More Website Upgrades!

Welcome to the new year, everyone.  While we've been at home on vacation visiting family or just relaxing from a busy 2011, we have also been busy adding new updates to CommercialTruckTrader.com and EquipmentTraderOnline.com.  There's a slew of new additions to the site with a few goals in mind.  I'll run through each briefly!

Social Sharing
The most obvious change is the tab that now displays on the left side of the page.  If your resolution is above 1024, you'll see it hover just outside the content area.  If it is 1024 or smaller, then it'll hover inside.  You can test this by shrinking and expanding your browser.

This tab allows you to share on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+, certain pages of the site.  It appears on our homepage, search results, ad detail, and dealer galleries.  This way if you find something you really like, you can share it with a group of people very easily!

OEM Sponsored Pages.
We have been reaching out to various manufacturers to help provide additional content to our search pages.  This helps present our users with some information about products that they may or may not know, allows a manufacturer to provide what the information is, and gives the search engines some more content to chew on

Check out our first two here:  Isuzu and Doosan! 

Featured Dealer Inventory.
One thing we've continually heard from our dealer community is a desire to create new spaces to feature their inventory on our site.  On the consumer side, it can difficult to identify a dealer that has what you're looking for, or @ least something similar to what you're trying to find.

To attempt to address this, we've created a new area, called Featured Dealer Inventory.   This is a space in our search results which shows a specific dealership's inventory which is relevant to what you're searching for.  We currently limit this to Category or Make and Model.

Here's an example with some demo data.  The Featured Dealer Inventory will always show in the 6th position of the page, or if there are fewer than 6 ads, after the last.

Upgraded Keyword Searching.
This, too, has long been a concern with our buyer and seller communities.  We've been hearing you and sympathizing that our keyword capabilities have left something to be desired.  To upgrade our abilities, we first had to integrate new technology, something call Solr, which significantly expanded what abilities were available to us.

Last summer we added Category to our keyword searching and now we've also added "options".  Options are things like air conditioning, leather seats, alloy wheels, cruise control, etc.  They're check boxes available when creating a new listing in the Place An Ad process or inside the Inventory Management Tool.

So go ahead, type "air conditioning" into the keyword field and see all the trucks that have it!

We're working on adding all of the other specification pieces to our keyword searching, too.  Expect it in the next couple months.

Upgraded Feedback in Search.
As we said back in May of '11 - we need your feedback!  To make it easier, we've upgraded the old "mailto" link in our search results to a modal form.  This grabs some details about the user session so we can better understand the context of the feedback we receive.

Remember to send us your thoughts - whether they are "good" or "bad".  In my book, all feedback is good feedback.

Interstitial Search Banners.  BETA!
What do I mean by this?  So you know when you're looking for plane tickets on a travel site and after you enter your travels dates and places, hit enter, and see a page with a big advertisement on it?  That's what I mean.  Sort of.

We're testing out the effectiveness of adding these to the site.  These will feature certain dealers who we're selecting as part of a beta program.  The advertisements will take the user, should they click on it, to that dealer's gallery on our site.  These are targeted to a geographical area, that way folks in Phoenix don't see advertisements for people in Chicago.

IMT Mobile.
This is big deal for anyone who manages inventory on our sites.  For a couple decades now, the best path to getting photos on the website for a truck or piece of equipment was to take the photos with some device in the lot, then take that device to a computer, log in, and upload.  This included note taking, stickies, and other things to make sure the right photos went with the right thing.

Now you can do this from your iPhone, Droid, or other iOS and Android powered device.  Let me say this again - you can now do this directly from your phone!  The product is new and we're anxiously gathering feedback so we can polish it up.  In fact, an update is days away that will add more photo functionality!

Download IMT Mobile from the Apple App Store, or from the Android Market.

A new tab in the web-based version of the IMT will be appearing soon with an instructional video included.

Keep Your Machines Up And Running In Cold Weather

Written By: Garrett Ginglen

Cold weather can be hard on machines. Here are important tips to keep your machines running in great condition during cold weather.

Cold Weather Recommendations:

1. Always maintain your machine per the Operation and Maintenance Manual during cold weather
2. To better prepare your machines for cold weather, try the following:
   1. Use block heaters
   2. Use enclosed storage facilities when machines are not in use
3. Be sure to install the correct lubricants
4. Provide the correct cooling system protection for the conditions you will be working in
5. Inspect all rubber parts weekly
6. Keep all batteries fully charged
7. Always fill the fuel tank at the end of the shift
8. Check the air filters on a regular basis when snow is present
9. Before your shift, run the engine until it reaches operating temperatures
10. Never remove the air cleaner element when snow packing occurs
11. If your machine is shut down for more then 16 hours, the engine will cool to the external temperature

Do you have tips for keeping machines running at peak performance during cold weather? Please share your comments below.

