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Monthly Archives: January 2019

Employee Spotlight: Bobby “BJ” Burnett

Bobby "BJ" Burnett

Bobby “BJ” Burnett

Meet Bobby “BJ” Burnett!

Burnett works in Inside Rental Sales at the Hugg & Hall Baton Rouge location. A typical work day in this role includes fielding rental inquiries, coordinating rentals (closing rental tickets, picking up called-off rentals in a timely manner) and making sure all billing is up-to-date. One of his most important responsibilities is tracking down equipment that customers need and ensuring that any necessary repairs are conducted before delivery. 

Before starting his career at Hugg & Hall, Burnett worked at Louisiana CAT, in heavy rental coordination/key account management, and Doggett Machinery, in sales.

When he’s not hard at work, Burnett enjoys saltwater fishing, hanging out on the lake, spending time with his family (wife, Lisa, and sons, Trey and Brandon) and attending his sons’ wrestling matches and football games.

Burnett loves football and enjoys cheering on the New Orleans Saints and LSU Tigers. Some might be surprised to know that Burnett likes to scuba dive when he has the free time.  

The company would like to send out a huge thank you to Burnett for his continued hard work and dedication!

Employee Spotlight: Brandon Couture

Brandon Couture and his wife, Michelle

Brandon and Michelle Couture

Meet Brandon Couture!

Couture works in Outside Rental Sales at the Hugg & Hall El Dorado location and he has been with the company since November, 2018. On a typical day, he travels to job sites and plants to assist customers with their equipment options and to continue developing relationships with current and potential customers. He is the point-of-contact for many rental customers and, in this role, he assists them through the process of determining what equipment they need and tracking down the ideal pieces.

“Not yet, per se, but I am sure there will be plenty,” said Couture, when asked if he has a favorite memory of his time with the company.

He previously worked in the equipment industry at BlueLine Rental and JPS Equipment.

“Knowing that our equipment is helping maintain the industrial markets, as well as helping build a future for the commercial markets,” said Couture, when asked his favorite thing about his role at Hugg & Hall.

Couture is from Magnolia, Ark., and enjoys spending time with his wife, Michelle, and children, Peyton (12) and Gracean (10).

When he’s not hard at work, he loves to hunt and coach his son’s baseball team. He is currently working toward a private pilot’s license and looks forward to flying airplanes, recreationally, in the future.

The company would like to officially welcome Couture to Hugg & Hall and thanks him for all of his drive and commitment!

Tips For Choosing the Right Lift For Your Job Site

Choosing the Right Lift For Any Job Site

Choosing the right lift, or mobile elevating work platform (MEWP), for your job site shouldn’t have to be a painstaking task. There are a few questions you should ask yourself when making the decision, so we’ve put together this quick guide to make it that much easier.  

Accessibility

A big question to ask before picking the right lift for the job at hand is: how accessible is the site? Job sites with many obstacles, whether they be on the ground or in the air, present additional challenges and may exclude certain machines. Another factor on this topic is that the accessibility of a site can dramatically change based on the stages of a project. So, when you know this will be the case, it’s important to choose a versatile machine. Straight, vertical reaches may require a scissor lift only while job sites requiring reach over, under or around access most likely will require an articulating or telescopic boom lift.

Articulating refers to a lift’s ability to hinge, or articulate, allowing increased accessibility to the needed areas. Articulating boom lifts are ideal for projects requiring access to tight or hard-to-reach areas. These lifts are ideal for confined work areas, indoor spaces, versatile projects and can be placed in numerous positions.

Telescopic refers to lifts which are engineered to extend up and down and resemble high-reach forklifts but include attached booms. Telescopic boom lifts are perfect for projects requiring materials be lifted to very tall heights, like roofing projects. These lifts are ideal for smaller job sites, when working from a distance, versatile projects and can be used on rough terrain areas.

Job Site Conditions

Job site conditions are an integral factor in choosing a machine that will effectively complete the necessary tasks involved on your site. Each MEWP is designed for specific conditions or are created to accommodate versatile job sites. It’s important to understand the job site and the related conditions before deciding on a lift. Certain lifts are ideal for rough terrain while others are more versatile or specific to smoother surfaces.

For example, Genie recently introduced the release of two “high float,” ANSI-compliant boom lifts. The lifts are engineered to avoid damaging soft ground surfaces while maintaining high lift capacities. Designers created the S-80 HF and S-85 HF machines to “float” on more frangible surfaces like sand and turf. The new boom lifts protect softer surfaces during operation that could be damaged by more aggressive tread on regular rough terrain machines.

