PAGE 4

REVIVING

TRADITION AT THE MECCA OF RACING

FA L L 2 0 1 8

INSIDE TRACK

2 THE DIRT

WITH JOHN DEERE?HOW DO YOU

Share your story for the chance to be featured.

It’s your world. How are you pushing it? Hauling it? Loading it? Leveling it? Digging it?

And most important of all — running it? Tell us how you do more than just move earth.

We want to hear your story.

* No purchase necessary. Customer must sign a John Deere promotional release.

Submit your RUN [ YOUR ] WORLD story to dirteditor@JohnDeere.com,

and we’ll send you a free pocketknife or gloves* to show our appreciation!

ERE??

ng iit?

earth.

*See JohnDeere.com/en/articulated-dump-trucks/ for ADT Transmission Assurance Warranty terms and conditions, or contact your dealer for complete details.

† See JohnDeere.com/en/parts-and-service/parts/construction-parts/big-parts-promise/ for Big Parts Promise terms and conditions, or contact your dealer for complete details.

David F. Thorne

Senior Vice President, Sales & MarketingWorldwide Construction & Forestry

CHOICE OFFREE GIFTS*

Rest assured

Many of our customers depend on our E-Series Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs) to keep materials — and profits — flowing. That’s why these machines are proudly designed and built from the ground up by highly skilled craftsmen at our world-class facility in Davenport, Iowa. Quality is a core value at John Deere, and we take an enormous amount of pride in making these machines as productive and reliable as possible.

Our customers have high expectations when they buy an ADT from John Deere, and we stand behind our promise of exceptional durability. In fact, we’re so confident in the reliability of our ADT transmissions that they are now backed by our ADT Transmission Assurance Warranty. That means we’ll fix any defects in materials or workmanship on ADT transmissions for five years after delivery or 15,000 hours (whichever occurs first) for all new, qualified models.*

But our support doesn’t begin and end by building tough machines and transmissions backed by a great warranty. You need your ADT and other heavy equipment to produce day in and day out, which is why we offer our Big Parts Promise. If a transmission or other major component doesn’t arrive by the next day, Deere pays the freight. And if your dealer doesn’t have critical, quickly installed parts in stock or supplied by the end of the day, they’re free.†

To ensure you get the parts you need when you need them, we require our dealers to meet thorough parts-stocking criteria. And we’ve invested millions in regional parts depot inventory for when dealer stock can’t cover the need.

Because when it comes to your John Deere ADT or other heavy equipment, you can rest assured that we’re always looking for ways to help you maximize uptime and profitability.

3

CONTENTSC O V E R S T O RY

REVIVING TRADITION

AT THE MECCA OF

RACING

PAGE 4

An excavating contractor feels the excitement of life at the racetrack — and works to redefine the course in a pretty big way —

using John Deere machines and the Kespry Aerial Intelligence System.

DELIVERING THE PROMISE

PAGE 12

For those who deliver on the John Deere core values, quality isn’t just a catchphrase or a lofty ideal — it’s a standard that’s built into everything we do.

USED. NOT ABUSED.

PAGE 16

Lease returns have become a valued source of reliable used equipment. Find out how John Deere Certified Used can provide the good-

condition, low-hour machine your operation needs.

4 THE DIRT

{ A N D T H E T E C H N O L O G Y T H A T H E L P S M A K E I T H A P P E N }

COVER STORY

5

6 THE DIRT

— Kevin Miller, President and CEO, United States Auto Club

7

As the pace car flees the track, the roar of 24 engines packed with over

400 horses of pure fury collectively redline, blasting the go-kart-sized midget

cars around the track at an explosive pace. The cataclysm of controlled

chaos is striking, filling the chests of thousands of spectators with thunder

— which is further amplified and rivaled by the crowd’s roars of excitement.

As the dirt flies and adrenaline surges with every jockey of position, the greatness

of this age-old tradition is made all the grander by its high-profile setting.

he Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), the birthplace of Indy cars and incubator of racing innovation, continues to set the pace by expanding on its 109-year history. September 2018 marks the green flag flying for the first sanctioned dirt-track race on these hallowed grounds.

THE PLAYERS

Three primary parties have made the new dirt-track venture possible. The United States Auto Club (USAC), the world’s largest race-sanctioning body, has been the primary driver.