Happy Holidays from Marketing

We want to take the time to wish all of you cheer and joy as the 2011 holiday season approaches. It is a time of sharing and caring, and also to think about what 2012 may bring us.

We have so many new products and initiatives for 2012 we want to work on, and all of our teams are excited to get started! As 2011 comes to a close, we are also thankful for our dealers, partners, and wonderful team.

Here's to a GREAT holiday season!

Nadene E,
Marketing Manager
Trader Industrial Brands

Meet One of Our Featured Dealers - Pro-Tech

EquipmentTraderOnline.com has many dealers who our team and customers have come to know over the years... In honor of Thanksgiving and the holiday season, we would like to feature some of our dealers over the next few weeks. Stay tuned for a dealer that may be in your area... Tell them we sent you!!

 

Pro-Tech offers a robust product line of containment and multi-use plows, blowers, brooms and blades to help its customers address multiple surface conditions and applications with confidence. Through quality, price and availability, Pro-Tech delivers proven value with durable, competitively priced products that are there when customers need them.

Quality

Pro- Tech’s values are trust, respect and quality based on integrity.  Quality is a measurement of our values translated through our word and our product. Our quality systems measure our performance with inspection processes and is maintained by a series of checks and balances, and is reinforced with training.

Availability

We believe customer satisfaction comes when the customer knows exactly what they are getting, when they are getting it and what it will cost. Our commitment to availability means that we build our inventory levels up during the winter season so we’ll have product to ship when an order is placed.  We’ll call you when your order is leaving the lot and our trucking partners will call you to confirm delivery times.

Price

Quality and availability don’t mean a whole lot if your product is priced out of reach for the majority of customers. At Pro-Tech, we feel we have the very best combination of Quality, Availability and Price. Our top quality products - with the Pro-Tech name, experience, warranty and integrity behind them – are priced right where the competition is, if not lower.

Products

Pro-Tech industrial snow & ice removal products are vital tools for your operations. From containment and multi-use plows to blowers, brooms and blades – Pro-Tech has a wide range of products, models and sizes to give snow & ice management professionals the ability to address multiple surface conditions and applications with confidence.

Pro-Tech Manufacturing & Distribution

711 West Avenue

Rochester, New York 14611

888-787-4766

sales@protechcorp.com

www.protechcorp.com

www.facebook.com/Protechcorp

http://www.youtube.com/user/ProTechMFg

Coming Soon: Big Inventory Management Updates

I know it's been some time since I've blogged and that's because we've been working hard on several new initiatives.  I would like to mention some of the upgrades we're implementing into our Inventory Management Tool. We're focusing mainly on these User Experience upgrades:

• Easy application of Premium or Featured Photo features
• Easy Ad Copy
• Easy upload of multiple photos
• Easy feedback mechanisms
• Pricing assistance
• IMT Mobile

Easy Application of Premium or Featured Photo Features
We've been working with our friends with CycleTrader and RVTrader to upgrade the Inventory tab in the IMT. This will soon include thumbnails as well as quick-click application of features and the adjustment of prices, among other things.

Easy Ad Copy
We're integrating a mechanism that will allow our IMT users to easily copy the basics of a listing into a new listing. This way if you have seven 2003 DEERE 225C LC RTS you need to sell and hate the process of entering year, make, model, class, and photos, you'll be able to copy them from ad to new ad easily.

Easy Upload of Multiple Photos
Using some technology from our friends with PowerSportsNetwork, we're integrating a similar JavaScript-based photo upload tool. This will allow users to upload many photos simultaneously.

Easy Feedback Mechanism
We'll be adding a new button to the IMT's navigation which will allow you to send us feedback about any section, part, or operation that the IMT provides. We're serious about hearing what our user's think and providing the mechanisms to make it easier for you to do that are key.

Pricing Assistance
We're sure our dealer's know what good prices are in their markets, but we're thinking it could be helpful to see what the maximum, minimum, average, and mean are in your region while creating a new listing. The pricing data is supplied by our own database of tens of thousands of listings. This feature will be in beta for awhile as we tweak our algorithms and listen to user feedback regarding its usefulness.

IMT Mobile
The product is designed to utilize the strengths of the smartphone in helping you maintain inventory on our site. Take photos and upload them from the lot. You can also edit price, mileage, and even create an ad directly from your iPhone or Android device. We are expecting to see this in iTunes and the Android Market by mid-November, pending the approval process and our final bits of feedback.

 As always, please send me feedback!

