Tracks & Treads Summer 2014

Northern
EXPOSURE
*Program applies to select Cat Excavators (312E, 314E, 316E, 318E, 320D, 320E, 321D, 324E, 326F, 328D, 329E, 329F, 335F, 336F, 349E). See your Finning Sales Representative or visit fnning.ca for Finning Fuel Guarantee,Guaranteed
Machine Delivery Date, Great Prices and Competitive Financing details. Finance programs may vary over promotion period. Demo program available at select Finning branches. Promotion runs from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014.
000TT-Finning-FP.indd 1 2014-06-10 9:03 AM
On a Roll
How a family-owned logging
rm in Dawson Creek is making
a go of it in Gas Country
Ice Road Truckers
The Tibbitt to Contwoyto
ice highway is in it for
the long haul
A year-round highway
stretching from Inuvik to
Tuktoyaktuk will open up
the northern NWT
SUMMER 2014
A FINNING CANADA PUBLICATION PM #40020055 www.nning.ca
H
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c
k
e
y
fa
n
s

s
c
o
re
s
ta
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t
T&T_Summer_14_p01-32.indd 1 2014-06-19 2:15 PM
Get 0% interest for 48 months fnancing on the purchase of a NEW Cat compact machine, which includes Cat Skid Steer Loaders (216, 226, 236, 246, 252, 256, 262, 272), Cat Compact Wheel Loaders(906-914), Mini Excavators (303.5 - 308), Cat Backhoe Loaders, Cat
Multi Terrain Loaders (257, 277, 287), Cat Compact Track Loaders (259, 279, 289, 299), Cat Mini Excavators (Under 3 ton), Cat Small Wheel Loaders (924-938) and Cat Small Track Type Tractors (D3-D5K). Offer does not include Cat Telehandlers. Offer valid from July 1,
2014 to September 30, 2014 on select new Cat Compact Machines. Offer available only at participating Cat Dealers. Flexible payment terms available. Offer is available to customers in Canada only and cannot be combined with any other offers. Financing and
published rate are subject to credit approval through Cat Financial. Offer is subject to machine availability and may change without prior notice. Additional terms and conditions may apply.
FOR 48
MONTHS
*
Turn up the heat and contact your local Finning sales representative today.
*Only until September 30, 2014
ON SELECT CAT
SKID STEER LOADERS, COMPACT WHEEL

LOADERS, MINI EXCAVATORS, BACKHOE LOADERS, MULTI
TERRAIN LOADERS, COMPACT TRACK LOADERS, SMALL
WHEEL LOADERS AND SMALL TRACK TYPE TRACTORS.
Days are long but time is short.
Count on Finning to have the right
machines, parts and service to
keep you going this summer.
000TT-Finning-FP.indd 1 2014-06-10 9:02 AM T&T_Summer_14_p02-03.indd 2 2014-06-19 2:17 PM
Get 0% interest for 48 months fnancing on the purchase of a NEW Cat compact machine, which includes Cat Skid Steer Loaders (216, 226, 236, 246, 252, 256, 262, 272), Cat Compact Wheel Loaders(906-914), Mini Excavators (303.5 - 308), Cat Backhoe Loaders, Cat
Multi Terrain Loaders (257, 277, 287), Cat Compact Track Loaders (259, 279, 289, 299), Cat Mini Excavators (Under 3 ton), Cat Small Wheel Loaders (924-938) and Cat Small Track Type Tractors (D3-D5K). Offer does not include Cat Telehandlers. Offer valid from July 1,
2014 to September 30, 2014 on select new Cat Compact Machines. Offer available only at participating Cat Dealers. Flexible payment terms available. Offer is available to customers in Canada only and cannot be combined with any other offers. Financing and
published rate are subject to credit approval through Cat Financial. Offer is subject to machine availability and may change without prior notice. Additional terms and conditions may apply.
FOR 48
MONTHS
*
ON SELECT CAT
SKID STEER LOADERS, COMPACT WHEEL

LOADERS, MINI EXCAVATORS, BACKHOE LOADERS, MULTI
TERRAIN LOADERS, COMPACT TRACK LOADERS, SMALL
WHEEL LOADERS AND SMALL TRACK TYPE TRACTORS.
On the Cover
Caterpillar equipment is behind
the building of a two-lane highway
connecting Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik.
Photo copyright Tawna Brown.
Summer 14 Contents
14 Full Speed Ahead
Te Mackenzie Valley Highway will nally
connect Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk all year long
18 Northwest Passage
Te seasonal highway between Tibbitt
and Contwoyto lakes is the worlds longest
heavy-haul winter road
20 New Hub of the North
Finnings Yellowknife branch is lling
a void in northern NWT
25 Mission Possible
Finning employees gain as much as they
give, while donating time to a community
outreach centre
26 Loggers in Gasland
Te Bassett brothers proudly maintain
a third-generation logging rm in
ever-changing Dawson Creek
25
18
Columns & Departments
4 Finning Focus
A word from Finning
5 Letter to the Editor
6 Groundbreaker
A life-size Jenga game; CNC honours one
of Finnings own; Fox Creek fundraiser;
E series tested; Hockey Night in Edmonton;
Lethbridge ground breaking; Helping Habitat
10 By the Numbers
11 Yesterday & Today
Most vehicles are easy to steer, but that
wasnt always the case with crawler tractors
12 Operators Tips
To step up productivity, step aside
13 Managers Tips
Managing y-in workers is easier with
planning, selective hiring and training
22 Service Spotlight
Customers know technology is at the leading
edge in the downtime war
23 Safety First
Near misses are serious business
24 Tech Spotlight
Finning technology day in Surrey
28 Portrait
Meet Chad Besuyen
29 Phils Business
Tools of the trade geared at the North
30 Count on Us
14
26
www.nning.ca 3 Summer 2014
BY HILARY ANAKA,
FINNING EDITOR
Lethbridge branch celebrates 14 years without a lost-time injury
My job takes me to many interesting places and
events, but visiting our Finning branches has to be
one of my favourite things to do. A few months ago,
I had the opportunity to attend a safety celebration at
our Lethbridge branch.
Tis celebration was a special one for a couple of
reasons. First, they were celebrating an impressive
14 years without a lost-time injury and second, they
were inviting employees families to the celebration
something Id never heard of before.
In talking with Lethbridge branch manager Brent
McDowell before the event, he explained that the in-
clusion of family members was nothing new for them
and a natural move, given the family culture they
had within the branch. He said, Our safety culture
is something we take home with us and thats why we
invite family members, friends and past employees.
Were safe so we can go home to our loved ones and
friends.
So I hit the road for Lethbridge and was thrilled to
be a part of the celebration. While I was there I had
the chance to talk to Lana Caldwell, product support
sales rep Abe Caldwells spouse, about what it means
to her that Abe works for a safety-conscious compa-
ny. She told me, Its reassuring because you know
theyre doing everything possible every day to keep
their employees safe and to ensure theyre going to
come home every night to spend their time with the
family. Teir adorable young son, Jaxon, nodded in
agreement with his mom.
After spending a couple days in the branch and
talking to employees from dierent areas, it was
clear that the Lethbridge crew thought of themselves
as a family and took care of each other like a family.
Tey believe, and so do I, that its that family attitude
that got them to 14 years without a lost-time injury.
Noel Hill, Finnings general manager of health and
safety, said: Safety performances like Lethbridges
prove that dangerous work doesnt have to be un-safe
work. On page 23 of this issue of Tracks & Treads,
Hill expands on that idea and talks about the risk
pyramid and how reporting near-misses and pre-
venting less-severe incidents decreases the number
of serious injuries or fatalities. If that isnt incentive
to change the small things like a bumpy entry rug or
clutter in the shop, I dont know what is.
Making Safety a
Family Matter
www.nning.ca 4 Summer 2014 tracks & treads
T&T_Summer_14_p04-05.indd 4 2014-06-20 10:26 AM
FROM THE ARCHIVES:
A postcard of the original Caterpillar factory in Peoria, Illinois.
SUMMER 2014 Volume 55, No. 2
PUBLISHER
Ruth Kelly
rkelly@venturepublishing.ca

FINNING EDITOR
Hilary Anaka
hanaka@nning.ca

DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM CONTENT
Mi Purvis
mpurvis@venturepublishing.ca

EDITOR
Shelley Williamson
swilliamson@venturepublishing.ca
EDITORIAL ADVISORS
Jeff Howard,
Michelle Loewen

ART DIRECTOR
Charles Burke
cburke@venturepublishing.ca

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR
Andrea deBoer

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR
Colin Spence

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Betty Feniak Smith

PRODUCTION TECHNICIANS
Brent Felzien,
Brandon Hoover

CIRCULATION COORDINATOR
Karen Reilly
circulation@venturepublishing.ca

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE
Anita McGillis
amcgillis@venturepublishing.ca

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Robin Brunet, Caitlin Crawshaw, David DiCenzo,
Martin Dover, Lucy Haines, Robbie Jeffrey, Nomi LoPinto,
Christy Nich, Cory Schachtel

