All Class Training is an RTO and preferred supplier of industry training and assessment services for EWP, forklift and other heavy machinery in Newcastle and throughout NSW. The company’s purpose-built training facility on the NSW central coast isn’t far from the Clark Equipment depot – the home of Bobcat equipment.
It probably won’t surprise anyone that All Class Training is using Bobcat gear – being a local, family owned and operated business and having the Bobcat dealership so close by.
But the company has quite a big range of machinery to cover its broad spectrum of training, and the recent purchase of the Bobcat UV34 utility vehicle only came about after experience with some other, similar machines.
CEO at All Class Training, Anthony Mearrick, is about as cheerful a bloke as anyone could hope to chat to on a busy working day. Despite the pressures of running a training facility going flat out, he was happy to spend a little time with Landscape Contractor, starting with us asking why he went to Clark Equipment.
“Aaron’s the first contact in my phone,” he exploded in laughter. “I’ve just got him saved in my phone as ‘Az: Clark Equipment’, so it’s the first name I see. I saw an ad for the UV34, and thought, ‘I need one of those!’, so I just texted Az and said, ‘Mate. I want one’.”
The ensuing chuckling took a few seconds to pass, after which we could establish ‘Az’ as Aaron Becroft, sales representative at Clark Equipment, and Anthony’s go-to man.
Fit for purpose
As it turned out, All Class Training has several buggy-type vehicles in service.
“The utility vehicle is out at a rural property we own and use for training for some elements of the business – mainly earthmoving gear, skid steers and excavators,” Anthony explained, serious for a moment. “It’s part of an operational farm, and when we’re training students they do actual functional tasks that most people would do on a farm or a construction site. The UV34 is used to aid the instructors and the students in moving around the different areas where we’re conducting different training activities.
“Instead of a trainer having to walk 500 metres from one student to the other if they need closer attention,” smiled Anthony, “and rather than a two-way radio call, the trainer can jump in and drive from one to the other. It’s a major time saver and it’s safe.”
Being diesel-powered, the All Class staff find the UV34 nice and torquey, and an ideal platform for moving people and the gear associated with training with from place to place.
“The other buggies we have are more racespec vehicles,” outlined Anthony. “The UV34 is the first diesel buggy we’ve had, and for general operations it’s more fit for purpose for a whole range of tasks, and it means we can move people around safely, ergonomically and easily.”
When you’re on a good thing
We tried again: why Bobcat?
“There are very similar vehicles in the market, but for me it’s about the Bobcat brand,” said Anthony. “We have other Bobcat equipment – an excavator which we use for training, and a tractor/loader which we also use for training and property maintenance – and having similar branded gear where you already know what it’s like and how it performs, that’s a great recommendation.
“And if there is a problem and I call for help, I know from experience I’ll get a response. That’s probably the biggest reason for sticking with the Bobcat brand.”
Quality service
It was clear that, for all his good nature and enjoyment of a joke, Athony was serious in his regard for both the UV34 and his Bobcat gear in general.
“The service from Clark Equipment has been good,” he said with obvious sincerity. “With Aaron, and with Clark Equipment here in Tomago in general, it’s been fantastic.”
To see more on the UV 34 and the entire Bobcat range of machinery, log on to bobcatofaustralia.com.au.
