You know the value a good wheel loader operator brings to your business. Increased productivity, less unnecessary wear on your equipment, reliability and more. So how do you find the best operators? It starts with the hiring process. You don’t want to end up with operators who operate the machin

Winterizing your excavator isn’t just about readying a machine for colder temperatures. You will also want your operators to know how to react when snow falls and ice covers the ground. In fact, planning ahead is just one small part of a winterization process involving preparation, prevention an

As more county and city road departments look for cost-effective equipment, a common question I’m hearing is, “How do wheeled excavators compare to truck-mounted excavators?” There are pros to each product. However, wheeled excavators offer several advantages when it comes to road work and munic

Every day, the Volvo Construction Equipment technical support team gets calls from customers covering any number of topics. A common engine-related call involves diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). Three issues we see over and over are: Inadvertently putting DEF into the diesel tank DEF contamination I

When you’re looking for a new excavator, it’s easy to focus on the equipment’s power, capabilities and price. But those are not the only things to keep in mind. You will also want to evaluate the machine’s serviceability features. Different manufacturers have different designs, and something tha

Finding reliable, skilled labor in today’s job market can feel a bit like looking for a black cat in a coal mine. A 2018 survey from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce highlighted concerns among contractors about how the shortage is affecting the industry. Ninety-four percent of respondents said it wa

At the end of a demanding workday, it’s tempting for an operator to kill the ignition switch as soon as they park their equipment. A one-off hot shutdown isn’t likely to cause catastrophic damage, but if the practice becomes a habit it can result in a blown turbocharger or irreparable damage to

If you’re a construction business owner, you’ve no doubt felt the anxiety that comes along with going after the biggest job of your career. A few things probably going through your head are: Am I bidding this job accurately? If we win it, will we be able to stay on time and budget? The level o

Buying excavators, wheel loaders and other construction equipment at auction offers an opportunity to score a good value on quality equipment. That’s why auctions like Ritchie Bros. Auctions can draw huge crowds. Of course, buying at auction comes with some risk. Based on my years of experience

If you are involved in any phase of road construction, then an excavator is a probably a staple of your fleet. In this competitive segment, it is more critical than ever to have equipment that will adapt as situations change. Wheeled excavators, common in Europe but relatively new to North Ameri

We can talk about lift capacity, digging reach and smooth controls, but if your excavator is not running then you’re not working. Design factors that affect excavator durability are often small and can be easy to overlook — until something breaks. A big part of my job as a product manager for Vo

In a heavy production environment, wheel loader operators can be under a lot of pressure to keep their numbers up, particularly in the age of labor shortages. One of the most common shortcuts is high-speed shifting, when operators fail to make a complete stop when shifting between forward and re

I hear a lot of customers talk about initial purchase price when they’re in the market for a new articulated truck. Your first reaction might be, “Yeah, I do the same thing,” and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. Getting a great deal when you’re investing in a six-figure machine is smar

Few things can give you a bigger pit in your stomach than realizing a project is going over budget — a conversation no one wants to have with the project owner. In a recent blog post, my colleague Rob Palermo outlined some tips for how to bid construction jobs more accurately with tools such as

For those of you working in colder climates, it may seem that winter will never end — but the snow has to stop falling eventually, and temperatures will rise. When that happens, it’s time to get your excavator in gear for upcoming jobs. I’ve been in the construction industry for 40 years, includ

The construction industry is experiencing a dynamic era of rapid innovation. In many ways, construction equipment manufacturers are starting to mirror Silicon Valley tech firms — advancing in telematics, autonomous machinery and electromobility — to name a few. More than ever, strategic partners

When I’m out in the field, I get a lot of questions about telematics. Customers are curious about how to use the data, when to use it, etc. I also get a lot of questions around ActiveCare Direct, Volvo’s 24/7/365 active machine monitoring and fleet utilization reporting service. When you’r

Purchasing a piece of used equipment can be a smart investment, but sometimes it’s tough to know exactly what you’re getting for the money. If you’re searching on a used equipment site or buying at auction, you might find two comparably sized machines with comparable age and hours — yet one is p

Over the years, a common question I’ve heard is, “When I’m looking for a used piece of equipment, is it always smarter to invest in one with low hours?” And my answer back has always been some form of, “Yes and no.” Why? For one, many people would assume a wheel loader with 2,000 hours is in bet

We’ve made Dig Assist Start — the basic package in our Dig Assist portfolio of apps — standard on new Volvo models ranging from EC220E to EC550E. We believe it’s a powerful tool for both new and experienced operators. It’s incredibly easy to use and has a very short learning curve, but I k