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“The most valuable thing I learned was the importance of a well-kept workplace and well-maintained equipment, ” he said. That lesson is the reason Miller counts on Butler Machinery Company and its Cat® equipment.

“Everything I have is Cat,” Miller said, “and the No. 1 reason for that is Butler’s service. Their sales staff, parts availability and service are unbeatable. In the past, we’ve tried other avenues, but Cat, in my book, is simply better made.”

Last year, Miller shared his maintenance mantra with others by hosting a daylong Cat Care seminar at his shop for approximately 50 of his peers. The seminar – led by Ron Bannwarth, Butler Account Technician, and Dave Kasowski, Butler’s General Service Manager in Sioux Falls – covered a variety of topics including new emission systems and fuels, oil sampling, maintenance, GPS and safety. “Jeff not only uses these Butler-recommended procedures, he promotes them to others,” Bannwarth said. “The event taught others how to keep their equipment running longer and more efficiently with Butler’s help.”

Serving as a Huron-based subcontractor for South Dakota Department of Transportation highway projects, Miller and his four employees use a 299C Compact Track Loader, 420E Backhoe Loader, D5N LGP Track-Type Tractor, 325D Excavator and other CAT machines to perform excavation work, slope flattening and culvert repairs.

In addition to occasional demolition projects, Miller also oversees the wintertime operations of his company, Diversified Trucking LLC. He uses his Cat-powered tractor-trailer to haul a convertible hopper trailer filled with bagged or bulk birdseed and medicated feed ingredients. Keeping his operations “lean and mean,” Miller noted Butler’s service is vital to his success. “Since we don’t have spare equipment, a mechanical failure would mean I’m sitting still,” he said. “That’s why Butler’s service is huge. They’re always there to pull me out of a jam.”

Noting dependability is key to Miller operations, Bannwarth recently recommended Cat’s 299C Compact Track Loader, which boasts a steel embedded rubber track undercarriage. “Daily operating in the mud and muck, the 299C is the perfect piece of equipment to suit Miller’s needs,” Bannwarth said. “In addition to being more rugged than its predecessors, it’s also easier to maintain as it daily maintenance points are easily accessible.”

Taking Bannwarth’s advice, Miller and his crew now rely heavily upon their Cat 299C for setting pipe and sloping dirt work. “We use it at every job,” he said. “We purchased it in October, and we already have more than 700 hours on it. It’s indispensable.”

Miller also noted his Cat Compact Track Loader has exceptional speed. “In addition to being durable, it’s also fast,” he said. “That’s an unbeatable combination in my eyes, especially since time is money.” In order to expand his capabilities with agricultural loadings – another one of Miller’s enterprises – he recently purchased a 972H Wheel Loader. To better serve several local elevators, Miller plans to equip the Cat 972H with a custom 460-bushel rollout bucket, enabling him to quickly load stockpiled corn and soybeans. “It will be pretty impressive,” he said.

For the past decade, Butler’s sales force, especially Bannwarth, has strived to go beyond the typical client-customer relationship, according to Miller. “It’s like a friendship,” he said. “Ron is always asking about my children, Samantha and Austin, or my wife, Rene. He truly cares about my business and my family.” Miller noted Bannwarth and his fellow Butler salesman have a “proven track record,” and he plans to count on Butler for years to come. “It is a win-win deal,” he said. “It really benefits you as a customer.”