Evaluations

Buying File

John Deere offers five backhoe models, from the 310 G Tier to the 710 P Tier. The 68-horsepower 310 G Tier is a budget-friendly machine ideal for rental houses and owner-operators. It has a basic operator station and 4-speed synchromesh transmission. The 710 P Tier has 110 horsepower and PowerShift transmission with five forward and three reverse gears.
Mature category still holds some surprises beyond reliability and versatility.
Aug. 14, 2025
The 316 P Tier and 318 P Tier skid steers from John Deere bring P-Tier comfort, convenience, and safety.
Bigger may not always be better in machine applications.
June 9, 2025
bobcats70bucket
The skid steer market has been caught up in a bigger-is-better frenzy for some time. In the midst of the move to 100+ horsepower machines, is there still a place for the smallest...
June 6, 2025
Magni rotating telehandler
Once a European category, it holds benefits for rental companies and managers here.
May 6, 2025

Field Test

Tom Berg | Construction Equipment
Southern Kentucky sunset backlights the 2500 HD which has just finished the first leg of a 740-mile outbound trip. Chromey nose belies the interior's Tradesman trim, which is basic but comfortable.
One of two big pickups showed its pleasing personality on a 1,600-mile trip
Aug. 15, 2025
Tom Berg
Blue HV615 has a setback steer axle, a longer hood housing an International S13 diesel and a bumper-to-back-of-cab dimension of 115 inches. Shorter yellow HV509, with a 109-inch BBC, has a Cummins L9 and a set-forward steer axle to support heavy snowplow equipment. Its flat-black grille suggests frugality but the truck has highly capable components and a stoutly engineered chassis.
How specifications define two International HV’s capabilities, performance, and driving characters.
April 17, 2025
Photos: Tom Berg for Construction Equipment
Gray truck on a gray day, but a bright driving experience: 2021 Model 567 dump is ready to roll at Ohio Peterbilt. It has very low miles, the right specs for northeastern Ohio, and looks and performs like new. That makes it a compelling argument for buying “used.”
Used trucks save dollars and make sense for many construction fleets.
Feb. 24, 2025
Frank Raczon, Construction Equipment
Develon DD130 dozer
Local 150 pros put a market newcomer to the test.
Dec. 17, 2024