- Ryan
@industrialdev
G+

CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE 2011: News Release

CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE 2011 attracted nearly 120,000 registered attendees; the shows were the global industry gathering place for the year and the largest gathering in North America since 2008 for the construction, construction materials and fluid power/power transmissions/motion control industries.  The shows were held (in March) at the Las Vegas Convention Center. 

Attendees said they were at the shows to examine the newest equipment and product technologies and innovations to help them prepare for future business; exhibitors cited the high quality of customers and reported strong purchases and sales lead to new as well as existing customers.

International Scope

International registrations accounted for a record of 24 percent of the total, representing more than 150 countries.  CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE 2011 were among a select group invited to participate in the U.S. Department of Commerce International Buyer Program, which facilitates the participation of international visitors.  The shows hosted 42 official international customer delegations from 37 countries, organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce as well as in-country associations and related groups.

On the Show Floor

Altogether on the show floor there were more than 2,400 exhibitors taking more than 2.34 million net square feet of exhibit space.  IFPE was the largest ever, and CONEXPO-CON/AGG’s exhibit space was the second largest in the show’s history.  Reinforcing the global scope of the shows were ten international exhibit pavilions-IFPE with pavilions from China, Italy and Taiwan and CONEXPO-CON/AGG with pavilions from China, Finland, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Looking Ahead

The next edition of the triennial CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE expositions will be held in 2014 (March 18-22) at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

With Featherlite Model 8270 semi stock trailer, bigger can be better!

CRESCO, Iowa (May 26, 2011) – Featherlite offers stock trailers in many lengths and configurations, including semi livestock trailers up to 53 feet, to serve any size of farming operation.  New for 2012, Featherlite’s semi livestock trailer Model 8270 is now available in lengths starting at 34 feet, giving farmers and commercial haulers even more options when choosing a Featherlite.

Standard base lengths now include 34 ft., 38 ft., 42 ft., 46 ft., 48 ft. and 53 ft., but length can be added or reduced to custom fit the trailer to a livestock hauler’s needs. In addition, Model 8270 measures eight feet, six inches wide with an inside height of 7 feet.

Its standard features include a heavy duty center gate and a full swing rear door with roll up gate, center cam lock and “Western” hardware. The semi stock trailer features a durable corrugated aluminum treadplate floor, air ride suspension, bright LED wraparound lights and a convenient escape door. Featherlite’s trailers are protected with an 8-year limited warranty and also come equipped with Featherlite’s easy, lower maintenance wiring harness.
Options include a full-width loading ramp, clean out trap door and load lights, among others.

For more information on Featherlite Model 8270 or any of Featherlite’s other stock trailers, call Featherlite Trailers at 800-800-1230, visit a local dealer or go to the web at www.fthr.com.

We need your feedback!

A few months ago I had referenced how we are changing gears to try to solicit more user feedback from the site.  We would be doing more beta programs, providing more options for you to share your opinion, and making sure we consider points that our users made.

To that end, we put together two very simple surveys, one oriented towards the "consumer", or users coming to the site for informational and purchasing purposes.  The other survey is oriented towards our dealership customers, or those that provide the majority of content on the website.

That's a long winded way of saying, "We need your help."

If you come to our website to look for something to buy, or just information, then please take our nine question consumer survey!

If you use our website as a dealer to sell, then please take this quick eleven question survey!

You may wonder how we'll use this information for our two main goals.  We aim to provide the most leads we can to our dealerships and we also aim to make the process of finding what you want to buy as easy as we can.  Our perspective on what's "easy" and what's not can be different from either of those perspectives, buying or selling.

This increases in complexity with different search habits within user groups and whether someone is new to the site or has been using it for a long time.  Someone who has used the site for a long time and comfortable with a design may be quick to reject a product overhaul because it's different.  Someone new may like an overhaul because they don't have a frame of reference.

So what we'll do is comb through the feedback responses, noting patterns we see and any specifics users provide.  This may point us in a direction for further refinement.  If, for example, many people feel the new search is complicated or slow, then we'll know we need to continue to refine the experience.  If, however, most responses are complimentary, then we'll look at those that are not and see if there's smaller, more incremental improvements to make.

Should many people request a specific type of product, then we'll certainly give that consideration and find where it may fit into the schedule.

This is an opportunity for you to help shape our direction over the next year.  While this won't be the last opportunity for you to provide feedback about your experience on our site, this information will be used in on going discussions about where we're going!

