Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/764523
the concrete-pumping industry are managed nationally, with Mack keeping all its dealers on the same page. "Mack corporate sets a program for us that sets standards for how we work with local dealers," Young says. "Our industry really needs national programs so truck manufac- turers can work with local dealers to make sure we're taken care of. And that's what Mack does better than anyone." Mack strives to deliver a consistent product to the concrete-pumping industry through its sales relationships and dedicated support staff, Timmerman says. "Also, anytime a truck is in a service shop, we have the same resources available to any dealer — large or small, West Coast or East, North or South. They're getting the same direction and con- tact from our Uptime Center through the con- crete-pump support group," he says. Custom design and engineering These cohesive programs are in place from the beginning of the vehicle lifecycle. Mack's national team works with Brundage- Bone and major concrete-pump manufactur- ers to custom design each truck. Most of Brundage-Bone's 450 concrete-pumpers are Mack TerraPro ® cabovers, a design that meets needs for compactness on the jobsite and maximizes pump-boom reach. Brundage-Bone specs the trucks with three- to seven-axle configurations, based on the weight of the concrete pump. Because Brundage-Bone trucks move around the country as markets ebb and flow, all trucks are configured to meet the most stringent weight laws and to operate in the coldest climates, Young says. This allows them to work in every region. "Our trucks are extremely heavy, up to 130,000 pounds," Young says. "We need a manufacturer who will work with us to design trucks that will meet the demands of the con- struction site and also allow us to legally carry our loads on Interstates and highways." The Eco-Pan business runs about 60 Mack Granite ® flatbeds with knuckle booms. Mack worked with the company to engineer a truck that maximizes payload. "The more contain- ers we can put on a truck per trip, the more efficient we are, so designing the truck for the maximum amount of containers is important to us," Young says. "And it's important that we comply with state and federal weight laws. It comes down to putting the right axles at the right places and spreading weight over longer lengths." Mack is working to design a truck that even better fits Eco-Pan's needs. Brundage-Bone representatives recently visited Mack's Lehigh Valley operations in Pennsylvania to test drive trucks with the new mDRIVE™ HD 14-speed transmission. A slower reverse-speed gear would help Eco-Pan trucks move in and out of jobsites, and the mDRIVE HD provides that with its multispeed reverse gears. It also offers weight and cost savings compared to an automatic transmission, and an automated manual transmission would help the company recruit and retain drivers. "The mDRIVE HD gives you the functionality of an automatic transmission at a fraction of the cost," Timmerman says. Young says repair costs are lower as well, and Brundage-Bone plans to purchase more trucks with mDRIVE HD transmissions. Common purposes Brundage-Bone's mission is to provide pre- mium concrete-pumping services to its cus- tomers, and safety is the company's top priority. Young says Mack supports both areas. "Mack helps us fulfill our commitment in allowing us to have quality equipment that we get high utilization out of with minimal down- time," he says. In addition to building construction-duty trucks that meet weight requirements, Mack engineers its vehicles to have excellent brak- ing power, turning radiuses and other safety features, Young continues. "In the construc- tion industry, there's always high awareness of safety on the jobsite, and we're very aware of the hazards of driving up and down the road with heavy machinery," he says. Three decades with Mack trucks M ack and other heavy-duty trucks have changed a lot in the past 35 years, and Bruce Young, president and chief executive of Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping, has witnessed the transformation as both an operator and manager. "I've certainly seen the evolution of the Mack truck since I started in this business in 1980, and it's been remarkable," Young says. "When I started, the truck I ran had 235 hp. Now we have trucks that have over 500 hp. The axle designs went from three- axle trucks to seven-axle trucks. We've gone from single-steer axles to tri-steer axles." Cabs are much more comfortable, he says, and new suspen- sions provide a smoother ride. When Young started driving, his truck had a 5-speed. "Now we have as many as 18 gears to make it more efficient for drivers to drive through mountains and city conditions." Today's Mack trucks are environmentally friendly as well, Young adds. "The emissions on the new Macks are amazing," he says. "You can stand right next to one and you can't smell any exhaust." Despite the changes, Young says the most important things have stayed the same: the durability of the Mack truck and the reliability of the Mack engine and drivetrain. 1 8 | BULLDOG | 2 0 1 6 V 3 Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping started a concrete-recycling business called Eco-Pan in 2003. The company delivers containers for concrete waste to construction sites, then transports filled containers to recycling facilities where the material is turned into road base and backfill. courtesy Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping AT WORK