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS
Tawna Brown, Amie Contact, Heff O'Reilley,
Aaron Pedersen, Joey Podlubny
Tracks & Treads is published to provide its readers with
relevant business, technology, product and service
information in a lively and engaging manner.
Tracks & Treads is published for
Finning Canada by
Venture Publishing Inc.
10259-105 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1E3
Phone: 780-990-0839
Fax: 780-425-4921
Contents 2014 by Finning Canada. No part of this publication
should be reproduced without written permission.
www.finning.ca
Tell us what you think
Tracks & Treads would love to hear from you. Tell us what you think
of the magazines stories, columns and look, so that we can improve
it and make it a more interesting read.
Send your comments to editor-in-chief Hilary Anaka by email at
hanaka@nning.ca or the old-fashioned way to: Hilary Anaka, Tracks & Treads,
Finning Canada, 16830 107 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5P 4C3
PM #40020055
A CAREFUL READER:
Sidney Anderson, 87, of Richmond B.C., has an eagle eye. He called us
to let us know that a story in a recent issue of T&T referred to a pump
motor. It should have read pup motor, so named for its small size.
Sometimes they were called pony motors, Sid explained. He should
know. He was a eld service rep for Finning for 25 years, assigned to
major projects in Vancouver in the 1960s.
Well-spotted Sid, and thanks!
- Tracks & Treads Editor
Letters & Feedback
By David DiCenzo
Caterpillar is getting into the movie
business. Short lms, to be exact.
Stack is the rst in a series of shorts in the
Built For It Trials, a collection showing what Cat
machines, and their capable operators, can do.
Stack features ve models (the 320E,
TH514C, 277D, M316D and 349E), run by
operators that total 121 years of experience, in
a real-life game of Jenga. The massive blocks
of wood weigh more than 600 pounds each
Jenga in Real Life
and are carefully arranged just like in the traditional game but only on a much
larger scale. And also like the real game, it comes to its inevitable conclusion when
the blocks all tumble down.
In total, the pieces of wood used in Stack weighed an astonishing eight tons.
They were rubbed down with about 72 cans worth of shufeboard wax to help
them slide into position better. And the operators, despite their extensive experi-
ence, admitted to being nervous before the game began.
It took about 28 hours to complete the game, but Stack is only a few minutes
long. Watch it at: www.cat.com/en_US/articles/customer-stories/the-
ultimate-challengeisoninstack.html
NEW DIGS: Lethbridge Colleges future centre for trades and technology ofcially
broke ground on April 24. With some pointers from Lyndon Wincheruk of Finning,
Alberta Premier Dave Hancock helmed the 312EL to do groundbreaking honours.
The building is expected to usher in its rst students in the fall of 2017.
Welcome back, Broster!
Cody Broster hasnt forgotten his roots. The 30-year-old B.C. native
got his start at Finning back in 2004, after graduating from the College of
New Caledonia, where he studied both business and as a pre-apprentice
machinist. Ten years later, Broster is entrenched as the customer service
manager at Finnings Prince George branch. While meeting the needs of cus-
tomers in the region is top priority, he has also remained loyal to the school
that gave him the foundation for his career.
Brosters close relationship with CNC and the students learning their
trades there earned him the prestigious Presidents Industry Council Award
late last year.
It was really nice to receive this award, says Broster. I enjoy working
with the college and the partnership weve formed between Finning
and them. Its great to give back and see these kids coming through the
programs.
Broster is a member of the Presidents Council and has devoted time to
helping CNC since he left in 2004. He was instrumental in developing the
machinist program for levels one through four at the schools Prince
George campus.
Broster still does shop tours for students and talks with classes about
his experiences. But the award itself was given for his work maintaining a
partnership between Finning and CNC. He says he was happy to help CNC
through the purchase of some Cat equipment for the program, a 259 skid
steer, a 312 excavator and a D4K small dozer.
Broster has also contributed to the pipeline
between the school and Finning, where grads
have landed jobs leading to apprenticeships.
Broster says its gratifying to see young, energetic
workers get their start, but he understands this is
also critical to the future of the industry. Theres
a huge decit for tradespeople, especially in
Northern B.C., Broster explains. We wont
be able to meet the demands if we dont train
these kids.
Brosters history with the school and Finning
made him the perfect choice. Part of our
success, especially in trades training, is our ability
to collaborate with industry to ensure their needs
are being met and our students are receiving
the best, most relevant training possible, CNCs
executive director of external relations, Randall
Heidt, said at the award presentation. People
like Cody are invaluable to us and are excellent
corporate partners who really want to constantly
improve trades training in northern B.C.
Quality equipment and unmatched service
have been at the very root of Finnings success as
Western Canadas Caterpillar supplier. But those
customers in the market for an excavator will nd
that the best has gotten even better.
Finning has a new motto for those customers in
2014: Put Us to the Test.
The whole idea is that we want to put more
belief in the customer, says Garry Hadley,
Finnings excavator marketing manager based in
Edmonton. The new E series excavators are world
class. They are number one in the world. The way
to prove that is to put us to the test; take it out
and try it, says Hadley. The program, applicable
to select E series excavators, incorporates a huge
commitment to fuel consumption, a promise on
a machines delivery date and a try-before-you-
buy demo program thats already a big hit
with customers.
Finning guarantees that newly purchased
E series excavators (without special modications)
will be delivered within 14 days of the companys
receipt of a signed order and nance approval.
If not, a $2,000 parts and service credit will be
applied to the customers account.
Already boasting the most fuel-efcient
machines on the market, Hadley says Finning is
now also guaranteeing that annual fuel consump-
tion will not exceed the stated gure provided to
the customer at the time of delivery, covering a
one-year term. If the gure is exceeded, Finning
will issue a parts-and-service credit to the account
that represents the difference between what was
E Series Gets Tested
stated and the actual fuel consumed, based on a calculated rate of $1 per litre.
The fuel commitment has really caught their eye, Hadley says. Theyre
seeing an incredible number as to what their fuel efciency can be. It allows our
sales guys to go in with condence, knowing that we truly are world class in fuel
economy and efciency.
The demo component allows customers the opportunity to test run an
excavator and see rst-hand the many changes made to E series machines: cabs
redesigned for improved comfort; Isochronous engine speed control; increased
horsepower; electronic boom regeneration; T4 Interim Solution after-burner treat-
ment; and 2D grade control that is ideal for earthmoving contractors to improve
productivity and protability by using an angle sensor, dual axis sensor and laser
catcher to measure the relationship between the body, boom, stick and bucket.
Jim Thiessen describes Fox Creek, Alberta,
very matter-of-factly. Its in the middle of
nowhere, says Thiessen, purchasing manager at
Marnevic Construction.
Its true. Tucked along Highway 43, about 260
kilometres northwest of Edmonton, the small town
of about 2,000 people doesnt have much going
on around it. Thats why its so important for the
prominent members of the community to do
their part.
Marnevic Construction is one of them. Twice
a year, at a spring barbecue and at a special
Christmas event, Thiessen rafes and auctions off
merchandise graciously donated by any individuals,
employees and businesses willing to chip in. The
Fundraiser Puts Fox Creek on the Map
funds raised go to support causes like womens shelters or kids playground
construction. Whatever organization is in need at that time determines where
money is used.
We hit a record $3,683 raised from the Christmas event this past year,
Thiessen says. All of those funds were donated to the Fox Creek Minor Sports
Association.
Thiessen took over the fundraisers about eight years ago and has a knack
