"It's definitely a scheduling advantage when we work with Tower, though we don't necessarily use Tower for all our bituminous or street work," Mausolf commented. "We do use other subcontractors, and Tower works the same way. If we quote them on a job and another contractor comes back with lower prices, they use that pipe and light grading subcontractor."
New equipment, no downtime
Reuben Mausolf relies on Three Rivers' new and productive Komatsu equipment from Road Machinery & Supplies Company to keep projects on schedule. The company's fleet includes two new Komatsu PC400LC-6 hydraulic excavators, a new Komatsu PC300LC-7 excavator, two new Komatsu WA450-5 wheel loaders and a new WA380-5 loader. RMS Territory Manager Gordon Johnson services services the account.
Three Rivers Construction’s Komatsu fleet includes three new Dash-5 wheel loaders, including this WA450-5.
Three Rivers Construction also rents Komatsu and Ingersoll-Rand equipment from RMS. "I have a PC600LC-6 excavator out right now that I'm using at River Falls," said Mausolf. "We also have three model SD77F Ingersoll-Rand sheep's foot soil compactors that we have on a long-term lease."
Mausolf said he based his recent purchases of Komatsu equipment from RMS on past experience. "I've dealt with Road Machinery and I've had a number of Komatsu excavators, loaders and dozers in the past," he said. "Komatsu excavators are probably some of the better excavators on the market. Their other equipment is also good quality. And RMS has been good in backing its equipment with service. Komatsu has been good to us, and we're happy."
The company depends on RMS technicians to handle service through Three Rivers' lease arrangements. The company also uses Tower Asphalt's shop and mechanics to handle preventive maintenance. But Mausolf doesn't expect his Komatsu machines to spend much time in the shop.
"Part of the reason we went with newer equipment is because we can eliminate mechanics," he explained. "The lease agreements and warranties are pretty attractive right now. Productivity should stay up with the newer equipment. It allows us to maximize the work load we can take on, hopefully with the fewest breakdowns."
Enjoys the daily challenges
Even after so many years in construction, Mausolf says he still looks forward to going to work every day. "I enjoy being hands-on in the field, going to the different sites, dealing with each challenge that I come across," he said. "The people I have around me are pleasant to work with, and I enjoy their input, too."
Mausolf also likes being part of the Tower Asphalt organization. "Starting a new company is a challenge, and Tower is a very strong company," he stated. "I'm glad to be a part of it."
Plus, he has high hopes for Three Rivers Construction, Inc. "We want to become a successful company in this field and hopefully expand," concluded Mausolf. "There may be even more diversification of some kind that is possible with expanding into other fields. But right now, our primary focus is on getting this company started and off on the right foot and staying strong."