“Our main goal is getting the next generation excited about and involved in racing,” explains Kevin Miller, president and CEO of USAC. “Whether in a go-kart or Indy car, where better to host races than at the track every 13-year-old dreams of driving someday? Many Indy and NASCAR™ racers come up through dirt tracks, and bringing that tradition to IMS is something we’re very excited about.”

– continued

8 THE DIRT

As for the folks performing the dirt work on the track, there’s a unique tie to the project. “We actually own a race team of three vehicles, each with its own driver, that travels the full circuit to all national events,” says Scott Petry, founder, owner, and president of

Petry Excavating of Greenfield, Indiana. “There’s so much history

at Indy. I was honored when they asked if I wanted to be involved.”

Lastly, West Side Tractor Sales

of Indianapolis donated the equipment and technology for the project. “On-site here, we’ve got a 750K LGP Dozer with SmartGrade™ technology, another 750K LGP with Topcon aftermarket technology, a Topcon-

ready 772GP Motor Grader, and a 317G Compact Track Loader equipped with the Leica Level-Best System,” Mason Adkins, grade control specialist for West

Side, lists the impressive lineup of equipment. “Tying all that technology together is our Kespry Aerial Intelligence System.”

9

Kyle, Carson, Keenan, and Scott Petry are the three generations that make Petry Excavating a family company. Other members of the clan are Scott’s sons Carter, who recently joined the Marines, and Kirby, who is in military intelligence.

PIT STOP WITH THE PIT CREW

A HISTORY OF INNOVATION

Where better to implement cutting-

edge technology than at IMS, a racetrack purpose-built for spurring innovation? “We’re pretty much pulling out all the stops on this one,” explains Adkins. “They wanted to base this new track at IMS on the Kokomo track just north of here, so we flew the Kespry drone to gather that survey data. Then we mapped it onto the Google Earth image

of IMS and adjusted the data points and track size to fit the space.”

Getting the base information was just the start of the Kespry system and GPS technology advantage. “After test-running the track, we realized the smaller version set corners that were too tight for this type of race. The files

are flexible, so all we had to do was adjust the data in the CAD file and re-upload it to the machines. From there you pretty much press ‘go’ and the machines do the work.”

– continued

Scott Petry, founder, owner, and president of Petry

Excavating, Greenfield, Indiana, owes the better

part of his knowledge and experience in construction

to working for his father-in-law. “He’s just a one-

in-a-million guy. He’s taught me so much. When it

came time to branch out on my own, it was an easy

transition.”

Having recently hit the company’s 25-year milestone,

Petry is on the up and up when it comes to its usual

projects including hotels, shopping centers, car

dealerships, and the occasional racetrack. “We have

14 employees, and two of them are my sons. They

both went to college and started as laborers here.

Eventually, we were growing so fast, we had to

change how we worked. I’m still involved every

day, but they’ve really taken the load off me.

“Running Deere equipment is in our blood. My

grandfather was a Deere mechanic, my dad worked at

Deere for a while, and we always ran Deere equipment

on the family farm. When I first started the company,

West Side Tractor Sales was the only dealership to give

me the time of day and set me up for success. It’s just

been a great relationship — Deere has supported us

100 percent along the way, and we appreciate what

they are and what they stand for.”

10 THE DIRT

LEADING THE PACK

According to Adkins, the best

part about the technology is

how simple it is to use. “I can

hand a customer the iPad, and

they’ll have the site set up and

the drone running within five minutes. It’s extremely user

friendly.”

As for Petry, the return on

investment with SmartGrade is

what sealed the deal. “We’re a

smaller company, so it was a big

chunk to bite off, but it paid for itself in six to eight months.

We did a big parking-lot project

without the technology that took

about four-and-a-half days to

finish. The next week we put the

technology on and did a similar

job — a nine-acre lot and building

pad — and finished grading in a day and a half, with two guys

instead of six. We’d never go

without it now.”

Petry Excavating, Inc. is serviced by West Side Tractor Sales, Indianapolis, Indiana.

As a kid growing up in Mississippi,

I knew the John Deere logo

probably before I could talk.

I can’t tell you how much I love

having that logo on my race car.

Our team takes a lot of pride

in bringing the John Deere

car to the track, and the fans

have gone nuts over the paint

scheme. It’s been awesome

to represent a brand that I’ve

been a fan of my whole life.

