Alabama Power Company Puts To Work The

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FALL 2011
INSIDE
Alabama Power Company Puts To
Work The First CAT D7E Track-Type
Tractor In The State Of Alabama
®
FIND OUT HOW TO GET
MORE LIFE OUT OF YOUR
UNDERCARRIAGE.
page 3
PLENTY OF POWER FOR THE
HONDA INDY GRAND PRIX
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JUNGHEINRICH PRODUCT
LINE AVAILABLE AT
THOMPSON
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
NEW CAT® CT660 TRUCK
LINEUP
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GREAT DEALS ON USED
EQUIPMENT
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Produced by:
Alabama Power Company recently put
into service at its E.C. Gaston Electric
Generating Plant in Wilsonville the
first Caterpillar D7E LGP Track-type
Tractor with electric drive in the state
of Alabama. Located near the Coosa
River in eastern Shelby County, the
Gaston Plant has five generating units
fueled by pulverized coal that have a
rated capacity of 1.88 million kW.
Thompson Tractor Company recently
hosted a lunch and training session for
operators at the Wilsonville facility
with Jeff Smith, Delivery and Revisit
Specialist, familiarizing the seven
operators, and their managers and
support personnel with the new features on the
machine. In addition, Alabama Power’s three
service technicians at the plant attended a twoday D7E training course along with Thompson
Tractor’s service personnel at Thompson’s
Birmingham Technical Center.
The new D7E was put to work on the coal ash
pile, and plans are for it to replace two older
Cat D6 Track-type Tractors. Cedric Hutcherson,
Fuels Manager-E.C. Gaston, and Tom Browne,
Fleet Services Manager, became interested in the
machine when it first was announced at the 2008
ConExpo.
“We were looking for a dozer that was more
efficient so we could replace the two D6s. We’re
always looking for ways to be as green as possible
and protect the environment,” Hutcherson said.
Alabama Power generating plant
managers, including a two-day visit
to Caterpillar’s track-type tractor
plant in Peoria, Ill., and meetings with
Cat engineers to ensure the machine
was suitable for working in an ash
application. Thompson’s Don Garrett,
sales rep, and Steve McCollough,
PSSR, helped facilitate the information
gathering.
Based on many thousands of hours of testing and
early performance in the field, the D7E’s fuel
consumption has been 25 percent more efficient
than the Cat D7R Series 2. The D7E replaces
the D7R’s torque convertor and powershift
transmission with a hybrid diesel-electric drive
train that includes a generator, electric motors
and power electronics. Although technically
advanced, the new drive train is simpler and
has fewer moving parts. The D7E’s Cat C9.3
ACERT™ engine produces 235 hp, but with less
parasitic loss and faster hydraulics it’s able to
move 10 percent more material per hour than the
older D7R.
Alabama Power’s D7E is outfitted with a 19
cubic yard blade. Hutcherson said it typically will
be called on to move dry ash to the loading area
where on average 40, 40-cubic-yard trucks are
loaded per 8 hour shift, five days per week.
Acquiring the advanced dozer followed a lot
of study by Hutcherson and Browne and other
“We also had a high comfort level
going with the new technology,” said
Browne, because of Alabama Power’s
relationship with Thompson Tractor.
“We felt like they can support it. They
train people, stock the parts we need
and if we run into any issues, they’ll be there to
handle them for us.”
Among the equipment Thompson installed on the
machine was the dual tilt coal blade, a radiator
more suitable to the ash application and a fire
suppression system.
Web Resources:
For more information about the new D7E
– including complete specifications, videos
and downloadable desktop wallpaper files,
please visit http://www.cat.com/D7E.
Alabama Power serves more than 1.4
million homes, businesses and industries
in the southern two-thirds of Alabama, and
is one of the four utilities that comprise the
Southern Company. For more information
about Alabama Power, visit its website at
www.alabamapower.com.
www.thompsontractor.com
2
FALL 2011
Thompson Tractor Co.
On The Right Track
Pairing lessons learned with an eye for opportunity, Shane Boatright makes success happen.
“When you buy a company, the
first thing to do is put your team
in place and get them working
together. Then you get them
thinking together, and ultimately
— if it’s a big success — they
start dreaming together.”
— Shane Boatright,
Boatright Railroad Products
Shane Boatright’s story reads like
an old-fashioned, boy-makes-good
Hollywood movie. After growing
up with modest means in a southern
steel town, Boatright put himself
through the University of Alabama in
Tuscaloosa by working summers for a
railroad company. He pounded spikes,
sprayed weed-killer along the tracks
“or anything else they wanted me to
do,” he says.
But also, he remembers, “I was a
young man and I listened to what the
experienced folks were trying to teach
me, and I kept my eyes open.”
He saw railroad companies improving
efficiencies while cutting costs by
increasingly using contractors for
support services. So when Boatright
decided to stay in the railroad industry
after graduating in 1989 — “I was
bitten by the railroad bug,” he says —
he asked himself, “What needs aren’t
being fulfilled or could be done better?”
What Recession?
But it is Boatright Railroad Products
that probably best shows that Boatright
has learned his business lessons well.
He bought the company in 2008, just
in time for the Great Recession. “We
struggled for about the first 18 months.
We had to make some corrections and
do some reinvesting,” he says.
Multiple Successes
His answer led him to immediately open
Boatright Vegetation Management in
Birmingham, Ala., to keep the tracks
clean for the railroad companies.
Twenty-two years later, the company is
still operating, and Boatright has added
others in the industry. The list includes:
• Boatright Railroad Products, which
manufactures railroad ties in
Montevallo.
