The address 4240 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW, Atlanta, Ga., may sound very familiar to many in metro Atlanta and north Georgia.
Over the years, it has housed many corporate facilities including operating as Case Power and as a dealership for companies, including Southern Power & Equipment, Equipment Support Services and Briggs Equipment. In short, this facility has been a premier Case dealership location for many, many years.
After recently being occupied by a railroad services company, the facility is now home to another equipment dealer, Central Atlanta Tractor Sales Inc., which had been operating out of a much smaller facility just around the corner on Lee Industrial Boulevard in neighboring Austell, Ga.
The move provides the company with more than five times the amount of under-roof space than the previous location, increases the number of service bays from three to 14, and allows a three-fold increase in space for the parts department. In addition, there is a huge increase in land area for rental equipment staging for the large fleet of approximately 100 pieces of heavy earthmoving equipment.
The 25,000-sq.-ft. facility is situated on 5 acres of land directly across from Fulton County Airport-Brown Field and provides additional ease of ingress and egress for machine transport. The additional services now offered by Central Atlanta Tractor Sales Inc., including contract service work for customers who have purchased elsewhere, required expanded service areas and additional shop personnel. In addition to the main facility, there is a separate building that houses a wash bay and welding shop.
The company is an authorized distributor of SANY America, Bell Trucks, IROCK Mobile Crushing and Screening Equipment, Magnum Attachments and Allied/Rammer Hammers.
"This facility is a much better location for customers to inspect and get a feel for any of the machines we sell," Company President Chuck Spooner said. "The overall remodel of the facility included a complete gutting of the office, parts pick up area and shop space for a more modernized and efficient operation.
"With our primary line being SANY, and the fact that they chose to be headquartered locally and just south of Atlanta, they've been a great partner and we're doing our best to try to be a flagship dealership for them. SANY is really reshaping their focus in the U.S. marketplace and making lots of changes internally to help their dealers increase market share. We're doing our part to accommodate their initiatives."
At the same time Charles Pope, director of public works for Carroll County, Ga., was straightening the access roadway to the American Legion Post 70 in Villa Rica, Rick Pugh, senior vice commander of the post, was busy clearing trees that lined the front of the property for better visibility at the facility.
Together, the two projects left quite a void in front of the post, and a vision became clear for both men. As they were watching the work, Pope turned to Pugh and said, "You know what we need to construct there? A softball field for the kids."
Pugh said the vision was kind of a "field of dreams" concept that would draw people to the facility so the American Legion could better serve the community and its children. Other metro Atlanta counties already had many softball fields, but they were not very common in rural Carroll County. Pugh said the facility may be used for tournaments, by travel teams, or by churches that don't have access to the funding needed for the kind of bigger complexes and fields that are currently accessible in other metro Atlanta counties.
Pugh first asked equipment dealer Brian Long at L&N Supply in Dallas, Ga., about using a dozer, but all of L&N's machines were out on rent. Long suggested a call to Chuck Spooner and Marla Neise at Central Atlanta Tractor in Austell, and the rest is history.
"They are the ones that made this happen," Pugh said. "We were given the use of a couple of machines, but we didn't have immediate transport. I called Fairplay Towing in Douglasville, Ga., and asked for a quote and told them what I was doing. Fairplay immediately took care of the machine deliveries and retrievals and at no charge. Everyone was simply pitching in for the kids.
"With only about three independent ballfields in Carroll County, this project will really serve the community and the kids as well."
Pugh emphasized that his dream could not have become a reality without the help of Central Atlanta Tractor, which donated the use of a Cat 953C track loader and a Komatsu D61EX dozer from its rental fleet. The American Legion had funds for covering the fuel and operator costs.
"We're hopeful to be able to attract younger veterans with children who can come and benefit from our facilities," Pugh said. "What we can do for our veterans and servicemen and women and their families is a part of the pillars of our work of the American Legion and is our way to give back and to help the local kids and youth."
The field is being built next to a campground that is part of the American Legion property and beside a picturesque lake that makes it a perfect venue for travel teams to bring their motor homes and tents, thus minimizing the cost of lodging during tournaments.
"We're a very unique American Legion," Pugh said "We have a total of 178 acres here with a 70-acre lake. Homes on the property are leased by veterans, auxiliary or Sons of the American Legion through the American Legion. Being able to undertake the construction of a ballfield is not something just any American Legion could do."