for it, getting major suppliers on board who gladly donate items some pretty
strange, albeit very useful. We get everything you could possibly imagine from
kitchen wares to clothing to tools, he says. One supplier donated a log splitter,
which was pretty neat. It surprises me a little every year.
To show its gratitude, Marnevic regularly takes out an ad in the newspaper
acknowledging contributors. All of the funds stay here in Fox Creek, Thiessen
says. Its really important in an isolated community like this because it shows
which businesses are willing to support the town.
about hunger in the city. We wanted to make a difference.
The CBC Edmonton Turkey Drive Advisory Council was born. Hilary Anaka,
team lead of external relations at Finning (and Tracks & Treads editor) joined the
council. Piercey says that the HNIC package idea grew organically and quickly.
Mark Connollys brother Brendan is part owner at Ruths Chris, so the food was
covered. John Chwyl, in charge of marketing at Kingsway Mall, chipped in the
gift certicates. Richard Wong, vice-president of Chateau Lacombe, was keen
to offer a couple of rooms once the ball got rolling. Finally, Don Metz of Aquila
Productions instantly agreed to allow the winners behind-the-scenes access for
a full game-day experience at Rexall Place.
The whole package was sorted out in 48 hours, says Piercey.
Edmonton is home to the largest Habitat for Humanity afliate
in all of Canada. In 2013 alone, Habitat built 83 homes in Edmonton and
northern Alberta.
Thats a lot of product to move to sites, says Brenda Netter, of
HFHs Edmonton branch. Netter and her organization got a big boost
on that front for 2014. In need of some help, she reached out to the
Cat Rental Store and was able to secure a massive 10-foot by 30-foot
snowmobile trailer to borrow this year. Its a great asset to move
material and smaller landscaping equipment, Netter says. It helps us
be much more mobile in the delivery of our program. We put it to use
the day we got it.
Rhett Nickerson of the Cat Rental Store was also eager to oblige. We
happened to have a trailer that t the bill here in the Edmonton yard,
says Nickerson. Habitat for Humanity is a great organization. We have
the tools and we are happy to assist. Whenever an organization that
helps the community is in need, we absolutely want to help.
Hockey Night in Edmonton
For fans of the Edmonton Oilers, March 22,
2014, was a day to forget. The Oil not only lost
that edition of the Battle of Alberta to the hated
Calgary Flames but also got pummelled in an 8-1
thrashing that will take some time to shake off.
Regardless of the result, the Finning quartet
of Kurtis Lunn, Julie Fisher, Teddy and Lars Harpe
will have a very unique recollection of that night.
Lunn and his friends manufactured a winning
bid of $4,000 in an auction for a behind-the-
scenes Hockey Night in Canada (HNIC) package,
where they got to experience the game, and its
production, in a manner known to few. After
Finning equalled the bid, a total of $8,000 went
directly to the Edmonton Food Bank.
The HNIC package was impressive. CBCs Mark
Connolly hosted the foursome at Ruths Chris
Steak House for a pre-game meal. They also
enjoyed great seats for the Battle of Alberta, got a
VIP tour of the Rexall Place press box, CBC control
room and an up-close view of After Hours as
Scott Oake and Kelly Hrudey did their post-game
work. The group also enjoyed a two-night stay at
Edmontons Chateau Lacombe, and received gift
cards from Kingsway Mall. While it sounds like
a prize that was months in the making, it took a
mere two days.
CBC has an annual fundraiser for the Food
Bank, but last year we did something innovative,
says Judy Piercey, managing director of CBC. We
pulled together stakeholders, business, community
and civic leaders. We wanted to raise awareness
A Hand Up for Habitat
ICE TIME: From left, Julie Fisher and Kurtis Lunn are
joined by Lars Harpe, Teddy Harpe and CBC host
Scott Oake on their winning night at Rexall.
20,000
By the Numbers
-63 C
The year of completion for the Alaska Highway,
the main roadway connecting Alaska, Yukon,
and British Columbia
1942
3.5 million
The number of
square kilometres
comprising the
three northern
territories. The area
covers 40 per cent
of Canadas total
land mass
28
The number of
communities
in Nunavut
The percentage of
Canadians who live in
the northern territories
0.3
The population of the Northwest Territories remaining
after the division of the Northwest Territories into
Nunavut and Northwest Territories, in 1999
The vacancy rate in
Whitehorse.
1.4
The coldest recorded
temperature, in Snag,
Yukon (1947) The average price of a condominium in Iqaluit
$382,359
The number of years that people have lived in
Canadas North
would cause the track on that side to freewheel, resulting
in the machine turning to the right instead of to the left.
Te opposite eect would occur when travelling on level
or uphill grades.
After decades of tractor steering with the two-lever,
two-pedal system, Caterpillar introduced hand-lever
steering on its D8K tractor in 1974. Independent clutches
and brakes were still used, but the same lever activated
both. Partly pulling the lever would disengage the crawler
drive on one side; a further pull on the lever applied the
brake for a sharp turn. Both levers were worked by the
operators left hand, leaving his right hand to control
tractor implements, dozer or ripper.
In 1987, Caterpillar introduced its revolutionary
dierential steering system on its D8N tractor. Tis steering
method, now applied on all Caterpillars mid-size tractors
(D6T, D7E, D8T and D9T), is controlled by a single tiller-type
lever, and ensures power is divided equally to both tracks at
all times. Power is transmitted to the nal drives through
three planetaries. Te centre steering dierential can also
receive power through a bevel gear xed to its housing which
is rotated by a high-torque hydraulic motor. For straight-
ahead travel, this motor and the dierential housing are
stationary. When the operator moves the tiller lever to make a
turn, the hydraulic motor is actuated and the steering
dierential causes one track to slow down while the opposite
track speeds up an equal amount. Te tractor makes a
smooth turn without loss of power to either track.
Caterpillars small, nimble tractor line (D3K2, D4K2,
D5K2) now employs an electronic hydrostatic drive
system that allows turns under full power and a step-less
speed range. No dierential drive is needed, but as with
the mechanical system, steering and machine motions are
controlled by a single lever at the operators left hand.
However, Caterpillar continues to employ steering
clutches and brakes on its largest tractors (D10T and
D11T) as the most reliable steering type for that size of
tractor. Tese are electronically controlled by a pair of
short ngertip levers at the operators left hand console.
No matter which system is employed, the steering, speed
and direction of todays Caterpillar crawler tractors are
controlled by one hand a far cry from the array of heavy
multiple levers and pedals of yesterdays machines.
Most vehicles are steered with a steering wheel, and steering
to the left or to the right feels natural and automatic. Te same goes for
modern Caterpillar crawler tractors and, more recently, wheel loaders.
Steering these machines is just as simple, except it is performed entirely by
the operators left hand with a single joystick lever or, depending on the
model, short ngertip levers. Te same left-hand console also controls
speed and direction.
But steering of crawler
tractors wasnt always
that simple.
Until 1974, Caterpillar
tractors required two foot
pedals and two hand levers
to steer left or right. Te
system was very reliable and,
for the tractor operator,
became just as easy as using
a steering wheel. But the
controls were once not
power-assisted and gave the
operator quite a workout.
Left and right levers were
connected to clutches,
which disengaged the drive
to the respective left or right
crawler track, allowing it to
freewheel. As the track
slowed, it permitted the
tractor to make a gradual
turn in one direction. Te
right or left foot pedal
applied the brake to the
track for a sharp turn.
Te downside to this
system was that during a
turn, power to the inside
track was cut and the full
tractor power was applied
to the outside track.
Operators had to
remember that when going
downhill pulling the
left-hand clutch lever
Steering Trough
the Decades
Most vehicles are easy to steer, but that wasnt
always the case with crawler tractors
BY KEITH HADDOCK
PROGRESS: Caterpillar introduced its revolutionary double
differential steering system on the D8N tractor in 1987. The
technology, now applied to all Cats mid-size tractors, is shown
in simplied form in the bottom sketch.
Tips

