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Bobcat Trucking, based in San Antonio, Texas, is a trucking company which transports asphalt materials. They are also involved in designing logistics networks that connect quarries and construction sites, helping to support the region’s infrastructure. Founder Brandon Eagan decided to start his own business after experiencing a shortage of trucks firsthand on job sites. Together with his younger brother Marcus, he has expanded the business. "We started with just one truck. Before we knew it, we had fifteen, and that’s when I decided to go independent," he said with a laugh.

It turned out that the small gear he set in motion through his own decision had become the driving force powering a big machine called business. Brandon brought his brother Marcus, who had been working in the asphalt industry, into the company. Marcus reflects.  “Brandon already had business partners, and I had industry connections. I was sure that if the two of us worked together, we could grow the company even more,” Bobcat Trucking also functions as a matchmaker standing between companies that need materials and companies looking for disposal sites. By building a system that distributes materials efficiently and without any waste, they have created new value in regional logistics. “We connect people who want materials with those who want to dispose of them. When it all fits together perfectly, it feels like hitting a home run.”

Brandon says this jokingly, but behind his words is the pride of an executive who has always focused on worksites. Brandon earns the trust of those around him by working harder than anyone. The source of this lies in an experience during his high school days that is hard for him to forget. At that time, he wanted a motorcycle and finally got one after begging his father, but just four days later, he had an accident and wrecked it. “My father told me, ‘Pay me back half by working,’ but I ended up earning enough to cover the repair costs too. I really worked hard that summer. That experience taught me that if you want something, you have to work hard for it yourself.” That spirit of “blazing a trail by your own effort” runs through the current management of Bobcat Trucking.

When the company had just opened a new quarry they first introduced Hitachi Construction Machinery equipment. Ross Loewe, the Manager in charge at ASCO, speaks about that time: “It was perfect timing. I said, ‘Try it once first,’ and recommended a test run of the demo machine.” Bobcat Trucking needed to replace their excavators right at that time, and Brandon noticed a certain fact. “I found out that the hydraulic excavators from a brand well-known in the U.S. had once been manufactured through a joint venture with Hitachi Construction Machinery. So I thought I’d like to try using machines from the company that originally created that technology.” After actually trying out the demo machine, they were convinced by its performance and ease of use, and immediately adopted Hitachi Construction Machinery excavators. They added two more units, and currently these are operating as the main workhorses supporting the worksite. “First, the camera visibility is good, and the LED lights are bright. Service response is also fast, so it’s really helpful,” says Marcus. He has a deep trust in ASCO’s support. “It’s because speedy response is more important than anything else when a machine breaks down. The parts we order always arrive on time, so I can rely on them with peace of mind. That is one of the reasons why we purchase Hitachi Construction Machinery equipment from ASCO.” Brandon too talks about their results, saying “The cycle time for loading materials onto trucks has become faster. Overall productivity has increased.”

When asked about their vision for the future, there was no uncertainty in the two men’s answers. “I want to expand our trucking business and grow our materials division even further. Eventually, I want to create a foundation where I can entrust the company to my children and they can make it bigger,” says Marcus. Brandon, smiling a little, had this to say: “I want to prove that even a person who started with nothing can establish a company and make an impact on the market. So in the next five to ten years, I want to spread our name more widely, and value the colleagues who work with us. That’s my primary goal.”