After running the circuit from 1996–2000, the John Deere NASCAR™ made a limited two-race return this year as part of an integrated national media buy — one being at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Joining drivers Chad Little and Kurt Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was proud to contribute to the car’s legacy.

Photo provided courtesy of Roush Racing.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Check out the video at:

JohnDeere.com/TheDirt

11

FINE-TUNING WITH THE

KESPRY AERIAL

INTELLIGENCE

SYSTEM

The Kespry drone flies over the jobsite to

quickly and precisely gather survey data.

Using that data, CAD files are created

to illustrate what the site will become.

The computer does the rest! Simply drive

the machine and the blade automatically

adjusts as needed.

Those files are easily uploaded to

GPS-enabled machines.

Mason Adkins, grade control specialist for West Side Tractor Sales, demonstrates how simple it is to employ the Kespry Aerial Intelligence System on a jobsite.

THE PROMISEDELIVERING

HANGING ABOVE THE FACTORY FLOOR AT JOHN DEERE

DAVENPORT WORKS, A PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED BANNER

BEARS AN INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE FROM THE COMPANY’S

FOUNDER: “I WILL NEVER PUT MY NAME ON A PRODUCT THAT

DOES NOT HAVE IN IT THE BEST THAT IS IN ME.” ALTHOUGH

TODAY’S STATE-OF-THE-ART MANUFACTURING FACILITIES AND

JOHN DEERE’S GRAND DETOUR, ILLINOIS, BLACKSMITH SHOP

ARE 181 YEARS APART, THE SAME PHILOSOPHY THAT GUIDED

THE 19TH-CENTURY ENTREPRENEUR IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL.

– continued

It all begins in engineering. “It’s important that we design the product in such a way that satisfies the customer and simplifies assembly,” explains Eric Hillary, Engineering Manager. “One of the advantages of being located next to manufacturing is that we know how things are going together.” Close communication and interaction between design and production teams are vital components of building world-class products.

QUALITY IS EVERYTHING At John Deere, quality isn’t just a cliché or word of the day, but a time-honored

credo that guides the way everything is done.

Just ask Andy Benko, Director of Quality. As “gatekeeper of quality,” it’s his team’s job to help ensure that every machine rolling off the assembly lines exceeds customer needs and expectations. “Our employees understand that when they come to work, what they do that day matters,” says Benko. “Their ability to deliver quality products helps enable our customers’ success.”

12 THE DIRT

ISEI WILL NEVER PUT MY NAME ON A PRODUCT THAT DOES NOT HAVE IN IT THE BEST THAT IS IN ME.” – JOHN DEERE, FOUNDER

“

13

14 THE DIRT

So is contact with customers. “Gold

Key” events, at which purchasers

visit John Deere factories to observe

their machines being built, have

proven especially invaluable. “It’s

really nice to talk to each customer

about why they purchased their

machine and how they plan to use

it,” says Lindsay Grant, Backhoe

Team Assembler. “Hopefully, they

see the pride and care we take in

building a quality product for them.”

continuous improvement

When an employee on the manu-

facturing floor sees a process or design that can be improved,

they’re encouraged to suggest a

better way. It’s called Continuous

Improvement. Far more than just

a philosophy, it gives employees

a voice in improving the product,

empowering them to share their

hands-on knowledge and expertise,

while financially rewarding them for their ideas.

“It happens every day,” says Grant.

“New ideas that help make our jobs

easier are welcomed. Several sugges-

tions that I’ve submitted have been

adopted, which makes me feel like

a valued employee.”

When a workable idea is approved,

resources are quickly allocated and

changes made to implement the

improvement.

“Just having those ideas available

to us is so powerful,” says Yvonne

Scheiffer, Quality Engineering Supervisor. “It gives us an opportunity

to engineer solutions for common

issues or defects, and it gives us a

chance to get everyone committed

to the process.”

the people advantage

Every company likes to tout its innovation and technology. We do,

too. But today’s great innovation

will soon be yesterday’s history.

At John Deere, it’s the culture and

the employees who establish that

culture that make the difference.

“The people who build our machines

are the heart and soul of our

operation,” says Scott McDonald,

John Deere Davenport Works

Operations Manager. “They’re

very focused on delivering a quality

product to the customer.”

