Compact Powerhouse Redefines Efficiency

One of New Holland Construction’s newest products, the Model C314 stand-up mini track loader, is already earning a reputation for versatility, efficiency and a solid, dependable build. With its compact size, 1,000 pounds of rated operating capacity and wide range of attachments, it’s no wonder that workers keep finding new uses for this exceptional piece of equipment.

One such recent convert is Marc Osterbur, co-owner of Maddox Garden Center and Landscaping in Florence, Kentucky.

Calling Maddox a garden center is something of a misnomer. The company established itself in 1982 as a local family business selling plants. Over the years, through the efforts of the Maddox family, it’s become a multi-pronged operation that includes wholesale plant sales, a tree farm, and hardscape and outdoor living installs. It’s also one of the largest turf installers in northern Kentucky. According to Marc, it is a David-sized company doing Goliath-sized projects, including grading production home developments and installing custom one-off landscape designs. For this equipment-based business, New Holland Construction’s C314 is the ideal machine.

In addition to being co-owner, Marc is operations manager for the entire landscape division. As such, he is responsible for equipment purchases. After researching his options, sourcing the unit and structuring the deal, he’ll get approval from his other three partners. But ultimately, the decision to choose New Holland Construction and specifically the C314 was his.

Marc became a loyal New Holland customer through his experience with his New Holland skid steer. The service he received from his dealer, Cornerstone Equipment, combined with how New Holland backs the dealer sold him on the brand.

Maddox was already running mini track loaders of other brands, but when they needed to replace one, Marc says, “Since New Holland came out with the C314, it was an easy decision for us. Why would we go with anybody else? We bought one, it’s performed well, has high capacity, runs great and so we bought two more!”

Depending on the work environment, the C314 stand-up mini track loader offers several advantages over larger, heavier equipment.

It’s versatile
Because the C314 is compatible with 29 New Holland attachments, the list of tasks it can do is almost endless.

According to Marc, “It’s done everything we needed to do. We've used material buckets. They’re much larger, deeper buckets that'll haul that extra load. We use a lot of tree augers to plant trees and we’ll use a larger bit on it that will dig a 3-foot tree hole. We've used normal pallet forks to haul pallets of pavers into backyards for patios. And we've also used hydraulic forks that move so you can lift different size trees. The one side of the fork will move to get bigger or smaller. And then we've also used hydraulic tillers to break up that soil and get it conditioned to be able to sow grass seed.”

In fact, using the C314 to grade around new construction was not in Marc’s original plan, but one time when the crew was up against a deadline they tried grading with a tiller on the machine. It worked so well that it’s become the norm for navigating close-set houses.

Easy on surfaces
The C314 is much lighter than a skid steer and its weight is spread evenly across the tracks. There’s always a risk of breaking fresh concrete with a skid steer if it drops, but not so with the C314. Marc also discovered that his crew could drive the machine from condo to condo across fresh driveways and dirt to complete jobs quickly and efficiently without harming the ground.

Easy to transport
Due to their smaller size and lighter weight compared to larger loaders, the C314 mini track loader can easily be transported on a trailer or truck, allowing for quick relocation between job sites. Marc finds that because of its small size, he can fit the unit and all the necessary implements on the same trailer.

“I can have the whole trailer set up – bucket, forks, tiller and auger – and I can have it all on there. So, whenever the crew gets to the job, whatever they need, it's on the trailer. We keep all the attachments on each trailer. Whenever they get to the job site, it’s all accessible. Saving trips back to the shop is huge. The less time they’re in the truck, the better.”

Fast and durable
All the C314’s remarkable features are packaged in a machine that is fast and durable. Marc says that one of its best attributes is that it moves a lot quicker than other equipment he’s used for hauling gravel. It’s a huge boon to efficiency to move material rapidly from truck to job site, thus keeping his guys working.

But what impresses him the most is the C314’s reliability. According to Marc, downtime for repairs, renting equipment or putting off jobs are real killers to the bottom line in a fast-paced landscape business like Maddox.

“These new C314s, regardless of what you put them through day in and day out, they start, they operate the way they should, and we don't miss a beat with our jobs, and that means everything to us.”