Notes from the yard &amp; the road

2026-04-12 · ~8 min

Fleet manager's guide: using IRON+ to trial equipment before committing

How fleet managers can use the 30-day IRON+ return window as a structured trial period — validating machines against real fleet requirements before the purchase becomes permanent.

2026-04-10 · ~9 min

What our pre-sale inspection looks like — and why IRON+ starts before you sign

The IRON+ guarantee is only as good as the inspection behind it. Here's exactly what we check, how we document it, and why some machines don't make the cut.

2026-04-08 · ~7 min

Veteran-owned operations and IRON+: no-nonsense buying for disciplined operators

Military veterans launching equipment businesses bring discipline and risk awareness. Here's how IRON+ aligns with the way veterans evaluate commitments.

2026-04-07 · ~7 min

Used backhoe loader checklist — and what IRON+ covers if you miss something

A field-tested inspection checklist for used backhoe loaders, plus how IRON+ protects you when a walk-around misses what only field hours reveal.

2026-04-06 · ~8 min

Florida landowner buying guide: IRON+ and why a 30-day return matters for seasonal work

If your equipment needs are driven by Florida's wet/dry seasons, hurricane prep, and land clearing cycles, here's how IRON+ protects seasonal buyers.

2026-04-04 · ~9 min

10 questions buyers always ask about the IRON+ guarantee (answered honestly)

We compiled the questions buyers actually ask — including the uncomfortable ones — and answered every single one without marketing polish.

2026-04-03 · ~7 min

Telehandler buying guide: why IRON+ matters for boom and frame condition

Telehandlers hide expensive problems in their booms and frames. Here's what to inspect and why a 30-day return guarantee is the best protection for a first-time telehandler buyer.

2026-04-02 · ~7 min

Shipping heavy equipment nationwide: what IRON+ covers from yard to job site

IRON+ doesn't stop at the machine — it covers the logistics headaches too. Here's how shipping, returns, and delivery work when you buy with the guarantee.

2026-04-01 · ~8 min

Trade-in + IRON+: how to upgrade your equipment stack without betting the farm

Combining a trade-in with an IRON+-eligible purchase turns a high-stakes upgrade into a reversible decision. Here's exactly how the math works.

Buying a used skid steer with a 30-day return window: what to check on day one

2026-03-31 · ~8 min

Buying a used skid steer with a 30-day return window: what to check on day one

Your IRON+ skid steer just arrived. Here's the day-one checklist that tells you whether the machine matches the listing — and what to watch for over the next 30 days.

2026-03-24 · ~8 min

First-time excavator buyer? Here's how IRON+ removes the biggest risk

Buying your first excavator is stressful. Here's what to look for, what to worry about, and how IRON+ gives you a 30-day safety net.

2026-03-17 · ~9 min

Auction 'as-is' vs IRON+: which used equipment purchase protects your money?

A detailed comparison of buying used iron at auction versus buying with a 30-day money-back guarantee — risk by risk, dollar by dollar.

Why we built a money-back guarantee for heavy equipment (and why nobody else has)

2026-03-10 · ~9 min

Why we built a money-back guarantee for heavy equipment (and why nobody else has)

The used equipment industry runs on 'as-is, where-is.' We decided that model was broken and built IRON+ to fix it.

2026-03-04 · ~8 min

IRON+: the 30-day return guarantee that changes how you buy used iron

A step-by-step look at the IRON+ program — what it covers, how the return window works, and why we think it's the fairest way to buy used heavy equipment.

Heat, humidity, and coolant systems: the boring failures that strand crews

2025-10-21 · ~9 min

Heat, humidity, and coolant systems: the boring failures that strand crews

Blown hoses and weak fans do not make for sexy blog titles—they make for tow bills. Here is what we watch on yard prep.

2025-09-02 · ~10 min

John Deere 644K wheel loader: the numbers quarry crews quote back to us

A high-level pass on published weight, power, and bucket—useful context before you compare a used unit to your spread.

Dealer yard vs auction hammer: what the winning bid never includes

2025-08-14 · ~11 min

Dealer yard vs auction hammer: what the winning bid never includes

Hammer price is one line item. Transport, risk, title delay, and recon are the rest of the story—we map it the way CFOs do.

Tier 4 interim/final, DPF, and DEF: what used buyers should budget beyond the payment

2025-07-08 · ~14 min

Tier 4 interim/final, DPF, and DEF: what used buyers should budget beyond the payment

Emissions hardware is not moral—it is maintenance. Here is the line items we see bite fleets when they chase low auction prices.

Cat 320 vs John Deere 350P excavator: what Florida dirt work actually tells you

2025-06-12 · ~9 min

Cat 320 vs John Deere 350P excavator: what Florida dirt work actually tells you

Two mid-size excavators. Same job sites. Different philosophies. We break down what Florida trench work reveals that spec sheets hide.

Telehandler load charts: how to read capacity at height without fooling yourself

2025-06-11 · ~12 min

Telehandler load charts: how to read capacity at height without fooling yourself

Lift capacity is not one number—it is a surface. Here is the plain-English version we give crews before they sign a rental or buy a stick.

Financing and shipping: how we quote lanes from Hilliard without drama

2025-06-04

Financing and shipping: how we quote lanes from Hilliard without drama

From permit reality to load securement—what we include when we talk dollars and dates.

