We were clearing a site outside of Flagstaff, and the laser level box on the blade just went dead. No warning, just a blank screen. I had about 200 feet left to cut to spec. My foreman, Mike, just yelled 'You got eyes, don't you?' from the truck. So I shut the cab door to kill the noise and finished the pass by watching the fall of the dirt and the shadow line on the stakes. It came in within a quarter inch. Anyone else have to finish a job the old-school way when the tech quit?
We started taking five minutes to plan the next move over coffee. I realized that this quick chat prevents us from digging in the wrong spot (you know, like that mess last month). Do any of you use small breaks to double-check the work ahead?
In my experience, just seeing the numbers made the crew think twice about letting engines run, but your mileage may vary.
Just got back from a six-week stint up north running a dozer on a pipeline project. Everyone talks about the big checks and adventure, but the isolation and time away from home hit me harder than I expected. Am I the only one who thinks the glamour of travel jobs is overrated?
Had to level a big uneven section for a parking lot base last Thursday, and my usual machine was down. Rented a newer skid steer with tilt controls, and it cut the work time in half. The precision let me avoid over-digging near the property line. For those who've used different models, what features do you look for in a rental for tight spots?
A seized pin cost me a day's work last month.