• Boatright Safety Solutions, a safety
equipment supply company in
Birmingham, Ala.
• HiRail Equipment in Montevallo to
sell and install HiRail equipment.
• Service Industrial Railcar, a railcar
repair business with four Michigan
locations.
• St. Marys Railroad, a shortline
railroad, in St. Marys, Ga.
“That’s where Caterpillar equipment
comes in. We needed to upgrade our
equipment inside and outside the plant
to rise to the challenge of what the
railroads were requesting from us. The
Cat® machines are outstanding, hardworking equipment,” Boatright says.
“And our dealer, Thompson Tractor,
provides an excellent service program
as well.”
So with the recession moving in,
Boatright began buying and leasing
equipment from Thompson Tractor for
a fleet that now includes10 Cat forklifts,
three Cat 938G Wheel Loaders, a Cat
938H Wheel Loader and one IT14G
St. Marys Railroad is special to
Boatright, who says that for a long
time he wanted to own a railroad. He
jumped at the chance to buy St. Marys
and the accompanying 3½-mile spur
line that serves the Kingsland Naval
Base in Kingsland, Ga., one of just two
submarine bases in the U.S. “We move
ballistic missiles and submarine parts
in and out of that base. We’re proud to
think that we’re a small part of keeping
our country safe,” he says.
Wheel Loader. The upgrade worked as
intended.
“Little by little, as we delivered quality
products, we started getting bigger
orders,” Boatright recalls. “Then other
railroads started ordering from us too.”
The company’s 150 employees in
Montevallo have increased production
to 1.5 million railroad ties per year
for the Norfolk Southern and CSX
railroads, as well as for about 50
shortline railroads that serve as feeder
lines to the national companies.
“We’ve about maxed out at the
Montevallo plant,” Boatright says,
and a second production plant is being
built in nearby Lomax, Ala., to add
production capacity.
Teamwork Matters
Of course, even the best machines are
not enough to produce success on their
own.
“When you buy a company,” Boatright
says, “the first thing to do is put your
team in place and get them working
together. Then you get them thinking
together, and ultimately — if it’s a
big success — they start dreaming
together.”
That same team thinking applies to
critical business relationships, another
reason that Boatright chose to work
with Thompson Tractor. “The people
there are outstanding,” he says.
“They’re very timely. When you need
a piece of equipment, they don’t leave
you in the lurch. They’ll even put a
machine in place for you while you’re
waiting for delivery of a new piece of
equipment.
“They understand how costly down
time is, so they’ll always have
something to get us through while
we’re waiting on a newly purchased
or leased machine,” he adds. “That’s
an outstanding quality for Caterpillar
and our dealer. They make sure we
continue to run. We operate 24/7, we
never close, and our dealer understands
that.”
For example, he points to his company’s
maintenance program. “With a plant
our size, our maintenance people can
be overwhelmed with other tasks,
so sometimes we need to call on the
Thompson Tractor people to come
in and keep our equipment in topperforming condition.”
Looking back, Boatright can see that
his early belief that the railroads were
turning to contractors was correct. The
railroads, he says, are still moving
half the freight in the country, but the
number of railroad employees has
dropped from about half a million in
1980 to about 150,000 now.
Boatright positioned himself to pick
up some of the slack, but he quickly
shares credit for the success.
“I’m in business for myself, but I’m
not in business by myself,” he says.
“You need to put together good teams.
You’ve got to surround yourself with
smart people, then recognize people’s
individual talents. Always realize that
as long as everyone does what they
do best, they are doing what’s best for
the group, and that ultimately brings
success.”
New Cat 349E Does More Work With Less Fuel
®
permitted to idle before shutting down.
Working with this system is a “one
touch” idle control feature, which
reduces engine speed to low idle with
the touch of a button; a second touch
or joystick movement puts the engine
back into high speed, allowing the
machine to go right back to work.
Isochronous speed control — a system
that maintains constant engine speed,
regardless of load — further conserves
fuel, as does the 349E’s “economy”
power mode when used during lessdemanding applications.
The new Cat® 349E hydraulic excavator
features a 396 net horsepower Cat C13
ACERTTM engine that meets U.S. EPA
Tier 4 Interim emissions standards.
The new 349E delivers more engine
and hydraulic horsepower than its
345D predecessor while consistently
averaging five percent improved fuel
efficiency in typical applications.
The 349E’s Cat C13 engine, which
operates either on ultra-low-sulfur
diesel fuel (ULSD) or a blend of
ULSD and 20 percent biodiesel
(meeting ASTM 6751 or EN 14214),
uses the Cat Clean Emissions Module
(CEM) to meet stringent Tier 4 Interim
standards. The CEM regeneration
system is designed to be transparent
to the operator and regenerate when
the conditions are optimal with no
operator intervention. In automatic
mode, the Cat Regeneration System
allows the machine to work as normal
with no interruptions to the work cycle.
The system automatically senses when
to regenerate during idle and while
the machine is working to maintain
high production. The system’s manual
mode allows the operator to override
the automatic setting.
Among the 349E’s several new fuelsaving features is the Engine Idle
Shutdown Setting, which allows
selecting how long the machine is
Specifications
Engine make/model
Cat C13
Power rating, net (SAE J1349)
396 hp (295 kW)
Operating Weight Range
105,400-117,500 lb (47 800-53 300 kg)
Hydraulic flow/main pressure 203 gpm (770 L/min) / 5,076 psi (35 000 kPa)
www.thompsontractor.com
Strong, responsive, fuel-sipping
hydraulics
The 349E’s hydraulic system also
contributes to fuel economy. An electric
boom regeneration valve captures and
recycles hydraulic energy when the
boom lowers. In like manner, a new
regeneration valve in the diggingarm circuit recycles oil between the
cylinder ends during low-load, arm-in
operation, reducing the volume of oil
the hydraulic pump must produce and
thus conserving fuel.
