How a mini skid steer can benefit a tree care company

A mini skid steer may be a small machine, but it can provide some big benefits for tree care contractors. That’s because the surprisingly powerful unit has the potential to change the way a tree care company does business.

“Three attachments are especially popular in the tree care industry,” says Jon Kuyers, product manager for Vermeer Utility products. “With a mini skid steer and an all-purpose bucket, a log grapple or brush grapple, you can handle most of your jobsite needs.” In the labor-intensive tree care industry, a mini skid steer is another tool that can go a long way toward improving productivity and profitability.

According to Kuyers, a mini skid steer can:

1. Substantially reduce manual labor. Instead of dragging or carrying logs and brush from the backyard to the chipper, a mini skid steer does the work. It is easier on employees and allows them to concentrate on other aspects of the project.
2. Boost productivity. A mini skid steer, with a grapple attachment, can grab and crush bundles of brush much faster than an employee alone can. Efficiency can be greatly improved.
3. Work where other equipment cannot. Mini skid steers range in width from 36 to 40 inches (91.4 to 101.6 cm). That allows them to travel through most gates and other narrow entryways. If you have a bigger machine, for example, it may be limited to the front yard and street area.
4. Create a safer work environment. The potential for back injuries is reduced when the heavy lifting is done by the machine. There is less chance of employees having the aches and pains that go along with this type of work. With a safer option in place, insurance costs could possibly be lower.
5. Compare cost versus benefit. Compare what an employee is going to cost over the expected life cost of the mini skid steer. Or look at it this way: Will the machine increase productivity to allow you to pick up extra jobs and possibly bring in additional revenue?
6. Expand services. Arriving at a jobsite with a mini skid steer enhances the chances of picking up more work. For example, the mini skid steer can be used to restore the landscape after various tree removal projects. Multiple attachments, which can be changed easily and quickly, allow you to diversify your business, doing jobs such as using an auger to the plant trees.

To learn more about Vermeer mini skid steers visit www.Vermeer.com.