Compact Equipment

Photo provided by Trimble. Trimble has selected Dunmore, Pennsylvania-based Five Star Equipment as its newest Trimble Technology outlet, the company announced Aug. 27. The firm says Five Star will be a fully-outfitted Trimble Technology dealer and sell Trimble’s grade control, site positioning systems, and correction services technology.

Backhoe loader manufacturer JCB is bringing its Dual Drive system to PWX 2026, aiming to show off the innovation on the American Public Works Association’s largest stage of the year. The team designed the new system to “transform the way operators work,” officials say. Touted as potentially revolutionary for the construction equipment industry, Dual Drive enables full machine movement while the operator remains seated in the excavator operating position.

Photo provided by the University of Illinois. The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) has unveiled an on-field sponsorship with construction equipment titan Caterpillar Inc., the school announced Aug. 26. The partnership will display the Caterpillar logo on the 25-yard lines at the school’s college football arena, Gies Memorial Stadium.

Photo provided by the American Rental Association. The American Rental Association’s (ARA) latest quarterly economic forecast has good news for the U.S. construction industry, representatives say. In the latest report, the association projects that the combined American construction and industrial equipment (CIE) industry will increase by 3.4% in 2026, to a total of $83.5 billion.

Associated Builders and Contractors recently shared the findings of its Drone Usage report, a survey ABC conducted of its contractor members in May 2026. According to the survey, 36.1% of ABC contractor member respondents reported that they fly drones. ABC also highlighted these report findings: Drones are most often used for site progress monitoring (80.8%), marketing and media (77.5%) and inspections and mapping (50%).

Photo provided by Sage Mfg. Sage Mfg. has announced its formation as a parent company of Sage Oil Vac and Amarillo Tanks, as well as the newly launched Amarillo Upfitters. The launch “coincides with a significant investment in the company’s future,” with the firm opening a new 20-acre, $21 million headquarters in Amarillo, Texas.

Photos provided by FAE USA. This July, FAE USA held its 2026 Demo Days in Belton, South Carolina. The demos were held over the course of two days, July 15 and 16, and featured a range of FAE machines for guests to see and operate. Set on an expansive hunting property which was generously opened up to attendees and staff by FAE brand ambassador Edwin McCain, the location provided plenty of vegetation to demonstrate the machines at their best.

Photo provided by Kubota North America. Kubota North America is adding to its investment commitment in the U.S. and the continent as a whole, officials say, with an expansion of its construction equipment manufacturing presence. Now producing its SVL75-3 compact track loader at Great Plains Manufacturing in Salina, Kansas, the Grapevine, Texas-based arm of Kubota celebrated the expansion Aug. 18.

Photo provided by John Deere. John Deere has officially opened public voting for its “Building America” Excavator Contest. The company is inviting the public to help select the grand prize winner from three finalists representing construction businesses across the country. You can cast your vote from now until August 31, 2026. Finalists: Caleb Lovette of Wolf Creek Land Co. in Tennessee; Nick Long of Chamberlain Backhoe Service in California; and Patrick Rector of Rector Excavating Inc. in Kentucky.

The Toro Company Foundation and the American Rental Association (ARA) Foundation have announced the completion of updates and enhancements on the grounds of the Homeless Garden Project in Santa Cruz, California. The two companies banded together for the volunteer project on Aug. 6, in collaboration with the ARA of California.