When Terex IBH closed its doors after Chapter 11, Steve Kabay, president and founder of Coyote Loaders Inc., recognized “a need to support the base of existing Terex machines in the field.”

Deciding to form his own company, Kabay incorporated Coyote Loaders on August 14, 1984. He is preparing to celebrate these past 20 years and what he calls the long-lasting and solid relationships with both the suppliers and customers the company was built on.

From its inception, Coyote Loaders did not want to be limited by products or its territory. With the exception of designing some hard-to-find attachments, it also elected not to get involved in manufacturing.

About eight years ago, Kabay saw huge potential in small equipment, and the company began to concentrate on compact machines.

Kabay explained that many contractors are realizing that rather than paying for a large piece of equipment that stands idle much of the time, they can buy a compact for far less and run it continuously. Kabay also noted the advantages of compact equipment in its ease of transportation and because of the rising cost of fuel.

He spoke of one customer, Frank Fiorelo of New Jersey, who purchased a mini in 1986. The machine is still in service and Fiorelo said that through all the ups and downs in the business “the Coyote has always put food on the table for me and my family.”

Today, Coyote represents machines from manufacturers around the world: Fiori of Italy; Atlas, Ahlmann and Gehlmax of Germany; and Nagano of Japan.

While Coyote’s niche is the owner/operator market –– where Kabay says the company has the ability to be very attentive to its customers –– the Ohio Department of Transportation has 10 of its machines in operation. Coyote also will deliver two new machines to the New York Department of Transportation (NYDOT) this month, bringing the total number sold to NYDOT to 26 loaders.

According to Kabay, the key word is small. It is a small, family-owned company dedicated to staying that way.

Coyote Loaders’ small size, though, equals low overhead that can add up to big savings for its customers.

With a crew of seven employees, it sells and services equipment throughout the United States. Most stocked replacement parts can be shipped within 24 hours. Larger emergency replacement parts can be shipped from overseas within three days.

With its dedication to remain small still in place, a new building is under construction next door to its current facility. The new structure will provide 2,500 sq. ft. of additional warehouse space.

Always based in Ohio, Coyote Loaders moved into its current location –– on Route 8 between Akron and Cleveland, a stone’s throw from the Ohio Turnpike –– in 1996.

Although the competition is fierce, Kabay said he can’t think of anything he’d rather do. He said the business is not only fun, but extremely interesting and greatly rewarding. The company’s team approach is what makes the company work, he added.

What’s in a Name?

Coyote Loaders’ name came to Kabay on one of his family’s many vacations out west. He recalled lying in the family camper late one night when he was awakened by the call of a coyote. He was fascinated, and after learning more about the animal’s keen survival skills, he knew he had the perfect name for his business.

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