At the heart of the 349E’s design
is an implement hydraulic system
producing high hydraulic horsepower
— the working force of the machine.
A boost in hydraulic flow contributes
to the new model’s added power and
gives it a decided advantage over its
predecessor. In addition, a redesigned
main control valve simplifies auxiliary
line configuration for enhanced
reliability.
A heavy lift mode increases the 349E’s
main hydraulic pressure to 5,512
psi, a 9-percent increase, while also
reducing engine speed and pump flow
for finer control when lifting. Also, a
new swing priority system now uses an
electric valve, which, compared with
a hydraulic valve, allows more finely
tuned control.
Productive comfort
Cab features include a new LCD
(Liquid Crystal Display) monitor
that is 40 percent larger, has higher
resolution, and an improved keyboard
interface. The new monitor also serves
as a display for the optional rearview
camera system, which can display two
camera images simultaneously.
New seat choices include heated and
air-cooled options; the climate control
system features new outlets with
positive filtration. Full adjustment of
the operating consoles and the addition
of an auxiliary audio port for MP3
players further enhance the operator’s
environment.
The optional Cat Grade Control system
for depth and slope uses internal front
linkage sensors to provide real-time
bucket tip position, resulting in less
grade checking, fewer cycles to attain
grade, and reduced fuel consumption.
The system can be expanded to full
three-dimensional capability by adding
Cat AccuGrade™ technology.
filling, higher production, and greater
operator control. Buckets also feature
improved wear resistance for corners
and side cutters.
Seviceability
Access to routine maintenance items
is improved with wider service doors
(with redesigned hinges and latches)
and a new two-piece hood. The water
separator, with a water level sensor,
includes the primary filter and is
located in the side compartment at
ground level. An electric priming
pump is mounted on the primary filter
base for easy access, and a new remote
drain for the fuel tank is located in the
side compartment. Relocating the oil
check gauge and the engine oil filter
further speeds routine service, and a
new oil drain minimizes accidental
spills. In addition, optional Fast-Fill
and Quick Evac systems are available
for engine oil and hydraulic oil.
Structures
The 349E’s new ROPS (RollOver Protective Structure), which
is mounted to specially designed
supports in the upper frame, provides
an added margin of safety. The
lower frame also has been reinforced
to increase component durability.
Undercarriages are available in either
fixed or variable gauge configuration
to fit the application, and an available
counterweight removal device reduces
preparation time for transport.
A selection of booms and digging
arms allows tailoring the 349E to its
application. Each boom and digging
arm uses castings and forgings in
high-stress areas. Buckets feature new
geometry with the leading edge pushed
forward, resulting in more efficient
Building Relationships Since 1957
Thompson Tractor Co. FALL 2011
Order
online
Using PartStore has never been more rewarding!
How would you like to receive one free gift a month for the next six
months? What do you have to do? Simply order parts through Thompson
Tractor’s PartStore with a minimum purchase of $250.00 each month*,
for six consecutive months. (Orders through PartStore must begin before
December 31, 2011). Every month that you order through our PartStore you
will receive a free gift (only one gift per registrant).
It’s simple! Every customer that orders through our PartStore will receive
one free gift each month with a minimum purchase of $250.00. And….
if you order through our PartStore for ALL six months you will receive a
Caterpillar watch valued at $95.00! However, in order to remain eligible
for this promotion you cannot skip months, you must order the minimum
requirement each month consecutively for six months.
If you need help registering on our PartStore, contact a Thompson
Tractor location nearest you or we will be glad to send a Product Support
Representative to visit and get you signed up today.
Did you know...
You need to register on our Thompson Tractor website first, to be eligible to register on our PartStore.
Simply log on to www.thompsontractor.com and get signed up to order parts on-line.
*On-line ordering is available for registered PartStore users with an established
credit account. Credit accounts are set up through Thompson Tractor.
Receive a free gift
for the next 6 months!
1
2
3
4
5
6
6
All
www.thompsontractor.com
3
Month 1
Fashion Mug
Month 2
Calculator
Month 3
Workmate Set
Month 4
Led-Light & Liner Lock Set
Month 5
Portable Captain’s Chairs
Month 6
Barbecue Tool Set
Grand Prize for participating all 6 Months!
Chronograph with Gold Accents Watch
(all 6 months)
©2011 Caterpillar All rights reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos,
“Caterpillar Yellow,” the “Power Edge” trade dress as well as corporate and product
identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.
Winning Products For Your Race
Against Excessive Wear
Quality Design. Dependable Results.
Operating your machine in demanding
conditions shouldn’t mean it’s on the
fast track to excessive wear. Choosing
the right Ground Engaging Tools
is important to getting the highest
return on your machine investment.
Thompson
Tractor
Company’s
selection of GET options are designed
to protect the expensive parts of your
blades, buckets and ripper shanks.
And, the resulting longer life reduces
your maintenance costs.
Thompson Tractor Company offers
many ground engaging tool options
because every machine and application
has
special
needs.
Caterpillar
warranties most ground engaging tools
against breakage. That is, if any should
break during normal operation at any
time during their life, Caterpillar will
provide a new replacement free of
charge.
For Every Environment, For Every
Application.
