As it approaches its 50th anniversary, Youngs Earthmoving continues to grow its already 147-strong fleet of Cat® equipment, thanks to a long-standing relationship with dealer WesTrac
Having a lifetime involvement with earthmoving equipment, Youngs Earthmoving founder and managing director Rodney Young was no stranger to heavy machinery growing up.
Growing up in the remote Kimberley Region of Western Australia, his father owned various pieces of equipment and Rodney was always intrigued by the yellow machines.
It’s this interest that planted the seeds from a young age to establish his own business.
“I remember standing there as a kid, watching a brand-new dozer working,” he says.
“That was probably the moment I knew I’d spend my life around earthmoving machinery.”
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In 1978 he launched Youngs Earthmoving, backed by his uncompromising work ethic and a single machine delivering contracting services.
Foundational projects included works for the Shire of Carnarvon – a coastal town around 900km north of Perth – the Main Roads Department, and various mining companies, including CRA Exploration.
One brand was chosen to be the backbone of the fleet, Caterpillar, and as the Cat fleet grew, so did a reputation for reliability, strong client partnerships and a willingness to take on the toughest jobs.
“We didn’t just want to move dirt, we wanted to build something lasting,” Rodney says.
“That meant investing heavily in our people and our equipment, even when it wasn’t easy.”
Forged in the dirt
For nearly five decades now, Youngs Earthmoving has not only undertaken some of the most remote projects in Australia – it has thrived, carving out a reputation as one of WA’s most trusted names in civil construction and mining support.
While it is today headquartered in Perth, the family-owned and operated contractor is true to its northern roots, with a large presence in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions, including Tom Price, Port Hedland and Derby.
Youngs Earthmoving’s services span far more than traditional earthworks, from flood recovery efforts to critical infrastructure projects, and it has consistently proven its capability to operate in some of the harshest and most isolated environments in Australia.
It offers everything from dam construction, road and airstrip construction and maintenance, to drill pad construction and rehabilitation as well as revegetation projects. Having this variety of services ensures the business is a one-stop shop for clients across the civil, mining and infrastructure sectors.
What began in 1978 with a single machine and a bold vision has grown into a powerhouse operation with more than 200 employees and 149 machines, including trucks.
Operating in the remote outback means machine reliability isn’t just important for the business, it’s critical. That’s why every piece of Young’s Earthmoving equipment carries the Caterpillar name.
“Cat machines have been a mainstay of the business,” Rodney says.
“I couldn’t afford a brand-new Cat machine when I first started off, but ever since I could, I’ve only chosen Cat machines because they have the most cutting-edge designs.
“When you’re going out to remote areas, you can’t go with old equipment and try to be a reliable supplier to your client, so you need the latest equipment and Cat has that.
“Nothing else matches the performance, longevity, reliability and resale value of Cat machines.”
Trusted partner
A partnership with local Cat dealer, WesTrac, has been a cornerstone of Youngs Earthmoving’s operational success. Since its inception in 1990, WesTrac has been the supplier of choice for Youngs’ machinery fleet.
Young says the exceptional aftersales service, fast parts support and deep understanding of the challenges of remote work have made WesTrac an invaluable ally.
“Having a supplier who’s got the parts and is able to service your equipment is integral in our work,” Rodney says.
“WesTrac has the biggest network of parts and service fitters throughout the state, so you know if you’re working remotely, you have the backup support.
“If you’ve got a problem with a Cat machine, they’ve got the technical expertise to solve it.”
Of all the times WesTrac has gone above and beyond to keep Youngs Earthmoving ticking along, Rodney says one stands alone.
Mobilising a road crew out to the Northern Territory border, around 1,500km east of Port Hedland, Rodney says a supervisor had broken down and needed a part for a grader. He was located around 200km past the mining town of Telfer in the Great Sandy Desert, making it near impossible to get the required part.
“In our world, downtime isn’t just expensive – it’s a threat to the whole project and, more importantly, longstanding client relationships,” Rodney says.
Being able to call a WesTrac dedicated service technician after hours, Rodney asked for assistance and WesTrac was happy to oblige.
“I asked if they could deliver the part to Perth airport, so I could fly to Telfer on next morning’s plane with the part in my hand,” he says.
“I told my supervisor to be at the security gate at 10am the next morning and he would have the part.
“By that afternoon we had the grader up and running again.
“Now here we are in the most remote place in Australia having a night breakdown, and we’re able to get the part and machine running the very next day – you can’t beat that.”
Building an empire
Over the decades, Youngs Earthmoving has seen many contractors come and go. Rodney credits its longevity to building real relationships both within and outside of the company.
He has also invested in highly trained operators and well-maintained Cat equipment to ensure staff turnover is minimal.
“We always have new or late model Cat machines,” Rodney says.
“That not only gives us exceptional reliability, but it also means that we can recruit and retain great operators because they’re not going to break down at work.”
For this reason, Rodney has always reinvested into the business, buying more Cat machines and developing a deep understanding of his clients’ needs. By doing so, it has helped the business grow and gain a reputation for reliable services.
“We’ve shown that we can do the job and we’ve grown because of our long-standing client relationships,” Rodney says.
“We started off with the civil arm of the business, but we really grew with the mining companies, and that’s where most of our business is now.”
Comparing the business from when it started to where it sits now, Rodney says the growth has been steady and strategic.
“Standing still was never an option, we’ve always embraced new technology, better techniques and smarter systems,” he says.
“It’s how you survive and thrive over almost five decades in this competitive environment.”
Along the way, Youngs has benefited from the guidance of many industry legends and key mentors from mining companies, including Leighton Holdings (now known as CIMIC group), Macmahon Holdings and Henry Walker Eltin.
“We’ve always made it a priority to learn from the best and to do things a little differently with an emphasis on maximising efficiency,” Rodney says.
Celebration time
With Caterpillar celebrating 100 years in building earthmoving machinery, and Youngs Earthmoving coming up to its own 50th anniversary, Rodney says that Caterpillar and WesTrac have been invaluable partners in the growth and success of his business, and will continue to play a key role.
“It gives you confidence in your business knowing WesTrac can always get your machine repaired if something goes wrong,” Rodney says.
“Caterpillar have an enormous equipment range of all sizes and for all types of projects.
“We’ll always use Caterpillar because it’s number one in the industry.”
For more information on Youngs Earthmoving, visit youngsearth.com.au or call 08 9286 4666.
WesTrac can be contacted by visiting westrac.com.au or by calling 1300 881 064.
