Landscaper Dominates Snow With His Bobcat Compact Track Loader

Published on December 16, 2019

Learn how Eric Caligiuri, a landscaper from Indianola, Iowa dominates snow removal with his T770 Compact Track Loader and the versatility with summer business. 

For decades, skid-steer loaders with rubber tires were known as the go-to snow removal machine for landscaping professionals. Today landscapers like Eric Caligiuri, owner of Caligiuri Enterprises in Indianola, Iowa, are increasingly turning to compact track loaders for their snow removal jobs. 

Eric originally bought his Bobcat T770 for summer work, but he’s found that the large compact track loader is great for clearing snow from parking lots and sidewalks. 

“When you can use the loader in summer and winter, that’s a bonus,” Eric says. “I put a lot of hours on that big machine this winter, and it loaded a lot of snow.” 

Tracks for snow removal 

Skid-steer tires exert more concentrated ground force than the distributed weight of tracks, which is why operators have traditionally chosen skid-steer loaders for snow removal, especially in icy conditions. However, track treads such as the Bobcat Multi-Bar Lug Pattern are designed to increase compact track loader ground force and increase traction on ice. 

Eric uses the standard Bobcat C-Pattern tracks on his T770, and he says they perform well for his snow removal jobs. He enjoys the stability he feels with the tracks on his T770. 

“With tracks, it’s so stable. You can lift a bucket clear up and dump it in the truck,” Eric explains. 

The flotation of the tracks is another feature Eric likes. He maintains many of his clients’ properties year-round, so when he’s clearing snow, he wants to make sure he’s minimizing damage to the nearby grass. 

“When you’re clearing snow with a tire machine, you may end up having to fix ruts in spring,” Eric says. “With the T770, I didn’t have damage spots on any of my 30 commercial lots this year.” 

Running in winter and summer 

Owning a landscaping business in a northern climate like Iowa means long days during the busy season. 

“It’s seven days a week,” Eric says. 

Not that he complains. Eric worked in a book bindery for 14 years after high school. He started a lawn care business while still working nights at the book bindery. After five or six years, he had enough clients to do landscaping full time. 

The long spring, summer and early fall days he spends working are part of living his dream, and he counts on those long days to provide his income when the weather gets colder. The revenue he brings in clearing snow during winter goes into his business. 

“It’s good to have the winter money, but you can’t really depend on it, because snow is unpredictable,” Eric says. “Usually there’s enough work during winter to pay the bills, and then anything over I invest in equipment.” 

To take advantage when snow does hit, he has four full-time employees who rotate through 12-hour shifts. While one crew recovers, the other goes out. 

Trying out compact track loaders 

The first Bobcat machine Eric operated was a 773 skid-steer loader that his father purchased in 1998. The 773 still runs, and Eric still uses it as a snow removal machine. He also operates an S630 skid-steer loader. But these days, he says the T770 is his workhorse. He likes its large size and power for both clearing big buckets of snow and for his landscaping work in summer, like when he had to clear out two silt ponds. 

“We had to dig out 200 dump truck loads of dirt, carry that muck 100 yards and load it in the trucks,” Eric says. “It was just a total swamp. We were able to do it thanks to the tracks and big size of the T770. It just had so much power it’d carry the dirt right out of there and up the hill.” 

He now prefers tracks for his landscaping work. 

“The tracks don’t sink down and rut up the yards,” Eric notes. “I can just work so many more days. Even in wetter conditions, I can sneak across a sodded yard with wide tracks without affecting the yard. That’s the big advantage.” 

With his T770 working well for both snow removal and landscaping, Eric already has his mind set on what his next loader will be. 

“When the lease is up in a few months, I’ll be getting another T770,” Eric says. 

Do you manage a snow removal crew through long winter shifts? Check out these 5 ways to boost snow crew morale during harsh weather. 

