Track Loaders Solve Landscaping Challenges

Bruce Gaudette

Landscaping projects previously unaffordable and labor-intensive are now easily accomplished thanks to Bobcat® compact equipment.

With a T190 compact track loader and MT52 mini track loader, Land Hoe! owner Bruce Gaudette of Mukilteo, Wash., says his crews can complete landscape renovation projects faster, saving labor costs and improving profits. He says some of his landscaping projects just couldn't be accomplished without this equipment.

"Clearly the T190 and MT52 do things that an army of people couldn't," says Gaudette. "The amount of material that has to be taken out and brought in is of such scale that it would take several guys with wheelbarrows. Our Bobcat MT52 is a great multiplier for making one person a much more effective workforce."

Working in tight jobsites is common for Gaudette. His MT52 — just 36-in. - wide with a bucket — and labor-saving attachments allow him to easily work in limited-access areas. On one project, Gaudette was hired to install an eight-zone irrigation system in some challenging, hard-packed soil conditions.

"We were very pleased with how rapidly the MT52 and trencher attachment could dig the hundreds of feet in just a few hours," says Gaudette. "It would have taken two or three guys a couple of days with picks and shovels."
Rain doesn't stop progress Gaudette and his crews don't lose workdays when it rains because of the rubber tracks on his Bobcat equipment.

"The conditions in the northwest are frequently wet, and by having the Bobcat track equipment, we have the ability to get into wetter sites with better flotation than rubber tire machines," he says. "Being able to operate equipment year-round is a huge bonus. We can obviously do more and cause less damage on a site when it is wet."

Tracks also limit ground disturbance when traveling across established surfaces. Gaudette says Bobcat track loaders minimize damage to lawns and tree roots when traveling from the trailer to the site, saving time repairing access points and keeping customers happier.

Offering the industry’s only optional ride-on platform and state-of-the-art controls, Bobcat mini track loaders are easy to drive and require less effort than other machines.

Bruce Gaudette says his crews don't lose workdays when it rains because of the rubber tracks on his Bobcat equipment.

"I consider the platform vital because it gets the operator up higher and gives him a better view of what's going on in front of the machine. It lowers operator fatigue because you don't have to move your feet along with it."

Because of the ease-of-use, Gaudette says he spends less time at jobsites training and supervising his crew and more time meeting clients and doing office work.

"I like the quality of the construction and the well-thought-out controls of the MT52," Gaudette says. "The operators learn how to run them effectively in a short period of time."

Gaudette says being able to complete work in a timely fashion is a big part of what keeps his clients satisfied. His Bobcat equipment and its dependability are part of that success because he doesn't worry about downtime or getting the parts and service he needs from his local dealer.

"Bobcat equipment contributes to our reputation for providing on-time work," he says. "Our relationship with our sales specialist from Bobcat West is outstanding. My salesman is virtually always available at the other end of the phone, and if he's not, he gets back to me right away."

In his 15 years on the job and current role as president of the Washington Assn. of Landscape Professionals, Gaudette understands that to accomplish difficult landscaping projects, it's necessary to match the right equipment to the job. He combines his landscaping expertise with the best in compact equipment to create a flourishing small business.