The newest addition to the Vermeer utility drill lineup was recently announced in November 2024. Before this drill was publicly launched, Vermeer team members took the D24 horizontal directional drill on the road for operators to demo and see the machine in action.
If you’re curious about the D24 but not sure if it would be the right fit for your crews, no worries — just look at what a few HDD operators had to say after running the machine themselves.
Here’s their reviews in their own words after testing out the machine.
Automation and operator training
Today’s drilling contractors face a shortage of experienced operators — which is why training new operators efficiently is more important than ever. That’s why automated rod exchange (ARE) technology will be offered on select Next Generation drill models. This technology helps new operators complete the specific rod exchange process with the single push of a button. When the rod exchange process is done incorrectly, parts and tooling can get worn faster — meaning more costs related to service and tooling replacements.
Lucas Langston, Tri County Underground
Tri County Underground of SC has been installing utilities in the Charleston, South Carolina area for over three decades. They run a versatile fleet ranging from D10x15 HDDs to D100x140 HDDs. Langston considered ARE a game-changer for the industry.
“Nowadays with the cost of tooling rising and rising, the biggest thing is how can you get more life out of your tooling? Especially with inexperienced operators over-torquing rods, under-torquing rods, spinning rods and vices. I mean, that’s a huge plus. With the rod automation, you get a less experienced guy on a machine and he can efficiently run it, not tear the tooling up. I see that as a big plus in the future.”
Marco Kelly, East Coast Underground Construction LLC
For more than a decade, East Coast Underground has completed a variety of construction and utility work in the South Florida region. Marco Kelly noted that the speed and consistency of the rod exchange process on the D24 was what impressed him.
“I enjoyed operating it. That was impressive, just how quickly and consistently it could make up and break out rods and load them. So, I mean, I’ve been doing this going on a decade and I couldn’t consistently break out or load rods that quickly all day, every day.”
Mike Ross, Predator Directional LLC
Predator Directional drill has been in the HDD business since 2020 and has found success with a D40x55DR S3, D23x30DR S3 and D24x40 S3 HDDs, along with a fleet of vacuum excavators. Ross believes that with the automation and simplicity of the D24, operator training can be accelerated.
“It’s a lot simpler. I think a lot more guys could be trained a lot quicker, faster. … It’s a lot more (automated), so that takes a lot of human error out. (The) little test run I did, it was … awesome.”
Advanced on-rig diagnostics
With redesigned and improved on-rig diagnostics, operators can potentially reduce time spent troubleshooting on their machine. On the D24, operators can utilize a detailed onboard service tool with more access to machine data that can help you make service decisions faster.
Dave Dellinger, Huffstetler Group
The Huffstetler Group have been providing the Charlotte, North Carolina area services for over 15 years running fleets that include D10x15’s, D20x22’s, D23x30’s and D24x40’s.
“The troubleshooting — that’s huge. It has a troubleshooting guide, which you can try to pinpoint if you have some common knowledge. Been around it long enough, you can look through that and find where it is. And when you relay information and you make those calls, you have more detailed information to be able to tell.”
With the redesigned on-rig diagnostics, your machine is better connected to your preferred dealership location. This means your dealer can have clear insights into any issues that may arise and can help you work through them or send a technician if needed.
Quiet operation
With a noise at operator ear rating of just 88 dB(A), the D24 is designed to excel in residential areas with its quiet operation.
Dave Dellinger, Huffstetler Group
Dellinger knows that noise complaints can be commonplace when working in residential areas, but drills have gotten quieter over the years to help alleviate that issue.
“The 24 was the quietest machine I’ve been on. The decibels it puts off, just lets homeowners almost know that we’re not there. The emergency factor, if you have to work early of the morning or late of an evening, the disruption it causes to the families, it’s almost eliminated because that thing is that quiet.”
Built to maximize productivity
There have been many enhancements on the D24 to help increase jobsite productivity.
Some of those improvements include increasing the rod box capacity, stakedown speed and mud pump flow. Other components that have been improved are the machine hydraulics, electrical systems and powertrain to help prolong the life of your machine.
Austin Flippin, Southeast Connections
Southeast Connections has been installing pipeline and utilities since 1996 around the United States.
After hopping off the D24, Flippin was impressed with the machine productivity. “You know you hear a whole lot of things, word of mouth, that type thing. You really don’t know what to expect, but I’ve been amazed today it’s pretty insane. The time, the effort, everybody’s put into this stuff. It’s definitely worth looking into.”
With more utility infrastructure being placed underground every year, operators need a reliable machine to maximize their productivity on every jobsite. The D24 and other Next Generation drills are equipped with component improvements, advanced technology and innovative features all while focusing on ease of use and maintaining a compact machine footprint. Confidence in these improvements on the D24 is demonstrated with a 3-year, 3,000-hour OEM extended warranty program.
If you’re interested in learning more about the D24 or other utility drills, get in touch with your local Vermeer dealer.
This article contains third-party observations, advice or experiences that do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Vermeer Corporation, its affiliates or its dealers. Testimonials and/or endorsements by customers in specific circumstances may not be representative of normal circumstances experienced by all customers.
Vermeer Corporation reserves the right to make changes in engineering, design and specifications; add improvements; or discontinue manufacturing at any time without notice or obligation. Equipment shown is for illustrative purposes only and may display optional accessories or components specific to their global region. Please contact your local Vermeer dealer for more information on machine specifications.
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