The field is expected to be finished sometime after the winter season, hopefully in time for spring ball. The dirt will naturally compact, and it is perfect soil for infield construction. Pugh said the field still needs fencing, miscellaneous construction materials, some smaller tractors, and a 4X4, such as a Gator, for hauling tools and materials around the field during the playing season, as well as for field maintenance. He added that there are always opportunities for contractors and equipment dealers to lend their help. All donations are tax-deductible as the project is not for profit, but one of the American Legion's many initiatives for giving back to the community.
"I can't wait to see the first pitch," he said.
Contractors or dealers wishing to help with the project may contact American Legion Post 70 in Villa Rica, Ga., or Senior Vice Commander Rick Pugh at 678/571-1411.
Central Atlanta Tractor Sales Inc. based in Austell, Ga., recently took on the IROCK line of crushers and screeners.
According to Chuck Spooner, Central Atlanta Tractor president, the plan is to initially offer the machines as rentals and look toward converting the units to sell at a later date.
“It was a natural transition to take on the IROCK line,” said Spooner. “Many of our technicians were already familiar with servicing crushing and screening equipment, so we're positioned right from the beginning to service these machines. From a sales aspect, we've been around these types of machines for years and have bought and sold many used crushing and screening machines through the years. This is simply an opportunity to take a product line that we are familiar with, and present it to the Georgia market.”
IROCK also has done its part for the new partnership, Spooner said. The company has been very hands on, and has been available to assist in sales and rental applications.
“We think it's a really good partnership,” he said. “I feel very comfortable that they'll be able to help us advance the products and make sales and rentals to our customers. They're even available to come out to our customers' job sites when we require their assistance setting up the machines.”
The plan to focus on Georgia — specifically metro Atlanta — for sales and rentals goes hand-in-hand with what Central Atlanta Tractor's focus has always been with other lines, its used equipment business and local equipment trends.
“Most of the good job sites are gone,” Spooner said. “Now you're dealing with sites that have rock, or you're dealing with the demo of an existing building. It's more cost effective to mobilize equipment to a site for crushing than to haul material off or to have someone else crush it for you. It's a natural new trend.”
Eric Dombrowski, IROCK product specialist, has been to the Central Atlanta Tractor dealership several times, and said they have been fantastic to work with.
“I'm always happy to come back to help them with a demo,” he said.
John Patton, IROCK regional sales manager, said, “They have a great reputation in the state for customer service. It's for these reasons we felt very comfortable with setting them up as a dealer.”
Hauling rock out of a quarry is about as heavy-duty as any job can get. The people that do it have to be tough and stay sharp for hours each day both to stay safe and to keep the material moving.
But they also cannot accomplish their task successfully without the right kind of equipment.
Mining and hauling demands stout and reliable machinery. It is hugely important, too, that material hauling be done efficiently to keep fuel costs low for the company moving the rock out of the pit.
Ray Lambert did a lot of research before he found a new truck that met all these criteria and, so far, he has been very pleased with the results.
Lambert operates Lambert Sand & Gravel Co. in McDonough, Ga., just south of Atlanta. Currently, his firm is working as a subcontractor for Vulcan Materials to haul overburden out of its Stockbridge, Ga., quarry.
To help him with the decision on which truck to purchase, Lambert turned to the professionals at Central Atlanta Tractor, based in nearby Austell, Ga. The full-service dealership was founded in 1995 by Charles Spooner and is now operated by his son, Chuck.
In the end, Lambert this year chose the Bell B50E off-road truck, a brand-new model on the market — so new that his B50E was the very first of its kind sold in the United States market.
In addition, Vulcan Materials bought a Bell B60E this spring for use at its Dalton quarry in northwest Georgia — also from Central Atlanta Tractor.
That machine was the first one sold by Bell Trucks east of the Mississippi River and the fourth sold overall in the country. The huge B60E, owned by Vulcan, also is the first model delivered to a quarry and the first used in the aggregates business.
Reliability, Efficiency Needed
The job of moving overburden from a pit is one that is a bit more complicated than it sounds.
“In our line of work, you are always going to burn a lot of fuel,” Lambert said recently from the Stockbridge quarry site. “We're climbing out of a hole and we have got about a 1.4-mile round turn. To do it, we have to stop, make a 160-degree turn and then start back up a hill again. We are under a full load probably about 30 percent of our run, meaning we are going to be on the high end of our fuel burn — approximately 10 gallons per hour.”
His operators are also working close to 12 hours a day, five days a week to pull hundreds of thousands of yards of rock out of the quarry to reach the valuable blue granite underneath.
That type of hard, continuous labor is a true test of a machine's brawn and resiliency, Lambert said. He said the trucks he uses have to withstand “a pretty severe application.”