the material, fuel savings of up to 25 per cent can be achieved. Sliding material also
minimizes the wear and tear on the dozer.
Auto Carry is an optional feature for ensuring that your dozer maintains its opti-
mum pushing power, which relates to 10 to 15 per cent slippage. With sensors that
measure ground speed and track slippage, Auto Carry will guarantee there is no
undue wear and tear. Regardless of what part of the cycle the operator is in, Nunn
says, Auto Carry is going to optimize it, and it simply wont let you slip the tracks or
stall a torque convertor. Tese kinds of mistakes are costly, and they happen all too
often. Spinning tracks in a large dozer can chew up the undercarriage an expense
to be avoided at all costs.
Auto Rip is a new optional feature on large dozers that works best in consistent
materials. A lot like Auto Carry, the machine senses track slip, ground speed and
engine load, Nunn says. By letting the machine sense when the ripper needs to
be raised or lowered, the operator can focus on their surroundings. Auto Rip is
extremely ecient when ripping for scrapers or ripping in consistent soil types.
Far too often, operators dont position the shank for proper penetration at the be-
ginning of a cycle. Fortunately, Auto Ripper Stow takes the thought process out of it.
Te operator can pre-program the ripper to the position desired for the beginning
of the cycle. Te push of a button is all thats required, says Nunn, noting, Te
ripper will automatically raise and position the shank for initial penetration. When
the ripper is programmed to raise and shank out at the end of the cycle, it removes
all doubt as to where one will be when they return to the start position. Like the
Automatic Blade Assist, Auto Ripper Stow comes standard on all large dozers.
As an operator, you already know the power of your Cat machine, and you trust
it to deliver consistent, ecient work. With these automated features, you form
a partnership with your machine that not only makes evident your respect for
the bottom line but gives you command over your operation. Te work is always
changing this is how you stay in control.
To step up productivity, you may need to step aside and learn how to
make the most of Cat features
BY ROBBIE JEFFREY
Operation: Automation
As an operator, you are more than a master
of your machine. You know whats going on at all
times, what lies ahead, and how it all transpires. You
know that time is money and so is fuel, and that as an
operator, youre the rst and last line of defence against
redundancies and blunders. An operator doesnt just
operate a machine you guarantee that the entire
operation is a nely-tuned machine.
A dutiful operator keeps in mind a fundamental
goal: reduced cost per hour. Sometimes, the best way
to reduce this cost is to limit your interventions. Try
as you might, you cant do everything. Handing over
the reins to the automated features on your trusted
Cat machine frees you up to focus on other tasks that
streamline the operation.
Finnings Brad Nunn, application specialist for
Heavy Construction and Mining, steers you through
some of the automated features in Caterpillars large
track-type tractors. Proper use directly impacts an
owners bottom line, and that kind of reputation looks
good on an operator.
Automatic Blade Assist allows the operator to
preset the cut, carry and spread positions for the blade
pitch function on large tractors, Nunn explains. Tis
is done by setting the percentage of cylinder stroke for
each segment of the dozing cycle. Its crucial to load
the blade quickly, since this can use the most fuel dur-
ing the cycle. At the end of the cycle, the operator can
roll the blade forward to dump the material and not
have carry-back on the blade, and can cycle through
all the blade positions that he or she has preset for the
material being worked in.
Rolling the material takes a lot more energy than
sliding it, he continues. If the operator can load the
blade quickly and then pitch the blade back to carry
With these automated features,
you form a partnership with
your machine that not only
makes evident your respect for
the bottom line but gives you
command over your operation.
Bears are not uncommon, so Glacier Exploration also provides an awareness

