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Intelligent Excavators and Dozers Lay the Groundwork for Earthworks Startup


Successful start-ups share many key traits—among them, agility, consistency, and strong partnerships. Road to Rail Construction has embraced all three, facilitated by a state-of-the-art equipment fleet and the backing of SMS Equipment.

The civil contracting firm was founded in 2021 by two longtime friends with a shared vision to deliver comprehensive earthworks across Alberta. With combined expertise in construction and aggregate production, the founders aligned Road to Rail’s services to meet the needs of gravel pits in the area, offering site preparation, extraction, and hauling. As the company grew, so did its offerings; civil, oilfield and railroad construction, plus aggregate supply, trucking services, equipment rentals and machine repair were quickly added to its roster.

The contractor’s success, says company president and owner Matt Reber, comes down to the versatility of services they offer and the type of equipment that powers their jobs.

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Smart construction technology propels a smart acquisition strategy

Reber explains the strategy behind building the company’s 40+-unit mixed fleet, a model that has ensured year-round equipment utilization and a sustainable business model. “If we were going to buy something, it had to meet three criteria: be at the gravel pit, be on our rental side or be on the construction side. Now we basically have a 365-day-a-year spot for all these machines to go.”

Road to Rail Construction’s agility is aided by its diverse equipment lineup, but a key feature keeps the machines in high demand: most are equipped with advanced technologies. GPS- enabled capabilities such as proactive dozing control in its dozers and auto tilt and bucket angle hold controls in its excavators add precision and efficiency to every job. These kinds of automations also shorten the learning curve for new operators and greatly improve accuracy, which are especially important in an industry like construction, which sees a high employee turnover rate.
Advanced technology features shorten the learning curve for new operators and greatly improve accuracy.

The company’s vice president, Tarren Pidherney, notes Komatsu’s integrated Intelligent Machine Control 2.0 technology has provided his crew a level of precision and automation that was previously unimaginable.
“IMC has created such an ease of process,” he says. “Time and time again, we’ll have an unexpected need for it. Having it always on site is a huge convenience factor for us.”
With a robust fleet of GPS-equipped machines and machine-control technology, the company is poised to bid on a wide range of earthmoving projects and respond to almost any customer need.

Partnership brings peace of mind

In the competitive contracting world, the Road to Rail Construction team gains additional peace of mind knowing SMS Equipment is by its side, helping keep their fleet at peak performance. In addition to equipment sales, the dealer provides parts, service and 24-7, personalized support, with an ironclad warranty that helps ensure maximum uptime.

When asked about the importance of the customer-dealer partnership, Reber underscores the invaluable role SMS Equipment plays in Road to Rail Construction’s operations.

"They’ve always been there for us,” says Reber. “In this industry, the number one thing that every contractor needs is to make sure they're taken care of as well as the equipment is. We know breakdowns happen, so buying the right machine is only half the battle. The other half is keeping it running and keeping it profitable."

That balance, he says, is achieved through top-of-the-line equipment and a long-term partner committed to shared success.
"We don’t run Komatsu just because of the machine itself, we run Komatsu because of the support we get from SMS Equipment,”
he adds. “Their preventative maintenance programs and on-site service make them an important partner for us in the field. It’s a relationship you just can’t put a price on.”
Navigating a bright future together

Navigating a bright future together

Road to Rail Construction’s steep trajectory, from startup to sought-after contractor, is a testament to the company’s entrepreneurial thinking, high-quality work and strategic asset management. With SMS Equipment supporting every step of the way, the company is set for a bright future.

“Our company has grown substantially, and a lot of the reason for that is us saying yes to any challenge that comes our way,” concludes Pidherney. “Usually, the first phone call after we say yes to something is to SMS Equipment, asking them how can they support us on this next adventure we’re going to go on.”
Note: This article was originally published on August 29, 2024.