Lambert had previously used smaller trucks that gave him adequate production and economy.
But when he felt he needed an upgrade, he carefully read and studied the specs on the Bell 50-ton. He immediately saw several things that impressed him, such as the horsepower to weight ratio, the bed size, the automatic lube system and, most especially, the new Allison transmission.
“One of the reasons that I even considered this truck was because the new ones are running an Allison transmission — obviously American made and one that has higher capacity with seven speeds,” he said. “I also liked the higher performance and great design of the Mercedes-Benz engine.”
Those specs and his watching the equipment in action have told him that the 50-ton truck is a great niche machine.
“We have to be extremely efficient in our work,” he said. “We saw that the 45-ton trucks are tire-limited because most people run them with a 29.5-25 tire, which is the maximum size truck you can run on that tire. Bell, however, went to an 875/65 R29, which is a completely new tire design with a higher capacity, meaning that you cannot have a true 50-ton truck using the other tire. The Bell really is the first true 50-ton truck.”
As far as capacity and cost, the Bell B50E is adding about 4 ½ to 5 yds more per load than the older trucks Lambert used, while keeping operating costs level.
“When you are paying the driver the same amount as before, that is really what you want,” he said. “It especially shows up on these really long round turns and we have about a 12½-minute round turn right now. If it doesn't cost any more to have that much more on the truck it actually can be a game changer.”
Not to be overlooked is how operator-friendly the Bell trucks are.
“When the operator comes out of the truck at the end of the day and looks like a hundred miles of bad road, then you obviously have not made the right choice on the truck,” Lambert said. “I want to take care of my people — they are my most important asset so I want to make sure that I can give them the best equipment I can. These trucks have a very smooth ride and it is a good feeling to know that you can put an operator in one and he doesn't feel like he has been in a rodeo all day.”
Central Atlanta Tractor Help is Never-Ending
Lambert worked with Chuck Spooner and Matt Cantrell of Central Atlanta Tractor not only to get the equipment he needed, but also to help train his people on how to use the trucks.
In addition, Lambert Sand & Gravel also has a service and maintenance contract with the dealership and monitors, via GPS, the performance and production of the new Bell trucks using the Bell Fleetmatics online service.
“Bell Fleetmatics keeps up with approximately 30 different aspects of the performance of the truck, as well as the number of hours it is working so that we know when it is time to service and we can call Ray and schedule a time to come out,” said Spooner. “Both the dealership and the customer can check the information at any time online, plus get email reports daily to see what the truck did the previous day.”
Spooner sees the Bell trucks as machines that offer excellent value when you consider their cost to what they give you in production.
“Like Ray was saying, his B50E is a true 50-ton truck,” he continued. “Nobody else is able to do that. With the price point of the truck based on the niche and the size, you are getting so much more production and value for your dollar. It has the best fuel economy in the class — they literally sip fuel.”
At a recent visit to a local rock quarry where C. A. T. S. has a customer, JP Contracting, with two new Bell B50D trucks operating, we rode along with one of the operators and got his opinion of the Bell B50D. In this specific application the granite quarry is on the side of a mountain, and much of the loaded carry is downhill on steep grades.
From Doug Ball, operator, “The Bell truck’s ride is much better than the other off roads we operate. I trained another driver this week on the operation of the Bell truck and I had to ride in the passenger seat while I trained him. In other trucks my head would be banging against the glass in the back of the cab and you would get beat around pretty good but in the Bell it is a really smooth ride even in the passenger seat (which is not air ride).”
Doug also complimented Bell on the Sealed Switch Module or control panel for operation of all the controls on the truck. “The keypad (SSM) on the Bell truck is so easy to operate. It is just one touch operation. You don’t have to fool with shifting levers or pulling dump levers. It makes the day much shorter”.
Doug is referencing Bells “I Tip” or “Intelligent Tipping” feature which allows shifting to Neutral, applying the parking brake and dumping all in the touch of a button. “The truck will also not roll back when we have to stop on these steep slopes”.
This is another safety feature on the Bell truck, “anti rollback”, which engages the park brake automatically when the truck comes to a stop and keeps it applied until there is enough torque to move the truck forward or backwards. Doug also brought up the fact that with the Bell retardation in both the engine and transmission he doesn’t even have to use his service brakes coming down the steep slopes while loaded with 50 tons of rock. Other trucks they have used have had trouble with the brakes heating up while coming downhill.