course and bear spray to each employee. Moose are especially worrisome in the fall
and, of course, workers need to be aware of other animal dangers throughout the year.
To manage remote teams, good organizational and communication skills are very
much essential. Jud Overton, operations director for Finning in the oil sands, says its
important that you and your teams have a clear understanding of your customers
business and operational goals to allow in-depth planning for remote worksites.
Having a team with very high skills and the condence to make good decisions as
conditions can change quickly is a must. Remote worksites do not always have text-
book tooling or facilities, so workers have to make safety a top priority. As a manager,
you have to be able to coach, mentor and support your team when needed but if you
are managing from osite, this is sometimes very challenging. It has been my experi-
ence with employees that sign up for remote work that they truly enjoy the challenge
and personal accomplishment this work brings, says Overton.
Having the right team can make all the dierence, so its worth it to hire and make
sure employees are content with the work and the compensation package your com-
pany provides. Are your individual employees qualied, safety-conscious, ecient,
and well suited for remote work? Do they understand the goals and are they commit-
ted to help you accomplish them? If the answer is yes, then youve done your job, say
the experts. If not, its time to make the necessary improvements to change it into a
positive work environment for everyone.
BY CHRISTY NICH
Remote Control
Managing y-in workers is easier with advance planning,
and selective hiring and training
Youve been working in your industry for
years, know your job inside and out, but youve been
given a new challenge managing remote workers.
Where do you start?
One of the main concerns is hiring the right people
for the job. Every industry has its own standards and
qualications, so you have some choices on where to
begin based on your own companys requirements.
You can advertise via your company website (if you
have one), at any of the training institutions, or by word
of mouth. Maybe you require operators who have a
ticket to prove that they can handle heavy machinery,
or specialized professionals like plumbers or
pipetters. Tickets can be obtained by hands-on expe-
rience or through technical institutions, such as SAIT
Polytechnic or NAIT, which makes a campus recruiting
visit worth your while.
Potential employees may also require safety certica-
tion specic to your industry, like WHMIS or H2S Alive
training, as well as rst aid certication. Your company
may provide this or you may have a list of places where
new employees can obtain it.
Ten there are the personality traits that work best in
the eld. Mike Kennelly has been a seismic surveyor for
22 years and is currently working on the advance team as
a senior surveyor at Glacier Exploration Surveys Ltd. He
describes his work as contractors to look after the team
of other contractors while out in the eld. Hes been in
charge of sta and says the best personality types are not
typical of any other kind of day job. Employees need to
be diverse and exible since the working conditions are
extreme. You dont go home at the end of an eight-hour
day or on weekends, for that matter. In fact, you could
go months before you return home for a break.
Sta working remotely must be able to put up
with extreme climate changes. It gets cold out in the
bush and you cant go inside because its raining or
even pouring. Te ideal Glacier Exploration worker
needs to be physically t because he or she is scaling
steep hills or mountains, not hiking trails. Helicopters
take workers into and out of remote camps, so proper
heli-procedures also need to be followed. And because
workers are out in the wild, safety is the utmost concern.
As a manager, you have to be able to coach,
mentor and support your team when needed
but if you are managing from offsite, this is
sometimes very challenging.
FULL SPEED
AHEAD
BY CAITLIN CRAWSHAW | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TAWNA BROWN
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The Mackenzie Valley Highway will nally
connect Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk all year long
n most places in Canada, summertime
is jokingly referred to as construction season,
since long, cold winters make outdoor roadwork
dicult. But in the North, its just the opposite:
the construction season cant start until mercury dips
well below zero.
You dont want to mess with the permafrost the
ground has to be frozen before you put a road on top
of it, explains Merven Gruben, vice-president and
co-owner of E. Grubens Transport Ltd. in Tuktoyaktuk.
You mess with that and you really screw up your foun-
dation and the base of the road.
Tats why the new Mackenzie Valley Highway pro-
ject broke ground in early January 2014, after a rib-
bon-cutting ceremony with Prime Minister Harper.
Te $300-million project will extend the Dempster Highway, which currently ends
in Inuvik, to the remote community of Tuktoyaktuk (known also as Tuk). Te
137-kilometre long, two-lane highway will be surfaced with gravel, allowing driv-
ers to reach speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour more than twice as fast as the
ice road that the communities previously used during the wintertime.
Te highway expansion was long awaited by the community, explains Gruben,
whose company is building the road with Inuvik partner Northwind Industries.
During his six years as mayor of Tuk, he lobbied government agencies to have a
permanent road built an idea that was rst proposed in the 1960s.
Tis winter, the project nally ocially went ahead. Once E. Grubens Transport
Ltd. and Northwind Industries were awarded the contract, they had to move quickly
to gather the equipment theyd need to build the road before the ice road closure in
March. After examining bids from several of the biggest players in the market, they
picked Caterpillar iron. Tey have a proven record up here, says Gruben, noting
that the family-owned company has used Cat equipment since the 1970s.
I
Te Coldest Journey
to bad weather, the U.S.-built equipment made its
way to Canadian Finning branches to be prepped for
shipping up North. Te vast majority of the machines
were prepared by Finnings Centre of Excellence
branch in Red Deer.
Once in Inuvik, Finning technicians faced an even
more challenging task, says Carter: Tey had to
assemble everything in -45Celsius. But for all of the
challenges, the equipment arrived on site before the
closure of the ice road. With the necessary equip-
ment, it was full-speed ahead until the end of the
winter season.
Slated for completion in 2018, the roadway will
be built in ts and starts. For the next three sea-
sons, the majority of the work will happen during
the coldest months of the year. Youre limited to
periods of time when the ground is frozen to haul
gravel, says Russell Newmark, CEO of E. Grubens
Transport Ltd. But while this is a big part of the
job, he stresses that some work can still be done in
summer months. At the moment, workers are com-
pacting and grading the road, adding signage, and
installing guardrails, for instance.
After the weather, the projects biggest challenge
will be labour. We need a lot of employees and were
trying to use all local people, says Kurt Wainman,
president and owner of Northwind Industries.
But he adds that the service contract was also
appealing, since Finning is the only heavy equipment
company with a location in the region. Tey wanted
a one-stop shop, says Finning sales rep Brendan
Carter. Cat customers in the area have access to
parts and technicians who can regularly service their
machinery an important consideration for northern
companies. Flying in parts from elsewhere is especial-
ly expensive so far north.
For the four-year project, E. Grubens Transport
Ltd. and Northwind Industries went with a compre-
hensive service package to protect their investment
of 63 pieces of equipment worth nearly $40 million,
including 30 articulated dump trucks (740Bs), six 349
excavators, three D10T tractors, and other equipment.
In the North, this was the largest single purchase of
Cat equipment ever, Carter says. Not in terms of the
money, but the number of machines.
Once the deal was signed, the real work began.
All the equipment had to be hauled up north from
Baltimore, Maryland, as well as Aurora, Illinois and
other locations in North America, before the ice road
closed. After being held up throughout the U.S. due
In the North, this was the largest single purchase
of Cat equipment ever, Brendan Carter says.
TIS THE SEASON: For the next three years, the majority of the road work
to the Mackenzie Valley Highway will have to be done during the winter.
Its been good, but its been a short season. Next
season will be ve or six months, so that will be a
bigger challenge. Tis year, about 140 workers were
involved in the roads construction, but this number
should jump to 240 in November and grow even
more next year.
Gruben has been anticipating the highway project
for years and says his company has been steadily hir-
ing and training workers in Tuk and neighbouring
northern communities for the last 15 to 20 years.
We have a lot of people with class-one and class-ve
driver training, mechanics, welders, a lot of appren-
tice training, he says.
While it may be more dicult in the short term
to deal with the labour crunch, the owners of both
companies agree that the long-term benets make
it worthwhile. For us, training locally will give us a
bigger pool of workers, says Wainman. Tis means
more skilled labour for future projects down the line.
Employing local people is also a good thing for the
community, he notes.
In fact, he thinks the highway has the potential to
create more opportunities for his company. We say,
Its a road to resources, Wainman explains, noting
that the highway will improve access to the oileld
and potentially encourage more economic activity
in the region. Theres a lot more hooked to the
road than the cost of groceries, he says.
Newmark agrees that the highway will transform
Tuk: Every aspect of life health care or recreation
improves when youre not isolated anymore. At the mo-
ment, getting to Inuvik to buy cheaper groceries or take
the kids swimming takes hours on the ice road. With a
permanent highway, families will be able to access
a wide range of services with just a 45-minute drive.
It opens up everything. For the community of Tuk,
its an incredible benet, he says.
And then there are the cost savings. Gruben points out
that a permanent road is a big investment, but its more
expensive for the community to build and maintain a new
ice road year after year. He would know: his company has
had the ice road contract for the last 20 years.
A permanent road will also be safer. Over the years,
Gruben has had some vehicles and the company's
loads fall through the ice. Te risk has become greater
because of warmer temperatures resulting from climate
change: Ive never gone through myself but Ive
gotten close. Ive had my foot on the battery box on a
couple of occasions, but never had to jump.
Every aspect of life health care or recreation
improves when youre not isolated anymore,
Russell Newmark says.
RESOURCE ROAD: The new highway, when complete in 2018, will improve
access to the oileld and encourage more economic activity in the region.
STORY BY RICK OVERWATER
The seasonal highway between Tibbitt and Contwoyto lakes
is the worlds longest heavy-haul winter road
or many Canadians, winter is a four-letter word.
But for those who live in Canadas northernmost reaches,
the season has a denite upside: the opening of winter roads.
Each winter, many communities build temporary roadways
made of snow and ice to allow vehicles to safely cross over frozen
tundra and lakes, connecting remote areas to the goods and servic-
es in other regions. Its a more convenient and much less expensive
alternative to air travel.
BY CAITLIN CRAWSHAW
F
PASSAGE
NORTHWEST
But ice roads arent just important for the people who dwell in
Canadas northernmost reaches; they are critical for industry, as
well. About 65 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest
Territories, lies the access point to an ice road that stretches from
Tibbitt Lake to Contwoyto Lake each winter. Tis is the only
on-land transportation route for the mining operations of Diavik
Diamond Mines, Dominion Diamond Corporation, and De Beers
Canada. Tis highway, which was rst constructed in the early
1980s, is considered the worlds longest heavy haul
winter road. In its early days, the road stretched from
