What’s It Like to Rent with RDO? DW Companies Shares Their Experience

D.W. Companies, faced the challenge of maintaining uptime and grading accuracy across multiple job sites during harsh Minnesota winters. With a mixed fleet and demanding clients, DW Co. turned to RDO Equipment Co. for rental flexibility, machine control technology and responsive service that keeps their crews working. 

Contractor Snapshot 

• Customer: DW Companies 
• Location: Twin Cities Metro, Minnesota
• Specialty: Site development, fine grading, commercial dirt work
• Fleet Highlights: John Deere 950 dozers, 350P and 230 excavators, Topcon base and rover systems, SmartGrade technology 

The Contractor’s Challenge 

DW Companies needed to complete fine grading work across five active job sites, even during freezing conditions with up to four feet of frost. Managing a mixed fleet and meeting high client expectations required real-time machine monitoring and reliable support. 

“Completing grade work during colder temperatures is tough on both machines and operators,” said Dan Lasse, DW Companies’ Fleet Manager.

 The RDO Solution 

Experienced equipment expert Shaun Joy partnered with Field Service Technician Dylan Bogdan to equip DW’s machines with SmartGrade and install Topcon Positioning Systems’ base and rover on one of their job sites. Lasse and crew also took advantage of a Rental Purchase Option (RPO) to try out and eventually purchase a larger dozer with grade control technology.

• Rental Equipment: John Deere 950 dozers and excavators tailored to job site needs
• Technology: Topcon Positioning Systems, SmartGrade integration across mixed fleet
• Services: On-site training, remote diagnostics, connected support

“Some dealers forget you after the sale — not RDO,” said Steve Strandlund, Jr., DW Companies’ President. “They’re with us every step of the way.” 

Results on the Job Site  

RDO understands that providing access to rental machines and the flexibility to build equity via an RPO can help a contractor add to his fleet at his own pace, only adding the machine that will increase efficiency without an excessive investment.

“Rental helps us scale without slowing down,” Strandlund, Jr. said. “It’s a smart way to stay productive.”

DW Companies leaders reported the following results from job site with the 950 dozer with SmartGrade and Topcon’s base and rover.

• Increased production hours with SmartGrade-equipped machines
• Reduced downtime through remote support and diagnostics
• Improved grading accuracy and job site coordination 

“Topcon helps us stay accurate and efficient even when we are working in challenging weather conditions or with a rental machine,” Lasse said.

Why RDO? 

DW Companies values RDO’s responsiveness, shared values and partnership to help their business grow. 

“We do business with partners who believe in developing people, not just the business,” Strandlund, Jr. said. “RDO mirrors our values and provides effective real-time field support.” 

D.W. Companies’ Future Projects 

As metro areas grow, DW Companies will keep relying on RDO for rental flexibility, fleet expansion and smart technology to support new developments. 

Want to keep your projects moving with smart rental solutions and machine control? Contact your local RDO construction specialist to explore Topcon and SmartGrade options. 

Watch DW Companies team share more about partnering with RDO Equipment Co. to complete projects on time and budget.