And it’s not just tightening bolts

and attaching things. “It’s about

the attention to detail,” says Mark

Dickson, John Deere Dubuque

Works General Manager. “Our

assemblers become craftsmen at

their jobs. Their skill set of knowing

what to look for and having a

finesse for fit and finish help make sure customers won’t experience

problems down the road. We have

smart tools to check quality. But

quite frankly, a lot of it you can’t

check other than with the eyes of

the assemblers.”

Many John Deere craftsmen have

been plying their trade for decades.

“The skill level is so important

because so much of the work they

do isn’t automated,” says Mark

Odegaard, Production Loader

Business Manager. “The machines

we build are customized so every

unit is potentially a different

configuration. It requires heavy knowledge.”

WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE

“We ask a lot of our employees,

which is why we require them to

be highly skilled,” says Heath Drone,

Backhoe Business Unit Manager.

“In addition to their experience, they

go through a very robust training

process.” Training is continuous

and extends beyond the initial

instruction new employees receive.

John Deere welders participate in

three weeks of training and, at the

conclusion of that, must pass a very

rigorous test based on American

Welding Society and John Deere

standards.

Although the tools they use appear

similar, the tasks assembly-line

workers perform are unique.

Significant time is invested in training employees on their roles,

as well as that of others on the line,

so they can fill in as needed. This “cross-training” helps provide the

expertise that’s vital to ensuring

that the job is always done correctly,

regardless of who’s doing it.

SPECIAL INVESTIGATORS

Even the best-designed and -built products sometimes have issues.

Discovering those imperfections

15

“When a customer receives a

machine, it typically has two to

three hours on it,” explains Jason

Pline, Skid Steer Quality Supervisor.

“We’re putting every unit through

a drive-verification process. They

run it down a test track, and then up

against a load to discover possible

hydraulic issues before it ships.”

Machines also undergo two or

three thermal cycles, raising and

lowering operating temperatures

in an attempt to induce failures.

THE PURPOSE OF EVERYTHING WE DO IS TO ENSURE THAT WE’RE BUILDING PRODUCTS WORTHY OF JOHN DEERE’S NAME.”

– MARK ODEGAARD, PRODUCTION LOADER BUSINESS MANAGER,

JOHN DEERE DUBUQUE WORKS

“ NG DOIN ODM

IDU

“Obviously, quality is very important,”

sums up Odegaard. “The purpose of everything we do is to ensure that

we’re building products worthy of

John Deere’s name.” And deserving

of our customers’ trust, too.

is what Quality Manager Tracy Schrauben’s team does best.

“We’ve got an excellent group

of special investigators spread

throughout the factory,” she says.

“They’re strategically placed and

are really good at early detection,

so if they see a defect, we can

address it quickly.”

“I’m all over the place — at the

beginning of the line, and at the end

of the line,” explains Mike Hagen,

Davenport Works Inspector. “I’m on

the floor every day, inspecting the parts coming into the plant. And

checking the quality as the workers

are doing their jobs — pretty much

at every stage of the build.”

Hagen’s work, it seems, is never

done. Even after a machine comes

off the line, he inspects it for possi-ble oil leaks. He considers his a

vital role. “My job is to protect

the customer. John Deere put me

here to make sure the product

we run out the door is the best

it can be.”

TESTING FANATics

Even after a build is complete,

the inspections aren’t. Dedicated

factory test facilities require

each product to be put through

a series of thorough trials to

ensure its integrity.

16 THE DIRT

17

There are many reasons you may

want to expand your fleet. Maybe you are diversifying services or

need to keep up with a growing list

of projects on tighter and tighter

deadlines. Whatever the reason, you need to weigh a lot of factors

before adding another machine, with initial cost and depreciation

typically at the top of the list.

Sometimes used equipment makes

the most sense. The price is right.

T

wyo

ne

of

deyo

bewii

ty

So

th

Dealership rental fleets

provide a good source of

quality used machines

HEAVY-EQUIPMENT-

CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS

NEWER, LOWER-

HOUR EQUIPMENT

FULL-MACHINE WARRANTY

TRANSFERABLE TO BUYER

ACCESS TO DEALER-

NETWORK INVENTORY

Or maybe you don’t need the latest machine with all the bells and whistles. Sometimes you have an urgent need to add another

machine for a new project, but don’t have a lot to spend.

From individual sellers to auctions, there’s certainly no shortage of places to buy used equipment. But you might have lingering

doubts if a used machine will deliver the reliability you need.

