Capricorn Coast Sand & Soil (CCSS) manager Brad Hof understands the value of hands-on experience. Over the years, Brad has built up a comprehensive knowledge of the family-owned company’s operations by working in every role that it has to offer, from labouring through to account keeping and management.
Having started out full-time in 1997 after finishing high school, Brad hasbeen managing CCSS over the past decade, putting this diversity of experience gained to good use by presiding over CCSS’s range of operations, from earthmoving and excavation to small civil works.
CCSS, which is based in Yeppoon on the central Queensland coast, provides machine hire and supplies landscaping and quarry products. The business was founded by Brad’s father in 1987 and over the last 30 years has successfully carved out a niche in the Rockhampton region by providing services for local government, civil contractors, builders and the general public.
Brad’s brother Andrew also works in the business, with Brad telling LCM the company is made up of 21 employees in total, and has “some of the best operators you will find in central Queensland, if not Queensland”.
“The quality of our product and services, along with attention to detail, is what sets us apart from our competitors,” Brad commented. “We’re currently working on a range of jobs, including local council footpaths and roadworks.”
With a fleet encompassing excavators, skid steer loaders, trucks, water trucks and rollers, Brad pointed to the importance of machine reliability in ensuring smooth and productive operations while tackling a variety of projects, and noted that technology advancements in recent years have led to less job downtime and improved efficiency.
CCSS has been using Bobcat equipment since 1998, with Brad highlighting a combination of a quality and reliable product, along with a competitive price, as being significant motivations behind the company’s continued use of Bobcat machines over the long term.
CCSS sources its equipment from Australian-owned distributor Clark Equipment, and currently counts seven Bobcat machines among its fleet, with Brad telling LCM that “quality equipment presents a quality image”.
In recent years, CCSS has added a Bobcat E26 mini-excavator and a Bobcat E50 mini-excavator to its fleet, with the two machines providing flexibility in tackling tasks in confined areas. Both the E26 and E50 are decked out with fingertip-controlled boom offset, which delivers improved boom swing function controllability, and also creates more floor space for the operator.
Meanwhile, a Bobcat S650 skid steer loader, a vertical lift path model in the 600 frame size, has also been a valuable recent addition to the CCSS fleet.
Clark’s Bobcat product range encompasses a variety of equipment – including skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, all-wheel steer loaders, compact excavators, telescopic handlers and a range of attachments – with it maintaining an extensive network of dealers and branches throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Clark sales representative Darren Tucker, who first commenced with the distributor in 2007 following a 20-plus-year career working for the police force in both Queensland and the Northern Territory, initially began dealing with CCSS in 2011.
Darren, who has been with Clark for eight years in total, returning in 2015 to his current role covering a territory from the north side of Brisbane up to Rockhampton and extending out to Longreach, described CCSS as “loyal customers”.
“They have a great knowledge of our product and the industry in which they work,” Darren told LCM.
“I have been providing them with Bobcat compact equipment for many years, and both Brad and Andrew are extremely competent in running their business, and they demand quality customer support post-sale.”
Supporting its customers, the Clark network of dealers and branches is focused on delivering both sales and after-sales assistance, along with offering financial and rental packages dependent upon client needs.
Brad also stressed the importance of product quality backed up by a professional and attentive service, and pointed to the structures that Clark has in place in seeking to deliver customer satisfaction.
“Clark has always done their utmost to ensure we’re happy with their product,” he commented. “Obviously it’s best if we don’t have to use it, but Clark offers good warranty and support for their gear.”
For more information visit http://bobcatofaustralia.com.au