K-Tec, Volvo Combo Saves Costs for Dollar Tree Project
Tue May 28, 2019 - Midwest Edition #11 Shane Kroeker – SPECIAL TO CEG
Dollar Tree Inc., North America's leading operator of discount variety stores, has construction under way on a new 1.2 million-sq.-ft distribution facility in Ohio's Bennington Township, Morrow County. The company is investing more than $125 million in the project, which will provide service directly to Ohio's 735 existing Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores.
Construction began in the summer of 2018 and has an aggressive timeline that calls for the facility to be operational by summer 2019.
Clancy & Theys Construction Company, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is the general contractor on the project, which, to meet the tight time frame, put the earthworks responsibility out to tender. Three Ohio-based contractors expressed interest in tackling the challenge with their earthmoving expertise.
Trucco Construction Co. of Delaware, Ohio, put in a bid on the project, basing its earthmoving production numbers on the use of seven K-Tec scrapers, Volvo full-suspension articulated dump trucks (ADTs) and more than a dozen other pieces of various earthmoving support equipment. Rudd Equipment Company, a dealership for both the Volvo ADTs and K-Tec scrapers, provided product solutions and support, allowing Trucco to make a strong proposal for its project pitch.
"What the customer looks at is the cost per yard that they are moving material, so when we look at the overall cost with the K-Tec scraper married up to the Volvo A45 artic truck, your costs are so much lower," said Rudd Columbus Branch Vice President Martin McCutcheon. "When you put everything together from the K-Tec quality product to the Volvo quality product, it is hands down, as far as cost per yard, the best product that is out there, with a quality dealership in Rudd standing behind it."
Due to its advantage in cost and production performance, Trucco successfully outbid the two other contractors and was appointed the earthworks subcontractor for the project.
Trucco had two months to complete the earthworks on the Dollar Tree distribution center project, which required more than 500,000 cu. yds. of clay and topsoil to be moved.
"We are trying to move over 20,000 cubic yards a day," noted Dave Overholt, superintendent of Trucco Construction. "We self-load when stripping the topsoil, and we typically push load the K-Tec's in the high-moisture, clay-cut material."
Rain is always a concern in Ohio, and Trucco's use of K-Tec equipment has been strategic. The fleet is able to get into wetter underfoot conditions with the K-Tec scrapers, compared with traditional twin-engine scrapers, as the K-Tec machines do not pump out the soft haul road.
A well-maintained, 750-ft. haul road has been critical for the 5- to 6-minute production cycle at the job site. The smooth ride of the Volvo full-suspension articulated dump trucks, combined with the automatic cushion ride system of the K-Tec scraper, makes for an enjoyable ride for operators, who complete their jobs comfortably and productively.
This combination "is basically the only way to go," Overholt said. "They are very easy to adapt to the operators. The operator isn't getting beat around and can run at high speeds on the haul road. The ride is tremendous."
Even with the tight timeline, Trucco Construction utilized its earthmoving assets to advantage. Crews experienced 39 weather days during the project, with 56 in. of rain — a seasonal record high for the area — yet the company still came in on time for the building pad earthwork and did not hold the project up for any other subcontractors.
True to the original project estimations, the Volvo ADT and K-Tec scraper fleet performance averaged 20,000 cu. yds. per day and sometimes even exceeded expectations by moving upwards of 23,000 cu. yds. in a day.
Trucco has an additional 50,000 cu. yds. of supplementary earthwork to move on the Dollar Tree property to wrap up in spring of 2019.
Considering future scraper investments for Trucco's fleet, Overholt said, "I can see us in the near future, buying a couple more. They're just the way to go."
From being able to quote the job at a lower cost per cubic yard than competitors, to handling wet conditions, as well as making a profit, the production efficiency and savings derived from the Volvo ADT and K-Tec scraper earthmoving fleet seem to be making money grow on trees on this earthmoving project.
