt Talk by BuildWitt, host Aaron engages in a comprehensive conversation with Phil Rausch, a key figure from Mobile Track Solutions (MTS). The episode delves deep into Phil's career journey, the evolution of MTS, the intricate relationship with industry giant Caterpillar, and the innovative strides being made in the earthmoving equipment sector.

Phil Rausch's Career Journey

Phil Rausch begins by recounting his unexpected path into the heavy equipment industry. Starting in March 2020 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Phil transitioned from working in rock quarries to joining MTS. Reflecting on this period, Phil notes:

"It's like you were in your best interest to full send that week because you can see a year's worth of customers in four days. [02:03]

This move marked the beginning of a five-year tenure with MTS, where Phil navigated the challenges of shifting from a land-based territory to a role that required extensive travel.

Con Expo Experience and Relationship Building

A significant portion of their discussion centers around Con Expo, a major event in the construction and heavy equipment industry. Phil describes the dual perspectives of attending the expo as a dealer versus as a manufacturer:

"It is a gauntlet, but it is an incredible opportunity to get all of your biggest players in the same room. [05:06]

Aaron echoes Phil's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of relationship-building that such events facilitate:

"It allows you to see so many people. It's a great time. [...] It's still very much shaking hands, building relationships, building trust. [05:53]

The duo highlights how Con Expo serves as a condensed environment for networking, allowing representatives to engage with numerous clients and stakeholders efficiently.

MTS: Evolution and History

The conversation transitions to the history of MTS and its foundational ties to C.J. Moyna & Sons, a prominent general contractor from Iowa. Phil shares the company's humble beginnings in 2009 and his initial hesitations to join MTS despite attractive opportunities at other firms like Volvo and Iron Planet.

"We have 24 Caterpillar dealers that sell and support MTS equipment, so around the US and then also William Adams in Australia. [118:04]

Phil elaborates on MTS's commitment to innovation, emphasizing John Moyna’s role in steering the company towards developing solutions tailored to real-world construction challenges.

Innovation in Earthmoving Equipment

Phil passionately discusses MTS’s dedication to innovative design in earthmoving equipment. He narrates the development of the ejector truck, a groundbreaking concept that enhances efficiency and safety in material handling. Key highlights include:

• Ejector System Development: Originally designed to address carryback issues in sticky clays, the ejector system ensures cleaner dumps by mechanically pushing material out, eliminating the need for partial loads.

  "By an ejector pushing it out, cleans the bed out and then you're not carrying back a couple of yards every round. [43:20]

• Collaboration with Caterpillar: MTS sold the ejector truck patents to Caterpillar, leading to the production of models like the TS 220 and TS 180. This collaboration underscored MTS's role in advancing industry standards.

• Revolutionizing Scrapers: Phil highlights the transition from traditional scraper trucks to MTS’s advanced models, which offer greater capacity and durability, essential for large-scale construction projects.

Challenges in the Construction Industry

The discussion shifts to the current challenges facing the construction and earthmoving industries. Phil points out the reluctance of many companies to adopt new technologies and the preference for outdated equipment despite the availability of more efficient alternatives.

"I see a lot of companies running old scrapers, running old dozers, running old loaders... which they rebuild because they prefer the old stuff over the new stuff, which is crazy. [56:17]

Both Phil and Aaron express concern over the industry's stagnation in innovation, attributing it to large corporate structures that stifle creative advancements in favor of incremental improvements.

Training and Education Initiatives

A pivotal part of the conversation revolves around the importance of training and education in the industry. Phil emphasizes MTS's efforts to not only sell equipment but also to ensure operators are well-trained to maximize efficiency and safety.

"Our sales team goes out and we do operator training for our customers. So we all spend a lot of time in the equipment. [90:04]

Aaron underscores the necessity of foundational knowledge, sharing anecdotes about the pitfalls of assuming common sense among operators without proper training.

"You have to give them the information and I need to give it to them many times over. [105:07]

Phil highlights initiatives like the Earthworks Training and the use of 3D printed models to educate operators on optimal earthmoving techniques, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Earth Moving Legacy Center and Events

The Earth Moving Legacy Center in Elkader, Iowa, is a testament to MTS's commitment to preserving industry history while celebrating its milestones. Phil describes the center as a sprawling museum housing an extensive collection of antique Caterpillar equipment, meticulously restored to pristine condition.

"It's probably the finest collection that anybody can go see... there's 84 indoors and then hundreds out back. [66:42]

The upcoming Century of Caterpillar event, scheduled for September 12th through 14th, is a highlight of the episode. Featuring restored antique machines in action, the event promises fireworks and drone shows, celebrating Caterpillar's 100-year legacy.

"There's gonna be thousands of people there. There's like an open air play... they're putting together a drone show. [64:59]

Aaron expresses his excitement and plans to attend, emphasizing the uniqueness and educational value of witnessing antique machines operating in the field.

Leadership and Communication

Aaron and Phil delve into the critical role of leadership and effective communication in ensuring successful operations. Phil shares personal experiences where overcommunication and clear directives led to improved performance on job sites.

"You gotta over communicate as much as you can... [103:22]

Aaron emphasizes the importance of fostering an environment where questions are encouraged, debunking the myth that not asking questions equates to competence.

"It's like the worst they can tell you is quit telling me that. I understand. [105:26]

Both speakers advocate for a culture of continuous feedback and knowledge sharing, highlighting how leaders like John Moyna set exemplary standards by consistently teaching and mentoring their teams.

Conclusion

Episode DT 334 of Dirt Talk by BuildWitt offers an insightful exploration into the world of earthmoving equipment through Phil Rausch's experiences and MTS's innovative approaches. From navigating career transitions and leveraging industry events for relationship building to spearheading groundbreaking equipment solutions and fostering a culture of training and education, Phil provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic construction landscape. The episode culminates with a celebration of industry heritage at the Earth Moving Legacy Center, underscoring the importance of preserving history while driving future innovations.

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Notable Quotes:

• Phil Rausch [02:03]: "You can see a year's worth of customers in four days."
• Aaron [05:53]: "It's still very much shaking hands, building relationships, building trust."
• Phil Rausch [43:20]: "By an ejector pushing it out, cleans the bed out and then you're not carrying back a couple of yards every round."
• Phil Rausch [56:17]: "I see a lot of companies running old scrapers, running old dozers... which they rebuild because they prefer the old stuff over the new stuff, which is crazy."
• Aaron [105:07]: "You have to give them the information and I need to give it to them many times over."
• Aaron [105:26]: "It's like the worst they can tell you is quit telling me that. I understand."
• Phil Rausch [90:04]: "Our sales team goes out and we do operator training for our customers."
• Aaron [05:53]: "It's still very much shaking hands, building relationships, building trust."

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This episode is a must-listen for industry professionals seeking to understand the interplay between innovation, relationships, and effective leadership in the earthmoving sector.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

The Con Expo side is. So it's a gauntlet from the standpoint of just being there and taking it all in, but from, like, our side of the world. I've been to Conexpo before with a dealer, which was cool. I mean, you go out and you meet up with customers, you do dinners, you do lunches, you. You go out, you have some drinks, and then you go back and you sleep, and then you wake up and you go to the show and kind of mosey around.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

From the manufacturer side. So 2020, I. I started. I started in March of 2020, so right in the middle of Con Expo, so I didn't make that show.

[A]

Really? You started with MTS in 2020?

[B]

Yeah, March, actually, I think April 6th. So coming up here will be five.

[A]

Years, but 20, that's a unique time to change careers.

[B]

Yeah, it was especially going from living in Madison, Wisconsin, and having a territory that I could drive in to joining a company where a lot of your travel is flying.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

And. Well, we should. We should talk about that. It's interesting stuff, but 2023, ConExpo is. Was my first one with. With MTs and with the manufacturer. And it's like sun up, sundown in the booth. You get there in the morning, you vacuum, you clean stuff up, you make sure that fingerprints are wiped down and everything, and just constant flow of customers coming in. And then we have a meeting room there, too, this big glass box, basically. And so we had meetings set up throughout. So then you're. You're trying to filter in, like these heavy hitters, while you're also trying to keep people outside somewhat entertained too.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

And by the time it's over, the doors close, it's like, well, shit, we gotta get to the Venetian for dinner now. We gotta go to the Palms and meet this customer. So you do dinners and then, you know, you go out and have a few drinks after that. And then it's just a gauntlet, man.

[A]

It is a gauntlet, but I do really enjoy it because it's. You can, like you were saying, travel. Like, it takes a lot of energy to go see each one of these customers, but if you can talk to 43 of them in one week.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You're condensing so much relationship building conversations. Like, it does save you. It doesn't, it doesn't make it easier, but it does save you a lot. Like, oh, yeah, it's in your best interest to full send that week.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Because it does allow you to get pretty, like, pretty far ahead.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, yeah.

[B]

You can see a year's worth of customers in four days.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You won't get that anywhere else.

[A]

No.

[B]

So it is a pretty incredible opportunity to do that. And it's funny because the levels of customers that, that you see day to day, that on a Thursday in October is like the biggest thing you have going on that entire month at Conexpo. They might walk into your booth and you have this, you know, this kiewit sized customer or kiewit themselves in your glass box and this, this mid level contractor comes in and you almost feel bad because it's like awesome to see you. I'm glad you're here, but I gotta get in that room right now because we're talking about this big project or whatever it might be.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So it is a little frustrating at times for that fact, but it is an incredible opportunity to get all of your biggest players in the same room.

[A]

Though, I think, I think that's based on what I've heard, that's the value is just the people there. It allows you to see so many people. It's a great time. All the shows. And then creating our own show, it allows us to basically see our customers once a year now, which has been great. We've somewhat turned everything upside down with that one. But yeah, it's. It's like connecting with people. This is a, this is a world that wins on handshakes still. I know there's a lot of lawyers and a lot of contracts trying to ruin it, and they have in a lot of ways, but at the end of the day, it's still very much shaking hands, building relationships, building trust.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And Then. All right, let's see what you can do for us.

[B]

Yeah, it's one of the last true handshake industries out there.

[A]

Like, I think so. Yeah.

[B]

That doesn't exist. And I haven't spent a lot of time in any other industry aside from construction and equipment, I guess. But I don't think a lot of other industries you can, you know, take someone's word on a handshake.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

You know, you can't take everybody's word, but not everybody. You got to be careful. But you're right though, the more bureaucracy that comes into it, the more, the more attorneys, the more red. Red tape. Definitely chop things up a little bit.

[A]

Yeah. What brought you to mts?

[B]

So it's kind of a funny story. So I'm a true believer that everything happens for a reason. And so our owner is John Moyna. C.J. moyna & Sons are general contractor out of Iowa. When I graduated high school, I grew up with a friend. His name was Justin Augustine. You know, Justin and his uncle had a construction company. And Justin and a couple of my friends were looking at going to work for C.J. moyn & Sons for summer work before college started. And so I had applied in 2005, 2006, just to run like a support tractor. So, you know, a disc, a roller, a box, whatever it might be. And I didn't get the job. And I had a friend, someone else I grew up with, her dad owned a construction company, a crushing company called Kuhlman Construction. And he said, hey, why don't you come work for me? You can come be an operator in my quarries for the summer. So I thought, awesome, that sounds like a great idea. And I went and worked in rock quarries for about five years. So during the summers I'd work in the quarries and then during college, throughout the school year I'd still work some, you know, time off and holidays and stuff. But, you know, that's how I worked my way through college was being an operator.

[A]

Where'd you go to school?