When you consider that 50 percent
of a track-type machine’s owning
and operating costs come from its
undercarriage, it makes sense to
keep it in top condition. Test after
test, conducted by independent
researchers, have proven no other
manufacturer delivers the extended
wear life, serviceability and value of
a Cat® undercarriage. And with many
options to choose from, the experts at
Thompson Tractor Company can help
you select the right match for your
specific machine model and work
application.
Protect Your Machine Investment.
Cat® GET products have been
designed to protect more expensive
components such as machines and
buckets, resulting in less downtime and
greater productivity. The wide variety
of product designs and sizes allows for
maximum wear protection in virtually
any type of environment or application.
The Total Wear Protection line from
Caterpillar consists of:
• Heel Shrouds
• Chocky Bars
• Bucket Corner Protectors
• MAWPS
• Roll Bars
• Top Mounted Wear Plates
• Wear Block
• Wear Buttons
• Bolt Protectors
• Sidebar Protectors
• Side Cutters
Building Relationships Since 1957
Thompson Tractor Company also
offers the following products:
• End bit and cutting edges
• Wear plates
• Half-arrow cutting edges
• Skid Steer toothbars
• Ripper tips
• Base edges
Undercarriage Selection Matters.
One of the most important factors in
helping you achieve the lowest owning
and operating costs and maximizing
equipment uptime is matching the right
undercarriage option to your specific
machine model and work application.
Thompson Tractor Company has the
undercarriage knowledge and selection
tools to help ensure you choose the best
option for your equipment and your
job.
SystemOne undercarriages work and
wear as a system, ensuring a balanced
wear life, to significantly lower
owning
and
operating
costs.
Continuous improvements and design
enhancements
make
these
undercarriages extremely durable and
reliable.
Sealed and Lubricated Track (SALT)
seals lubricant into your undercarriage
system and keeps abrasives out. It
virtually eliminates internal pin and
bushing wear to reduce maintenance
costs and downtime, while increasing
service life and serviceability.
Heavy Duty Track can extend your
undercarriage system life an average
of 20 percent more than Cat SALT,
with the greatest benefits realized in
aggressive, high-impact applications.
Rubber Track undercarriages on
Cat MTLs do more than provide
traction effort. Their unique design
also contributes to high flotation, low
ground pressure, machine stability
and smooth ride. These tracks are
part of a patented system and are allrubber with embedded high-tensile
cords that run the length of the track.
The cords are coiled like springs,
for the ability to stretch when the
suspension articulates, and to help
prevent track elongation.
Contact your product support
representative today and learn more
about how to get the most out of your
undercarriage.
www.thompsontractor.com
4
FALL 2011
Thompson Tractor Co.
It Takes A LOT Of Power To Pull Off The Honda
Indy Grand Prix Of Alabama
The Honda Indy Gran Prix of Alabama
was named the 2011 Alabama Event
of the Year by the Alabama Tourism
Department, and it also was the event
of the year for rental power from
Thompson Power Systems.
Eighty-thousand spectators visited
Barber Motorsports Park throughout
the weekend of April 8-10 to see the
Indy race won by Will Power, as well as
the Grand-Am Rolex Series featuring
the Porsche 250 race, the Continental
Tire Sports Car Challenge, Fan Walk
on Pit Lane and autograph sessions.
Racing on the 16-turn, 2.3-mile track
received international coverage.
For Thompson Power Systems, it
was the biggest power rental event
of the year. Thompson supplied 33
towable gen-sets for the event, said
Michael Nibblett, inside sales rep for
Thompson, with capacities ranging
from 20 to 230 kW. Seventy percent
of the gen-sets came from Thompson’s
rental inventory while Thompson
Power obtained the remainder through
the Caterpillar dealer network. In
addition to electric power, Thompson
Power Systems also provided eight airconditioning units with a combined
capacity of approximately 120 tons.
Company technicians ran five miles
of distribution cable setting up the
equipment.
Challenges to the job were the narrow
windows of time to deliver, set up
and reposition equipment to avoid
conflicts with the practices, races and
other activities; and protecting the
landscaping and grounds at the venue,
Nibblett said.
For more information about Barber
Motorsports Park, visit http://
barbermotorsports.com.
Thompson Tractor Company And The Thompson CAT
Rental Store Are Supporting Work On One Of The Busiest
Sections Of Interstate In Alabama
site: a 321C Hydraulic Excavator with
an MP15 Multiprocessor; a 325C
Hydraulic Excavator with an H140
Hydraulic Breaker; 320C, 330C,
308D, 305C and 350B Hydraulic
Excavators; CB14, CP433 and CS323
Compactors; a 257B2 Skid Steer
Loader; a 140H Motor Grader; a
D5K Track-Type Tractor; a Terramite
TSS48 Broom; a Genie S-6 Manlift; a
Wacker RT820 Compactor and 2,000
and 4,000-gallon water trucks.
Supplying equipment is just part
of the deal. McCarthy needs the
machines to perform around the clock
because the company is incentivized
when it meets ALDOT completion
deadlines and penalized when it
doesn’t. Ross Norton is The CAT
Rental Store salesman, and Steve
Davis and Ritchie Latta are the
Thompson Tractor sales rep and PSSR
respectively assigned to McCarthy.
“The customer service is unmatched,”
McCarthy Improvement, a specialized
concrete and asphalt paving
company, is the prime contractor on
a $21 million project to completely
reconstruct 2.34 miles of I-65 between
the I-459 interchange and U.S. 31
in Vestavia Hills, as well as the
entrance and exit ramps. The Alabama
Department of Transportation
recorded an annual average daily
traffic count (AADT) of 116,990
along the section of road in 2010.