outside Yellowknife to the north end of Contwoyto
Lake, a distance of up to 600 kilometres. Tese days,
the road is about 360 kilometres long, although this
distance varies with the weather conditions and needs
of industry.
Since 1998, Inuit majority-owned company Nuna
Logistics Limited has built and maintained the road
using Cat equipment. Each year, the road is open dur-
ing the months of February
and March, although
planning for the temporary
road begins much earlier
than that, explains Nuna
Logistics project manager
Tim Tattrie: In November
or December, we send a crew up to the south end of
the road by helicopter to do ice spot checks for us. Im
looking for them to give a ballpark gure of what ice
we have from Tibbitt to our south camp.
Once he has a sense of how well the ice is forming
along the route, Tattrie and his team look to help the
ice in areas where its a bit thin. Generally, this means
clearing snow from the ice, exposing it to the cold
air in order to increase thickness. Sometimes, water
trucks are used to ood areas to create ice. Tis is
particularly important for freezing a portage the
portion of the ice road that crosses over land. About
85 per cent of the road is built over frozen lakes and
15 per cent over rocky islands and tundra. We have to be very cognizant of the
tundra because it takes such a long time to recover, Tattrie explains. So we take
great care not to damage it.
Because the ice road is only available for about 60 days each winter, the mining
companies strategically plan to haul in as much equipment and fuel as they can.
In 2014, 7,480 loads carrying about 250,000 tonnes of commodity were transport-
ed along the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road. Because of this demand, and the
size of the loads, the road must thicken enough to bear the weight of the vehicles
travelling along its surface. Our target ice is usually 40 to 42 inches, says Tattrie.
Tat will put the heaviest loads up to the sites. Tat said, he recalls one instance
where they had to go a bit thicker about 44 inches to transport a large exca-
vator to a mine site. To ensure the road will be safe for all loads, Nuna Logistics is
supported by an engineering company to calculate the exact thickness of the ice
required, based on the conguration of the haul equipment that will be transport-
ed along the roads surface.
Every year, it takes about one month and 125 road builders and support per-
sonnel to build the road, install road signs, and grade the slipperier portions of
the route to ensure the highway is safe. But the opening of the road is just the
beginning for Nuna Logistics. Troughout the season, the company maintains the
roadway a service which involves a great deal of technology, engineering prowess
and people power.
A big part of this work involves monitoring the condition of the ice. In the past,
crews accomplished this by drilling into the ice to determine its thickness, but
now the industry standard is a technology called ground penetrating radar (GPR),
which transmits high-frequency radio waves through the ice sheet to determine
a minimum measurement. Almost every day, we get measurements o of the ice
and watch how the ice is growing, says Tattrie.
Its completely normal for the road to change over the course of the season, he
notes: Te ice sheet is a oating surface that bends and contracts throughout the
winter road season. When the temperature changes, the weak points in the ice
often shatter, and one piece of ice might go above another piece where it cracks,
forming a ridge line. Most of the time, these pressure ridges can be xed with the
aid of a grader, but if theyre too high say eight or nine feet tall the road must
be repositioned to allow vehicles to drive around them.
Wind is also a challenge since it sweeps snow across the ice. Tis both narrows
the road and causes the ice beneath it to thin (since snow has insulating proper-
ties). Te ice road is 130 to 150 feet wide for the most part, with the exception of
the portages, where its only 30 to 35 feet wide. Regular road clearing is required to
preserve both the width and integrity of the road.
In addition to supplying Cat machines for Nuna
Logistics for the road creation and maintenance,
Finning supplies plenty of equipment to the mining
companies that use the road. But unlike a traditional
highway, shipping along the ice road comes with some
limitations, says Dave Erwin, a sales representative with
Finning: I always tell people that by March 20, the road could close. To that end,
he aims to have all equipment ready to ship to the mining companies by March 1.
Te ice road also aects how Cat equipment is packaged for shipping. Erwin
explains that machines are stripped down to meet weight specications dictated
by ice road limitations.
In spite of all of the measures taken to keep the road in good working order,
there are times when Mother Nature doesnt co-operate. Sometimes, the wind
can pick up and it literally shuts the road down, says Tattrie. At times, well have
100 tractor trailers stuck in our centre camp, all along the road.
Last year, road operations were suspended for about 39 hours; other years, the
roads use was suspended for as many as 100 hours. Te downtime is expensive
for the client and users of the road, but its inevitable so far north. Once the wind
stops, we get the road open and the tractor trailers moving again, he says.
We have to be very cognizant of
the tundra because it takes such a
long time to recover. So we take
great care not to damage it.
LONG HAUL: These days the road spans 360 kilometres
and is only available for about 60 days a year.
Finnings Yellowknife branch is increasing the reach
of its service to customers across the NWT BY ROBIN BRUNET
ay River, a community of 3,600 on the
south shore of Great Slave Lake, used to be
referred to as the hub of the North and
was Finnings base of operations in the Northwest
Territories. For decades, the branch was a crucial
supplier of equipment and parts to the nearby Pine
Point lead zinc mine, which operated between 1965
and 1988, and after that it was kept busy with the
diamond boom.
But the Northwest Territories is a place of dramat-
ic and fundamental change, and by the early 2000s,
many resource rms in the region had moved their
head oces to Yellowknife, the capital city of the
NWT. Hay River was still a parts and service hub;
H
but Finning representatives had to journey ve hours around the Slave to Yellowknife
and board a plane to remote locations in order to serve a growing number of isolated
customers. A way to serve customers in a more timely fashion was badly required.
Tat, in a nutshell, is what prompted Finning to open its Yellowknife branch in
2013. But building a new facility is one thing: it was quite another to nd a manag-
er who would make the most of it and also felt at home in 456,792 square miles of
sub-arctic and arctic landscape, populated by only 44,000 people.
Cut to Mitch Tompson, Finnings Calgary customer service manager. He and his
wife Rhonda had lived in that city for six years, and although they had friends and
enjoyed many aspects of the Prairies, living in a city the size of Calgary was getting to
them. It was the biggest city Id ever lived in, and as it grew so did the grind, he says.
So when Finning asked Tompson, 56, to shore up Yellowknife, he promptly
consulted with Rhonda; soon the couple was heading north. Getting used to near-24
hour daylight during summer and perpetual night in winter wasnt a problem: prior
BRANCHING OUT: The Yellowknife branch,
which opened in December 2013, is poised
to give Finning customers full service.
BY ROBIN BRUNET
to Calgary, Tompson had worked for Finning in Hay
River, rst as a service supervisor then as customer
service manager. Id been
there ve years and enjoyed
the community-oriented,
genuinely friendly people
up north, he says.
Although its been a
year since the Tompsons
unpacked their bags, the
Yellowknife branch is still
very much a work in pro-
gress. It ocially opened
in December of 2013 just
after the last parts and mechanical positions were lled;
some of the personnel are from Hay River and true to
the NWT spirit, they love their hometown so much they
return on weekends. Tey think Yellowknife is way too
big, says Tompson, with a laugh.
Te Yellowknife facility sits beside a lot that has been earmarked for a mechan-
ical shop. When were nally nished in a few years well be a fully-functioning
branch, servicing what we sell and supplying parts courtesy of daily deliveries from
Edmonton, says Tompson. Whats really exciting about the new branch is the
opportunity for growth: the resource sector is booming, and plans are underway for
entirely new industries to be launched here.
One example of a new industry is, surprisingly enough, logging, which would be
undertaken to supply a proposed pellet mill in Hay River. Even though nothing is
certain, were in the unlikely position of quoting forestry equipment up here, says
Tompson. Forestry will never be a huge component of the regional economy, but it
would certainly be unique.
Another potential new venture for the Yellowknife area would be Te Cat Rental
Store. If theres one thing were constantly asked, its when will you have rentals avail-
able? Tompson says. Overall in the territories theres a lack of rental outlets, so we
would be lling a big void.
Meanwhile, Finning is kept busy with its mining clients, including its largest,
Dominion Diamonds. Other important mining clients include the Diavik Diamond
Mine, about 300 kilometres north of Yellowknife. Te mine is typical of NWT ven-
tures in that transportation can be a challenge: its connected to Yellowknife by an ice
road, and one winter the road froze late and thawed early, meaning arrangements had
to be made to bring supplies in by air.
De Beers Canadas Snap Lake Mine is 350 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, and
is another Finning customer. Its ice road makes the site accessible by land for six to
eight weeks per year (the mine itself is built under a lake and the deposit slopes from
the lakeshore at an almost horizontal angle).
But the Dominion Diamond Corporations Ekati Diamond Mine is by far the
branchs biggest mining customer, says Tompson. Te mine (named for the Tlicho
word meaning fat lake) is Canadas rst surface and underground diamond
mine. Like Diavik, the Ekati mine site is in the Lac de Gras region of the Northwest
Territories, about 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife.
Other clients include the City of Yellowknife, the Government of the Northwest
Territories, and northern construction rms, including those run by the business
arm of the Tlicho First Nation, and Nuna Logistics, an aboriginal majority-owned
company that maintains the ice road. (For more on the ice road and its importance,
turn to page 18). Meanwhile, Northwinds Industries and E. Grubens Transport, both
of which are heavily involved in the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway project, are also
key Finning customers through the Yellowknife branch.
All of these clients receive the fast service customers in urban areas take for grant-
ed. We nish ordering parts everyday at about seven, and the truck from Edmonton
arrives about 24 hours later at Hay River and Yellowknife, says Tompson, noting that
the Yellowknife branch consists of 14 people. Hay River still has six mechanics on the
payroll, as both branches continue to develop strategies
for how to serve all of Finnings NWT customers.
About the only equipment Finning doesnt sell in the
Territories much of the land is covered by Canadian
Shield are scrapers. Tey dont work well because its
all hard rock here, not the nice sand you get in Calgary,
says Tompson. Other than that, sales patterns are
pretty similar to other branches: graders, wheel loaders,
articulated trucks you name it.
As the Yellowknife branch gears up, Tompson and
his wife are entirely at home in one of the worlds last
frontiers. Yellowknife has all the amenities of a big city,
but theres no mistaking were a hub in a vast wilderness, he says. For some people
that would be troubling, but we spend as much of our spare time hiking, shing and
meeting people we knew years ago. Tats the great thing about the North: everyone is
far-ung geographically, but we all know each other. Its really fullling and it makes
for good business.
Thats the great thing
about the North, says Mitch
Thompson. We all know
each other. Its fullling and
it makes for good business.
www.nning.ca Summer 2014 21
Spot light
A piece of Caterpillar equipment on a
construction site requires brake servicing. Sounds
pretty innocuous right? No. Its a big deal, especially