[B]

Loris College in Dubuque. Dubuque, Iowa. Yep. And so while I was working at Kuhlman running the heavy equipment, I didn't know what, you know, we talk about college. I don't even know what I was going to college for. I just knew I need to get a four year degree. I don't know what I'm going to do with it. I'm glad that, that that swing is finally changing a little bit and people are seeing more benefit just in a trade school or no college at all quite honestly, you can get a great job without a college education. But I was about two years in, and I started to really think about what do I want to do? And the heavy equipment was super interesting for me. And I thought, well, shit, I like sales. I like talking to people. Growing up, I pumped gas at my family's gas station. Wash the windows, check the tires and all that. And I love talking to the people. And my mom always told me, she said, you'd be a great salesman. So I was like, well, I guess sales would be kind of cool. And see, I started calling the numbers on the side of the pieces of construction equipment, started calling the dealers, and I didn't know anything about it, but calling around saying, hey, I want to sell Caterpillar equipment. I want to sell Volvo equipment. And one day the. The Volvo sales rep came into our quarry. And it was always a thing, you know, if someone you don't know pulls into the quarry, stay in your truck, direct them towards the foreman, you know, you don't know who it is. And so this fancy Buick pulls up and this guy gets out and he's got dress pants on, and he's got, like, dress shoes. And he pulls a hard hat out, and he puts a shiny hard hat on, and he's like tucking his pants in his boots.

[A]

Nice.

[B]

Just did not seem like he fit. And he was afraid, you know, we're like walking around the crushing equipment and we're not afraid of the big loud noises. And he's got the earplugs just barely in his ears. And I was like, who is this guy? So he goes and he talks to my foreman. And a little while later, brand new Volvo wheel loader showed up at the quarry. And I asked my foreman, I said, who was that guy that was here? Like, just does not seem like he should have been here. And he's like, oh, that's the Volvo salesman. We're demoing a new L220. And he just wanted to stop by and see how things are going. I was like, oh. He goes, he makes a lot of money. I said, oh, really? And I said, but I can do what he does. And I can fit in better, too. I can talk to the operators, I can talk to the foreman. I'm not afraid to be around a rock crusher.

[A]

Sure. Was it the Buick that really got you, though?

[B]

It was, yeah. Like, what are you doing with that thing? Oh, yeah, get out of here.

[A]

A living room on wheels, those things.

[B]

Absolutely. Like the salesman's car. It was either a Suburban or A Buick.

[A]

It seemed like that's, like, the perfect. My dad, he's from Lincoln, Nebraska, and he would say the wealthy people always had Buicks. That was like, the gold standard.

[B]

Oh, yeah, it's a status car.

[A]

Well, he was very excited, too, when Tiger woods started promoting Buick back in the day. He was a spokesperson for Buick. Yeah.

[B]

But anyway, you know, then maybe he wasn't so excited about it, but. Yeah, no, it was a status. A status symbol, no doubt. But so I kind of started leaning towards that way. And I was getting close to graduation, and I'd finally worked my way into the sales manager of the Volvo dealer. And I thought I had done it all on my own, but come to find out after the fact that the owner of our company had also put in a good word for me. But it's such an unspoken rule in construction. Like, you don't hire away from your customers or people that you work with. And especially back in 2008, 2009, it was something you didn't do. But the sales manager had talked to the owner of our company, and he's like, yeah, he's a good, good worker, hard worker. And so he gave me kind of a. A good bill there. But, yeah, so I started working at the Volvo dealer, and at the time, they didn't have any sales positions open. And I said, I don't. I don't care. I'll. I'll sweep the floors, I'll clean equipment, I'll organize the yard. Whatever you need. And so that's where I started. I. They gave me a. A spreadsheet of discombobulated equipment that was spread through Cedar Rapids, Ankeny, and Omaha. Like, we need to straighten this stuff out, figure out where it's all at. So that's kind of where I started there. And about six months later, I had worked my way into that exact sales rep's position with that Volvo dealer. I shadowed him for a little bit, and then he actually had moved on. I think he moved back to Missouri, but I took his position covering my home territory.

[A]

It's. It's hard. I haven't really fully appreciated how hard it is to get a good sales job at a dealership. It's pretty tricky because it's a really good gig, I've learned.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, if you want to be a sales rep at a top dealership, whatever brand it is, you're not just walking in and becoming a sales rep like those guys. They guard those positions, and they hold them for sometimes decades.

[B]

Oh, for sure.

[A]

Like, certain accounts, like yeah, he's been doing it for 32 years. He's got his accounts, he makes his money. Life's good.

[B]

They hold them after they leave.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

There's so many, there's so many, like corporate account reps that even after they retire, you know, it's hard enough to get them to retire, but even after they do, they're still like getting breakfast with the same people. They're still catching lunch with these guys. They become their friends.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's just what they know.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But yeah, in, in a lot of dealers, it is a, it's. I'm not gonna say a prestigious role, but it is, it is a high ranking role.

[A]

It's. Yeah, it's sought after. But. And, and when people ask me, how do you be. How do I become a sales rep at one of these equipment brands? I'm like, get a job at the dealer. Do whatever you have to do. If you're working parts counter, if you're organizing the warehouse, if you're washing machines, like.

[B]

Yep. Just rental. Rental counter, Rental counter.

[A]

That's a great place. Parts runner. You know, there, there's. There's so many different positions that like, they want to, they want to skip. They want to, they want to jump to whatever that step is. Or it's like people want to go, they, they. I want to be an equipment operator. It's like, well, you got to spend some time on the ground first. Especially if you're in something like pipe or something like that, you. It's not in your best interest to go right to the machine. You're actually better off in the ditch learning the fundamentals of pipeline so that when you do go to that machine, you can better support the crew.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

It's the same thing at a dealership. Like, you're better off understanding how the dealer works before you go to that sales position.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

It's just a lot of people want to try to skip the basics, but it's like you're the first person that loses in that scenario. I feel like.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, you. You degrade yourself before you even get a chance to, you know, prove yourself in that position.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And there's no better way to understand what you need to be doing than working your way through the positions to get to that level. Because you don't truly understand what those people are even doing.

[A]

No. And there's two sides to it. One, you have to understand the customer and the customer's needs. But then two, you have to understand how the dealer works, because to serve that customer, you've got to understand how new machines are ordered, new machines are allotted and allocated, how parts come into the business, how parts are ordered, how parts are allocated. There's. There are so many. How deliveries work, you know, how rental works, there's how warranty works. Like there's all kinds of stuff that you need to understand. All these little tools you got to learn to then apply to the customer in whatever situation they need help with.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That's something that's cool about the, the cat, I guess program as far as like dealer principles go. I've talked to several and it seems like the way to work into that position is working through different levels of the dealership.

[A]

Yeah. They require it.

[B]

Yeah. Which I think is awesome. It's a great format to build off of because it gives you that true on the job training. It gives you the experience of understanding all that.

[A]

You can tell who at the executive level or at the third generation level, second generation level, whatever it is, has spent time in the business and who hasn't. It's, it's glaring. It's so, so obvious because it just gives you this next level understanding and humility that's just not there if you haven't really spent time in the trenches, so to speak. And I think that's the most. The more I've understood about how like I don't think this might be controversial. Like I don't think what's made Caterpillar so successful over the past few decades is the equipment. I think that's important. You have to have a great product.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

But it's the dealer network and how they've protected the dealer network and supported the dealer network.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And the, like the succession planning within the dealer network is remarkable. It is so buttoned up. It is so effective. It is, it, it has a very good hit rate. Like every once in a while it.

[B]

Doesn'T work out, but for the most.

[A]

Part it works pretty damn well. And like that is like the dealers are Caterpillar. Like the equipment. All right, cool. But like we're talking, you know, you go to Con Expo or maybe I was talking about this somebody else yesterday. It's like all the machines are good. Like all the excavators are really good. Like all the loaders really good. All the trucks really good. Like everything's good now. It's not like it's. Oh yeah. This is just so far beyond from a performance standpoint. It's not even funny. Like maybe Caterpillar, like high track dozers, for example. All right. Yeah. You Guys have that one, like, yeah, you've got that one cornered, but, like, there's not that much else out there that's like, yeah, this. This brand head and shoulders above the rest. But that support, that dealer network and what they've done from an infrastructure and dealer standpoint is just indisputable. Everybody knows it, and it's so hard to compete against.

[B]

Everybody knows it, and everybody wants to be it. Yeah, it's. And the even crazier part about it is, you know, you go from dealer to dealer in the US and you see a lot of that. We have a dealer in Australia, William Adams, and it's just the same platform. It's just in Australia, like, they still have the same level of service and support. They still run through the same programs. Like, it's a commonality that Caterpillar has created. It's like going to a McDonald's in Iowa and going to one halfway across the world, and it's the same cheeseburger.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, just by having that commonality gives people comfort in it, but it also gives them confidence that if this machine breaks down, I'm gonna get the parts and service that I need as quickly as possible to get back up and working.

[A]

William Adams is one of the coolest stories out there of any cat dealer in the world.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Have you heard about the, like, former principal there? I don't know why I'm drawing on his name. I fucking. Why am I drawing on his name?

[B]

The elephant son.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. Dale.

[B]

Dale. Yeah.

[A]

He was a. He was a fitter.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And. But that was. His life goal was to own a cat dealership. And he was like. When I last talked to him, he's like, I would have moved anywhere in the world for a cat dealership.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But they gave me the one right in my backyard.

[B]

Remarkable.

[A]

This is so. This is meant to be, man. Like, you start working at the dealership as a mechanic, as a fitter, bottom level, and you end up owning the dealership, which is just.

[B]

There's. There's no success story like that out there.

[A]

That is. That's one of the coolest stories I've heard. It's. It's. And he's still just. So he's kind of like a John in a way.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like building. Building equipment and still into it. Still into it. They're still building stuff in Tasmania. Underground graders. Underground. Concrete trucks. Underground. All kinds of wacky stuff.

[B]

He. He's kind of transitioned into just the Elephantson brand, though, right?

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

More so.

[A]

Yeah. His son is now Dealer principal, I believe.

[B]

Oh, really?

[A]

Yeah, yeah. So he hasn't been dealer principal in a while, I don't think.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But anyway.

[B]

No, that's awesome. I want to go to Tazzy, as they call it. I want to go to Tasmania.

[A]

It's like, it's like. Have you been to central coast of California? Yeah, like Big Sur, San Luis Obispo. It's like central coast of California without California.

[B]

Sounds pretty good.

[A]

It's pretty incredible. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's pretty incredible.

[B]

I was in Melbourne two years ago now. July will be two years and with William Adams. And the next time that I do go over there, I want to make that part of the trip too.

[A]

Yeah, it's.

[B]

You're right there. You might as well.

[A]

Yeah, it's well worth the trip.

[B]

Yeah, but. But no. So. So flowing through to MTs. So I, I got on with the Volvo dealer, got into the sales side, and by then Mobile Track Solutions had already become a brand. And John Moyn, our owner, and Justin Augustine, the same high school friend I had growing up. Um, we're now like getting MTs off the ground. And I want to say it was probably maybe 2012 era somewhere in there. And we had talked about me coming over to MTS to be one of the first salesmen for the company because where I grew up in Guttenberg, Iowa, is 20 minutes from the factory. So John's all about, you know, hometown people giving people a good career, close to home.

[A]

Corn fed.

[B]

Corn fed, Yep. Absolutely. Just keeping. Keeping people close to home and giving them, you know, good opportunities. That's like at the core of what he does. And I turned it down. I said, sounds cool, sounds like a fun opportunity. But I'm selling Volvo equipment, really liking it.

[A]

Got a Buick, like, yeah, life doesn't get any better, man.

[B]

By then, the F150 is pretty damn cool. But, yeah, so it was working out well. And, you know, it was just. It was such a strange thing because it was this huge opportunity, but still I was. And I was pretty comfortable where I was at too. But so working through that, I left Volvo and my wife and I moved to Madison, Wisconsin. My wife Brittany got a job. She graduated from the University of Iowa and got a job at the UW hospitals in Madison. And so we moved up there and I, you know, I went to the dealers, I went to the Volvo dealer, I went to the cat dealer, I went to the John Deere dealer and I got some job opportunities that were there. But even more intriguing was Iron Planet and Richie brothers were both Hiring for a Wisconsin territory rep. And so I had spent five years at the Volvo dealer. And so I thought, you know, I got a good taste of the dealership level, like, maybe I should learn the used equipment side and spend some time in that arena. So I signed on with Iron Planet for the entire state of Wisconsin in the upper peninsula of Michigan. And less than 30 days later, and Iron Planet was going. They were going to be going public. And that was part of the lure too, to sign on. There were stock options and different things that made sense. And the day that they were going to announce they were going public, they actually announced that they were being acquired by Richie Brothers.