Included in the project are grading,
drainage, pavement, ITS (Intelligent
Traffic Systems) and lighting.
www.thompsontractor.com
Also involved are two divisions of
McCarthy – Foley Construction,
its earthmoving and underground
utilities division, and Bellamy Bridge
Builders. McCarthy also constructed
a temporary concrete plant near
the I-65/U.S. 31 interchange with a
planned output of 65,000 cubic yards
of the specialized mixes needed for
the project.
Nick Wolf, McCarthy’s project
manager, said major challenges of the
project are the relatively short time
frame and the traffic. Work began
in March with the goal of being
Wolf said. “You pretty much make
one phone call, and you get what you
need. They have a pretty extensive
support team for parts, service and
rentals”.
“We’ve made calls to Ross at
midnight and had people come out
and fix stuff that’s broken,” Wolf
added. “It’s definitely the kind of
outfit you don’t come into contact
with very often. We work all over the
Midwest and Southeast, and it’s hard
to find on-the-minute service like that
anymore.”
For more information about
McCarthy Improvement, visit
the company’s website at www.
mccarthyimprovement.com, and for
more information about the status of
the I-65 project, including maps and
closing updates, visit the Alabama
Department of Transportation’s
website www.progress65.com.
finished by the end of 2011. Crews
are working 24/7 as conditions permit,
and McCarthy has had up to 60
employees at the jobsite at one time,
Wolf continued.
It’s demanding work, and while
McCarthy has its own specialized
machines and attachments for many
of the tasks, it turns to local suppliers
for equipment when practical. That’s
where Thompson Tractor and The
CAT Rental Store came in.
So far, Thompson has supplied 18
machines and trucks used on the job
Building Relationships Since 1957
Thompson Tractor Co. FALL 2011
5
Thompson Employees Reach Out To Storm Victims
Items donated by Thompson and
Caterpillar employees
bought 200 bags of chips. Along with
the food that was bought, people and
grocery stores began bringing out food
from their freezers for them to cook so
it didn’t ruin. They ended up serving
hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers,
grilled chicken, polish sausage and
pork steaks. By the end of the day as
they ran out of food, it was estimated
they fed over 1800 people.
The events of April 27th are still
fresh in all of our minds. Many of
you experienced firsthand the horrific
destruction caused by the tornados
that ripped through our state. What
is amazing is how neighbors stepped
up to help neighbors, and strangers
helped those they would soon call
Attalla Employees Scott Smallwood and
Matt Blakely as they unloaded donated
items
friends. Many Thompson Tractor
employees were on the forefront of
the response efforts. Food and clothing
donation boxes were set up in many
of our branches. Many employees
are first responders and answered the
call to participate in search and rescue
operations. Some opened up their
homes to family and friends, while
others worked with their churches
and other organizations to set up
temporary housing for those displaced
by the storms.
Others unloaded
donated items and gave comfort to
those in need. Matt Blakely, a northern
region product support rep, responded
directly to the pleas of his customers
to provide even the most basic supplies
of toiletries and paper products and
worked with Birmingham employees
Ronnie Lake and Tim Madden to
route truckloads of donated items sent
from Caterpillar headquarters. Others
such as Tuscaloosa employees, Randy
Sullivan and Jim Gray, hooked up their
grills and cooked for those without
food, water or power. The account
listed below follows Mike Butler, a
welder in our Birmingham location,
as he gathered up his family and went
to some of the state’s hardest hit areas.
His account is listed below and is told
from the perspective of his daughter
Jodi…
As most of you already know,
Wednesday, April 27, 2011, was a day
of great despair. Over 150 massive
tornadoes ripped across Alabama
demolishing almost everything in
their path. By Wednesday afternoon,
over 400,000 Alabama residents were
without power, many lost their homes,
some even lost their lives. In the
small town of Hanceville, fallen trees
crushed houses and brought hundreds
of power lines to the ground. Without
power, these people were left with
virtually no way to keep food cold
or cook to feed their families. After
seeing the devastation, Mike Butler,
a Thompson Tractor employee, called
Bob Bacon, Vice President of Service,
in search of some form of relief. Mike
asked Mr. Bacon if the company could
donate food for Mike and his family
to take to Hanceville to cook. With
no hesitation, Mr. Bacon agreed. The
marketing department helped Mike
and his volunteers gather food and
drinks to feed almost 1,000 people.
On Friday, April 29, Mike Butler
along with his wife (Cindy Butler), his
daughter (Jodie Davis), his sister-inlaw (Jill Pair), her mother and father
(Joan & Roger Barbee), her aunt
(Dena Jones), and family friends (Brett
& Lori Simmons) set out towards
Hanceville with the intentions of
feeding hungry people. Upon arrival,
Mike and his crew were told that there
weren’t enough people in Hanceville
to feed; they were told to go to the
slightly larger town to the north called
Cullman. However, Mike felt that the
people of Hanceville needed help too;
so they took their supplies and set up
their cook station in the local Fred’s
ATTACH YOURSELF
WITH SPECIAL
FINANCING
store parking lot. Before they even
got set up, they had almost 50 people
waiting in line for food. Then, Friday,
April 29th turned into a day of tiny
miracles. First, Mike and his team ran
out of ice. Shortly after, David King,
another Thompson employee, called
Mike and asked if there was anything
he could do. Mike responded, “We need
ice, can you pray for ice?” Within an
hour, a Ready Ice© truck broke down in
the parking lot. The driver of the truck
donated 15 bags of ice and $40. Next,
drinks slowly dwindled until there
were none, so Jill and Jodie took the
$40 donation they received and went
to buy drinks in Fred’s. The manager
of Fred’s insisted that they donate 9
cases of drinks. Then, they ran out of
chips, so into Fred’s they went. They
After the first time the group cooked,
word spread around the company,
and Mike had employees call him
asking what they could do to help.