Lastly Doug loved the power mirrors. “Occasionally the excavator operator will bump the mirror or a tree limb will knock the mirror out of place and you have to climb out of the cab and up on to the truck to manually adjust the mirror. If you don’t have someone in the cab to help you, it can take some time to get it right. With the Bell you don’t have to leave the cab!”
Central Atlanta Tractor Sales, based in Austell, Ga., recently became the SANY excavator dealer of central and north Georgia, and the first SANY excavator was sold to Tag Grinding Services Inc. in Palmetto, Ga.
Jerry Brooks of Tag Grinding Services had looked at a SANY excavator at work on a job site in Atlanta. When Central Atlanta Tractor Sales received its initial machine inventory, Brooks visited Chuck Spooner in need of a new excavator for his wood recycling operation in Marietta, Ga. He demoed and purchased the SANY SY215C excavator.
Brooks noted that the SANY is comparable in size to the Komatsu 200 and Caterpillar 320 that he had been using, and he has been pleased with the results he’s had from the SANY.
“So far, so good,” Brooks said. “It’s been an easy machine. It’s only a couple of months old, but it’s been no trouble. It’s been a good machine, and steady. It’s stable and doesn’t rock.”
Brooks explained that he had a working relationship with Spooner for the last 14 or 15 years, purchasing both new and used Komatsu and Caterpillar excavators from him. Because of this, he was comfortable in dealing with him for the SANY machine.
“I have complete confidence in Central Atlanta Tractor, and I know that if there are any issues with the machine, they will take care of me,” Brooks said. “Having a local dealer and dealer representative close to my operation in Marietta is also helpful.”
The only additions made to the machine was a Solesbee thumb attachment and catwalks, which Brooks adds to every machine. He found the pricing to be somewhat less expensive than other models, but feels he gets the same, if not better, performance.
“It’s a good machine,” he said. “If people have any doubts, I recommend that they rent one from Chuck for a month and see how it does. For me, I got on it and ran it a little bit on the yard, and I could tell it was a good machine.”
Brooks also was pleased with the Klean Aire air pre-cleaner that is standard on SANY excavators. He noted that it significantly reduces the amount of grinding debris that reaches the main air filter, resulting in less need for removing and cleaning it. Other conveniences to Brooks that are standard on SANY excavators are the pattern changer and the fact that the machines are plumbed for two-way auxiliary hydraulics.
Spooner noted that all SANY excavators come standard with a three-year/3,000 hour full machine warranty, and the SY215 and SY235 models are still able to use Tier III Cummins engines, which are very fuel efficient.
At Tag Grinding Services, Danny Rainwater runs the SANY most often, and noted that it’s smooth, quick, comfortable and has good visibility. He also mentioned that it’s quiet.
“Every once in awhile, I have to open the door to hear if the tub grinder is running or idle,” Rainwater said.
Central Atlanta Tractor has been in operation since 1995, and is in the business of sales and rental of quality new and used equipment. For more information, call 770/819-6600.
The GUCA Scholarship Foundation held its 2014 Scholarship Foundation Sporting Clay event at the Cherokee Rose in Griffin, Ga., on April 11.
One hundred twelve participants from 31 companies enjoyed the sunny weather for this annual event, which included teams from the following participants:
American Heritage Gun Range & Training Center, Ashley Sling Inc., Brent Scarbrough & Company, Callaway Grading Inc., Christopher Grading Inc., Consolidated Pipe & Supply Co. Inc., Crawford Grading & Pipeline, DeKalb Pipeline Company, Dennis Taylor and Co. Inc., EJ USA Inc., Envirogreen Services LLC, Ferguson Waterworks, Flint Equipment, Fortiline Inc., Georgia Hydrant Services Inc., Loggins CPA, McCoy Grading, Newnan Utilities Water Department, Newton County Water & Sewerage Authority, Oldcastle Precast East Inc., RDJE Inc., Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Ronny D. Jones Enterprises Inc., Ruby-Collins Inc., Smith, Welch, Webb & White LLC, Southeastern Site Dev. Inc., STS/Utiliquest, Total Site Containment and Yancey Bros. Co.
The Crawford Grading & Pipeline Inc. team, which included Rocky Brooks, Jeff Brewer, Stuart Stokes and Andy Harvill took third place with a team score of 325. American Heritage Gun Range, included John Harris, Tommy Moseley, Ben Shurling and Mike Wasielewski took second place with a team score of 333. Christopher Grading, Inc., which included Joe Christopher, Walter Thompson, Matt Neely and Billy Christopher took first-place honors with a team score of 343. Jeff Brewer, Crawford Grading & Pipeline Inc. won best individual shooter with an individual score of 96.