[A]

Yeah, they snuck in there and we'll take that, please.

[B]

Plucked them for like 700 some million.

[A]

Bucks, which was a hell of a play with Richie Brothers. Like, that was one of the more savvy. I mean, they've done a lot of savvy things, but that was a savvy move because that teed them up for.

[B]

Yeah, it gave them the online platform.

[A]

Yeah. Where they are, like, their timing was pretty good.

[B]

It was impeccable, too. Coming Covid crisis.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But at the time, Iron Planet, year over year, was growing, you know, by hundreds of millions of dollars. And they were projected to. To hit the billion dollar mark subsequently. Richie Brothers had been a $4 billion company steadily for like 10 years, but it was still the same numbers.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And so, you know, IP was quickly gaining on their market and they had tried some online platforms, but it just, it wasn't working out.

[A]

Yeah. So at that point, Richie Brothers was really, let's get a bunch of equipment, let's put it in a yard, let's sell it to people. And if you're bidding on it, you got to be there.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

You go, you show up. It's like an all day affair. You go look at the machines, inspect it. Yeah. Look through your booklet. All right, we want. We need to go look at loader 12 73. Now that's actually a pile of shit. All right, let's look at 127 9. Oh, this is actually. All right, let's bid on this one.

[B]

Yeah, you get in it and you raise the bucket up and down like that's going to tell you the service.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

That's a strong piece right there.

[A]

Yeah, this is. We found it, boys. Yeah.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And then. Yeah, your wife has given you a budget for the day that you're probably gonna surpass anyway. And then you go sit in the orange chairs and they run stuff through bid Catchers.

[B]

Auctioneers.

[A]

Yeah, it's pretty, like it was pretty traditional auction house.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

At that point it was an event. It was an event. Yeah. And it still is. But then you had the online space which was, let's go find a bunch of equipment. But we don't need all of the infrastructure required to really house the equipment. Like it's not at a big event. We're just going to go invest in this online infrastructure.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And sell these machines at auction. But all to online bidders. Correct.

[B]

From the customer's doorstep.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

You know, you don't need, you don't need a big yard, you don't need property, you don't need a big glass office. It's. You send an inspector out, he looks at the machine, runs it through its paces and then take some shitty pictures. Yeah. Four corners and a cab. Good to go. Throw it up there and just see what people do. But, but yeah, you know, it revolutionized what Richie Brothers was doing. They were a strong company. I mean, they still are.

[A]

Oh, they're the 800 pound gorilla.

[B]

I mean they're, they're the market.

[A]

The auction come through. Yeah.

[B]

But it's funny because so in the hiring process, I interviewed with both Richie Brothers and Iron Planet and this is a testament of, you never know who you're going to meet. And you know, you got to be cordial, you got to be polite. There's no reason to be rude to people whether you know them or not. And I interviewed with Richie Brothers and Iron Planet and I called the guy back that I interviewed with, with Richie Brothers and I told him, I said, hey, I really appreciate the opportunity but I'm gonna go with Iron Planet. It's the entire state and as far as territory goes, like it was a lot bigger and if they go public, like there's a lot of opportunity with that too.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

He's like, well, hey, I, I appreciate that. You know, maybe we'll work together down the road. Okay, cool. So 30 days later, you know, the big announcement comes out and I call my manager and I said, hey, I'm the lowest guy in the totem pole. I was just hired here. And I said, I'm be the first guy out. And he's like, no, no, don't, don't worry about it. He goes, they're going to leave everybody in their roles, where they're at, doing what they're doing for the time being till they kind of sort out what is, what's going on with it. And. And that guy, he shortly left after the Acquisition and my new boss was the guy I interviewed with with Richie Brothers.

[A]

Nice.

[B]

And I often wondered, you know, he's. We'll work together. Maybe we'll work together down the road. Like I think he probably knew there's. This is going on. Sure.

[A]

So once you get over there, is it. Are you a sales rep for them? So it's a little bit different. You're trying to convince people, sell them on selling their machines.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Via auction.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, listen, you know that 349 over there? Nice machine. But you've got, you know, quite a few hours on it. It's now, let me tell you, the used equip market couldn't be better. Right now you're going to get top dollar for that thing. You can roll that money into the next model. It's going to be more efficient for you. Is that kind of the.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

So I'm just making this up.

[B]

No, you're, you're. You'd be great as a consigner there.

[A]

Yeah, I would be. Good.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So we'll put some new yellow paint on it. Make it look, you know, put some lipstick on that pig overhaul, you know, flaws.

[B]

It shows well in the photos. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So Rattle can rebuild. Shit covers everything up. It's funny some of those. There's machines that would come into the Richie yard and from like forestry companies and that just, you know, single bar grousers on 336 or pipeline companies too.

[A]

Yeah, the pipeline stuff goes through there all the time.

[B]

Just tracking through trees.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And not a straight piece of sheet metal on it.

[A]

Well, half the body panel is missing.

[B]

Yeah. If it's even there.

[A]

No paint on the counterweight? No.

[B]

Yeah. They shouldn't be painted it when it left. It was just going to rub everything every.

[A]

Well, I've seen some. I've seen. What's even worse is like if a machine has worked in saltwater, like the beach reclamation dozers when they go to auction.

[B]

I can't imagine what those look like.

[A]

I mean you pick up the floor and it's just like. I mean it just eats the metal so it's disintegrated.

[B]

It's just like granddad's old pickup truck. Lift up the floor mat and there's a hole in the floor.

[A]

Yeah. It's like, hey, whoa. Like, yeah, you better know what you're bidding on here.

[B]

Where's this, Ben? No, it was incredible, the stuff that would go through. They had a. And I think they still do a lot of refurb but they had a legit like paint shop refurb process.

[A]

No, people give them a lot of shit. But like I've toured the Orlando one. I mean that's their like one of their golden gooses premiere. But I mean it's a legit shop. Like they are really turning and burning.

[B]

There's in that shop and there's customers that you know, the Richie Brothers customers. But they will send their own equipment through the Richie Brothers shop paint shop. You know, if they're doing a rebuild on a D8, they'll send it through Richie Brothers to have them painted up. And I mean they do a good enough job that you know customers are sending their own personal equipment there that they aren't selling.

[A]

Yeah, I got you.

[B]

But yeah, so as a consigner you go out and you try to, you, you go door to door basically cold calling people. Anyone from a skid loader to a hundred thousand pound excavator, just talking to them like hey, do you have any extra equipment you're looking to get rid of? You talk some market conditions or if you see something that makes sense. And it's like, you know mid sized wheel loaders are really strong right now.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So you got a, an L120 outback that might be something and be a good time to turn that. But once you build a customer base, like any type of sales job and then reoccurring business and hopefully you know, they know like and trust you enough to start consigning bigger equipment, you know, higher dollar stuff. But I got into, when I really started to see kind of the next level in the light there it was a pipeline company in Wisconsin that I kept cold calling. They'd sell equipment through different auction avenues. They were Richie Brothers customer. But a lot of the guys, it was such a trip for the corporate or the national account managers to get to that a lot of them would just kind of phone call manage these guys. So I was driving by their yard so I'd stop in anyways and I got in with this one pipeline company and they're like oh yeah. And with, with Iron Planet I'd be selling buckets, mulching heads, welding trailers, the smaller stuff. And after there was like a nine month introductory period kind of after the acquisition where we were still Iron Planet but. But we're operating under Richie Brothers that the equipment manager there is like, you know. Oh yeah, Richie Brothers because the shop guys like hey, the guy from Richie Brothers here. Is there anything that we're looking to send auction and I remember he's like, yeah, I've got some. A couple of dozers and some equipment that I'm thinking about. I'll send the equipment list over. And I still remember I left their place, and 15 minutes later, I get this email with an auction list, and there was, like, 20 D7s on the list.

[A]

Nice.

[B]

And, you know, I was just, like, shitting my pants. I'm like, oh, what did I do? I just stepped into something that I don't know much about. Like, I've never dealt with a package of this size.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But. And then I got in trouble, too, on the. The management side, because my sales manager's like, that. They're a national account. Like, you've no. You have no right to be in there dealing with these guys. And, like, what. I was there. The guy had the equipment package. Like, let's. Let's figure this out. And so then there's, like, inner negotiations with, you know, their group and then our group and how it all works out. There's a lot of stuff in the background that the customer doesn't need to see because it just needs to be seamless for them. Yeah, but. But, yeah, we sold. It was 20 D7s. They had the big angle blades on them. And we split it between Richie Brothers Live and then Iron Planet Virtual. And it all shook out about the same. They. They did about, you know, comparatively speaking, they all brought about the same amount of money, but, man, I got a taste for that, and I started looking up all the national accounts.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And in my territory, and even up in Iron Mountain, there's a utility contractor up there, and they had, like, 30 bucket trucks they were looking to get rid of. Like, I found that next level of, you know, sales position within the company, which helped me. I learned a lot very quickly, you know, dealing with larger packages like that. It's kind of trial by fire, but working through it. Very beneficial for you.

[A]

Those. Those packages are pretty interesting. Every once in a while, I mean, you'll see some. Sometimes some big ones for all different reasons. Sometimes it's a company going under.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And they just got to get rid of a bunch of stuff.

[B]

Or we call that complete dispersal.

[A]

Yeah. Or. Or, you know, big pipeline job just wrapped up, and we're just. Yeah, we're just got to get rid of a bunch of D7s and fleet realignment. Yeah, it's. It's. It's funny. Every once in a while you see, like, some site contractor running a 3, 336 with single grouser Pads on it. And you're like, I know exactly where. You know where that came from. Yeah, I know. I, I 100 know where you got that. Like you. I mean, there was a contractor down the road. It was. They're running. Yeah. Single grouser track pads on pavement. It's like, I know what's happening here. Yeah, you guys got a good deal. Nice. Yep.

[B]

Don't swing that engine door open because you don't know what it looks like inside that. So that was kind of another run in with, with MTS though, because C.J. moynan Sons did kind of a fleet realignment deal where I can't remember the, the numbers of equipment. It was millions of dollars worth of equipment that came into the Medford site. And John is a very particular guy. And so everything looked, it was ridiculous. Like you had 20,000 hour 740s that looked new. Like straightened everything out, repainted them. He put his heart and soul into making sure that the equipment was in the best operating condition it could have been for the hours it was on it and that it looked the same. It looked just as good as it ran. So John sent a group of guys up to the auction a few days before, just kind of cruising around and answering questions that anybody had about the equipment. And yeah, ran into MTS again there, some of the guys. And it had, it had changed. You know, there was new management. Justin was still part of the business. John, obviously, Tony Mesher was the sales manager at that time. He was kind of cruising around with the guys and it was just kind of a fresh feel to MTS. And I want to say it was about two years before. So that was probably around 2018, 2019. But I was again reintroduced to MTS and the new people that were kind of a part of it, which made it exciting.

[A]

Well, at that point too, they were. When did they start? When did Mobile Track solutions start? Officially?

[B]

2009.

[A]

2009. Okay. So a while ago. But when you originally looked at them too, it wasn't. There wasn't a lot going on. It's still a manufacturing business getting off the ground.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

With the timeline, CJ Moyna has been around for quite a while. Yeah, John second generation.

[B]

John is third. Third generation. So 1946 is when it started. Yeah. When John's grandfather came home, Cecil, from World War II. And so John's father Jack was World War II, but Cecil's one that started the company.

[A]

Okay. So they. And it was Cecil C.J.

[B]

Moyna & Sons was. Was Cecil. And then John's dad and John's uncle, Jack and Jerry.