He organized two more volunteer
events with the helpful support of the
wonderful Thompson staff. One time,
they went to the town of Hackleburg.
What they found there was truly
devastating; homes, schools, churches,
businesses, and most other structures
were completely destroyed. The team’s
last volunteer efforts were again in
Hanceville.
The work Mike and his team did was
hard, but every single one of them was
humbled by the experience. It showed
them that people take too much for
granted in our world.
Article written by Jodi Davis.
0% for up to 24 months*
On Cat Work Tools
®
(New or Rental Conversion)
When you use your Cat® Financial Commercial
Account**
On the job site, enhance the productivity of your machine with the right
Cat Work Tools.
Contact Thompson Tractor Co today for more details as well as other special
0% financing offers through Cat Financial Commercial Account.
Use your Cat Financial Commercial Account
for products, parts, service, and rental
transactions at any Cat Dealer or Cat Rental
Store in the U.S.
Contact a Thompson Tractor
Sales Representative today!
www.thompsontractor.com
* Some Work Tools may qualify for a 12-month term at 0% – See your
Thompson Tracor Representative for details.
** Offer valid through December 31, 2011. Subject to credit approval
Certain restrictions may apply.
www.thompsontractor.com
6
FALL 2011
Thompson Tractor Co.
Jungheinrich Recognized
As A Top 20 Green Supply
Chain Partner
®
Thompson Lift Truck is proud to now offer the Jungheinrich
product line, a leading supplier of material handling
warehouse equipment. Jungheinrich was
recently named by Food Logistics
Magazine as one of the
Top 20 Green Supply
Chain Partners in
2011. Each year, Food
Logistics invites its
readers to nominate
a provider that has
developed pioneering,
innovative
and
creative
products,
services and programs
to help their customers
in the foodservice
industry achieve
sustainable or
by the readers of Food Logistics as one of the ‘Top 20 Green
Supply Partners,’” said Perry Ardito, general manager of
the Jungheinrich Warehouse Product Group at Mitsubishi
Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA). “It is our
responsibility to develop and provide solutions that allow
customers to be more energy efficient and eco-friendly,
ensuring a cleaner home for future generations.”
“green”
goals.
“We’re
honored to have
Jungheinrich selected
The Food Logistics ‘Top 20 Green Supply Chain Partners’
recognition is an annual award determined by nominations
received from the readers of Food Logistics magazine.
Jungheinch was nominated for its sustainability efforts and
focus on developing energy-efficient products and solutions
for the grocery and foodservice industries, including Class I
Electric Counterbalanced Forklift Trucks, Class II Moving
Mast Reach Trucks and Class III Walkie and Walkie Endriders. Through its proprietary 3-phase AC technology,
Jungheinrich’s AC-powered electric lift trucks reclaim
otherwise wasted mechanical energy from braking and load
lowering, and instead, convert it back to electrical energy
and feed it back to the battery. Jungheinrich’s AC-powered
electric trucks also produce zero emissions, providing
another benefit for customers seeking to reduce their overall
carbon footprint.
CAT CT660 Truck Makes Impressive Debut
®
Thompson Tractor recently sponsored truck events at both their Tuscaloosa and
Thomasville store locations. Guests were able to comb through the truck from
stem to stern. Thompson personnel were on hand to answer questions and point
out the many features of the new CT660 line.
www.thompsontractor.com
Building Relationships Since 1957
Thompson Tractor Co. FALL 2011
7
Caterpillar Enters The Vocational Truck Market
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Caterpillar Inc. recently unveiled
its first Cat® Vocational Truck, the
CT660, during CONEXPO-CON/
AG 2011 in Las Vegas. “This is an
exciting and historic milestone for
us,” said Caterpillar Vice President
Steve Gosselin who has responsibility
for the On-Highway Global Truck
Group. “The CT660 is a natural
expansion of our product line and
a perfect complement to other Cat
equipment. Its introduction today is
a direct result of our commitment to
continuously develop new products
that accelerate the business success of
our customers.”
The Cat Vocational Truck (CVT)
line will be sold and serviced
exclusively in Thompson Tractor’s
territory with production already
underway for customer delivery later
this year. The Class 8 vocational
trucks will offer custom solutions,
including many different body types
like dump, refuse, hauler and mixer,
for a large variety of job applications.
“Our goal was to design and
manufacture the ideal truck, the truck
VOCATIONAL
APPLICATIONS
Available in truck or day-cab
configurations, the CT660
supports a wide range
of body types for these
application and more:
• AGGREGATES
• AGRICULTURE
• ASPHALT
• CIVIL CONSTRUCTION
• CONCRETE
• FORESTRY
• GOVERNMENTAL
• HEAVY HAUL
• LANDSCAPING
• LEASE/RENTAL
• MANUFACTURING
• MINING/QUARRY
• OIL & GAS
• PAVING
• PIPELINE
• PUBLIC SERVICES
• RECOVERY
• ROAD CONSTRUCTION
• SANITATION/REFUSE
• SITE CONSTRUCTION
• TRANSPORTATION
• UTILITY
• WHOLESALE & RETAIL
that customers have always wanted for
their specific vocational application,”
said George Taylor, Director and
General Manager of the Cat Global
On-Highway Group, who leads the
design, development and launch of
the trucks. “So our design team paid
extremely close attention to all of the
customer input we gathered. Frankly,
the team was inspired by the input and
focused on making it a reality.”
