Lepardo started Sitework Specialist 20 years ago specializing in loam and mulch needs in Foxboro and the surrounding areas. He has since grown the company to offer general contracting services including demolition, hauling, excavation, septic systems and equipment hire.
Although neither had used JCB equipment before, Daniel Medina, operator at Sitework Specialist, suggested that he and Lepardo stop in at their local dealer, Northland JCB in Middleboro. There, they demoed the JCB Teleskid.
Medina initially wondered whether the single arm design of the Teleskid could support the heavy material he works with. However, he and Lepardo were ultimately impressed with the demo and decided to add a tracked Teleskid to their fleet.
Lepardo and Medina have since found many benefits of owning the Teleskid.
VERSATILITY FOR ALL APPLICATIONS
Due to the variety of jobs that he performs, Lepardo requires several attachments that he uses regularly with the machine, including a front-end bucket, a snow bucket, a tree grinder and more. The quick connect on the Teleskid makes changing these attachments a simple process for him—and a task that he can readily handle by himself.
This versatility has allowed Lepardo to offload some of his other equipment. The forward reach and lift height of the Teleskid means ramps are no longer needed to load his trucks, allowing it to do the work of his front-end loader and backhoe.
For Medina, the Teleskid is easier to operate than other skid steers. He doesn’t have to get right up next to the trucks he’s trying to load. The extension boom gives him that extra height to easily dump material.
Because they have been able to eliminate some of the big machines they used previously, Lepardo and Medina also find it’s more efficient to get around to job sites. The compact size and ease of use allows them to load the Teleskid onto their trailers for transport and fit more materials in one haul. This means they make fewer trips and, ultimately, put less wear and tear on their trucks.
“It’s the right size machine,” said Lepardo. “I can load it on and off my trailer with no problems. It’s just that much time that we save. If we use a backhoe or an excavator, it takes a lot more time to load those up and move them around.”
SAFETY FIRST
For Lepardo, though, safety was the number one factor in deciding which skid steer to purchase. Because of the Teleskid’s single lift arm, he doesn’t have to exit the cab by climbing over the equipment. He can simply open the door and step out, reducing his chance for injury.
Visibility was another safety consideration. Both Lepardo and Medina have found the Teleskid’s visibility superior to other skid steers that they have operated in the past. Their sight path is clear out of all sides of the machine, making for a safer operation on job sites.
Further, Medina appreciates that the Teleskid’s reach allows for more distance between him and the material he is moving. With other skid steers, he found that material can fall toward him. With the Teleskid, there is a safer distance, so any material that were to fall would fall in front of the machine itself.
LOWER OPERATING COSTS
Medina has found the Teleskid more fuel efficient than other skid steers that he’s operated. And when it comes to servicing the machine, he feels that the Teleskid’s particular design makes even the normal maintenance quicker and easier.