[A]

So they start Earth moving company probably to help out what in the ag world.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

To start. Yeah.

[B]

It's agricultural based.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Build northeast Iowa.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

So fixing fields, waterways.

[A]

Yep. Yeah. Drainage. Yeah. Etc.

[B]

Mm.

[A]

So they. And they're like Earth moving powerhouse. But then John in the background is tinkering with better ways to do things.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And originally comes up with the whole ejector concept.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

When was that? That was early 2000s.

[B]

Early 2000s. Yeah. Yep.

[A]

So the ejector trucks, like the ejector trailers, which I. The only time I've ever seen those with E.S. wagner.

[B]

The ejector trucks.

[A]

The ejector trailer.

[B]

Oh, the wagons.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. With eight tires on them.

[B]

Yeah. The 7460s.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. Like huge capacity, just 45 ton wagon.

[B]

Or 45 yard wagon.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. They're monsters. And then the ejector truck.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

With the 740.

[B]

Huge staple in the history there Eject systems came about by again, John inventing new things, trying to find better ways to move dirt for his company for, for C.J. moy & Sons. Yeah, yeah. Ejector Scraper Eject Systems was the company which was scrapers, discs, some other implements there. But yeah, he had the, the idea to put an ejector box on an articulated dump truck.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And today it's, it's sold pretty heavily on safety factors and for evenly spreading material. But in northeast Iowa you get into really sticky clays, you know, compromised mucky materials that a traditional tipper truck, you know, you dump out, you run it all day long. Half the day you're carrying back, you know, partial of your load just because it's sticky. Starts filling all the corners.

[A]

So that's why I did it for carry back originally.

[B]

Yeah. Cleaning out the bed. So by an ejector pushing it out, cleans the bed out and then you, you know, you're, you're not carrying back a couple of yards every round.

[A]

I didn't even think about carryback, so that's why I originally did. Yeah. So it's like it's an articulated truck with just like. If you imagine the plate at the end of the bed closest to the cab has a giant hydraulic cylinder behind it. So when it wants to dump, that hydraulic cylinder just pushes that plate across the entire bed. And as it's pushing it across, for people listening, it's just pushing the dirt out the back.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

So there's no lifting and low like there's no, there's no, there's no cylinders tipping. Yeah.

[B]

Dump to it.

[A]

It's. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. For carry back. But now, now it's definitely marketed for power lines, like for safety that way for dumping on slopes. Because then you don't have your center of gravity changing like wild. Because I mean, articulate trucks have never rolled over.

[B]

No, no. The beds have never happened.

[A]

And then evenly spreading material like on haul roads or whatever it is. That's also. But I, I, but that's a more savvy application. I haven't seen that actually done very.

[B]

Much the spreading it.

[A]

Yeah. The only time I've ever seen that was Keywit with mse. They were building monster MSE walls and they were using those spreader eject trucks to spread rock over the straps.

[B]

Yeah. So. So spreading rock is one thing, but spreading your material on the fill, you know, eliminates the need for a fill dozer a little bit more.

[A]

Yeah, you can, but you're still getting.

[B]

Big, big chunky equipment or big chunky.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Chunks of dirt. But.

[A]

So he, he built these products, made it into a viable company, and then sold it to Caterpillar.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And then after that starts tinkering again.

[B]

Yep. Yes.

[A]

There's a like articulate truck. Like material in Midwest sucks. Everything gets stuck. So that's why pans are like the gold standard. But then he starts thinking maybe there's a better way for pans.

[B]

So it actually started with the, with the power unit on the MTS side. Yeah. He sold eject systems and the patents to Caterpillar who then like the TS 220, 180s, they started building their own pole pans behind Challenger tractors. So it fit nicely with the Challenger brand that they had. But yeah, with that the ejector truck patent and everything went along with it.

[A]

But still make.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. They still sell ejector trucks.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So then, yeah, MTs then kind of came around and the focus was larger capacity scrapers and a power unit that can withstand the construction environment. So.

[A]

Because that at that point there were a lot of dozers pulling pants.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. Especially in the Midwest.

[A]

That classic macanish picture.

[B]

Yeah. That hangs up in the museum.

[A]

Yeah. With what are the D9s?

[B]

Yeah, there's like a dozen D9 center, all brand new D9 sequential serial numbers too.

[A]

That's is, it's one of the cooler pictures.

[B]

It's very impressive.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. So they were like. That was one of the go tos was run a D9 D10. I've even seen 11s.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Pulling.

[B]

Pulling scrapers. Scrapers, yeah.

[A]

But it's very expensive.

[B]

It's expensive, it's slow, but it is extremely consistent. And you can go through about anything with them too. In a lot of the guys today, there's still some fleets out there of. Of D8s and nines pulling scrapers. But the guys that are doing it, they have the cost per hour down to such a science. Like they know it at this hour, this component is going to go out.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Like they can plan so far ahead for that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's just like ants marching on. It's just constant cycles in second gear.

[A]

Well. And they keep them. And then they. They plan their cuts really diligently because you have to be really tight.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

You don't want to be running across a site. Short.

[B]

Short haul. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Undercarriage costs. Go through the roof. And again, speed. So that's where a tractor, a rubber tire, rubber track tractor comes into play. You put a scraper behind a tractor that can go 15, 20 miles an hour. You can move a lot of material very quickly.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

So. So MTS evolved into the. The first one was a secret weapon which was a D400 Caterpillar D400 articulated truck with tracks on it.

[A]

Which is at the museum, isn't it?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

In the back.

[B]

Yeah, it's sitting. Sitting out back. A relic.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But that was a secret weapon and that was pulling eject scrapers. And then they continued to evolve into a 740 with tracks on it. By then the gooseneck scraper was a thing that MTS was building. They had a 42 yard scraper, monstrous scraper behind them. But yeah, the steel track Systems on a 740. And then it evolved again into just a standard wheel truck. You know, a three axle truck pulling scrapers.

[A]

That articulated truck with the metal tracks. There's a picture of that at some trade show or something like that. It's somewhere.

[B]

John. They took that to Con Expo, I think.

[A]

Yeah, it must have been Con Expo. It looks hilarious.

[B]

It's a crazy machine.

[A]

It's such a silly looking machine. And I think that's at. Isn't that outside of the plant too?

[B]

Yes, actually there's two. It was called an MT450 and it was. The front half was the articulated truck. Yeah, front. Then the back half was completely engineered by mts.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Steel tracks.

[A]

Steel tracks.

[B]

Four tracks on a truck. And there's. There's two left in existence and we own both of them. One of them is a yard dog. We we hook scrapers up, we test our. Every new scraper that comes out goes through a rigorous test. And the ones a yard dog for that. And the other one, John put a lot of work back into and put it back into his fleet. He had a job he thought would be perfect for, but I think he quickly remembered maybe why he wasn't running them to the extent that they thought they could have been. But it's a very integral part of mts and it really drives. Necessity, drives innovation in a lot of ways. And John, he had to find a better way to move dirt. He had to find a more reliable power unit to pull these scrapers. And so that's the thing he was trying to fix. But when you innovate, when you invent new things, you also fail a lot too. A lot of hard lessons are learned through the innovation. But you hope through the other side you, you know, you come out successful and you prevail with a final product, which is what we strive to do every day at mts. Working outside the box is, is what we do. And you know, these, these awesome ideas that come out of John's brain are spurred by real life issues on CJ Moyna job sites and our customers job sites.

[A]

I think that's what's so cool about it, is it's all been created to solve real world problems within an earthmoving company. Which is, which is just. It's so rare, but it's the coolest damn thing. Like as far as I'm concerned, he's the only manufacturer that's also moving dirt in the States.

[B]

Yes. In, in that, in that world, there's some guys on the paving side that do that a little bit too. But from what I know and the people I know, I think John's about the only guy that's building his own earthmoving equipment.

[A]

It's incredibly cool. And like when we were out there. So they started with that. The original was that older cat truck with then. But it had rubber tracks.

[B]

Steel tracks.

[A]

It had steel tracks on that one too. Really? And then. So then. And then they do the more modern articulated truck. Steel tracks.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Eventually end up with the tractor that you guys have now today.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

With both tracks, quad track and tires.

[B]

You could do both rubber tracks and wheels.

[A]

Rubber tracks and wheels or tires. Tires. But even when we were out with CJ Moyna a year or two ago, whatever it was there was, there was a prototype machine out at the job we went to being put through its paces.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Is this gonna work? I don't know, we'll find out. Yeah, it's just, it's the coolest thing in the. But it's like, but it's there building a job like it's not doing behind the factory at the proving grounds. It's like it's doing work building stuff and then based on how it performs, we're gonna go take it back and tear it apart again and rework something else. Put it back like it's, do it.

[B]

Over and send it back out.

[A]

It's just like the American dream in a nutshell. That's it. I think it's one of the just the coolest things.

[B]

It is. And it's awesome to work for the company that gets to do that. Working with John, like nothing's impossible. And you can't say that in a lot of different instances from a manufacturing standpoint because there's so many checks and balances to, to work through to get to a concept or get to an idea. And that's actually. It's a lot of what, you know, myself and the team back at MTS has been working on too is to legitimize the manufacturing business. Not to be like a Caterpillar or a Komatsu or a John Deere, but to still keep our roots of us on the innovation being being able to quickly do things differently to solve problems, but also like, hey, how are we going to keep making sure that this business is ran like an actual business too? Yeah, yeah.

[A]

It can't be a constant proving ground. You still have to produce products that.

[B]

Are reliable, that, that last that that aren't just riddled and warranty claims for years. And the team at MTS has done a phenomenal job of monetizing that as a business. But you gotta keep the John Moyna esque side of it there too, which is what he does. Every CJ Moyna site is an R and D Test site for MTs. There's not a job that you can go on that you won't find something that's kind of out of the box running, that may or may not be working.

[A]

But it's, it's so exciting to me too because it's like I missed the golden era of innovation within this industry.

[B]

Oh yeah.

[A]

And a lot of people would argue, no, no, we're innovating more today than ever. It's like, nah, I would disagree. I think it's been on emissions and technology and. But an excavator, it's the exact same design, I mean, damn near dozer, exact same scraper Truck like they're all pretty damn similar. And it's one of the only worlds that I know of where I know a lot of contractors that much rather the old stuff over the new stuff. Like who, who in their right mind rather, is like an old truck genuinely for productive type work now, like an old pickup truck over a new pickup truck. No one in their right mind like the new ones are. They're just a lot better, a lot more reliable, pretty phenomenal, a lot more comfortable. People. Yeah, people would argue, but I don't see many big businesses running old trucks deliberately because it's best for their business. I know of a lot of companies in the industry running old scrapers, running old dozers, running old loaders, running old trucks, just rebuilding the hell out of stuff because they prefer the old stuff over the new stuff, which is crazy. But it's the same design and in a lot of cases it's more productive, which is pretty wild.

[B]

Comes back to reliability because it's more reliable and available.

[A]

But anyway, what do I know? But we missed like the golden era, like the RG Letourneau days and the Bucyrus Eerie days. And I mean, because that was a lot. Marion day, like it was a lot.

[B]

Of just normal people just building their own equipment.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, just.

[B]

Just trying to fit a void in their business.

[A]

Yeah, and. Yeah, exactly. Solving problems. Yeah. And really, truly innovating and creating these totally holt best. You know, back in the day, it's there are just so many big like American industrialists that were really creating like the golden era of equipment and innovation. And then, you know, it started to shake out. Everything started to consolidate a lot more. Everybody was buying everybody becoming bigger, publicly traded, etc. And that innovation, it's just not, it's really. And maybe like people would argue it's like, well, we figured it out. So now it's just incremental. Yeah, but I don't know, like, I don't. I don't necessarily subscribe to that.

[B]

No, I think it's more on kind of like what, what we were talking about at dinner last night. You get these conglomerates come together and they start buying up the smaller guys. And you know, throughout the years of these brands just buying up different models, like you know, a track loader, a wheel loader, an excavator, whatever it may be. And then it gets to a point where these corporations are, they can't innovate, they can't move fast because you now have a board that you have to ponder to. You have. You have Shareholders. Yeah, you can't move as quickly because you also have to, you know, make sure that you're appeasing those people as well.