Once you know the conditions of your job site, it will make the decision-making process much easier: indoor versus outdoor, rough versus smooth terrain and the needed reach capacity are details which will help you determine what lift best matches your needs.

Smaller compact lifts are great options to choose when completing work indoors, according to an informational article published by Genie. They offer maneuverability, compact size and can be manually or self-propelled. Also, power accessibility is important. Indoor job sites without power may require a gas/LPG engine or hybrid power source lift. These early stage job sites often have limited indoor lighting, so a platform lights package will help get the job done and keep workers safe, according to the article.

Depending on the site’s terrain, outdoor jobs may require machines with fully rough terrain capability. Rough terrain lifts enhance productivity by providing traction, speed and gradeability. Job sites which require work on rough surfaces initially and smooth surfaces later may require a versatile machine or multiple lifts.

Additional Restrictions

Specific requirements and restrictions are necessary considerations when choosing the lift that’s right for your job site. If there are noise or emission limitations, those will be major factors in what machines can be used. In some cases, hybrid, 4×4 or oscillating axles may be features that are required on the lift that is ultimately chosen.

Employee Spotlight: Becky Spradling

Becky Spradling

Becky and family

Meet Becky Spradling!

Spradling is a sales coordinator at the Hugg & Hall Oklahoma City branch (beginning with Westquip and continuing with Hugg & Hall after the acquisition) and has been with the company for 16 years.

Spradling worked for Ceco Door Products for 13 years prior to her current position and has worked as the sales coordinator for 16. Her typical work day consists of doing anything and everything to assist and coordinate the sales department: she helps the salesmen with paperwork, handles the invoicing, financing, bills of lading, transfers, warranty registrations, customer inquiries, lease returns, shipments and more.

“There is no ‘typical’ day in the sales department,” said Spradling. “Most of the time it is ‘crazy.’”

When asked about her favorite things about the job, Spradling noted that she enjoys the fast-pace and variety.

“It’s never boring,” said Spradling. “It’s full of challenges.”

One of her favorite memories of her time as a sales coordinator comes from her first days on the job.

“I will always remember the first forklift that I checked in on my first day,” said Spradling. “It was, what I thought, a ‘Cadillac’ forklift. It was a Toyota 7FDU40 with brick forks, so there were eight, a cab with heater and A/C. I just remember that I didn’t know anything about a forklift, but that one had to be special.”

“Although, that is a memory that will always stick in my mind, nothing compares to the memory of May 2013,” said Spradling. “Our family lost our home of 24 years on May 20, 2013 to an F5 tornado. Hugg and Hall had only been a part of my life for five months, but the love and support from the administration and staff was overwhelming. Knowing that I was working for a company that was loyal to me and my family was extra special and that is a memory that I will always keep close in my heart.”

Spradling was raised on a 200-acre dairy farm in the unincorporated community of Wheel, Tenn., and she loves to deer hunt.

“I learned to drive on a tractor (I was about 8 years old, shhh),” said Spradling.

She moved to Oklahoma at 19 after marrying a native-Oklahoman.

“My story is, I was ‘raised’ in Tennessee but I ‘grew up’ in Oklahoma,” said Spradling.

Spradling has been married to her husband, Dalton, for 30 years and they have two sons (Jake, 23, and Jared, 19) and a brindle boxer named Saber.  

When she’s not at Hugg & Hall, she loves spending time with her family, going on vacations and watching football. Her passions include her faith, her family and the beach.

“Life is too short to wake up with regrets,” said Spradling. “So love the people who treat you right. Love the ones who don’t just because you can. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.”

The company would like to send out a huge thank you to Spradling for all of her hard work throughout the years!

Employee Spotlight: Kenneth Jones

Kenneth Jones

Kenneth Jones

Meet Kenneth Jones!

Jones is a delivery driver at the Hugg & Hall Baton Rouge branch and has been with the company since the acquisition of RPM Services & Rentals in 2016. On a typical day, Kenneth is in-and-out of job sites, loading and unloading equipment.

Before onboarding at RPM Services & Rentals, Jones delivered lumber and has been driving for more than 23 years. He has always been fascinated with trucks and enjoys operating big trucks and big machines. Both of his older brothers drive trucks (one for United Rentals) and, growing up, they would try to drive anything with wheels.

All he has is good memories at Hugg & Hall, said Jones. He enjoys the compliments he’s gotten on his truck because he tries to keep it clean and looking great. He hopes to retire with the company.

“I enjoy my work and I enjoy the people that I work with,” said Jones. “I’m in it for the long haul.”

When he’s not working and driving trucks, Jones enjoys relaxing, spending time with his wife and three sons (25, 19 and 13) and attending his son’s basketball games.

