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Earth MovErs www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation April 2015 13 of jobsite tasks, including placing and bury- ing utilities such as sewer pipes or storm drains; digging, compacting and backfilling trenches; breaking up concrete; and digging postholes. Backhoe loaders are built to eas- ily go from digging a trench to bringing in material to backfilling. And many manufac- turers, including Terex, design their units to enhance these capabilities. "The front loader end on Terex backhoes, for instance, is de- signed with mechanical controls, giving op- erators the maneuverability and efficiency of working with a wheel loader," said Ferguson, "while the backhoe end features advanced piloted controls, giving the machine excava- tor capabilities." According to Ferguson, backhoe loaders also excel at underground landscaping and irrigation applications because they offer ex- ceptionally good stability and balance for the operator and excellent visibility to the hole or trench thanks to their large windows and operator positioning within the cab. Also, they are engineered with two-speed hydraulic circuits that offer operators both speed and control. Ferguson also noted that backhoe loaders are a good choice when operators need to work in sensitive ground conditions, such as turf, because they can leave a lighter imprint than the steel tracks of a crawler excavator. In landscaping and irrigation construction applications, both sides of the backhoe are used equally — the determining factor is really based on the application. According to Ferguson, the back- hoe, or excavator end, is used most frequently by contractors for trenching, and the loader end is most often used for backfilling. In addition, contractors use backhoe loaders to load and un- load trucks, as well as carry tools and materials to, around, and from the work area, while the excavator side is mostly used to pick and place material. GettInG started Whether digging, or picking and placing jobsite materials, using a backhoe loader can increase jobsite productivity and reduce operating costs. To maximize the performance of the machine, Ferguson offers operators these tips to follow in advance of project start-up: "First and foremost, know the jobsite param- eters," said Ferguson. "The scope of work and the working con- ditions are the biggest influencing factors when choosing the right machine to do the work. Then ask yourself what is needed to complete a job from beginning to completion — it's not all just about digging." According to Ferguson, operators need to be able to answer the following questions before the job begins: Is this a typical jobsite, or an exception? What tasks will the machine mostly be used for? How deep does the machine need to dig? How heavy are the materials that the backhoe loader is pick- ing and placing? Are there other underground utilities that the crew needs to be aware of? Have these utilities been located, identified and clearly marked? How large is the area in which the machine will be working? Is the entrance/exit to the jobsite restrictive for certain sizes of equipment? Is the jobsite going to limit certain equipment due to terrain conditions? What type of attachments will help complete this job? Operators also need to be conscious of their surroundings. "Worksites involve a lot of people performing a multitude of tasks," said Ferguson. "From traveling to different areas on a worksite to operating the boom and stick, operators must con- Contractors are relying more heavily than ever on backhoe loaders, and, more specifically, on the attachments to enhance their productivity.