John Deere Lays Off 610 Midwest Workers as Production Moves to Mexico
Deere shifts skid steer and compact track loader production from Iowa and Illinois plants to new facilities in Mexico — part of a broader 3,500-job bloodletting since late 2023.
Opinion & Analysis
Expert perspectives from our editorial team
Our Contributors
Alex Boyd
Contributing WriterOwner of Brushworks Services, a forestry mulching company in Ohio. Covers fleet operations, equipment selection, and the business side of heavy equipment from an operator's perspective.
Sarah Chen
Market AnalystTracking equipment valuations, market trends, and the financial forces shaping the industry.
Charles Truax
Technology & TelematicsDeep dives into telematics, automation, and the technology transforming heavy equipment.
Bubo Ashford
Editor-in-ChiefFounded Equipment Insider to deliver uncompromising analysis of manufacturers, dealer networks, fleet operations, and emerging technology.
Latest Analysis
OPINION: I Stopped Chasing Every Lead and My Revenue Doubled
Every operator thinks more leads means more money. I did too, until I ran the numbers and realized half my jobs were costing me money.
OPINION: The Used Equipment Market Is a Bubble Waiting to Pop
Used iron prices have lost touch with reality. When the correction comes, a lot of operators are going to be upside down on machines they overpaid for.
OPINION: GPS and Telematics Are Spying on Your Operators (And That's Not Management)
There's a difference between knowing where your machines are and watching your guys like a prison warden. Most companies picked the wrong side.
OPINION: Nobody Wants to Wrench Anymore (And It's Our Fault)
The mechanic shortage isn't some mystery. We built it with low pay, terrible conditions, and an industry that treats its techs like they're replaceable. They aren't.
OPINION: The Dealer Service Model Is Broken
Weeks-long wait times, $200/hour shop rates, and techs who've never sat in the seat. The way dealers service equipment isn't working for operators anymore.
OPINION: Stop Buying New Iron You Can't Keep Running
The equipment industry has a spending problem. Operators are going broke chasing new machines while their existing fleet sits broken in the yard.
OPINION: Stop Financing Equipment Before You Have the Pipeline to Feed It
Every week I see another operator post about their shiny new $200K machine. Six months later, that same machine is sitting idle while they scramble for work. The debt spiral nobody talks about.
AED Summit 2026: Dealer Perspectives on Industry Challenges and Opportunities
The Associated Equipment Distributors Summit brought dealers together to address industry challenges. Key insights from this year's conference in Orlando.
OPINION: The Used Equipment Bubble Is Coming and Nobody's Prepared
Supply chains have normalized, financing rates are brutal, and fleet turnover cycles are converging. The used equipment market is about to get ugly—here's what smart operators should do now.
OPINION: Fuel Prices Don't Matter as Much as You Think
Every operator panics when diesel spikes, but fuel is rarely in your top three cost drivers. Here's where your money actually goes — and what to worry about instead.
OPINION: The Real Cost of 0% Dealer Financing — They're Not Doing You a Favor
That shiny 0% financing deal looks like free money. It isn't. Here's the math dealers don't want you to do.
Cross-Border Equipment Transport: New Import/Export Requirements for 2026
New customs requirements and trade policy changes affect how contractors move heavy equipment across international borders. Updated compliance guidance inside.
OPINION: The Small Operator Squeeze — Why Insurance Costs Will Kill More Businesses Than Competition
Insurance premiums have doubled for many operators in two years. Alex Boyd breaks down who survives, who doesn't, and why this is the crisis nobody in the industry is talking about.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 to Attempt Guinness World Record for High-Vis Vests
The construction industry's biggest trade show aims to shatter the record for most people wearing high-visibility vests, celebrating the workforce that builds our world.
Your Fleet, Your AI: How FieldFix Connects Equipment to Intelligent Agents
FieldFix now integrates with AI agents, letting operators query their fleet data through natural conversation. It's fleet management that talks back.
Eastern Ontario Arborists: How Two Arborists Built Ottawa's Premier Tree Care Operation
Founded in 2007, Eastern Ontario Arborists has grown from a two-person startup to one of Canada's capital city's most respected tree care companies. Here's how they did it.
Inside the Mulcher: What Operators Really Think About Equipment, Demand, and the Bulldozer Myth
We talked to forestry mulching operators about equipment choices, market demand, and the misconceptions customers have about land clearing. Their answers might surprise you.
Truax Land Clearing: Wisconsin's Rising Force in Forestry Mulching
Based in Coleman, Wisconsin, Truax Land Clearing is building a reputation for efficient, environmentally-conscious land clearing services across the upper Midwest.
2026 Heavy Equipment Event Calendar: Navigating Fleet Futures
The heavy equipment sector is dynamic, driven by relentless innovation and evolving operational demands. For fleet managers and industry professionals, 2026 pro