- Ryan

ryan.goodwin@dominionenterprises.com

@IndustrialDev

Sany America Introduces New Equipment Models

Sany America introduced several new equipment models at the recent Conexpo show in Las Vegas.  Here are a few of the highlights:

Concrete

Sany America’s Concrete Pump Truck division made a dramatic statement at the show by introducing 4 new pumps for the North American Market.  The 37 meter and 40 meter pumps are brand new utilizing a Z-fold design.  Sany engineered the 40 meter pump to ride on 3 axles with full 5” pipeline on the entire boom.  The 56 meter, with a 5 section RZ boom,  was engineered to meet the most stringent DOT weight rules.  But the 60 meter pump was the talk of the show.  A 5 section RZ boom, X style outriggers, and 5” pipe were all features that turned heads.  When you couple these benefits with Sany’s standard features, including Single Side Support, Auto piston cup retraction, high / low pressure switch, and the SYMC system, Sany decidedly offers the best value to the customer.  Sany America now offers a full line of truck mounted concrete pumps ranging from 28 meters to 60 meters for the North American market. 

Dirt

Sany America introduced 3 new hydraulic excavators the SY215, SY235, SY335 and a newly redesigned motor grader the SMG200 at Conexpo. Utilizing components from world renowned manufacturers such as Cummins, Rexroth, and Hydac, just to name a few, the earthmoving products captured the attention of all the attendees who passed by the display area.  The tier 4-I engines in the SY235 and SY335  demonstrated Sany America's commitment to redesigning products exclusively for the North American buyer. The new SMG200 Motor grader was also a clean sheet redesign to better deliver the features, such as power shift transmission and increased visibility,  and performance the North American market demands. With these new introductions, and the many more to come, Sany is well poised to make significant strides in the local market place.

Crane

Sany America Cranes were the talk of Con-Expo. The two rough terrain cranes and three crawler cranes introduced by Sany at the show demonstrated the commitment of Sany to be a global contender. The SRC840 and SRC860XL rough terrain cranes garnered much interest from customers all over the globe. These customers saw first-hand how Sany Cranes have partnered globally with strategic suppliers such as Cummins to bring high reliability to a new line of Sany Cranes. The ease of use and simplicity of operation were highlighted as well as industry leading performance parameters such as lift height and capacity. The biggest splash for the cranes, though, was the North American introduction of the new "Ultracab," designed by Porsche, which were shown on the new SCC8200 and SCC8300 crawler cranes. Sany invited all to sit in the roomy cab and experience the full effect of this new design. Coupled with the other new features such as self assembly, flexible configurations and US specific transport weights and dimensions and it was easy to see why Sany crawler cranes garnered such intense interest.

Agricultural Equipment Sales Expected to Rebound in 2011

According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, agricultural equipment sales are expected to rebound in 2011 after a few years of declining sales due to the global economic downturn. Growth is expected beyond 2011 as well.

The growth is expected to come primarily from the developing world, with slower growth forecasted for developed economies. Greater mechanization in farming is a significant contributor to increased sales in markets such as China and India.

The Asia and Pacific market is expected to see the fastest growth rate through 2015.

We’re excited to see a turnaround on the horizon!

Search for farm equipment on EquipmentTraderOnline.com

Source: Wisconsin Ag Connection

Caterpillar D Series Mini Excavators Add More Performance and Operator Convenience

The Caterpillar home page features the new Cat D Series Mini Hydraulic Excavators — models 303.5D CR, 304D CR, 305D CR and 305.5D CR.

Photo Credit: Caterpillar

According to Caterpillar, with model designations that closely reflect their operating weights (3.5 to 5.5 metric tons), the new machines feature enhanced stability for greater productivity, a redesigned work-tool coupler, load-sensing hydraulics, and engines that meet U.S. EPA Tier-4 Interim and E.U. Stage-3A emissions regulations.

Models 303.5D CR and 304D CR are zero-tail-swing machines that keep the radius of the upper body within the width of the tracks; models 305D CR and 305.5D CR are compact-radius machines that limit upper-body tail swing over the tracks to 5.5 inches (140 mm) or less. Both designs reduce the machine's operating footprint and simplify the operator's job.

Photo Credit: Caterpillar

Increased-width undercarriages for the 303.5D CR and 304D CR and heavier counterweights for the 305D CR and 305.5D CR significantly enhance machine stability, allowing increased lift capacity, more effective use of reach and digging forces, increased capability when handling heavy work tools and improved machine balance for operator comfort.

A new pin-grabber-type coupler (with the new optional hydraulic operation) combines positive work-tool retention with a design that maintains tight tolerances between coupler and tool, significantly reducing wear.

