TECHNICAL NEWS

From IDA

Caterpillar touts 2 billion tons hauled autonomously

Construction Equipment
Caterpillar has reached 2 billion tons (2.2 billion short tons) hauled using its MineStar Command system for autonomous hauling. The company says it has doubled the amount hauled in the 16 months since reaching 1 billion tons hauled in November 2018. "In just a bit over six years we've safely hauled 2 billion tons—a milestone we achieved significantly faster than our competitors," said Sean McGinnis, MineStar Solutions product manager.

The end of cost

Zeihan on Geopolitics
In the past five weeks the United States has thrown $3 trillion in new government spending at coronavirus-related bailouts, relief and economic stimulus. In total the U.S. has already spent more on coronavirus-related actions than the rest of the world combined, tripled. Strangest of all, not one dime of it is backed up by new government revenue streams; every bit is deficit spending.

Are contractors willing to buy equipment in the midst of the coronavirus?

Equipment World
Whether contractors are willing to buy equipment now depends on whom you talk to. At present, the coronavirus has not changed municipal water and sewer contractor Ruby-Collins' planned capital expenditures, says Andrew Cook, senior project manager with the Atlanta-based company. "We haven't slowed down with any of the planned purchases we had," he says. The 112-employee company operates in four Southeastern states.