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Its dozer fleet is almost entirely Caterpillar D6 machines. “I don’t think this company will ever move away from a Caterpillar D6 because it is such a dependable machine,” says Robinson. “It has just done such a good service for us.” Yet, the company recently purchased a 190--hp Komatsu D65EX extended track model to supplement its fleet.

Due to the nature of its business, the dozers in Robinson’s fleet need to be versatile to handle multiple tasks. The contractor’s current project provides a good example. “On this particular project, we are running four 30--ton Volvo [articulated trucks] in the same grading operation with the Noble pans,” Robinson explains. “A lot of times, we will put the Komatsu D65EX in the fill area to push the piles from the articulated trucks.”

This machine floats around as needed. For example, Robinson has a Caterpillar D6M slope machine with a wide track. Because there is more slope work on the current project than one machine can handle, the D65EX also gets pressed into a little slope work. “It does well there,” says Robinson.

But the primary task of the D65EX has been in the cut.

The material on this project is mostly clay, but it can quickly turn to sand. “You just run into a band of sand. A lot of times this will be a pretty good--sized area,” says Robinson. “With the pull pans, you will not get quite full pulling through the sand.” The D65EX is used to help push the scrapers. “You get good, heaped loads out of it, especially when we are in just a short cut,” he states.

Robinson Paving has been happy with the addition of the D65EX to its fleet. “It is such a versatile machine,” says Robinson. “It is a good size that you can put in heavy work or light work. It is good for finish work, cutting ditches, cutting slopes and pushing. It is just a good all--around machine.”