[A]

Well, and, and it's. It. Yeah. And, and, and I think a lot of it is the cor. The quarterly earnings in the public company structure. Like, hey, we have an excavator. It works really well. Just make the next excavator, just makes the next dozer copy paste. Just make the next truck. Like we're good to go. Just do that. And I think like. And so this is, and this starts to wade into like more complicated waters. But my opinion, my dumb opinion is that the manufacturers would be better off innovating on the equipment side and leaving the technology side to technology companies. But they're trying to innovate on the technology side and be technology companies. But they're not technology companies. And it's very obvious that they're not technology companies. Like their technology compared to legitimate technology companies. It's, it's horrendous. Like, compared to like my iPhone even versus like, you know, like my Ford entertainment system. I'm like, get this out of here. Like, this is trash. Give me my Apple Play, my carplay and oh, thank God.

[B]

Sync system. Terrible.

[A]

This is so much better. Like, like stop trying to do that. Like you're, you just make stuff. Like be really good at making stuff that's very important. We're never going to use technology to move dirt. Like you still need steel. Moving dirt. Like it just, it's still atoms.

[B]

Heavy equipment still, it will never be.

[A]

It doesn't work. It's. It's physics. Heavy equipment always be there. Like just do that and then let the technology companies be the technology companies. You'd end up with a better result. But they're trying to do both. And it's like, why stop doing this? This is not working out for anybody.

[B]

Yeah. I think part of it, they think in housing it is the most cost efficient way to go about it. But I think in the end they spend more money trying to figure it out than if they just contracted somebody.

[A]

They spent so much more to put.

[B]

Together this GPS system.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Or whatever it might be. And it's, it's strange to me too because it's some of the, the, the biggest, most expensive equipment out there. Construction equipment. And it's some of the furthest behind in technology. I feel like the agriculture industry is light years ahead of construction. The auto industry, obviously. And it's a, it's huge markets there too. But it is something that baffles me a little bit. When you look at the technology that's in construction versus the other industries, and I think you're right. I think it might be because they're trying to control that themselves and build it rather than contracting it out.

[A]

I think they are. Yeah. I think they want to keep their arms around it. But that I've talked with people on the inside and it's like they've expressed it very well. They're like, we're not really concerned with the other equipment manufacturers. We're concerned with like, Billy, who's 25 years old right now, who comes up with some much better way of doing things in the garage and ends up just eating our lunch in different ways that we can't even imagine. And it's like, no, that could never happen. Your balance sheet's too big. You're, you know, you're. Whatever it is, you've been around for 100 years or whatever. But it's like, I don't know, I mean, regardless of your opinions on Tesla, they've done it to the auto industry.

[B]

Like, absolutely.

[A]

I mean, I mean, again, you can, you can say all day long how you don't believe in it, whatever it is, but like, they've eaten the auto industry's lunch in a lot of ways.

[B]

Yeah. Look at where they're at.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Look at, look at, look at Uber and the taxi industry.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

There's so many examples of that that just kind of makes you ponder a little bit.

[A]

Yeah, but that's what, that's what's so. And it's exciting what MTS is doing too, because it's like, I feel like that's what is trying to be breathed back into the United States economy. And our, like, ethos is, listen, like, we, we got here based on engineering and building things.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

That's, that's, that's why we're here. Like, we didn't get here because of financing and all these other industries out there that our economy has now become wholly dependent upon healthcare and etc. These bloated worlds. We got here on making things and making better things than anybody else and through American ingenuity and so on and so forth. Like, let's get back to that. Let's, let's, let's build stuff. Let's challenge things. Let's, let's try new things. Let's, let's, let's innovate.

[B]

It's still being done. Elkada, Iowa.

[A]

That's still being done now. Catering.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Of all places. It's the Bustling metropolis that is Elkader, Iowa. Absolutely.

[B]

Go check it out sometime. Hey, September, the century of Caterpillar Century celebration, we're calling it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So MTS is based in Elkader. CJ Moynan Sons based in Elkader. There is the Earth Moving Legacy center, which is John's collection of antique Caterpillar equipment. And it, it shows the history. John's a big antique buff. He wants to preserve the history of Caterpillar and C.J. moynan Sons. And he does that through the equipment. So CL Best Holt coming together, taking their two tractors right where you walk in, combining them, and then walking through there, you can see kind of the evolution of those two companies coming together to create Caterpillar. Yeah, very impressive. I don't think there's a collection out there that rivals what John has.

[A]

I don't think so.

[B]

Or what he does. And so caterpillar is 100 years old this year. And so in September again, they're doing a century of Caterpillar event in Al Qaeda. There's gonna be thousands of people there. There's like an open air play. They're putting together Alexander Botts. Read any Alexander Botts stories? So it was a fictional character, but he was a Caterpillar salesman and he always got himself in these wacky situations. And by the end of the chapter he's worked his way back out of it. But John's into that kind of stuff. 2. So there's a opera house there in Elcator. They're putting together a play.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

I think there'll be fireworks. There might. Fireworks are a drone show. I don't know. It's. It's kind of last minute stuff. Sometimes with John when something cool comes in his brain and he's like, we're gonna do that. And I. He's talking about fireworks. But then he said a drone show would be cool too. But.

[A]

So first there's the, the. So there's CJ1 in the earth moving company. There's mobile track Solutions, building implements, scrapers, tractors for the earth moving industry manufacturer, equipment manufacturer. And then he has the third pillar that is the remarkable antique tractor collection that he has. And he has this museum. The Earth Mover Legacy Center.

[B]

Yep. Earth Moving Legacy.

[A]

Earth Moving Legacy center in Ocato, Iowa that anybody can go to. There's. It's open every week. It has hours online, open to the public. That is well worth the drive wherever you are. In itself, it's like you said, probably the finest collection of antique tractors. I don't Know if he would say.

[B]

That, he's too humble to say that.

[A]

But truth, truthfully, it's probably, if not the finest collection of antique tractors, but the finest collection that anybody can go see, which is really cool, beautiful, and it's enormous. I mean, you could spend like a day looking at these tractors. There's so many of them.

[B]

Yeah. There's 84 indoors and then there's like four rows out back, just hundreds out back of tractors. And then there's even outbuildings that are just stuff full.

[A]

And then the event September 12th through the 14th.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Is the Caterpillar 100th anniversary celebration where they're gonna have all kinds of stuff going on and there'll be running equipment and there'll be fireworks like you said, and all kinds of stuff.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And anybody's welcome to that.

[B]

Yeah. And this is being put on by the Earthmoving Legacy Center. Um, so it, it's, it's nothing in conjunction with Caterpillar, but it's simply John wanting to celebrate this milestone. Super for the company.

[A]

Super cool.

[B]

But yeah, there'll be, you know, antique equipment running on site, there'll be MTS equipment on display, there'll be new CAD equipment. John's getting one of the, the century paint scheme tractors. I don't recall if it was a six or an eight, but hopefully that'll be on display there.

[A]

Sweet.

[B]

But yeah, there's, it's just gonna be a lot of activity in town. There's a, there's a VIP reception Thursday and again you go on thecentury caterpillar.com for tickets and that. But there's a VIP reception Thursday and then Friday, Saturday and Sunday is just like an open air show where you walk around, check everything out.

[A]

I was looking at my calendar this morning. I think I'm going to go from Australia to Alator, Iowa.

[B]

You're going make the traverse?

[A]

Yeah, I'm going to, I'm going to get in on Sunday, I think. Well, Saturday so that I can see Sunday.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

The 14th.

[B]

Perfect.

[A]

Is, is because I don't want to miss it. It's, it's really going to be like we, we spent time at the museum and it's. What's so remarkable is not just the tractors they have there, but how much time, like we were saying at dinner, how many man hours have gone into the restoration of each one of these machines down to the bolt. Like everything is identical to when that machine. I mean, the machine looked better than the first day it rolled out of the factory.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

In a Lot of cases like, yeah, identical.

[B]

Better in the fact that, you know, casting back then wasn't. Wasn't a perfect science. As perfect as it is today. That paint John will, he'll have his guys, he's got devoted mechanics that just restore equipment and they will sand down the casting smooth. So it's like pristine. Makes new track pads for them. Thousands and thousands of hours. There's a diesel 70 that's going through. It's been like a three year process. And there was like 40 some built and I think half of them were actually sold to customers and the other half were R and D machines. But the engine that was in them, the crankshaft, was a little off balance and over time it would crack, it break. And so Caterpillar just kind of kiboshed the whole model. And to John's knowledge, there's zero in existence. And so he found one. He found an engine from somewhere else. Like he's Frankensteining together what he believes to be the only diesel 70 that would be left. Like the only running operating one out there.

[A]

That's amazing.

[B]

And, and it's funny because he was really gung ho in getting that out to the 23Con Expo. And everything is so intricate, even internally, like, it has to be as original as it can be. They took the engine out and the crank was actually broke in that engine that they bought. And so they had to pull that out, have a whole new one made from scratch. Basically, just like everything else with the tractor, he's got a big 3D printing business that was basically. He got into 3D printing to make parts for the antique tractors, you know, so we can make castings and in different things. And it's just incredible how intricate everything is on the tractors.

[A]

Well, when we were there, touring the shop, like they explained, I don't know if it was you or somebody else, but like the 3D printing, for example, they could have just used normal bolts that were just flat.

[B]

Mm.

[A]

And it would have been fine. No one would have known. But the original bolts had cat on them.

[B]

So I had a little a C. It had.

[A]

Or something.

[B]

Yeah, it had like three little letters on it. It wasn't cat, but it was just what denoted the bolt.

[A]

Okay. Yeah, yeah, so. But. Yeah, but denoted the bolt. And so using the regular ones wasn't accurate.

[B]

Yeah, so. So you can't just use bolts off the shelf for something like this. It's got to be time period correct. And so each and every bolt, the head of it was milled down and left those letters in it. Just, just so it is. It's period specific.

[A]

That's so cool.

[B]

Yeah, it's wild.

[A]

Yeah. It's, it's. Yeah.

[B]

And then it's almost a sickness. But I, I, I love it. It's. It's super interesting when someone's is that passionate about something to. You got to appreciate that.

[A]

Yeah. I. And then like the highest level of it is that these machines run and they'll run them. Like when we were out there, they had the 660.

[B]

Yeah. Yes.

[A]

Scraper.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Just restored. And I don't even want to know how much money goes into something like that. I mean, it's a lot of coin and it's. And it was perf. It's a museum piece. You'd put it in the museum, it would never touch a grain of dirt ever again.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Justin goes out there and throws. Throws it right in the field and just lets her rip. Lets her eat.

[B]

Absolutely. And lifts the front end off the ground.

[A]

Yeah. Pass after pass taking the paint off this freshly restored Caterpillar 660 scraper. And it's like, I will never see this again. This is so like, I cannot believe this is in the dirt right now.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

But that's the coolest thing about it, and that's what's exciting about this September event is they put this stuff.

[B]

Put it right in the dirt.

[A]

In the dirt.

[B]

Yep. Yeah. So shout out to the MTS service department because they work that 660 progress or project. And with everything else going on. But a little teaser is there's now a 666 going through.

[A]

Wow. Yeah.

[B]

Triple six.

[A]

We saw it.

[B]

So you saw it parked. Parked up in line, which I think originally it was kind of a parts machine, but, but yeah. So you had a 660, which was the tractor and then the scraper, and then a 6. 6. 6 is the tractor, the scraper, and then the scraper is the self propelled engine on it. So it's like one. It's one of the early, you know, push pull. Well, not push pull, but powered scrapers.

[A]

It is. That is so.

[B]

And that's in the shop right now getting, getting a complete rebuild. And I would assume the, the end date there is September for that too.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So yeah, it's. That's the cool thing. He's not afraid to, to run the stuff to you because that, I mean it. What's the fun of, of having something like that if you can't play around with it a little bit too?