Some people might be surprised to know that he’s been told he has a very nice singing voice and sometimes he enjoys singing while he hauls equipment.

The company would like to send out a huge thank you to Jones for all of his hard work and dedication!

Employee Spotlight: Dale Vaughan

Dale Vaughn

Dale Vaughan

Dale Vaughan, a product support sales coordinator at the Hugg & Hall El Dorado branch, has been with the company for more than 22 years!

Vaughan is a lifelong resident of Camden, Ark., and, before his current position, he worked as a service manager. His typical work days are very fast-paced and consist of coordinating parts and services for customers while finding the best value and maintaining profitability. His favorite things about the job is the daily interactions he has with people and the relationships he’s built throughout the years, said Vaughan.

When asked about his favorite memories during his time at Hugg & Hall, Vaughan referred to the times spent with customers.

“It would have to be some of the customer relations trips,” said Vaughan. “I’ve made a lot of solid relationships during those.”

Vaughan has been married to his wife, Joanne, for 33 years and they have two children, Krista (32) and Matt (22). When he’s not working, Vaughan enjoys spending time with family and friends, mowing grass (he said he finds a lot of peace while mowing) and anything outdoors.

Some things people may not realize about him are that he loves to cook (not grill but cook full-course meals) and he’s an elected official in Ouachita County. He’s currently serving his eighth term as justice of the peace and his responsibilities include legislating funds for the county and, also, performing wedding ceremonies.     

The company would like to send out a huge thank you and congratulations to Vaughan for his many years of dedicated service!

Green Building and the Equipment Industry

Green Building and the Equipment Industry

A shift toward more heavily investing in electric-based equipment has been announced by a major manufacturer. 

Volvo CE, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group which focuses on the development of construction equipment, announced that it will stop manufacturing diesel engine-based compact wheel loaders and compact excavators, according to a press release distributed by the company. By mid-2020 it will begin to launch a range of electric compact excavators (EC15 to EC27) and wheel loaders (L20 to L28). This development is indicative of the industry-wide trajectory of investing in electric-based machines.

The organization referenced the successful implementation of their preceding electric-based machines as a factor in this shift.

“With this move, Volvo CE is the first construction equipment manufacturer to commit to an electric future for its compact machine range,” the company announced. “This follows an overwhelmingly favorable reaction from the market after the successful unveiling of a number of concept machines in recent years, and by working closely with customers. This move is aligned with the Volvo Group’s strategic focus on electromobility in all business areas.”

Volvo CE is among other companies in the construction equipment industry focusing on creating machines which fulfill the needs of projects requiring greener alternatives, i.e. electric options. JLG Industries, for example, is one company that both offers electric and hybrid options and forthrightly asserts their commitment to sustainability.

JLG has been a pioneer in producing environmentally friendly lift and access equipment while also continually seeking out and embracing new ways to be more sustainable in their operations, according to their website. The company states that sustainability guides their responsibility to the environment and to their customers, who demand green solutions.

With green construction evolving into a rapidly growing field and many companies committing to sustainability initiatives, the demand for products that reinforce resource-efficiency is expanding, according to eSUB, a company which designs software specifically for the construction industry.

Green building is a holistic concept that starts with understanding that the built environment can have profound effects, both positive and negative, on the natural environment, as well as the people who inhabit buildings every day, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. Green building is an effort to amplify the positive and mitigate the negative of these effects throughout the entire life cycle of a building.

Green technology, or products that can create a carbon neutral footprint, is one of the 2018 construction industry trends that is expected to carryover to 2019, according to eSUB.

Along with a growing demand for greener solutions, investing in electrical equipment is forecasted to yield relatively steady, long-term appreciation, according to Value Line, an organization which provides investment research on companies, industries, markets and economies.

Creating engines and machines that are energy-efficient is becoming increasingly more lucrative as government incentives expand.

For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will award $40 million in Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA) grant funding in the current fiscal year.

“By financially supporting projects that upgrade aging diesel engines, EPA is helping improve their efficiency and reduce air pollution throughout the nation,” said Andrew Wheeler, the acting administrator, in a press release.

Though Volvo CE has announced the reduction of diesel engines in their compact machine line, progress has been shown in equipping larger machines for electric-based operation.

In 2017, a partnership between two Swiss companies converted a Komatsu dump truck with a giant 700 kWh battery pack, according to Electrek, an organization which tracks the transition from fossil fuel transportation to electric. This one feat has an impressive impact in terms of fuel savings and emission reduction.

An even more prodigious project was completed by ForSea (formerly HH Ferries Group) when they converted the diesel engines in two of their massive ferries to completely battery-powered systems, according to a press release distributed by ABB, a pioneering technology company which was involved in the transition.

