Independence Excavating Inc., Valley View, Ohio, took delivery of the first Caterpillar D7E sold in the Northeast. The Caterpillar D7E track-type tractor was delivered to Independence Excavating Inc. at the Ohio Operating Engineers Local 18 Regional Training Facility in Richfield, Ohio. The location provided an opportunity for representatives from Caterpillar and sales and management personnel from Ohio CAT to gather and present the new tractor to the Independence Excavating management team.

According to Independence Excavating Equipment Superintendent Terry Tomosko, the decision to purchase the new tractor came about after the principles at Independence Excavating attended a demonstration and presentation of the machine during Caterpillar’s traveling road show to introduce the tractor the previous fall. The tractor’s productivity and fuel efficiency caught the attention of Independence Construction President Victor DiGeronimo Sr.

The purchase of Caterpillar equipment is not new to the owners of Independence Excavating. During the ceremony to present the Caterpillar D7E to Independence, Ohio CAT President Ken Taylor recalled that the ties between the owners of both companies goes back several generations. Taylor went on to say that presenting the first Caterpillar D7E track-type tractor sold in the Northeast was a celebration of the people at both Independence Excavating and Ohio CAT.

Taylor added that the Caterpillar D7E was a good match for Independence Excavating, “It’s all about productivity and hard work.”

DiGeronimo also spoke of the ties between the two companies, saying that the relationship went back to Ken Taylor’s father and grandfather and his father, Sam DiGeronimo who founded Independence Excavating along with Victor’s brother Don.

DiGeronimo recalled that the current business environment and their decision to purchase the Caterpillar D7E has many parallels with a decision they made 26 years ago. He explained that back in the 1980s, the economy was suffering and fuel costs were skyrocketing. Rather than back away from purchasing equipment, DiGeronimo decided it was the right time to invest in the future by growing his fleet. Back then, he purchased more than 20 machines from Caterpillar. He felt the purchase would be good for Independence Excavating, Ohio CAT and Caterpillar.

The site where the presentation took place, the Ohio Operating Engineers Local 18 Regional Training Facility, was chosen so that the new owners could take the Caterpillar D7E track-type tractor for a few test runs. DiGeronimo was the first to climb into the cab and put the tractor through its paces.

Also on hand at the presentation were Caterpillar Tractor Project Engineer Neil Roth, and Caterpillar Regional Industry Supervisor Jason Rhoades along with Ohio CAT Technical Training Supervisor Ben Courson.

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