In my experience, true partnerships often blend professional and personal lives. This is exactly the case with Trent Bess, owner of TKB Excavation and my next-door neighbor in St. George, Utah. I met Bess, an owner-operator driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, more than seven years ago. Bess and I went through many “firsts” together as he built his business by taking calculated risks and intentionally growing his equipment fleet.
“When I got out of high school and got into construction, I worked for some of the bigger companies in town that had crushing operations,” Bess said. “There have always been aggregate suppliers here — bigger companies that have had established pits for years and years — and now all the flat land is built out.”
Bess founded TKB Excavation in 2005 after working as a heavy equipment operator at several crushing plants. According to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) report, U.S. construction sand and gravel production has steadily increased during the last five years. Bess recognized this demand in 2021 and added a jaw crusher to his fleet, the Kleemann MC110 EVO1.
“Four years ago, as excavating projects moved into the hillsides and mountains, I decided a mobile crusher would be the best solution to deal with excess rock,” Bess said.
At the St. George equipment store, I worked with other product specialists and technicians to understand Kleemann crushers and their best practices at Bess’ job sites. Through these projects, I learned with Bess that these crusher machines unlock the door to new markets. Landscaping or roadbuilding contractors could benefit from Bess’ ability to provide fill material or roadbase.
Creating Consistent Products with Kleemann and RDO
Bess found a quarry pit location in the early fall of 2023. He added Kleemann’s cone crusher, MCO 90i EVO2, to his fleet. Again, he opted for the Kleemann machine after a demo where he learned the mobile crusher's "diesel-direct-electric" drive motor.
“Kleemann is a more efficient diesel-electric plant,” Bess said. “They have better fuel efficiency. I started leaning more on Kleemann for all my plants because I like dealing with this manufacturer versus some other guys.”
Watch Bess explain why he prefers Kleemann crushers from his job site.
In addition to the fuel efficiency, Bess and other customers say the diesel-electric's rpm (revolutions per minute) and torque are more consistent than hydraulic motors, which can overheat and jam in warmer temperatures.
Landscapers and roadbuilders' demand for consistent base and fill products only increases as St. George and its surrounding communities are among the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Bess responds to this demand by relying on RDO Equipment Co. to deliver extra screening capacity.
The St. George store became part of RDO’s 12-state network in late 2023, and the transition has been beneficial for all parties. Customers like Bess have had better opportunities to receive equipment, service and support. In January 2023, Bess tapped RDO to add a Kleemann Scalping Screen, MSS802, to his plant. Now, he can produce up to eight distinct products for his fellow contractors as they build vital infrastructure.
“The support has definitely been great,” Bess said. “RDO has a great network of resources, and they have been quick to help me get what I need when I need it.”
Bess shared he expects his mobile crushing plant job site to be running and productive for about ten years. However, if demand changes, he feels at ease that this plant and his mobile crushers could be moved with the support of RDO.
When Bess calls, I work with other team members to do everything we can to resolve any issue. After work, I can expect to hear from Bess, discuss issues, find solutions we are excited about and laugh over any mishaps. As Bess builds his business, our ability to talk through equipment or service options generates moments for myself and others at RDO to prepare for the next job.
Dave Turner
Dave Turner followed his passion for heavy equipment more than seven years ago when he started his career at RDO as an account manager. Today, he delivers equipment and technology solutions to contractors working all over Utah.