The 780-foot ferries carry 7.4 million passengers and 1.9 million vehicles between Sweden and Denmark annually, according to Electrek.

With the growing green building trend, government incentives and a focus on sustainability by many organizations, progressions in the electric-based equipment market are likely to continue.

Employee Spotlight: Natalie Strange

Natalie Strange, Collections Manager

Natalie Strange

Meet Natalie Strange!

Strange is the collections manager at Hugg & Hall and recently celebrated 17 years with the company. She works at the corporate headquarters in Little Rock and, on a typical day, handles anything and everything to do with the collections process. Whether that be sorting through paperwork, calling customers or resolving one of the many issues that can arise in the accounts receivable department.

“Our employees and our customers,” said Strange when asked what she loves most about her job. “I’ve built long term relationships with my coworkers and customers. Love what I do!”

Strange has greatly developed her collections expertise throughout her 17 years with the company.

When asked to remember a favorite memory of her time at the company, she recounted a funny gift received during her first year at Hugg & Hall.

“My first Christmas employed here, Rod Rhodes gave me a grim reaper costume as a present,” said Strange, referencing a product support sales representative.

Strange was born and raised in central Arkansas, spending her early life in Conway, now having resided in Vilonia for more than 20 years. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Russ, and four sons (Hayden, Dalton and twins, Matthew/Wesley), attending their football games and cheering on each and every Razorback team.

The company would like to send out a big thank you to Strange for all of her hard work throughout the years. Congratulations on 17 years!

Forklift Tires: Which Type is Right For Your Machine

Which Tires Are Right For Your Forklift?

 

Forklift tires are available in a few different options, each designed with particular intents and purposes. So, here’s a quick guide to help determine which tires are right for each forklift and jobsite.

The three types of forklift tires, include: cushion, solid pneumatic and air pneumatic. It’s important for forklift operator and pedestrian safety to select and use the correct tires for the appropriate environment and function. Check out the below breakdown on which tires are right for what tasks.

  • Cushion tires are manufactured with solid rubber and are installed by directly pressing them against the wheel of the forklift. The advantage of cushion tires lies in their smoothness of motion, efficiency and amplified maneuverability. The primary functions suited for cushion tires include indoor and paved sites, like warehousing and plant applications. Cushion tires are not suitable for use on uneven surfaces, like gravel and rutted outdoor areas.
  • Pneumatic, or solid, tires are created with solid rubber and is a popular tire choice among forklift owners. The popularity of pneumatic tires may steam from their versatility. Designed to facilitate both indoor and outdoor uses, pneumatic tires are ideal for forklifts with flexible functionalities. Perfect for machines with multiple functions, the few downsides of choosing pneumatic tires lie in the more expensive upfront costs and the slightly less smooth (as compared to cushion tires) indoor application. Having said that, the cons of solid pneumatic tires are far outweighed by the advantages which, to name a few, include durability, multi-functionality and resilient characteristics. 
  • The final type of forklift tire is air-filled pneumatic. These tires are also created with rubber but, like the standard car tire, is filled with air. The advantage of these tires are that they feature deep tread, heavy-duty materials and are ideal for rough, outdoor applications. For forklifts intended for operation in uneven, outdoor environments, air-filled pneumatic tires might be the best option.

Band Featuring Parts Manager, Larry Worley, To Release New Single

Larry Worley, Parts Manager

Larry Worley

Larry Worley, the parts manager at Hugg Hall’s Tulsa branch, has been with the company for more than 13 years!

Worley began his career in the industry as a preventative maintenance technician with Arkla Taylor (a Taylor Machine Works dealer which Hugg & Hall acquired in 2011). He subsequently went on to work as a service technician and, later, in parts. After the acquisition of Arkla Taylor by Hugg & Hall, Worley transitioned to his current position of parts manager.

Worley said that his favorite part of his job at Hugg & Hall is the people. As a parts manager, his responsibilities run the gamut from overseeing the many aspects of inventory control, ensuring great customer service/customer satisfaction and effectively leading his team of parts professionals.  

When he’s not juggling the important job of parts management, he enjoys music, martial arts and spending time with his family. Worley is the guitarist (and former lead singer) in the classic Christian rock band, Fear Not.

Fear Not was recently signed by Roxx Records to release their new, 25th anniversary EP entitled “For The Wounded Heart.” The band will be premiering their new single for world release on January 11.

Download the single, “Don’t Want None (Come Get Some),” wherever digital music can be found and be sure to check out and like their Facebook page, here.

The company would like to send out a huge thank you to Worley for all his hard work throughout the years and congratulates him on his newly-produced music!