Caterpillar spent hundreds of
hours gathering input from customers,
including vocational truck owners,
fleet managers and drivers, to find out
what they needed in their vocational
trucks.
“As a result, we’re proud
Caterpillar will deliver a new line of
vocational trucks that our customers
said they want and need; trucks that
are built with the ideal specs and
options for customers to choose from
to create customized trucks that match
their specific applications and work
environments. And from the feedback
we’re receiving today, I’d say we have
more than accomplished our goal,”
Taylor added.
“Most importantly, the CT660 will
definitely help accelerate the business
success of our customers, and that’s
what it was designed to do,” Taylor
said. “In all honesty, I’m not surprised
at the positive reactions because the
CT660 is so different from anything
else on the road.”
READY TO WORK, FOR ANY
JOB
We didn’t mess around when we
set out to develop our new line of
vocational trucks. We spent hundreds
Building Relationships Since 1957
of hours on the road asking customers
to describe the ideal truck. Our design
team rode alongside drivers and
gathered input on everything from
specs and comfort to visibility and
performance.
What we learned inspired and
influenced our design decisions, both
inside and outside the cab. The result?
The CT660 is the truck you told us
you need for today’s demanding jobs
— custom built to your specifications,
so you can put it to work for your
business right away.
INSULATION kit and interior
materials dramatically reduce noise
ROUTING AND CLIPPING WIRE
SYSTEM in panels minimizes
vibration and cab noise
CAB MIRRORS deliver excellent
secondary visibility with standard
and convex mirrors combined in a
single package
OVERHEAD AND UNDERDASH LIGHTS illuminate for
safer entry and exit — and for
working while stopped
MAP LIGHTS adjust to shine
directly where they’re needed
HEATING AND AIR
CONDITIONING CONTROLS are
easy to access and handle
HVAC VENTS are positioned for
optimum air flow and comfort in
any climate
CB AND GPS SYSTEMS —
including the all-new Cat® Product
Link — come standard with
factory-installed wiring
application
• WARNING SIGNALS provide
alerts to any critical system
situation with bright indicator
lights and audible alarms
• GAUGE PANEL is easily removed
for any repair work
A NEW WAY TO WORK
Getting accurate, timely
information about how, when and
where your truck is being used can
help you reduce costs, enhance
performance and improve security.
That’s why the CT660 comes standard
with Product Link, Caterpillar’s
asset and fleet management tool. It
lets you remotely monitor location,
productivity, maintenance and more
— for one truck, many trucks or your
entire fleet of equipment.
CONTROL PANEL
The CT660’S ergonomicallydesigned dashboard and center-stack
layout give drivers complete command
and control. All controls, levers,
switches and gauges are positioned to
maximize safety and minimize fatigue,
so drivers can stay focused on the job
at hand.
• PRIMARY GAUGES are clearly
visible through the steering wheel,
The new version of Product
Link, released in 2010, features an
intuitive web-based user interface,
robust hardware, satellite and cellular
coverage and an open-system design
for mixed-fleet use. You can use it to:
• See your entire fleet at a glance
or zoom in for a detailed look at
individual trucks
• Track fuel use and costs, location
history, working time versus idle
time and more
• Get odometer, engine hour and
transmission hour updates
• View engine and transmission serial
making it easy to locate and view
key indicators quickly and safely
• LARGE ROCKER SWITCHES
are easy to see and reach and offer
“soft touch” tactile feedback when
activating a switch
• LARGE, EASY-TO-READ
GAUGES feature a black dial
face, white font and red needles
to ensure quick recognition and
maximum readability consistent
with all Cat machines
• SPEEDOMETER AND
TACHOMETER are combined into
a single large gauge for reduced
space claim and to leave room for
other optional gauges, including
those designed for your specific
number and software information
remotely
Receive fault code or suspicious
movement alerts via email or text
message
Set up site boundaries to detect
movement outside an authorized
area
Identify opportunities for driver
training
Connect to your Cat Dealer’s
service department, PartStore and
more
PLUS, YOUR PRODUCT LINK
SERVICE SUBSCRIPTION IS
COMPLIMENTARY FOR THE
FIRST THREE YEARS YOU
OWN YOUR CT660.
Marine Engines
For decades Caterpillar has
been designing machine cabs that
combine comfort and functionality
and it shows in the CT660’s spacious
interior. Ergonomic details reduce
driver fatigue. Interior features
enhance driver and jobsite safety and
productivity. And the cab’s distinctive
look provides an ideal complement to
the truck’s unique exterior.
A few of the features of the CT660
include:
• SPACIOUS WIDE CAB DESIGN
delivers ultimate comfort and
optimized storage
• LEATHER-WRAPPED
STEERING WHEEL with tilt and
telescoping functions provide a
comfortable driving position
• EASY-TO-REACH
COMPARTMENTS provide quick
access to paperwork and log books
• BACK-PANEL STORAGE and
oversized side pockets keep
important items within reach
• INTERIOR SURFACES and
materials allow for easy cleaning
and optimum durability
• PREMIUM GRADE SOUND
•
•
•
•
•
www.thompsontractor.com
8
FALL 2011
Thompson Tractor Co.