[A]

Yeah. I. What's that little tractor that caterpillar has. It's outside of every dealer. Was that like 20?

[B]

Yeah, there's. There's several different ones, but yeah, it's like a. Like a cat 20.

[A]

Cat 20. So they like. I mean, I've seen probably a hundred of those, but it wasn't until when I was in Australia, of all places, we went to see Forest Track and they have one and he fired it up and was running it around, and I was like, this is the first time I've ever seen one running. Like, they're always just sitting. They're always painted, museum piece, but they don't run. There's no way. Yeah, but it's like this is running and. And it took him a while to get it going because it's an old machine and it takes a little bit of work.

[B]

You've got that sucker.

[A]

Massage it. Just the right way to. Yeah, get it, get it turning over and. But once, once it was going, it was like, this is so. And it's just intoxicating because it's, it's just, it's loud. It's just belching smoke. Like it's just clanking around. It's so aggressive, the whole thing. Nothing's refined about it. Yeah, but it's like, that's what's cool because everything is so refined nowadays. It's like, wow, this is.

[B]

Takes you back a little bit.

[A]

Yeah, it does. It really does.

[B]

Yeah, they do. They call it Earthworks training at the Legacy center. And customers come in and it's just kind of a earth moving course, basically. But one of the events they do is they've. They've got a restored tractor, a small tractor, and they do like a little cones course with it, and then they do time trials, like, how quickly can you. You go through it and. Yeah, it's. It's just cool to see that old equipment.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Popping off and running.

[A]

Yeah, I'm. I'm excited. I want to go through that course too. I would. I wouldn't know what half of it is, but.

[B]

No, you should.

[A]

I'd be fascinated to even just sit through it.

[B]

It's quickly taken off and it's. It's not promoted anywhere. It's just purely word of mouth. But these companies send people to it and, you know, they'll send a few people, and next thing you know, they're sending groups of foremen and supervisors. I was on a job site, it's two weeks ago now, and I was with an operator. We were going around an articulated truck, pulling a scraper, and he's like, hey, when's that next course there at your factory? I said, well, what course are you talking about? He said, well, my foreman went to that Earthworks training, and he goes, I want to go to that. That sounds pretty cool. And it's just. It's cool because it's not something we advertise. And here I am in Louisiana in a truck with an operator, and he knows about it.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

So it's very informative, and it's a good experience.

[A]

Yeah, it's earthwork. It's such an art form. And I see a lot of earthwork, but I rarely see it in, like, an artistic way. Like. And what I mean is, like, an operation that's just dialed in everything about it. Like, there's. There's not a second that you could squeeze out any. Like, it is just maximum production and efficiency. That's a rare. It's. It's rare.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Like, I can only think through recently a few examples. And sometimes it's the conditions. Like, sometimes just the site sucks or the equipment's not set up right, or the blasting weather. Nightmare weather comes in. Yeah, there's. There's all kinds of factors, but there's a. Yeah, there's a few operations I've seen. Every time I go out, I know I'm just gonna see, like, it's just gonna be a master class in earthmoving. But it's. It's, in a way, a lost art, I feel like, as well.

[B]

Oh, absolutely.

[A]

Yeah. And I feel like. But he's, like, he's one of those artists that. He knows everything about the fundamentals of moving dirt and is just a master at it. And to see him teaching that, I think, is really important because I think a lot of that's been lost over the past few decades as the country even has just become more modern and built out and developed. Like, those big earthwork jobs that were happening back in the day aren't as common anymore. Well, until recently. Until they've.

[B]

Yeah, these mega sites come back with a vengeance.

[A]

Yeah, but that. But that's the problem is you go to. You go to these sites and you're like, yo, it's going to be done a little better. What's going on here, guys? Yeah, and I'm not one to go say, here, hey, hey, let's go to whiteboard. Here's how to set this up. Like, I'm. I'm a fucking monkey. But, yeah, I know when things are set up right. Or not.

[B]

You can tell. Just.

[A]

You can tell. You can tell.

[B]

Yeah, the. The Dance between say a push cat and a scraper. Like if you got a couple guys that really know what they're doing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's just, it's a beautiful art to watch run.

[A]

Watch. That's a great watching a talented push cat operator and watching. Because the promise scrapers is. It's a, it's a skilled position, but it's not treated as such and it's not hired for as such and there's no training associated with it. It's just, just slam the cutting edge into the ground and just let her eat. But it's like, but there's a lot more to it than that.

[B]

Oh yeah.

[A]

And. And then the push cat is the same way. It's like I can watch a push cat operator and pretty quickly know what if they, if they've been around it a while or not.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Based on what they're doing for a while. Yeah. Based on, based on what they're doing. Not even pushing. Based on what they're doing when they're not pushing is when you really see it. When they're, when you can tell they're setting up the cut and they're setting up the next, you know, the next line. Five scrapers are down. Yeah, down. Dumping and dropping off their material. And you know, he has 35 seconds in between the next, the next one coming in and he's setting things up right. And he's ripping real quick and knocking down this windrow and, and then, and then backing in exactly where he wants the next scraper. Which is like from a sequential standpoint, like exactly where you want them coming in.

[B]

Sitting in there kind of cockeyed. Yeah, like showing, showing the scrape rod operator. Here's your next cut.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

You know, and sitting there cockeyed. So when as that scraper pulls in front of him, all he has to do is. Is turn and go forward.

[A]

Just. Yeah. Kind of like rolls. It rolls into that, kisses the push.

[B]

Block, fills the scraper. You know, you pile 38 yards of dirt in about 20 seconds and pick up and go.

[A]

There's nothing cooler.

[B]

If you want to infuriate John Moyna, you have a D9, D8, D9 in the cut. And he's over here just kind of willy nilly cleaning up while their scrapers coming in.

[A]

Wait.

[B]

Just drives them nuts. Every push cat they have has a cushion pusher on it for two purposes. One, you know, it's. It's more efficient when loading. It's easier on the equipment. But two, it's so you can't be over Here, just kind of cleaning, cleaning up way off to the side. You're planning your next, your next push.

[A]

Well, I bet. Or if, or if the push cat operator is sitting.

[B]

Yeah, that or, or if a scrape. Even worse if a scraper is sitting waiting for the push cat. Yeah, just, you know, you can't have that. Yeah, that's the efficiencies of a scraper. Like you constantly move. You move when you're loading, you move when you're hauling, you move when you're dumping, you move when you're returning back. But that's, that's the efficiencies. That's why scrapers are, you know, the most efficient way to move material out there.

[A]

Well, and that's where like, especially with scrapers, like one of the most important things is the quality of the haul road that can impact your production unlike almost anything else going on there for sure. And it's like sometimes you just see it, it's like an afterthought. Like, yeah, if, if, if we can get around to it, we'll clean up the haul road. Then it's like that, that's, that's like the game. Like the faster your scrapers can rip around and the more comfortable your operators can be, the better off you're going to be. The better off the whole thing works.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

But then you see other operations. It's like they've got a tractor pulling a box or a blade, just nonstop, just running laps. Like the scrapers are just dialing that road in.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

I've even seen it. Sometimes they'll line the road or they'll put some mixed material into the road, like to harden it up, compact it. Yeah, yeah. We, we need these haul roads buttoned up.

[B]

So, so how much, how far, how fast, you know, how much material are you moving, how quickly are you moving it, how far are you going with it? And we have, we call them roller blades. We have a 12 and a 14 foot roller blade which is a 12 or 14 foot box with a roller behind you can ballast roller. So you get compaction while you're also cleaning up the road. But one of our reps did this, this beautiful graph and representation of an unmanaged haul road. The cycle was 10 minutes. So it took a tractor 10 minutes to do a full cycle after running. I think it was an MT12 around the job site. So just a box and a roller behind. Just regular AG tractor cut over three minutes off of that cycle.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

So three minutes, you know, four or five machines, period of an hour, period of A day. Within like three months it had. It had paid for itself. And you know, we, we sell a lot on production, on efficiencies and that's the kind of real world stuff that truly just backs up the MTS equipment and how it works and how it benefits the customer. So in additionally, you know, we talk about operators. We know it's. It's tough to get qualified people. You can put a, you know, throw a new operator in a tractor pulling a disc or a sheep's foot roller or a box blade and take that. That experienced guy with motor grader and put him somewhere else or the guy with the finished dozer. Put them somewhere else.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Utilize that person.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But then the cost to a tractor, the same power unit pulling three different implements, there's a lot of value with that too. Just in the cost of operation versus a grader that all it can do is blade the road.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's also too. It's like it's not just an efficiency thing, but I don't think anybody wants to get bounced around all day. Like 12 hours in a 631 just getting banged around or articulated truck or a tractor, whatever it is, just bouncing up. I mean it's, it is harsh in the.

[B]

The wear and tear in the equipment too.

[A]

Yeah. In the machine.

[B]

Yeah. Is operator usually is detrimental to the success of the job.

[A]

Oh yeah, yeah. You're. You're tearing stuff up all the time and it's just like. But I see it all the time. Like just the haul road thing even.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And I just sit there. I'm just a guy in the fucking stands. I'm not in the game, man. I'm not here to tell you how to run your job. But yeah, when I don't see.

[B]

Next time you see that, give me a call. We'll just drop off a rollerblade and.

[A]

Oh, you guys would be making them full time. Like you have to convert the factory just to those just.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

It's all over, especially east of the Mississippi, as you've probably seen. And it's sometimes not their fault. Like sometimes the material just sucks.

[B]

Yeah. And a lot of that's unavoidable. But.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But then too, it's about planning the proper haul road to what makes sense.

[A]

But that's where I've seen again, people think outside the box. Like, listen, if we're going to be on this road for a while, let's lime. Let's spend the 50 grand, 100 grand to get this limed, to get this dialed in so that we can run it like a highway instead of just dealing with shit for three months. And that kind of thinking, it's like, ooh, that's nice.

[B]

That's infrastructure.

[A]

That's good thinking.

[B]

Infrastructure. While building infrastructure.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's the kind of stuff I like. That's the creative problem solving. I enjoy to see it.

[B]

Also, it shows the quality of a contractor too. If they plan out to that level. Some guys will just, just work and work and work to, to fight it. When, hey, you put a little extra money into this and then it's taken care of and then you can move about doing what you need to do.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like even on the mega project stuff right now, it's just interesting to see because even just the skill set of like in the operators, like people just haven't been on a monster job like that.

[B]

Mm.

[A]

Probably in their career. Like that used to be more the norm when we were building the interstate system. Like yeah, you, you'd have a 20 million yards out of a cut. Great. 15 million, 10 million, 5 million, whatever it is. But that like a million yard job until 20, 20 like million yard job.

[B]

That's a monster.

[A]

That's a monster.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And then like within a 2, 3 year period, 10 million, 15 million, 20 million, 25 million, 30 million, like popping up everywhere. Everywhere.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's like what is going on? And it's just like the industry doesn't even have the depth of knowledge. I feel like even if you have a great super or you have a great estimator, you have a great whoever's orchestrating it. Just like the depth of knowledge, even from an operator standpoint, like that's why scrapers have kind of gone away. Not because the scraper doesn't work anymore. It's just like even you see this, you do this all time. You just said you're in a scraper truck the other day, like there. It's a skilled position that requires a certain degree of training to be effective at it.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

But if you just throw someone in the truck, if you just throw someone in the tractor with a scraper or a truck with a scraper and assume because they can drive a truck, they can drive a truck at a scraper, it doesn't work that way.

[B]

So part of what separates the MTS sales department, we're not just salesmen going out there and pushing new iron. We're guys that have experience in the equipment. We know how to properly run it and to ensure that our customers are successful with it our sales team goes out and we do operator training for our customers. So we all spend a lot of time in the equipment. And before I was. Before I got into the sales management role, you know, week after week it was out going on new equipment deliveries, rental startups for dealers, and getting in the equipment and showing people how to run it. And so many times you'd get in, it's the production piece on the job. A lot of times it's one of the most expensive pieces on the job. And you get in and the guy's like, yeah, I've ran a skid loader before.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Or, you know, I ran an articulated truck. And it's just bizarre to me that they take, you know, people that really don't have experience and put them in the machines that are truly hauling the material that's paying for the job and.