ADVANTAGES OF BUYING FROM A

RENTAL FLEET:

SERVICE PERFORMED

TO OEM SPECS

– continued

18 THE DIRT

JOHN DEERE CERTIFIED USED PROVIDES

PEACE OF MINDThrough John Deere Certified Used, our dealers can provide

you with high-quality, well-

maintained equipment. To be

certified, large construction equipment must be five years or newer, or under 5,000 hours.

Each Certified Used machine must pass a strict 150-point

inspection, including perfor-

mance checks and fluid analysis. The inspections are performed

by certified technicians and are thoroughly reviewed by the used

equipment manager at eligible

John Deere dealerships.

FULLY WARRANTED AND EASY TO FINANCEUnlike many used machines,

John Deere Certified Used machines are covered by a

factory warranty. Choose a

six- or 12-month unlimited-hour

warranty for the powertrain

or hydraulic system — or both.

The warranty is transferable

should you decide to sell the

machine. Plus, most Certified Used machines are eligible

for low-rate financing from John Deere Financial.

HOW TO FIND A JOHN DEERE CERTIFIED USED MACHINEVisit machinefinder.com

to search for Certified Used machines. Create a new account,

specify the model you are looking

for, and get a notification when one becomes available.

Machine Finder represents only a portion of all the John Deere

Certified Used machines that are available. There may be used

machines on your local dealer’s

lot that haven’t been listed yet

or that may be eligible for certifi-

cation. Most Deere construction

equipment dealers are qualified to certify used machines. Ask

your dealer for more information.

Lease returns are a great source

of used John Deere machines in good condition with low hours. “We’re always looking for ways to offer our customers the best value, and leased machines do just that,” says Jim Erbesti, Rental Manager, James River Equipment, Ashland, Virginia. “Upon return from rental, many of these machines are still under extended warranty or a service agreement purchased at

the origination of the lease. That means our qualified technicians have been routinely performing all periodic maintenance since day

one. Prospective buyers can have a great deal of confidence in these machines.”

Many rental customers put very low hours on the machines. “That allows us to write down the cost of the machine, so they are a good value,” says Russ Paridis, Rental Manager,

Papé Equipment, Portland, Oregon.

The low hours make a lease return a good prospect to become a John Deere Certified Used machine (see sidebar at right), adding even more value. “To be certified, they

must be inspected thoroughly by experienced technicians to ensure quality,” says Paridis. “And if they are certified, they become eligible for full-machine warranties and low-rate financing.”

Our dealers have access to hundreds of lease returns as well as John Deere Certified Used machines. See your Deere dealer for more information about buying from a rental fleet.

WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO OFFER OUR CUSTOMERS THE BEST VALUE, AND LEASED MACHINES DO JUST THAT.

Jim Erbesti, Rental Manager, James River Equipment, Ashland, Virginia

JohnDeereFinancial.comCR2211481

1Offer ends February 28, 2019. Subject to approved credit on PowerPlan, a service of John Deere Financial, f.s.b. Available at participating dealers. Some restrictions apply. Prior purchases are not eligible. After promotional period, interest charges will begin to accrue at prime plus 14.90% APR. Other special rates and terms may be available, so see your dealer for details and other financing options.

THIS WINTER, FREEZE YOUR PAYMENTS — NOT YOUR INCOME.Keep working all year round! Add John Deere Worksite Pro™ snow-removal attachments to your fleet and pay Zero. Zilch. Nada. for up to 180 days.

Pile up more profit this year. Ask your dealer about Zero. Zilch. Nada. today.

WHEN YOU PUT JOHN DEERE WORKSITE PRO™

ATTACHMENTS ON POWERPLAN™.

OR

FOR 180 DAYS¹

PAYMENTS/ INTERESTNO 1.9% APR

FOR 12 MONTHS¹

OUR DEEPEST ROSTER OF HEAVY MACHINES EVER. Roadbuilding. Site development. Quarry excavation. Whatever type of operation you manage, John Deere has the heavy hitters you need to bolster production. Now stronger than ever with an 8-year/20,000-hour hybrid-electric-drive warranty on the 944K Wheel Loader and a 5-year/15,000-hour transmission warranty on E-Series ADTs.* So you can Run Your World.

*Additional conditions apply. Visit JohnDeere.com/HeavyEquipment or contact your dealer for complete details.

STRENGTHEN [ YOUR ] LINEUP

DKMAG241C Litho in U.S.A. (18-11)