GUYS NEVER
GREAT VALUES ON USED EQUIPMENT OUTGROW
THEIR DESIRE
FOR TOYS
CP433E
CP433E
D5G XL
$Call
STOCK #T05017899, EQUIPPED WITH ROPS CANOPY
AND HEATER, PAT BLADE, 20” SHOES, LINKS 60%,
BUSH 60% TURNED, SHOES 30%,
ROLL 60%, IDL 40% @ 3208 HOURS
$47,500
$Call
STOCK #P04006390, EQUIPPED WITH ROPS
CANOPY, 66” PADFOOT DRUM, LEVELING BLADE,
14.9-24 TIRES APPR 80% @ 1043 HOURS
STOCK #0605075, EQUIPPED WITH ROPS CANOPY,
PLATFORM LIFT CYLINDER, PADFOOT DRUM,
LEVELING BLADE, SINGLE FREQUENCY
CONTROL, 14.9-24 TIRES APPR 70% @ 604 HOURS
CS433E
CP563E
621G
$74,000
$Call
STOCK #0806037DT, EQUIPPED WITH ROPS
PLATFORM, STANDARD SMOOTH DRUM, STEEL
SCRAPER, 14.9-24 FLOTATION TIRES APPR 80% @
262 HOURS
STOCK #0605076, EQUIPPED WITH ROPS CANOPY,
TRANSMISSION GUARD, LEVELING BLADE W/LIFT
CYLINDER, SINGLE FREQUENCY CONTROL, 23.1-26
TIRES APPR 80% @ 1542 HOURS
$440,000
Southland Resources is a mineral mining company
providing metallurgical coal to the power
generating industry. The company currently
operates three mines located in Tuscaloosa
County, Alabama.
Thompson Tractor has
provided Southland Resources with Caterpillar
equipment for many years. The company has
made several new Caterpillar purchases over the
past few months. The company’s owner Buddy
Jones was eager to receive his new equipment and
took his grandchildren to see their new “TOY”
upon its arrival. The images below show the
proud grandfather with his two grandsons, Jac
Chandler, age 4 and Jon Chandler who was just
born in February of this year.
STOCK #0607141, EQUIPPED WITH ROPS CAB AND
A/C, POWERTRAIN GUARD, 621G SCRAPER, S/N
DBX00407, 33.25-29 TIRES APPR 75% @ 1018 HOURS
720B
$60,500
STOCK #T09024600, EQUIPPED WITH ROPS CAB
AND A/C, SIDE SCREENS, D566 KOEHRING SAW
HEAD, 28L-26 TIRES APPR 40% @ 12375 HOURS
Thompson Tractor Our Locations
Heavy Equipment, Lift Trucks and Power Systems
Albany
5730 Newton Road
Albany, GA 31701-7459
(229) 435-2247
Atlanta
5559 Old Dixie Road
Forest Park, GA 30297
(404) 361-8370
(800)799-5438
Macon
4380 Mead Road
Macon, GA 31206
(478) 785-1119
(800) 596-5438
Augusta
4031 Mike Padgett Highway
Augusta, GA 30906
(706) 792-9500
(800) 449-5438
Savannah
6006 Commerce Blvd.
Garden City, GA 31408
(912) 964-7156
Attalla/Gadsden
121 Gilberts Ferry Rd. S.E.
Attalla, AL 35954
(866) 811-7609
Decatur
6969 US Highway 31
Tanner, AL 35671
(800) 435-0922
Birmingham
2401 Pinson Highway
Birmingham, AL 35217
(800) 547-0760
Dothan
118 Vulcan Way
Dothan, AL 36303
(334) 671-1040
Crestview
2106 3rd Ave.
Crestview, FL 32539
(850) 682-6510
Huntsville
3600 Governors Drive
Huntsville, AL 35805
(256) 532-1776
Marianna
3742 U.S. Hwy. 90 W.
Marianna, FL 32446
(850) 526-2241
(850) 526-4607 Fax
Mobile
30950 State Hwy. 181
Spanish Fort, AL 36527
(800) 243-0665
Montgomery
10120 Hwy. 80 E.
Montgomery, AL 36117
(800) 521-9511
Tuscaloosa
3550 Joe Mallisham Pkwy.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
(205) 247-2800
ALABAMA
GEORGIA
Full Service Locations
Rental Locations
Lift Truck Locations
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS SINCE 1957
Pensacola
2650 West Nine Mile Rd.
Pensacola, FL 32534
(850) 471-6700
Oxford/Anniston
2300 Hwy. 21 S.
Oxford, AL 36203
(800) 547-8897
Shelby County
2070 Corporate Woods Dr.
Alabaster, AL 35007
(205) 664-4833
Panama City
4109 Cato Rd.
Panama City, FL 32404
(850) 785-4007
Thomasville
2501 Joe Davis Industrial Blvd.
Thomasville, AL 36784
(334) 636-0420
Tuscumbia
1410 S. Hook St.
Tuscumbia, AL 35674
(256) 381-2771
Cat Rental Stores
1-800-RENT-CAT connects customers to
their nearest Cat Rental Store.
Birmingham
3317 Messer Airport Hwy.
Birmingham, AL 35222
(205) 326-0334
FL
Opelika/Auburn
302 Fox Run Ave.
Opelika, AL 36801
(334) 749-3359
Oxford/Anniston
2300 Hwy. 21 S.
Oxford, AL 36203
(256) 835-5737
Dothan
118 Vulcan Way
Dothan, AL 36303
(334) 673-3300
Huntsville
3600 Governors Drive
Huntsville, AL 35805
(256) 532-3001
Pensacola
2650 West Nine Mile Rd.
Pensacola, FL 32534
(850) 471-6710
Mobile
1950 East I-65 Service Rd. N.
Mobile, AL 36617
(251) 452-1180
Shelby County
2070 Corporate Woods Dr.
Alabaster, AL 35007
(205) 664-9489
Montgomery
2217 S. Forbes Rd.
Montgomery, AL 36110
(334) 262-1101
Tuscaloosa
3550 Joe Mallisham Pky.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
(205) 247-3402
www.thompsontractor.com