[A]

Driving the whole schedule.

[B]

Yeah, absolutely. The success of it is on their backs. And the nice part about tractors and scrapers is it's a lot easier to train somebody to operate a tractor than it is like a wheel tractor, scraper.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

The skill level doesn't need to be there. The guys can catch on pretty quickly. I can take an operator that at least can drive a tractor, and within an hour I can have them fully loading the scraper, cutting down on cycle times, managing the fill with the scraper. It's a pretty quick onboarding there. But again, a lot of companies don't put in the time to do that, or they'll take an operator that knows how to run a tractor and scraper but don't know anything about earth moving. And, you know, I was on a job here recently, and they did a meeting in the cut and a meeting in the fill. And the meeting in the cut was. So I'm going to push up wind rows. This is the guy in the push cat. I'm going to push up windrows. And that's where I want you to start cutting. And I want you to cut a couple inches or thinly all the way through to the end. And then in the meeting in the fill, they said, okay. So the guy in the fill dozer says, I need 4 inches of fill all the way across here.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Each lift is going to be 4 inches. And so I got in with an operator and he started cutting before the windrow and took a big chunk, took off, went over in the fill and scraper sky high, dumped the material. Yeah. Didn't spread it. Didn't. Didn't do anything. And I said, well, you. He said, how did I do? And I said, well, you did a great job, like getting a full load, but everything else you did terrible at. And, you know, I had to explain to him a little bit, you know, you have to cut. So you guys are cutting the clay. You get too deep, you get into the sand. The sand can't go in the fill. The sands got to go in a different area. Area. So you got to cut thin. Because if you cut too deep and you get into the sand now, that material can't be processed in the fill.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Oh, that makes sense. And we get over in the fill. And I said, when you get to the fill, you know, pick your cutting edge just a little bit off the ground, open your apron, push the material out. But as you're pushing it out, drag it along so you're. You're evenly laying the material. Because they got to do the 4 inch lifts, and then they have to test it. And if the guy in the fill is spending more time pushing your material back and forth or spreading it out, it's gonna take longer. It's gonna make extra work for him, and that's gonna take longer to process the material.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, that makes sense. Like, the guy had no understanding of why.

[A]

Well, it's not his fault.

[B]

No. No one told him. Yeah, he spent a couple days with an operator. And this is how you put the tractor in gear. This is how you load the scraper. This is how you unload the scraper. You know, they. They taught him on that level, but there wasn't much for the fundamentals of earth moving.

[A]

Well, and, and to them, like, the priority is just get it full as quickly as possible. Whatever I have to do, if I get it full quick, I'm good. Like, no matter if I'm gouging or whatever, no one's gonna say anything. Yeah, I'm full. Good. Full bowl and then empty. Fast. Good. Like, but because you just don't know any better. Like, you think that's the standard, and everybody's talking about, yeah, you got to be quick. Gotta be quick. Gotta be quick. All right, I better just fill this thing up as fast as possible. Dump it as fast as possible.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Because you don't understand the fundamentals. Even just like what you said about meeting with everybody in the cut and the fill. Like that might take 30 minutes, an hour to get everybody organized, especially on a big site. But I don't ever see that. I don't ever see that. Yeah, just the basics of what's happening explained. They just assume that everybody understand and then everybody's all pissed off. Or the, the push cat operator is just like ready to murder somebody.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because. Because these guys keep screwing up his cut.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Or the dozer operator in the fill is just like.

[B]

Yeah. The guy in the Phil does are.

[A]

On the help me on the radio.

[B]

Over and over again telling these people what to do and just, you know, it not happening.

[A]

Yeah, but, but, but that's like people don't intentionally do a shitty job. Like there are people that just suck.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But that's the minority.

[B]

Like I feel like everyone wants to do a good job.

[A]

Everybody wants to do a good job. Yeah. And so they're not intentional screwing everything up. They just don't know any better. And like I said, like they've never been around that kind of site before. They've never been around those kind of quantities before. Whatever it is. Like they just don't. They just don't know any better. And it's really simple principles that are not always being taught.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Beyond just operating the machine, which is interesting.

[B]

You had a, you had a post a while back. I remember where it was. But they had models, toys. Yeah. Like showing the fundamentals.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Which from the outside in seems silly. But when you really think about it like that makes total sense.

[A]

Makes perfect sense.

[B]

One of my guys, he's been pushing hard. He wants a 3D printed tractor and push cat so he can like demonstrate. And again I out the gate, I'm like, just. Just seems kind of silly. But when you get in with some of these operators and you start to get on their level, it's like, oh, you don't understand why that guy is pushing you. You also don't understand why you can't stop. If you stop, bang. This happens.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Hard on the equipment. Everyone gets jostled. Everyone gets pissed off.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, okay, you're loading and then here comes this. Nice and easy, kisses you and you start loading the scraper. I think it's great. I think it's cool that companies will do that models.

[A]

What I've seen, like if you go to the next level, I've seen companies, not many, but companies, 3D print jobs.

[B]

Oh really?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, that'd be sweet.

[A]

They'll 3D print a model of the job and what they're building and so they can show everybody here is what we're doing and why and educate everybody on what they're actually building.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it's like, I heard that that's one of the more clever things I've heard, you know, in A while.

[B]

It makes sense.

[A]

Makes perfect sense. But even there was another company, it was like, yeah, this operation was, was just a mess. Like we just weren't hitting our numbers. And then what we did was we stopped everybody, we gathered everybody around a whiteboard and we just drew it out and explained exactly what was going on and why it was going on. And what happened after that was we started producing a lot better. And it's like, go figure. That's amazing. Like, yes, it's that simple.

[B]

Power.

[A]

Yeah. Or when we're at Knife Rivers training facility, they even train their foreman, their crew leaders on like using the car wash wax pension on their pickup truck window. You don't have a whiteboard? Just draw it out on the window of your pickup truck.

[B]

Oh, sure, yeah.

[A]

And, and then you can just wipe it off. But, but here's how you can visually articulate and show some things as far as what's going on here. And it's like, that's brilliant. Like that. Damn. Like there. I go to all these meetings in the morning and it's all about policies, safety wear, seat belt, stay off your.

[B]

Phone, you know, your safety glasses.

[A]

Keep your safety glasses on. Make sure you do your walk around, submit everything. Hey, we heard back from the shop you guys are submitting. You know, you know, I can, I could spend six hours reciting all the normal shit I hear.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So rare is it also about what's going on today and why and who's doing what and why and how we performed yesterday and how we need to perform today and what's going to be happening tomorrow or next week that we need to be considering. Like there's not that level of communication but, and it's not complicated communication, but if that were happening, you would, you would, you, you'd get everybody together on the same team. And I feel like things would work better.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. If, if everybody, if every operator was a foreman, it'd be fine. Like, hey, we're cutting, you know, we're cutting over there and we're filling over there and we're going to do it till the material color changes and let's go get at it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like if, if everyone understood the what and why, it'd be a lot easier. But that's, that's not the case. It's like, hey, we've got to move, you know, 10,000 BCY today. So let's go do that.

[A]

Huh?

[B]

How are we going to do that?

[A]

How? But like, but like why 10,000? Like, what's our schedule look like? Why does the Schedule look that way. Like, even that context. Like, listen, the schedule's been designed this because they need to start lime treating the building pad on this date to then get the. The foundation guys in here or whatever it is. So then, you know, to.

[B]

To keep on track to then the timelines of it.

[A]

Yeah. So, you know, we're at the front, and that's why this is so important, because if we're behind now, everybody else is behind because we're the ones putting the site together. And it's just like, inviting people into the process. As far as, like, what you're doing and why.

[B]

Yeah. It goes back to the Earthworks training that John's doing. A big thing for him lately is scoreboards. You know, without knowing if you're winning or losing, how do you really know what's going on?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Are you succeeding? Are you failing? How did we do yesterday? What do we need to do differently today to make sure that we're better? Which is really important stuff that, again, I don't think people really focus on, but in a lot of it, I think used to be just taken as common sense. But again, a lot of the. The farm kids, the. The people that came from, like, a working background, they're not there.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

So you're taking people out of different industries that don't really understand the stuff and just expecting them to know why we're moving dirt today.

[A]

Well, there. Therein lies the problem. I think everybody's. Yeah, they're assuming it's common sense. It's not common sense. It's like. And how. How can something be common sense when I've never been around it, when I've never seen it, when I've never learned it? Like, how is that common? I get it's common sense to you. Congratulations. Like, you're smarter, you're better, you've worked harder. Your dad was this, you know, crotchety asshole that threw wrenches at you, so you had to learn everything quickly. Like, I get it. I understood.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

I wasn't in that world, so I'm just precluded from this world. And it's like, how long does that last? So you're just going to find people that, to you, is common sense. And it's like, common sense is also somewhat arbitrary. Like, to you, common sense is different than my common sense. Like, that's what. That's what's ironic about common sense. It's like. Well, it's not common like, you think it's common anymore. No, no, but it's. It's not like Even, even if you go to like religious principles, like over here, within this religion, there's common sense and a common set of rules. You go to this religion with this billion people, different rule set, there might be some overlap, but still common to each group. But still common.

[B]

Completely black and white from the outside.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And just, and just assuming, like, that's one of the biggest mistakes I make as a leader consistently is I assume people understand simple information. That is not the case. And that doesn't mean they're stupid. That doesn't mean they don't get it. I need to give them the information and I need to give it to them many times over. Like you just, you had the example of the guy was at the morning meeting, he was in the cut, he was in the fill. He still did it wrong, still needed additional context.

[B]

Just need to be told again.

[A]

Doesn't make him stupid. And it's like, okay, well what's our option? We're just gonna call him an idiot and run him off the job? Great. Can't do that. Now we get another guy who's completely like, has no skill set now for starting over. Like, yep. How does that benefit anybody? How do I, how do I win there? How's that in anybody's best interest? Yeah, but it's, that's the easy thing to do. They're just an idiot.

[B]

Communication, it's tough and I, I'm not the best at it sometimes, but man, you gotta over communicate as much as you can. And there's a lot of times, you know, they always say no question or the only dumb question is a question unasked. A lot of times assuming that people already know something and then not reiterating it or telling them again is just as bad as not asking the question by not telling them. Because the worst they can tell you is quit telling me that. I understand. I know, I get it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But a lot of times they don't. So informative one.

[A]

Especially as an entry level operator. I'm not asking questions. There's no way I'm asking questions. I just want to get in my tractor and go to work to prove myself. I know what I'm doing. I know what I'm doing. Especially as a young male, like, oh, absolutely, dude.

[B]

I'm not showing any of these guys here that I may not understand what the fill is.

[A]

Not a chance. And there is a certain degree of value in that because that's how a lot of people have learned to operate. You get in it, you gotta push the buttons, wiggle the sticks, you know, press the pedals, figure out what stuff does. I get it, I get it. That's part of it. But one, just assuming people are gonna ask about stuff they don't understand is a terrible assumption. And then two, if people are asking quote unquote dumb questions, that doesn't mean they're dumb. That means I'm dumb. That means I haven't given them the right information or I haven't taught it to them in a way that they understand, or there's something that I'm doing from a leadership standpoint that's missing here.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

Like, it's, it's, it's so easy to blame them, but again, that, that just yields the same, if not the worst, a worse result. It's still on me. Like, man, they just, they just asked this very simple question. That shit, they don't get it. And I explained it very clearly, or I thought I explained it.

[B]

You thought you did. It was clear to you.

[A]

It was clear to me.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And I thought it was clear. And it might have been clear, but they still don't understand it. Cool. All right. I have more work to do here because I need them to understand this.

