For nearly four decades, Rocky Hill Equipment Rentals built its reputation around a specialized segment of the equipment rental industry: rock trenching equipment and underground utility support.

Now, the family-owned company is bringing that expertise farther into Central Texas with the opening of a Pflugerville location serving the Austin market.

"We've looked at the Austin market for a long time," said Wes Clark, president of Rocky Hill Equipment Rentals. "What we saw was north Austin was really growing. Liberty Hill, Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown. We felt like with our rock trenching equipment there was an opportunity for us."

The new location opened on Sept. 15, 2025, and marks the company's first major expansion beyond its longtime Selma headquarters near San Antonio.

Clark's history with the company dates to when he was 17.

"I started washing equipment when I was 17 years old," Clark said. "I went through college and kept working and just kind of learned every aspect of the rental business from washing equipment to delivering, working on equipment and running parts."

After graduating from what is now Texas State University with a business degree, Clark stayed with the company full-time and steadily worked his way through the organization.

"I started inside doing rental sales and then quickly became vice president," Clark said. "Then, in 2018, became president and, about two-and-a-half years ago, bought the business."

Today, Rocky Hill Equipment Rentals supports contractors across Texas and beyond with a fleet that includes rock saws, trenchers, excavators, loaders, compaction equipment and other earthmoving machinery.

While the company has expanded its overall equipment offering over the years, Clark said the business remains heavily centered around underground utility and rock trenching applications.

"A lot of people know us for the rock saws and trenchers," he said. "We call ourselves experts in rock trenching and dirt trenching."

That expertise has become increasingly valuable as infrastructure growth across Central Texas continues to accelerate.

Rocky Hill's equipment is commonly used on underground utility work, commercial construction projects and infrastructure development throughout the region, particularly in areas known for difficult limestone ground conditions.

"Texas ground conditions can be challenging," Clark said. "We've seen everything from limestone to sandstone, caliche, flint and granite. Around here, the Hill Country is mostly limestone, and our machines can get through it."

The company carries a wide range of specialized rock trenching equipment, including Ditch Witch RT45, Vermeer RTX1250, Vermeer T-755, T-955 and T-1055 trenchers, along with Tesmec 1075 and M5 rock trenchers. According to Clark, Rocky Hill's fleet allows the company to support trenching applications ranging from approximately 18 in. deep to as much as 16 ft. deep depending on project requirements.

In addition to equipment availability, Clark said many contractors rely on Rocky Hill for application knowledge tied to trenching conditions and jobsite requirements.

"There's a lot of history and knowledge here," Clark said. "If somebody has something and they're not sure what they need or what application they need, a lot of times by the ground they're working on we can tell them."

The Pflugerville facility includes approximately 15,000 sq. ft., six service bays, dedicated service trucks and a full support staff focused on the Austin-area market.

Leading the new branch is Jesus Baeza, who previously worked at the company's Selma operation before being promoted to branch manager.

"We've got a full crew up here," Clark said. "Service trucks dedicated to the area and haul trucks dedicated to the area. We're a full-stop shop."

Clark said family continues to play an important role in the business as Rocky Hill Equipment Rentals grows into new markets.

His son, Colson, serves as branch manager of the company's Selma location, while Clark's wife, Kyleigh, operates the business as controller.

"We have very much a family business," Clark said. "My son has grown up around the equipment rental business and now manages our Selma branch. My wife is on board running accounting."

The expansion already has generated positive feedback from the businesses around central Texas according to Clark.

"We've had a lot of traction with new clients," he said. "Especially in the rock saw business, they're glad we're here. They have said we're fulfilling a need because of the growth and the amount of rock in these areas."

Despite the company's growth, Clark said Rocky Hill Equipment Rentals continues operating with the same relationship-driven approach that helped establish the business over the years.

"We're relationship-based," he said. "We're going to be reliable for our customers. If we say we're going to do something, we're going to do it."

That approach remains especially important for contractors working against tight schedules and difficult jobsite conditions.

"At the end of the day, we're helping them solve a problem," Clark said. "We want to be more than just a rental company. We want to be a partner and a problem solver along the way." ♣