Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/489028
EquipmentWorld.com | April 2015 83 All in the details Over time, Tollestrup has consis- tently improved the company's 100-machine-plus fleet, which he says is approximately 95-percent Caterpillar. With 5 full-time mechan- ics and 2 mechanics trucks operated from a 230-acre location on the Old Man River, Tollestrup is seri- ous about proper maintenance and eliminating downtime. Although the company has sometimes purchased equipment at auction, Tollestrup says it has been several years since he has bought used equipment, preferring to buy new. "My dad and my granddad didn't replace a lot of equipment, but now we base our purchases on equipment lifecycle," he says. "Even though it's capital intensive, you just can't afford to have the down- time." Having an up-to-date, well-main- tained fleet has allowed Tollestrup to remain flexible in the types of jobs he takes on. Even though he has no aspirations to get back into performing highway work, Toll- estrup says he'll consider most oth- er markets, and has no real sweet spot. "We will take on jobs ranging anywhere from $200,000 to $15 mil- lion," he says. "There's always room for the smaller stuff." Thoughtful transition For Tollestrup, managing the transi- tion from a cozy family environ- ment to a more corporate feel was simplified by the addition of layers of structure, but applied in a thoughtful way. Although he initially regretted los- ing some of the family atmosphere, he knew the company had become too large to maintain the minutiae of that kind of workplace. Having a fully staffed office as well as a controller, full-time human resourc- es professional and full-time safety expert has allowed him to mold the company into the entity he wants it to be. Even though the company has grown at a rapid rate under Toll- estrup's leadership, he has no plans to expand geographically, prefer- ring to remain in Lethbridge. Most of the company's projects are with- in a 75-mile radius of the city, and a satellite office is not in the picture for Tollestrup, who describes himself as a micromanager. "This is a hands-on business," Tollestrup says. "And it's a tough industry. You've got to have someone there to look after things." With that in mind, Tollestrup is actively engaged in succession planning, including implementing a board of directors. "I'd like to maintain the status quo," Tollestrup says. "I might like a little more growth, but I'm pretty happy where we are. I enjoy the day-to-day challenges I never ex- pected, and I'm learning more than I ever thought I could." One of the services Tollestrup Construction offers is StreetPrint, an asphalt stamping process. Using stamped and colored asphalt, the surface achieves the appearance of paving stone, herringbone, cobblestone or other patterns.