The following organizations contributed to the event with sponsorships and donations:
American Cast Iron Pipe Company, Anderson Grading & Pipeline LLC, Archer Western Construction LLC, BB&T — Reese Insurance, Bituminous Insurance Co., Blount Construction Co. Inc., Brent Scarbrough & Company Inc., Brown, Nelms & Co., PC, Central Atlanta Tractor Sales, Crain Oil Company Inc., D&G Boring, Inc., Data Integration, E.R. Snell Contractor Inc., EJ USA Inc., Foley Products Company, Granite Mountain Machinery, Hayes Pipe & Supply Inc., Isco Industries, Loggins CPA, McWane Pipe Co., Oldcastle Precast East, Inc., Peed Bros. Inc., PentaRisk Associates of Georgia, LLC, Piedmont Paving Inc., Precision Blasting, Quadex Inc., Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Ruby-Collins Inc., Sheppard Trucking Inc., Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP, Southeast Culvert Inc., Southeastern Site Dev. Inc., Strack Inc., STS/Utiliquest, Total Site Containment, URETEK-CRSI Inc. and Yancey Bros. Co.
“The money raised from this tournament will go toward the GUCA Scholarship Foundation.
“The utility contractors have given so much to the association” said Vikki Consiglio, GUCA executive director, “it is time we give back.”
The foundation has given 62 scholarships within the past nine years.
The Georgia Utility Contractors Association Inc. Scholarship Foundation, founded in 2003, is a 501(c)3 foundation and has made the dream of a scholarship program for its members become a reality. Scholarship Foundation awards are chosen based on scholastic achievement, extra-curricular activities, community service, career goals and completion of an essay. High school graduates can apply for $1,000 scholarships to any college of their choice and $2,000 for industry degrees.
Foundation board members for 2014 include Matt McCormack, Archer Western Construction LLC, chairman; David Westrick, Ruby-Collins Inc., vice-chairman; Gina Shelnutt, Anderson Grading & Pipeline LLC, secretary/treasurer; Roxann Criswell, DeKalb Pipeline Company; Ricky Harp, Civil Site Services Inc.; Charles Lance, Peed Bros. Inc.; Lynda Murren, Total Site Containment; Brent Scarbrough, Brent Scarbrough & Company Inc.; Joseph Webb, RDJE Inc.; and Vikki Consiglio, GUCA, ex-officio.
Sany America, Peachtree City, Ga., has completed a dealership agreement with Central Atlanta Tractor Sales, Austell, Ga., establishing Central Atlanta Tractor as a Sany excavator dealer serving central and northern Georgia.
“Sany America looks forward to working with Central Atlanta Tractor in meeting the equipment and service needs of contractors and other customers throughout central and northern Georgia,” said Eric Teague, vice president of the Sany earthmoving group. “It’s a family-owned business with a nearly 20-year record of success.”
“We’re excited to introduce a new manufacturer and great product line to contractors in this area,” said Chuck Spooner, president of Central Atlanta Tractor Sales. “We already have some customers who are experiencing the outstanding value of Sany excavators.”
Central Atlanta Tractor Sales was founded in 1995 by Charles Spooner, who at that time already had 25 years’ experience in construction equipment sales. Spooner’s son, Chuck, and daughter, Marla Neise, now manage the dealership, following the elder Spooner’s retirement. The company serves customers throughout the southeastern U.S., providing new and used equipment sales, rental equipment and full service capabilities including field support.
“Our greatest strength is our reputation,” said Chuck Spooner. “We want Central Atlanta Tractor Sales to be synonymous with dependable equipment and quality business relationships.”
Sany America announced a dealership agreement with Central Atlanta Tractor Sales, Austell, Ga., establishing Central Atlanta Tractor as a Sany excavator dealer serving central and northern Georgia.
“Sany America looks forward to working with Central Atlanta Tractor in meeting the equipment and service needs of contractors and other customers throughout central and northern Georgia,” said Eric Teague, vice president of the Sany earthmoving group. “It’s a family-owned business with a nearly 20-year record of success.”
Following the recent introduction of its first two compact excavators, Sany America now offers seven hydraulic excavators ranging from the 36-ton Sany SY335C model to the new 2-ton Sany SY16U compact excavator.
Central Atlanta Tractor Sales was founded in 1995 by Charles Spooner, who already had 25 years of experience in construction equipment sales. Spooner’s son, Chuck, and daughter, Marla Neise, now manage the dealership. The company serves customers throughout the southeastern U.S., offering equipment rental as well as sales and service.