More Recent Stories

View All Stories
The Bobcat Brand Evolution Bobcat PG40 Portable Generator Against a White Background

The Bobcat Brand Evolution

Discover the Bobcat Brand evolution of our product equipment lineup expansion with portable power, industrial air, forklifts, and turf renovation to accomplish more.
Jessie Hamilton Breaks Stereotypes with Bobcat Equipment Jessie Hamilton Speaks With a Co-Worker From the Cab of a Bobcat E60 Compact Excavator

Jessie Hamilton Breaks Stereotypes with Bobcat Equipment

Jessie Hamilton, a heavy equipment operator for Schutte Excavating operates Bobcat equipment with unmatched expertise and finesse. She would have never taken hold of the controls if she’d accepted the status quo.
Josh Duhamel Creates Food Plot for Hunting with Bobcat Equipment Josh Duhamel Talks With his Neighbor Don About Hunting Deer Next to His Bobcat UV34 Utility Vehicle

Josh Duhamel Creates Food Plot for Hunting with Bobcat Equipment

Experience the vision and dream Josh Duhamel had to create a food plot for hunting land on his lake property with Bobcat equipment and follow his hunting adventures.
Restoring Family Roots: Robert Lazenby Reclaims a Legacy Robert Lazenby stands in front of his Bobcat UV34XL utility vehicle on his historic family farm.

Restoring Family Roots: Robert Lazenby Reclaims a Legacy

Find out how Robert Lazenby used Bobcat equipment, including his Bobcat mini track loader, compact excavator and compact track loader and utility vehicle, to restore his long-neglected family farm.
Triple T Excavating Soars on Solar with Bobcat Fleet Brandon Trimborn with his family on site at Triple T Excavating

Triple T Excavating Soars on Solar with Bobcat Fleet

Experience Triple T Excavating’s triumph over adversity using cutting-edge technology and a determination fueled by family with their Bobcat equipment fleet.
Tree Business Branches Out with Help from Bobcat Equipment A Bobcat loader and excavator work to removed downed trees.

Tree Business Branches Out with Help from Bobcat Equipment

Discover how Chad Benton the owner of East TN Tree Service Inc., literally started his business by hand, no machines and now has a fleet of Bobcat equipment.
U.S. Veterans and Bobcat Leaders at Pheasant Bonanza Four Pheasant Bonanza participants pose with the day’s harvest.

U.S. Veterans and Bobcat Leaders at Pheasant Bonanza

Discover how Bobcat teamed up with veteran organizations and Pheasant Bonanza Hunting Club to provide these heroes with an adventure and fellowship outdoors.
Celebrating 65 Years of Groundbreakers at CONEXPO 2023  Bobcat Booth Featuring Platinum Series T86 Compact Track Loader

Celebrating 65 Years of Groundbreakers at CONEXPO 2023

Bobcat unleashed 65 years of groundbreaking ingenuity and empowerment by unveiling the brand’s newest equipment, innovations and digital solutions at CONEXPO 2023.
40+ Years of Success with Family Values & Bobcat Equipment A Lewis Straus Construction crew member operates a Bobcat mini track loader at an indoor jobsite.

40+ Years of Success with Family Values & Bobcat Equipment

Discover how Lewis Straus Construction has successfully thrived for almost 40 years with Bobcat’s innovative equipment, excellent service and industry expertise.
Josh Duhamel Builds Legacy at Lake with Bobcat Equipment Josh Duhamel standing in the forest, gazing off into the distance.

Josh Duhamel Builds Legacy at Lake with Bobcat Equipment

Josh Duhamel is carving a legacy in the Minnesota lake wilderness with Bobcat Equipment, by building a family getaway for the generations to enjoy after him.

What’s Your Bobcat Story?

Taking on big, ambitious challenges is what being One Tough Animal® is all about. Tell us how Bobcat empowers or inspires you to accomplish more. Whether it’s at work, at play or in life, share your story with us.

Share Your Story