[B]

Absolutely. Yeah. It's part of growing as a leader too.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, understanding your people and just trying to figure out how you can do better so they can be successful in their roles too.

[A]

But I feel like that's the, that's the best guys in the industry is the, the guys like John. Like, John has expectations. He doesn't want the scraper sitting. And he will let you know, I'm sure.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

However, he's probably always looking for opportunities to teach and teaching non stop. And like what you said, like, he's, he's doing earthmoving classes.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Just because he want, like he doesn't have to. He has much better things to do. Like, probably a hundred better things to do.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

Than teach people who could even be competitors how to move dirt better.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

But he just believes in teaching, teaching, teaching. And that's like the best superintendents I've seen, especially on those big production spreads. They're always teaching. They're pouring into people non stop, non stop, non stop. Even if it's different than how they were taught, which I think is the coolest thing in the world. Like, it's, it is so cool to watch a seasoned superintendent, seasoned operator, like pull a team together and pour into these younger people and, and teach people even, even the most basic shit that's technically way bully beneath them and technically not what they should be focused on. But, but some sometimes like it's like the John Wooden teaching people to put their damn socks on the right way. Like sometimes you do have to just teach people the simplest shit because that's where it all starts.

[B]

Yeah. Back to the basics.

[A]

Back to the basics.

[B]

Yep. Yeah, there was a. I was on this project in California with Kiewit and the foreman out there, laid back guy. And he always, he wore like Hawaiian shirts and yeah, he was never afraid to like break things down for people in the simplest of forms. I rode around with them for half a day and really got a good understanding of how the job site worked because he talked to me like I didn't know anything because in the moment I really didn't. I didn't understand what was going on at the job and why you're building these causeways and why you're moving material here but not over there. And it shows in a true leader. And that's, that's why, you know, that guy was so successful too and why everyone looked up to him and why he also had the confidence to walk around the job site in a hard hat and a Hawaiian shirt. I like, you know, hammer hanging out. Just cool, dude.

[A]

But that, but, but, but it also takes two to tango too because I, I try really hard not to show up to a project and assume I know what's going on based on prior experience. Because a lot of the times I'm right, but a lot of the times I'm wrong. And so I always prefer to ask yes, instead of your excavator set up wrong here, why is your excavator set up this way? This isn't common. Why is it set up this way? Nine times out of ten they have a really good response. Oh, it's because xyz. I'm like, that makes that perfect sense. I, I totally understand now.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And I try like. But it's so easy to fall into the trap of like these guys. They set their excavator up. Well, why is that? Why is their machine set up like this? Like what?

[B]

Yeah, what are they doing loading trucks backwards?

[A]

Yeah, they're loading their, their bench. Like their bench heights out, out of control or their floors a mess or whatever it is. Yeah, he's loading over the, over the.

[B]

He'S swinging over the cat.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, whatever it is, they're top loading. Well, they should be on a bench, you know. Like, damn it, they're backing in. Like why are they backing in? Yeah, but almost every time there's a really good answer for it. And instead of like default to criticism, default to asking the question or going in with that curiosity, like, why is it, why is it this way? You, you get to learn a lot as a result.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. You can't be, you can't be ignorant to the fact, you can't be unassuming, but that's how you learn stuff too.

[A]

And that is the most potent weapon against crotchety assholes. It works like a charm. Talk to them about what the hell they're doing and ask them why they're doing things and show genuine curiosity and what they're doing and why and what they've done, their career, et cetera.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That is like the, the antidote.

[B]

You get those guys to open up and it's such a world of, of learning, world of everything that they've been through.

[A]

Those guys, those are the ones.

[B]

Some of the hardest nuts to crack though, too.

[A]

Yeah, but, but, but, but it's like, I don't think if I approach them with a genuine sense of curiosity, I don't think I've ever had a true negative response. If I'm, if I'm, if I'm genuinely like, I really want to understand what they know and why they know it.

[B]

Yeah, I would agree with that.

[A]

Even, even, even at first. Like, I've had some experiences where, I mean, there was, there was one. We go out. I might have told a story in the past. Like it's my first time in Saudi Arabia. I don't know what the I'm doing. I packed a bag, I went out to Saudi Arabia. There's no schedule, there's no, nothing. I get told, you know, the day before, hey, we're going to pick you up at this time or you're going to the airport, you have to fly out at this time. And then it's just like a question mark. So, wow, just give up total control over everything and just do whatever I'm told. So we go out, we drive like six hours into the middle of fucking desert. Just middle of nowhere. And it's not like driving through West Texas. Like there's still some stuff in West Texas. There's nothing there is barren. You better get fuel because there is just nothing going on out here.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I'm with this guy, he doesn't speak English that great. I don't speak a lick of Arabic, so there's no talking. So you, six hour car ride, you're just sitting there staring at, you know, sand, the desert, and you don't know, you don't Know how long the car ride's gonna be? Yeah. You don't know. It's going to be six hours. You don't know what's at the other end of the car. You don't know anything.

[B]

Like, it's just a tough time with that.

[A]

Yes. Yeah. You sit there until you show up somewhere. So we show up somewhere. We're at this gold mine. I. We go through security. He's like, do you have your passport? I give my passport. He hands it to security, and then we drive into the mine. And I freak out a little bit. I'm like, fuck, they have my passport.

[B]

Like, oh, man.

[A]

I need.

[B]

I need that to get home.

[A]

That's important. Like, that's. That is the one thing I cannot do without. And they just took it. So I'm kind of freaking out a little bit. But we go through big fences, razor wire, gold mine, massive complex, middle of nowhere. We drive over to the shop. We're in the shop. They've got, like, triple sevens in the shop. People everywhere working, working away on all kinds of stuff. Typical shop.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And we go in, and he's like, hey, go talk to the equipment manager and tell him we're here. I go into the equipment manager's office. It's this British guy. So I'm like, great, he speaks English.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Awesome. Common tongue. This will be easy. And he just looks at me. He's like, who the fuck are you? And I'm like, I'm, you know, with so and so. I was told we were meeting you. We're here to photograph some equipment out the pit. He's like, yeah, I don't have fucking time for this today, you guys. You have to come back another time. And I'm sitting there, I'm like. I just walk out of the office. Because I'm like, fuck, all right. You told me to go fuck off. I walk out of the office, back in the shop, and it took me a moment to collect myself again. I'm like, I'm in the. I'm. I'm halfway around the world. I'm in the middle of fucking nowhere. I have a job to do.

[B]

Came all the way here to see this.

[A]

I came all the way here to see these damn machines. I'm not getting back in the. Back in the car and just, like, leaving, like, no, that's not. We're not doing that. So I collect myself again. I'm not great with conflict, sure. But I go back in. I'm like, hey, can we figure this out? I'm, you know, I Try to talk myself into it. He's like, all right, give me 15 minutes. Like, he's just not stoked at all. Not pissed off. And I'm like, great. This is going to be great.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So we finally get in the truck with him and start driving around the mine. He's pissed off, doesn't want to do this, has better things to do. His day is going to shit. He probably has his boss up his. You know, he's 100 different things.

[B]

Who knows what. What that dude's into that day?

[A]

But I just start, like, just massaging the questions here, there, everywhere, as we're touring around, so on and so forth.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

We get the best damn tour imaginable. Best damn tour imaginable. He's answering every question. He's being super, super understanding. Very, very helpful. I learned so much about their equipment and what the heck they're doing and why they're doing it. It was fantastic.

[B]

So by just by speaking with the guy, asking him questions, he started opening up.

[A]

Just showing 100% interest in him, what he was doing there and why. And I also think because I was a native English speaker, like, it was a little bit easier that way, too. Like.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

To even just not so much of a barrier. Yeah.

[B]

Of trying to explain.

[A]

Well, and when you're with people that aren't native English speakers, like, you know, I've been in foreign countries where you don't see another American for a week, which is. I mean, the first time that happened, it's like, this is the first week I've gone without seeing another American in my life.

[B]

Bizarre, right?

[A]

Which is just like. Yeah, it's odd. It's a little odd.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And then you come across another American, you could have nothing in common with them because you're also in a foreign place. Yeah. They're an American. They're your best friend. Like, it's like.

[B]

So you ever been to Florida?

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. Like, oh, you're from. Yeah. Pennsylvania. I love Pennsylvania. It's like, I don't love Pennsylvania, but it's like, you're sitting there like that, man, this guy's great. Like, I love this guy.

[B]

We're common folk now.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. We have. We have so much in common. We're part of the same 330 million population. Yeah. And live, you know. Yeah. It's 800 miles apart.

[B]

It's so funny. We were at a. We're at a bar last night, and there was a table of people, and the guy was wearing a Hawkeye hat, and my God, wonder If we know that guy, it's like, well, it's the state of Iowa. It's, it's huge. Well, it's not huge, but you know, one guy that you see in a bar in Tennessee that's wearing a hat from the state that you come from, but you just assume like, I probably know that person. Person.

[A]

That's, that's a better example is sports. Yeah. If somebody has on or like your school T shirt, like, bro. Arizona State. Like, yeah, let's go.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. It's like, oh, go cards.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Like, I don't know. What year did you graduate? I was gone 20 years. Since you've been there? No, it's, it's cool. The people though is what really makes, I don't know, the job enjoyable. Getting to meet new people, understanding, you know, their problems, helping them overcome the problems they may have on a site. But some of the realest people, again, kind of like how we started the conversation. Like you can, you can trust a handshake and in the same sense like you can relate to people and understand what they're doing through the dirt work, which is a pretty cool thing.

[A]

Sure. Yeah, yeah. 100%. Well, I'm huge. C.J. moynifan, huge mobile track solutions fan.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You guys deal through quite a few cat dealers.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

At this point.

[B]

Yeah. So we have 24 Caterpillar dealers that sell and support MTS equipment, so around the US and then also William Adams in Australia.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

But yeah, we, we're a, we're a contractor based manufacturer. So we manufacture equipment that, that contractors have invented to, you know, provide a solution for their job sites.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Real world, Real world applications, tractors, scrapers, implements, everything's focused on construction grade. It's, it's not just an AG tractor, it's a tractor that's been engineered for pulling scrapers on construction sites.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's a lot more demanding than a manicured farm field. You know, going five miles an hour all day long. Now you're going down a bumpy haul Road at 15 with a hundred thousand pounds of dirt behind you.

[A]

Mud or something. Yeah, yeah, but excellent. And then there's the Earthmoving Legacy Center, Decatur, Iowa.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Open to people. There's hours online, open for visitors.

[B]

You can come check the place out. I think the, they're also open on the weekend, which is good, so people coming through town can come check it out on a, on a weekend as well. But yeah, you gotta check the website for the actual hours.

[A]

Yeah. As, I mean, it's like EL Caters like major crossroads. So as you're probably driving through at some point. So.

[B]

Yeah, at least several times in your life, you're just gonna have to drive through Al Qaeda.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like. Yeah. All roads lead to. Lead to Rome.

[B]

It is about two hours from an hour and a half from the nearest airport, which makes it tough. But the people that do come there intentionally are there.

[A]

Yeah, it's. It's. Well, it's well worth the trip. It's a great little town.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I was very pleased with the little town. We slept in the parking lot of the.

[B]

Yeah, you guys slept in the camper behind the museum.

[A]

Great. And then the event, the 100 year event, September 12th through the 14th.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And that. What's the website for that?

[B]

It's the century of caterpillar dot com.

[A]

The century of Caterpillar. I just went to this morning. It's like, wow. They have a whole website and everything. This is great.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. And you can buy tickets online. So for that there's different ticket packages. So. Yeah, check that out. There's a whole. There's a whole family of companies in that whole deal. It's a cool experience. The brand is a fun one to work for. Again, it's great to work for a guy like John Moyna that gives you free reign on innovation and is open minded to any sort of new way of moving material.

[A]

Sure. Right on. Well, old. Thanks for coming by.

[B]

Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for having me.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Appreciate it. Great dinner last night. Yeah, It's a good spot.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay, cool.