R&R Enterprises
Kirby-Smith, Takeuchi telematics assist Kansas City-area contractor in locating stolen track loader
Russ Pile III learned the hard way that equipment theft happens all too often. He also discovered that today’s machinery can be easier to find, thanks to telematics systems such as Takeuchi Fleet Management (TFM) and a helping hand from equipment dealers like Kirby-Smith Machinery.
Pile, along with his dad, Russ Jr., own and operate R&R Enterprises, which is based in Kansas City, Kan. The firm specializes in installing pipe, specifically storm, water and sewer lines. It handles new construction, as well as repair, replacements and rehabilitation of older piping systems. The Piles founded R&R Enterprises nearly seven years ago after Russ III got out of the Navy. The company typically has two to three jobs going at any one time.
Early one morning a few months ago, Russ Jr. called his son from a jobsite to ask if he knew the location of the Takeuchi TL8 compact track loader that R&R Enterprises was renting from Kirby-Smith. The pair quickly came to the realization that the machine had been stolen.
“I immediately called Phil Brown (Rental Sales Representative) at Kirby-Smith,” said Russ III, President of R&R. “He assured me he was on it, and that they would do everything possible to find the loader.”
After that call, Phil phoned Product Support Representative Mark Tadlock, who logged into the TFM system from his laptop at home. Within minutes, Mark received a location for the track loader, complete with satellite images. He called Phil, who, in turn, relayed the information to Russ III.
“I was on the phone with the police at the time and was able to give them a pinpoint location, including the street, block and house,” said Russ III. “They found the machine and secured it. The police recovered some stolen vehicles as well, so it looks like a theft ring was broken up. From my first call to Phil, to the authorities recovering the track loader, the time was approximately 30 minutes.”
‘Adds value’
The Piles have since purchased the TL8 along with a TB240 compact excavator from Kirby-Smith. R&R Enterprises uses the Takeuchis for a variety of tasks, the majority of which are in a roughly 20-block area in downtown Kansas City, Mo. They operate as a subcontractor, primarily teaming with general contractors; however, R&R also works with cities to repair water line breaks and replace items as needed.
“The Takeuchis hold up to every test,” said Russ III. “I have friends who own contracting businesses, and they use Takeuchi, too. We all like them because they are powerhouses. The telematics system is a great value-added feature.”
TFM is standard on select excavators and track loaders. In addition to providing details on location and hours, it offers features such as remote diagnostics and geofencing, among others.
“Takeuchi recognized the importance of telematics solutions a long time ago, so it was ahead of the curve,” said Sam Schneider, Takeuchi Regional Product Manager. “TFM is a great tool for real-time machine tracking to monitor health, check maintenance intervals and minimize costly repairs.”
Because one of the Piles is typically on-site for every job, Russ III says they had given little consideration to remote monitoring before the rented track loader went missing.
“We definitely see the value now and are taking a closer look at it,” said Russ III. “Without the system, we would have been out a loader and potentially had considerable downtime. TFM, along with Phil and Mark at Kirby-Smith, ensured that wasn’t the case."