Photo Credit: Caterpillar

A standard-equipment two-mode auxiliary-hydraulic system, complete with lines and quick connectors, can be switched between single-direction and bi-directional operation for effectively using work tools ranging from hydraulic breakers to augers. The implement hydraulic system is a responsive, load-sensing system resulting in low-effort pilot controls for optimum control and fast cycle times. In addition, refined main valves for the 305D CR and 305.5D CR further enhance hydraulic controllability.

Photo Credit: Caterpillar

D-Series models are available with a two-post canopy operator's station, or with an optional enclosed cab that can be equipped with available air conditioning. The sealed cab provides premium standard features such as an efficient heater/defroster/ventilation system, sliding-door system for confined-area access, retractable front window (with gas-strut assist), removable lower-front window, sliding side window and a radio-ready package.

Source: Caterpillar

China's Expanding Heavy Equipment Market Could Determine Future Leaders of the Industry

Photo Credit: Wikipedia/Sebastien Poncet

A Forbes.com’s China Tracker blog reports on the battle for the Chinese construction equipment market and how companies who prosper in China will be future leaders of the equipment business worldwide.

The story reports that China’s heavy equipment market becoming the largest in the world, leading the way in demand for equipment such as wheel loaders growing 63% over 2000 and excavators growing 84%.

With such growth, China’s heavy equipment market has grown four times faster than China’s auto industry.

Source: Forbes.com

Thanks for Making The Equipment Trader iPhone App and Mobile Site a Success

Equipment Trader's iPhone application has been a huge success. The free Equipment Trader application can be downloaded from the business section of the iTunes Store by searching the key phrase “Equipment Trader.” We would like to thank everyone who has downloaded our app. We constantly working to make it better.

Our EquipmentTraderOnline.com mobile site has been a great success as well. More than 40,000 pieces of construction, farming, lifting, forestry and grounds care equipment for sale can be viewed using any mobile phone that has internet access.

Have a suggestion on how we can make our mobile site or iPhone app more user friendly? Leave a comment and tell us.

Construction Associations’ Coalition Will Help Contractors Cut Emissions

The Associated General Contractors of America homepage reports that The Associated General Contractors of Greater Florida,in partnership with a coalition of construction associations in the Southeast, will invest more than $1.6 million over the next two years to cut diesel emissions from off–road construction equipment that is currently in use.

The U.S. EPA has awarded the National Funding Assistance Program grant to the Florida Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association to support voluntary diesel retrofit efforts by AGC of Greater Florida contractors and other diesel users across Florida, Alabama and Georgia.

"We don’t just want to rebuild Florida's economy, we want to rebuild our commitment to this state’s national treasures," said Richard Marshall, the association’s president. "The industry is committed to building a better, greener, and more prosperous future for Floridians."

The coalition expects to retrofit or replace more than 200 pieces of construction equipment and train more than 300 individuals from its member companies over the next two years.

"Contractors are helping to boost our economy, and they're committed to doing so in an environmentally friendly way," said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Arlington, VA–based Associated General Contractors of America. "Our goal is to make digging in the brown dirt as green as possible."

Source: The Associated General Contractors of America

Volvo EC460CHR Demolition Excavator Boasts Enhanced Engine Power and Torque

Photo Credit: Volvo Construction Equipment

The Volvo homepage features details on the EC460CHR, a part of the growing line of Volvo high-reach demolition excavators.

The EC460CHR features an 89-foot-7-inch boom and arm and is supplied with both high-reach demolition boom and standard excavator configuration digging boom / arm and a changeover process that takes as little as 30 minutes.

Photo Credit: Volvo Construction Equipment

The EC460CHR boasts enhanced engine power and torque, along with efficient slew speed and torque. The excavator also provides exactly tailored hydraulic flow and pressure output, allowing operators to get the most out of high-reach attachments such as pulverizers, grapples, crushers, hammers and shears.

John Deere Skidder Features Autoshift For Improved Operability and Decreased Fatigue

Photo Credit: John Deere

John Deere has announced the introduction of new Autoshift functionality on its popular line of H-Series Skidders.

According to John Deere, the elimination of shifting allows operators to use their right hand to run the grapple and focus on pulling the load, which effectively makes the skidder easier to operate, increases productivity and decreases operator fatigue.

Photo Credit: John Deere

The Autoshift option leverages the fuel efficiency advantage of direct drive and lock-up torque converter (LUTC) transmissions, and automatically selects the optimal gear for a given load.

"The H-Series skidders are built to maximize uptime, satisfy a wide-range of customer preferences, and keep operating costs down," said Elizabeth Quinn, Product Marketing Manager, Skidders and Wheeled Feller Bunchers. "Faster load gathering and ground speed combined with best-in-class fuel efficiency ensure the H-Series Skidders move the most wood at the lowest cost per ton."

Source: John Deere