Working in the clay soil of North Carolina can present some difficult challenges, especially when it gets wet.

Jason Ward from Concord, N.C., relies on his T300 compact track loader and 341 compact excavator to keep working even when ground conditions aren't at their best.

After he traded two rubber tire skid steer loaders for a Bobcat T300 in 2004, the benefits of a rubber track undercarriage started paying off immediately, Ward said.

"We're more productive using a track machine in these ground conditions instead of a wheeled machine. We can work on days when it's wet, digging footings with a Bobcat compact track loader,"

Ward added that the best thing about his Bobcat equipment is being able to use it in a variety of tough ground conditions. This has had a positive impact on his bottom line by enabling him to move onto the next job site faster, he said.

Ward is an owner/operator who spends as many as six to eight hours a day in his T300 or 341 compact excavator, grading and excavating sites for new commercial and residential developments. With a grapple bucket, he can easily lift and place hard-to-handle objects, then switch to a four-in-one combination bucket to grade and backfill. After the grading is complete, he attaches an auger to the T300 or 341 to dig 2- to 4-ft. (.6 to 1.2 m) foundations.

Local Sales and Service Pay Off

Since purchasing his first Bobcat 873 in 1998, Ward has carved out a successful business, specializing in excavating with his equipment purchased from R.S. Braswell Company.

"Our Bobcat equipment has helped us grow the business," Ward said.

Local sales support, parts availability and new products are all reasons Bobcat stays ahead of the competition, according to Ward.

Creature Comforts Make a Difference

After spending quite a bit of his day operating equipment, he doesn't feel worn out afterwards because of the ease of use of both machines, Ward said. He said the 341 compact excavator is roomy and comfortable even for a bigger guy.

"I like the joystick controls on the compact excavator; they are smooth and my arms don't hurt at the end of the day."

Options save Ward valuable time on the job.

"The Power Bob-Tach system saves time when we're changing attachments on the T300," he said. "It's quick and easy to change buckets because I don't have to leave the track loader's operator station to change non-hydraulic attachments."

Ward also said the X-Change mounting system for his 341 enables him to simply transition among several trenching buckets, grapple bucket and auger when he's digging footings for new homes.

Another valuable investment is the enclosed cab on the T300. Ward said he especially likes the cab option during dry stretches when his job sites produce a lot of dust.

With his Bobcat equipment combination, Jason Ward has made a name for himself in the construction business in North Carolina, and due to the Bobcat rubber track undercarriage, he doesn't lose many days when it rains.

For more information, visit www.bobcat.com.

For more information about R.S. Braswell Company, visit https://rsbraswell.com.

(This article was printed with permission from "Bobcat WorkSaver" magazine.)

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