if youre an equipment manager trying to get a job
done right, and on time. Unscheduled downtime on
a construction site means theres potential that the
entire project could go o schedule. Its an unwanted
scenario that Trevor Tetzla, product support
marketing program manager at Finning Canada, helps
customers avoid.
Now Tetzla and his team at Finning Canada have
a new solution in the arsenal of product support and
preventive and proactive maintenance: Cat Connect.
In Tetzlas example, Cat Connect would simply
send an automated text message to the projects
equipment manager alerting him of the brake overheat
before theres an outright brake failure, allowing the
equipment manager to assess the situation and take
corrective action. It could be a possible operator error
or a site condition that is impacting the machines
performance. Either way, the manager can tamp that
spark before it becomes a ame.
Of course the goal is proactive maintenance. Not
reactive. Te worst thing for a customer is if that
machine has unscheduled downtime, its costing
him money instead of making him money, Tetzla
explains. If we can be proactive and have a plan to
work with the customer, then his machine doesnt go
down, and his operating costs are reduced.
Te technology behind that convenient text message
has much broader implications. Cat Connect is
allowing Finning Canada to integrate cutting-edge
technologies into Caterpillar machines. It means that
Finning can provide the added service to its customers
when they need it most.
Cat Connect gives customers more control of the job
site, helping them monitor and enhance operations in
four key areas: equipment management, productivity,
safety and sustainability.
Using the data from technology-equipped machines,
customers receive new information and insight into
the inner workings of their equipment and operations.
Finning can tailor the right combination of Cat
Connect technologies and services for any jobsite. One
customer might want to ramp up production, while
another might want to improve safety. Finning can
make Cat Connect work for both.
Savvy customers know that technology is at the leading edge in the battle
against downtime
BY MARTIN DOVER
Time to Connect
As were talking to a customer, he might say, You know whats really
important to me? Productivity. Customers want to know how the equipment
helps hit payload targets more eciently, boost production with faster cycle
times, and possibly improve grade and compaction eciency, Tetzla says.
By combining equipment, technology and services, were able to say, Yes,
actually I have the ability to help you increase your productivity. Cat Connect
can, for example, make use of a precision grading system to provide onboard
information that helps new and experienced operators deliver improvements in
grading eciency specic to the task at hand.
Another customer, facing a new challenge presented by a job, might want to
maintain or improve safety. Cat Connect can precisely track equipment location,
speed and avoidance zones, and relay the information to a site supervisor,
equipment manager, and provide feedback to the operator.
Its a way to use technology to help build a culture of safety, Tetzla says of
the safety features. Caterpillar has recognized that technology is driving change
in the heavy equipment industry. And our customers look for ways to use this
technology to their advantage.
Take for example the introduction of telematics into equipment management.
In the last decade, telematics, or the use of wireless communications to
understand and manage machine operations, has become an increasingly
valuable tool on worksites. Telematics is the foundation for Cat EMSolutions
under the Cat Connect umbrella of services.
So if youre hearing that telematics will have a penetration equal to the
cellphone by 2020, which isnt that far away holy smokes that means that
every machine will be talking to something, data will be out there, Tetzla says.
We want to beon the forefront, using that data to help customers business, to
gain eciencies.
And we are interested in their businesses, and their successes, Tetzla says.
If our customers are successful, were successful.
Cat Connect can, for example, precisely track equipment
location, speed and avoidance zones, and relay the
information to a site supervisor or machine operator.
SERVICE
BY CHRISTY NICH / ILLUSTRATION BY HEFF O'REILLY
There are statistically 600 near misses for every
serious workplace incident, according to the risk
pyramid developed by Frank Bird in 1969, which was
based on an earlier work by H.W. Heinrich. Birds
study also showed that there are 30 incidents leading
to property damage and 10 minor injuries occurring at
work prior to every serious incident.
Heinrichs theory proposes that serious incidents
dont occur in isolation. He wrote that incidents are
usually of the same type and generally involve the same
people. Another study found that there are as many as
300,000 at-risk behaviours, which are dened as not
consistent with proper safety practices or training, or
resulting from misuse of machinery.
But a study by Behavioral Science Technology
(BST), a safety management consulting rm, shows
that minor injury numbers have steadily declined
over the past few years, yet the number of serious
incidents and fatalities have not. It suggests a new
paradigm, based on the notion that serious injuries
have dierent underlying
causes than minor
ones including missed
controls, procedural
ineciencies and badly
designed equipment.
Tese factors can create
high-risk situations that
can often lead to major incidents.
Identifying and addressing these high-risk situations
is the key to prevention of major incidents. A precursor
is any high-risk practice that has been overlooked and
not corrected. For example, a safety control that is
routinely ignored by a company could go for years with
very low lost-time injury rates until there is a serious
incident. Te focus needs to be on preventing those
high-risk situations, regardless of whether or not they
are reported. And while property damage incidents
account for billions of dollars being lost annually, they
are often misnamed as near misses, but they could have
just as easily resulted in personal injuries.
Analyzing your companys safety data to uncover
trends and the pattern of safety incidents and
For every serious workplace
incident, there are hundreds
more near misses
Close Calls
violations can help your serious recordable injury rate stay low. Such approaches
to safety can allow workers to see crucial safety red ags and highlight areas
requiring more attention.
According to Noel Hill, general manager of health and safety for Finning
Canada, its near misses that help identify problem areas in need of analysis and
correction. We treat all of our near misses as learning opportunities. We do
ourselves a favour and take the 15 minutes to ask What
happened here and how can we keep it from happening
again? Trough Finnings online reporting system,
all near misses are reported and the company can then
conduct trending to notice where patterns exist, Hill
says. Were also looking to see if there are trends in
certain kinds of injuries. Is somebody being struck by
something? Are we having falls? [After asking these
questions] we can categorize and pinpoint where we want to focus our eorts to
create greater awareness, he explains.
Being aware of potential dangers can go far in cutting down on near misses. You
can have a serious incident where the outcome is not catastrophic, but it has the
potential to be and I think thats really how we look at all of our incidents, says Hill,
pointing to Finnings Risk Assessment Matrix, which measures the severity of every
incident, big or small.
We treat all of our near misses as
learning opportunities, says Noel Hill.
We do ourselves a favour and ask
What happened here and how can we
keep it from happening again?
JOBSITE CHECKLIST
Some quick reminders to ensure an injury-free workplace:
Analyze the job before starting work
Identify the hazards
Follow manufacturers service guides
Educate yourself and staff to take necessary safety precautions
1
10
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
Fatality
Disabling injuries
Recordable injuries
Incidents requiring rst aid
Near misses
Unsafe acts/conditions
From its inception during the Great Depression,
Finning Canadas forward-thinking approach was
clear, helping turn Earl Finnings original $50,000 loan
into a cutting edge, global company. While there are
few Finning-free places on the planet today, there are
always new ways to bring customers new products.
Over the last four years, Surrey branch sales manager
Dan Warrington has challenged his sta to up their
game when it comes to informing customers about new
products and technology. Late last year, once employees
had a grasp, they began promoting a more advanced,
on-board technology designed by SITECH, a Finning-
owned, independently-run construction technology
company. Trough SITECH, contractors learn how to
use technology that makes signicant improvements in
their project workow dramatically increasing their
production, improving their accuracy, and lowering
their operating costs.
But rst, the sta got some training of their own.
Te rst thing we did was bring in Ed Picher from
SITECH to give the sales team a run down on the
new technology, specically grade control, says
Warrington. We turned that into our business plan for
the year: dont sell to the customers, educate them, so
they can take advantage of these new tools.
As SITECHs technology sales and service rep since
2011, Picher and his team were used to receiving
the stereotypical IT guy treatment. Tis time was
dierent. In the past, whenever wed get invited to
speak at an event or a sales training, wed be relegated
to ve or 10 minutes. Tis time, we got three hours to
explain the technology, what they can do with it and
how it benets our customers.
Te sales team suciently educated, it was time
to roll it out to specic customers. Tis April, each
sales person brought select employees an owner, a
supervisor, operators or even a full crew from three
targeted companies to the very rst Surrey Technology
Day, held in the branchs operating engineers site. Each
of the ve machines two dozers, two excavators and a
packer had a Finning and SITECH member assigned
to it, to answer client questions as they gave them each
a go, in some cases for the rst time.
Its not about Finning, its about our customers,
says Alex Docherty, director of technology for Finning
Canada, who adds that its these new products
eciency that helps maintain Finnings status as an
When it comes to customer education, Finning's Surrey branch is leading the
company that leads
BY CORY SCHACHTEL
Higher Learning
Spot light
industry leader. Take the two-dimension grade controllers, he says, a system
that helps manage the up and down. Usually someone has to go into the trench
and take measurements to make sure they have the right depth and slope. With
the new system, you dont have to send anyone into the trench, because in the
cab you get a graphic representation of what youre trying to dig, including the
teeth of the bucket itself. And theres a line that represents where you should
be from an elevation perspective, which guides your cutting edge to the correct
elevation, achieving grade the rst time.
Participants also saw VisionLink demoed, an online application where
customers see where their machines are, how many hours are on them, their rate
of fuel burn and how much time theyve spent idling important data that gives
a fuller view of machine eciency and utilization.
Over two days, Finning and SITECH crews gave more than 60 custom-
ers from 18 companies rst-hand experience with the newest machines
and technology on the market. Some orders came pretty much on the
spot, others took longer. And while the immediate business is nice, Surrey
Technology Day the first of its kind in Western Canada had far-
reaching eects.
We already have requests from all the other regions. Southern Alberta, Fort
McMurray, Grande Prairie, Edmonton they all want to follow the Surrey
model, says Picher, noting a company doesnt reach Finnings level of success
without innovation, both in the product it sells and how it delivers.
Warrington agrees it was a success. Ive been in the business for 28 years, and
Ive got a great team, says Warrington. I pitched them my vision, and they ran
with it. Most importantly, the customers loved it.
We already have requests from all the other regions.
Southern Alberta, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Edmonton
they all want to follow the Surrey model.
TECH
P
H
O
T
O
:

A
M
I
E

C
O
N
T
A
C
T
planned the menu and shopped for groceries, while
others did the cooking, serving or cleanup. Since
that rst eort, Finning Kamloops volunteers have
put on four meals at the New Life Mission four
teams of 10 employees (40 in total) providing a
Friday supper of spaghetti, salad, vegetables, garlic
bread and dessert, followed by a Saturday lunch of
shepherds pie, salad and dessert for appreciative
patrons at the mission.
For Finning, the cost is about $500 per meal and a
weekend of time but its time well-spent, according
to Lockwood. As a company, we have performance
demands, but its nice to simply help in the com-
munity we live in too, he says. It gives me pride to
show that were more than just a dealership, and this
has been a bonding experience, creating a family
atmosphere among employees.
Te feelings go even further for Finning sales
coordinator Cindie Tommasini, whose experience
serving meals at New Life Mission has been an
eye-opener even a life-changing experience.
I wanted to help others in my life but didnt know
how, Tommasini said. Its gratifying to see people
say thank you with a smile on their face. Te near-
40-year veteran employee said misconceptions about
homeless people kept her in the kitchen to start, but
she ended up out front, visiting with many who came
for a meal. It felt like a hug. I didnt need to know why
these people were here. It made me realize it could be
any of us who fall on hard times.
Stan Dueck, executive director of New Life
Mission, opens the Outreach Centres doors six days
a week to the homeless and working poor, serving
about 120 meals per sitting. Te missions budget has
to stretch to support a residential program, nursing
and dental care and a thrift store, where clothing and
blankets are regularly donated to those in need.
We need help from groups like Finning it gets
the community engaged in what we do, says Dueck.
And those coming in for a meal are even more appre-
ciative. Our meals are always healthy and nutritious,
but when Finning comes in, its awesome a step up
from the norm.
Finning Kamloops employees also recently chose to
donate winnings from a branch sales contest more
than $5,000 to New Life Mission. And while the
companys Kamloops branch was awarded with
a community service award, Lockwood and his
employees agree: the real reward is in the giving.
couple of years ago, Finning Kamloops branch manager Dan
Lockwood needed a way to boost morale and build camaraderie
among his sta, when adjusting to a new computer system proved
frustrating. Lockwood suggested the employees take their minds o
company computer woes by doing something outside the oce; perhaps some-
thing for those less fortunate.
Since he had previously volunteered with his church to make and serve meals at
the citys New Life Mission, Lockwood suggested the same at Finning and to his
surprise sta from every area of the branch, parts, service, sales and manage-
ment, signed up in great numbers (along with several spouses) to create and serve
a weekend of meals at New Life Mission.
I knew the good feeling that comes from helping others, so I thought this could
be a win-win situation for Finning and the mission, Lockwood says. Tis eort
brought employees together, united in one common goal.
From their very rst eort, the Kamloops employees embraced serving about
150 meals per seating for homeless and low-income people. Some Finning folk
BY LUCY HAINES
A
Mission Possible
SOUPS ON: Finning Kamloops branch employees felt grateful to
partner up with the mission to serve 150 meals per seating.
Finning employees gain as much as they give, while
donating time to a community outreach centre
STORY BY RICK OVERWATER
The Bassett brothers proudly maintain a family-owned
logging rm in ever-changing Dawson Creek
everal years ago, Wade Bassett was talking to a
ag person who had just moved to Dawson Creek, B.C. from
Vancouver. He asked what she wanted to do, and she replied
that she was trying to get into the oil and gas industry. What
about you? she asked.
Im a logger, he told her.
Bassett then explained the basics of logging and how trees are re-
planted after cutblocks are harvested and roads decommissioned. Im
not sure if I persuaded her to change careers, but she really paid close
BY ROBIN BRUNET
S
attention to what I was saying, Wade recalls.
It would be an understatement to say Wade and his brother Clay
are proud loggers at a time when Dawson Creek is focused on oil
and gas. In 2003 several large oil companies acquired masses of land
rights for the purpose of natural gas development in the so-called
Capital of the Peace. Tis kicked o a boom that has transformed a
once-sleepy locale into a hub where as many as 100 new businesses
are created annually.
But Clay, 52, and Wade, 49, operate as their father Dale Bassett
had when he formed W&D Contracting back in 1987:
that is, they log within a 100-kilometre radius of
Dawson Creek on behalf of Louisiana Pacic, which
moved into town in 1986 and was the reason Dale, a
long-time rancher, decided to enter logging full-time.
Dale was born in 1939 and worked in sawmills
around Dawson Creek clearing sites for his dad
and uncles (hed also worked up north for Beattie
Construction and others). Similarly, his sons Clay
and Wade entered the profession shortly after leaving
school by working for Dales brothers, Ken and Rick.
Clay tried his hand several times in the oil and gas
sector but always returned to logging, and the brothers
joined Dale full-time shortly after he formed W&D.
Outtted with a eet of Caterpillar equipment, the
Bassetts provide employment to about 17 employees
during winter as well as a half-dozen truckers and a
crew of subcontractors. While LP is the main recip-
ient of the lumber, the West Fraser/Canfor mills in
Chetwynd get the spino.
In keeping with tradition, during spring and summer
the brothers turn their attention to the family ranching
business: between their home and Dales adjoining
property in Upper Cutbank, they work more than
2,500 acres of land. Te calves come in the spring and
we grease the haying equipment and prepare for the
new round of crops, says Clay, to which his brother
adds good-naturedly: We dont have any spare time for
ourselves, but thats the way we like it ranching in the
summer and logging through the winter.
Te Bassetts are hardly alone. Clays wife Trina
and Wades wife Cindi do the company bookkeeping;
Clays two sons, Derek,
27, and Blaine, 25, and his
daughter Caitlyn, 23, and
Wades daughters, Morgan,
20, and Brooke, 17, are all
fully-immersed in both
thelogging and ranching businesses. Te third-
generation employees have become excellent exam-
ples of the Bassett entrepreneurial spirit and speak
to the opportunities the forestry industry can provide
to the younger generation.
All of our kids are very aggressive when it comes
to wanting to work. Tey got that trait from us, and in
turn, we got that from our loving mother Pat and father
Dale who taught us not only how to work but also
that it should be a source of enjoyment, Clay says.
Over the years, we have seen the dominant oil and
gas industry provide opportunities for us outside of
logging when the forestry market was a little softer,
but the primary focus for us is the logging industry, he
explains. It has held a stable growth path that has had
less peaks and crashes, which we have also managed
to nd a way to match our growth with. Logging has
provided us with a great life-work balance.
Not surprisingly, loyalty is important to the Bassett
family, which is why they are long-time Finning
customers. We bought our rst Cat, a D6C, back in 1988, but it wasnt until
the 1990s when we got enough regular cash ow going to pick up a processor, a
buncher and other equipment from Finning Dawson Creek, rather than relying
on lesser manufacturers, says Wade. Te quality of the equipment is fantastic
but what really impresses us are people. He mentions Damien Bennett, Finnings
account manager for Fort St. John, who the Bassetts regard as more of a friend
than a salesman. He and his colleagues have always been ready to help us out
when weve run into problems, and thats meant a lot to us.
Te Bassetts keep W&D going strong in the 21st century
because its what they do best, which also makes economic
sense. Our most recent purchase from Finning was a
324D Processor Forest Machine. Were impressed with its
well-balanced stance, power and reliability that we have
grown to love about Cat equipment, says Clay.
Running the business as eciently as possible is key to survival. Clay points out
that when he and his brother joined the company there were 100-plus logging con-
tractors supplying LP in the Dawson Creek area, and today there are only two but
theyre hard-pressed to imagine any other lifestyle.
Bennett admires the resiliency of the Bassetts. Tey are a wonderful family and
its been a pleasure to get to know them, he says. Teyve prevailed in a challenging
industry, and now it seems that forestry in our neck of the woods is growing, he
notes, adding that housing starts are up and prices remain stable in North America,
and new opportunities in foreign markets point to a promising forestry future.
Clay and Wade have developed a good niche, harvesting poplar for oriented
strand board production, and their eet of about 25 machines, from skidders to load-
ers and road building equipment, serves them well, Bennett adds. Along with our
product line, theyre also strong supporters of using Cat parts and Finning service
departments in their repairs. We treasure their loyalty and business partnership.
Te only regret of the Bassetts is that Dale didnt live long enough to enjoy retire-
ment. He died on January 20 at the age of 74. He meant the world to us, says Clay.
He derived a deep satisfaction from his work, as did our mother, Pat.
To which Wade concludes: He used to tell us, Slow and steady wins the race.
Tere arent many people left like him who understand that you have to work hard to
earn what you need and want, and we miss him terribly.
The Bassetts like their 324D Processor
Forest Machine for its well balanced
stance, power and reliability.
THE FAMILY WAY: Brothers Wade and Clay
Bassett have logging and ranching in their blood.
Portrait: Chad Besuyen
Integrity is more than
a catchphrase for Finning
product salesman Chad
Besuyen; its a deeply held
core value that colours
everything he does and
who he chooses to work for.
Integrity of product
is why he chose to work
at Finning. Integrity in
business is how he has
built a reputation of solid
rapport with his customers,
ultimately earning him high
honours for compact con-
struction equipment sales
in North America.
If you wanted to roll it
into the global scale, thats
pretty big, he says. But Ive
had success in sales because
I like the product and what
Finning represents. I enjoy
standing behind it.
He says for him its more
about serving his Finning
customers and working
alongside a strong support
team than achieving high
sales numbers; though, he
can count that among his
accomplishments, as well.
Besuyen was own down
to Caesars Palace on the
Las Vegas strip, where he
and ve others were recog-
nized for their hard work
and dedication by the CEO
of Finning International
and the president of
Finning Canada in March.
He was recognized as the
top overall rep and top
salesman in the category
of Compact Construction
Equipment.
Since his return, the
33-year-old Spruce Grove
native has placed the ring
on a mantel and is back at
work for Finning. Whats
important to me is to
continue to develop great
business relationships,
he says.
BY NOMI LOPINTO
PHOTO BY JOEY PODLUBNY
Count on Us
Get 0% interest for 36 months fnancing with 3yr/5000 Premier EPP and 3 yr. Product Link subscription on the purchase of a NEW Cat machine, which includes Cat Medium Wheel Loaders (950K, 962K, 966K, 972K), Cat Medium Track Type Tractors (D6K2, D6N,
D6T), Small Hydraulic Excavators (311FL RR, 312EL, 312EL CR, 316EL, 318EL, 320EL (standard only), 328DL CR and 336 EL H Hybrid Large Excavator. The Equipment Protection Plan (EPP) applies to select models and is provided through Cat Financial for use at
participating Cat dealers. Financing is subject to credit approval through Cat Financial. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Program is subject to change without prior notice. Offer is valid from March 1 to September 30, 2014 on select new models at
participating Cat dealers. Offer is available to customers in Canada only and cannot be combined with any other offers.
ON SELECT CAT

CONSTRUCTION
EQUIPMENT.
YEAR/
5000hr
PREMIER
EQUIPMENT
PROTECTION PLAN
*
YEAR
PRODUCT LINK /
VISION LINK
SUBSCRIPTION
*
FOR 36
MONTHS
*
HEAVY DUTY GEAR SOLD HERE
Attention Finning shoppers: Its 1980 and our customers
are putting the shopping carts to good use, loading up on
maintenance products batteries, lters, headlights anti-
freeze and shop supplies this time at Finnings Campbell
River branch.
Youll still nd a wide-range of these products at your
favourite Finning location, but today you can also use
an electronic shopping cart at our online PartStore, at
www.nning.ca. The same applies if you need to update
your wardrobe with a Cat hat or Finning jacket. Visit your
nearest Finning centre or simply click on the Heavy Duty
Gear tab. Thank you for shopping at Finning!

Get 0% interest for 36 months fnancing with 3yr/5000 Premier EPP and 3 yr. Product Link subscription on the purchase of a NEW Cat machine, which includes Cat Medium Wheel Loaders (950K, 962K, 966K, 972K), Cat Medium Track Type Tractors (D6K2, D6N,
D6T), Small Hydraulic Excavators (311FL RR, 312EL, 312EL CR, 316EL, 318EL, 320EL (standard only), 328DL CR and 336 EL H Hybrid Large Excavator. The Equipment Protection Plan (EPP) applies to select models and is provided through Cat Financial for use at
participating Cat dealers. Financing is subject to credit approval through Cat Financial. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Program is subject to change without prior notice. Offer is valid from March 1 to September 30, 2014 on select new models at
participating Cat dealers. Offer is available to customers in Canada only and cannot be combined with any other offers.
ON SELECT CAT

CONSTRUCTION
EQUIPMENT.
YEAR/
5000hr
PREMIER
EQUIPMENT
PROTECTION PLAN
*
YEAR
PRODUCT LINK /
VISION LINK
SUBSCRIPTION
*
FOR 36
MONTHS
*
*Program applies to select Cat Excavators (312E, 314E, 316E, 318E, 320D, 320E, 321D, 324E, 326F, 328D, 329E, 329F, 335F, 336F, 349E). See your Finning Sales Representative or visit fnning.ca for Finning Fuel Guarantee,Guaranteed
Machine Delivery Date, Great Prices and Competitive Financing details. Finance programs may vary over promotion period. Demo program available at select Finning branches. Promotion runs from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014.

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