June 2008 Table of Contents

Features

• 10Featured Contractor: On The Level
  Time-tested laser-guided system, memorable advice and steady demand from pig farmers keeps Iowa excavator's business going hog-wild
• 12Featured Contractor: The Schoone Strategy
  A nimble business plan, strategic new service offerings and knowing when to replace critical equipment helps Wisconsin builder and excavator thrive in an uncertain economy
• 14Building the Business: Failure Often Leads to Success
  If you're afraid to stumble and fall with a business initiative, you may never reach your potential for success
• 18Featured Manufacturer: Materials Witness
  Truck Utilities sales manager Ike Van Briesen goes into the field to make sure the company's dump bodies are standing up to a punishing workload
• 18Featured Manufacturer: Borrowed Time
  Equipment rental is seen as an alternative to buying when contractors confront a tough business climate. But when the economy improves, renters sometimes turn into buyers.
• 20Building the Business: Leaders Create Great Expectations
  Employees may never have your constant burning desire to make the business succeed, but there are ways to kindle their interest in the future of your company

Columns

• 6From the Editor: Summer Job Safety
  Hiring teens for the summer is a win-win situation. You get extra help during the busy season; they get some great experience and return to school with pockets full of cash. Just promise their moms you'll keep them safe on the job site.
• 6From the Editor: Iowa Contractors Answer the Call
  When a tornado flattened much of Parkersburg, Iowa, construction companies large and small provided necessary disaster relief
• 8Office Matters: The Paperless Office
  Listen up, all you contractors keeping records the old-fashioned way: Once you get past the fear of the unknown, you'll find that digital records and systems greatly enhance productivity and convenience.
• 10Office Matters: Don't Bleed Your Company Dry
  Thoughtless slashing of expenses when business is sluggish can do your company more harm than good
• 20Safety First: Mind What You're Pulling
  Safe driving is essential, of course. But take special precautions with trailers.
• 22EQ Performance: Radial Rewards
  By switching to radial tires, owners of loader backhoes and skid-steer loaders can boost machine performance while pocketing more savings
• 22EQ Performance: More Value Than Ever
  The latest excavator models are roomier, more efficient, more comfortable, and easier to service. Consider these benefits when shopping for next season
• 26Product News: Product News
  New Products in the Industry