Hurricane prep for equipment fleets in Florida: what our yard does every June

2025-06-01 · ~7 min

Hurricane prep for equipment fleets in Florida: what our yard does every June

A practical hurricane-season checklist for Florida equipment owners — from fuel reserves to post-storm deployment.

The 45-minute used skid steer walk-around: what to pull, check, and listen for

2025-05-28 · ~11 min

The 45-minute used skid steer walk-around: what to pull, check, and listen for

A field-tested inspection checklist for used skid steers — from cold start to coupler pins.

2025-05-15 · ~8 min

Kubota SVL95-2 vs Bobcat T650: which CTL holds up in sand and pine straw

Two popular compact track loaders tested against Florida terrain — soft ground, tight lots, and attachment versatility.

2025-05-09 · ~13 min

Used CTL buying: what 'undercarriage 60%' should and should not mean

Pins, bushings, sprockets, and rollers—here is how we translate wear into a real maintenance budget.

Wide-load moves out of Florida: escorts, schedules, and the questions carriers ask first

Logistics

2025-04-22 · ~11 min

Wide-load moves out of Florida: escorts, schedules, and the questions carriers ask first

Permitting is a paperwork sport. Here is what our shipping partners insist we clarify before they quote a lane.

$Auction vs dealer: running the real math on a backhoe purchase in 2025$

2025-04-20 · ~10 min

Auction vs dealer: running the real math on a backhoe purchase in 2025

The hammer price is never the final price. We run the full cost comparison so you can make an informed decision.

Equipment financing rates in 2025: what buyers are actually getting approved for

2025-04-05 · ~8 min

Equipment financing rates in 2025: what buyers are actually getting approved for

Real rate data, term structures, and what lenders look at — based on deals we see close through our yard.

$Auxiliary hydraulics: the GPM math we run before selling you an attachment$

2025-04-01 · ~10 min

Auxiliary hydraulics: the GPM math we run before selling you an attachment

Horsepower sells machines; hydraulic horsepower runs attachments. Here is the quick math we use so nobody melts a motor.

Telehandler or rough-terrain forklift: which one belongs on your site

2025-03-18 · ~7 min

Telehandler or rough-terrain forklift: which one belongs on your site

Different machines for different lifts — we break down when each one earns its spot on the trailer.

Walking the Hilliard yard: how we prep, price, and present iron before it lists

Company

2025-03-05 · ~6 min

Walking the Hilliard yard: how we prep, price, and present iron before it lists

A behind-the-scenes look at what happens between the time we buy a machine and the time it appears on our site.

Cat 242D3 vs John Deere 318G: the spec sheet side-by-side (skid-steer class)

2025-03-04 · ~14 min

Cat 242D3 vs John Deere 318G: the spec sheet side-by-side (skid-steer class)

Same lift pattern, different numbers—here is a straight comparison with OEM-published weights and flows, plus what we watch on used units.

Dozer buying guide for Florida land clearing: blade width, track pitch, and moisture

2025-02-20 · ~9 min

Dozer buying guide for Florida land clearing: blade width, track pitch, and moisture

Florida clearing work demands specific dozer specs. Here is what to look for and what to avoid.

Florida construction employment: what the 2024 BLS tape actually says

2025-02-18 · ~12 min

Florida construction employment: what the 2024 BLS tape actually says

AGC's read on Florida job growth isn't marketing—it's tied to BLS CES tables. Here is how we use those prints when we plan yard inventory.

2025-02-05 · ~8 min

IRON+ vs standard dealer warranty: what the paperwork actually protects

Not all warranties are equal. We break down what IRON+ covers, what it doesn't, and how it compares to typical dealer programs.

Telehandlers in 2025: how Cat and Deere stack up on reach vs capacity

2025-01-21

Telehandlers in 2025: how Cat and Deere stack up on reach vs capacity

Lift charts matter more than badges—here is how we guide buyers before they commit a haul truck.

Florida's heavy equipment map: who's who—and where ESS fits

2024-08-14

Florida's heavy equipment map: who's who—and where ESS fits

A practical look at major Florida dealers and yards, and why a Hilliard-first workflow still wins for buyers who want speed and clarity.

Mid-size excavators: where Cat and Deere diverge under real trench loads

2024-02-27

Mid-size excavators: where Cat and Deere diverge under real trench loads

Hydraulic tuning, counterweight strategy, and what Florida dirt does to undercarriage life.

Why buyers start at ESS instead of a national pipeline

Why us

2023-11-02

Why buyers start at ESS instead of a national pipeline

National networks move metal at scale; Equipment Service and Supply focuses on curated yard stock and shipping you can track from quote to load-out.

Used iron in Florida: a buyer's checklist before you wire a deposit

2023-03-08

Used iron in Florida: a buyer's checklist before you wire a deposit

Pins, bushings, hydraulics, and title realities—what we verify before we list a unit.

From logging roots to iron on the ground: the ESS mission in one lane

Company

2022-10-16

From logging roots to iron on the ground: the ESS mission in one lane

How land-clearing DNA shapes the way we buy, list, and move heavy equipment today.

Caterpillar vs John Deere skid steers: a yard-level comparison