One cold Minnesota morning, Steve Strandlund Jr., DW Companies' president, and Dan Lasse, its fleet manager, had a problem.
The wind was frigid, the ground frozen and their large John Deere excavator was down due to required maintenance. At the job site, they discussed how they could start grading work on schedule, ensuring the site they were preparing for the construction of a brand new gas station and convenience store would be able to open on time. That's when these two leaders turned to their trusted equipment expert.
High Demand Production On Tight Schedules
Strandlund Jr. shares that his company partners with other commercial contractors who expect grading work to stay on schedule despite Minnesota's unpredictable weather. That means DW's fleet must be ready to perform in freezing temperatures, through frost-covered mornings and across multiple job sites. Lasse said access to rental equipment and machine control technology solutions has become more than a convenience; it has been a tactical tool.
"We rented John Deere's 950 dozer with SmartGrade first to test it out when our older machine was down," Lasse said. "It helped us increase production hours to achieve accurate grades in less time, so we decided to purchase it. Rental gave us the flexibility to scale up without slowing down."
DW Companies chooses to strategically rent, selecting machines that match the demands of each project. Lasse said John Deere's grade control technology, SmartGrade, helped their operators to move more dirt in less time. While the relationship began with rental, DW Companies now trusts RDO to provide full-service partnerships where RDO team members provide field support, training and equipment technology.
"Our tag line is doing dirt work better, and we feel that RDO parallels our values of doing what we say and keeping projects on budget and schedule," said Kayti Bjorklund-Strandlund, DW Companies' culture lead and co-founder. "We've developed a relationship with RDO and John Deere that's a true partnership, where we can trust that they will provide effective service to keep our machines running."
Watch this D.W. Companies share their experience with RDO, rental equipment and grade control solutions from their job site.
Technology That Keeps Crews Working
Lasse explains that they run machines from various manufacturers, which can make machine monitoring and grade control a challenge. With Topcon Positioning Systems, including base and rover setups, Strandlund, Jr. and Lasse can monitor grade accuracy in real time, even in icy conditions. Most dozers are equipped with John Deere's SmartGrade, a fully integrated, 2D or 3D grade control system that helps to automate and streamline grading processes. Then the Topcon base receiver gathers GPS corrections and sends them to the rover receiver to provide a real-time survey of the entire DW fleet.
"Completing grade work during colder temperatures is tough on both machines and operators," Lasse said. "Topcon helps us stay accurate and efficient."
Account Manager Shaun Joy and Field Technician Dylan Bogdan work closely with DW Companies to integrate Topcon across their fleet and keep it running with minimal downtime. From mock job site training to remote support, RDO ensures DW's operators are equipped and confident.
"When I call RDO, they work with their network to get what we need to keep our crews working," Strandlund Jr. said. "Other dealers might forget about you once you drive off the lot; not RDO."
Service That Mirrors Their Values
When DW Companies launched in 2020, they had one truck and a shared vision: build a business rooted in people, relationships and responsive service. Today, DW is a growing force in the Twin Cities metro area, known for tackling tough dirt work with precision and purpose.
"If you have the right people and mindset, then challenging sites become our favorite," Strandlund, Jr. said. "When we started working with RDO, we found a company that will be that one point of contact to deliver the equipment, technology and responsive field support."
Leaders of DW pride themselves on being people-focused. They've built relationships with clients like Kwik Trip, another family-owned business that values strategic growth. For Strandlund Jr., choosing partners who share DW's values is essential.
"At the end of the day, we're a company focused on developing our people," he said. "We do business with partners who believe in that too."
RDO's responsive service, reliable equipment and commitment to training have helped DW grow without compromising quality. Whether it's solving a DEF sensor issue remotely or surveying a job site with Topcon, RDO supports DW Companies' mission of growing people and building communities.
"We always have about five job sites working around the Twin Cities," Strandlund, Jr. said. "And with RDO, we know we can keep moving forward."
(Article reprinted with permission from RDO Equipment. Si Hanna is the vice president of equipment of RDO Equipment.)
