About Holt Backhoe Service Inc.
Free Estimates | Over 32 Years of Experience | Emergency Services Available
Free Estimates
Over 32 Years of Experience
Emergency Services Available
How Our Business Started
In the late 1980s, Larry Holt lost his job with a major oil company in a mass layoff. Anyone with less than 10 years with the company was let go. Larry was just a few months shy of the 10-year mark. He used his severance check to lease a backhoe for six months after people told him they'd give him work if he had the equipment.
At the end of 1989, Larry purchased his first Case backhoe. Things worked out well, and in 1990, he started Holt Backhoe Service Inc. Today, he owns two Case 580 Super M+ backhoes, an 850 dozer, a couple of Case excavators as well as dump trucks.
What We Do
Holt Backhoe Service Inc. is based in Robinson, IL, and works mostly within Crawford County. We handle a broad range of services such as septic work, drainage for farmers, and concrete work including driveways and parking lots.
We also do some oil field jobs such as cleanup work after a rig is moved in or out, cleaning and digging pits, and cleaning up oil spills. This includes scraping up oil-saturated soil and taking it to the landfill. We rely on repeat customers and word-of-mouth for most of our business.
"Our focus is on doing the job right the first time," Larry said, including "the little extras" such as making an effort to clean up around the work site at the end of a job to make it easier to get projects off to a good start. "It's better to put forth that kind of effort than to advertise for work," he added.
Larry works alongside his son, Trent Holt, and his wife, Toni, who is co-owner of the business. Toni handles all administrative responsibilities while Larry and Trent are tasked with handling the equipment.
Larry and Trent are not just champion backhoe operators but have also competed in the Case Backhoe Rodeo Series, held in 2008, with Larry finishing first and Trent fourth in the local competition. Larry went on to the finals in Las Vegas, where he ranked in the top 20 out of some 75 competitors.
Our Relationship With Birkey's
Larry has been a Case customer for more than 25 years and attributes his loyalty both to the machinery and to the support offered by Birkey's. When the company calls on Birkey's, Larry knows the dealership will do "a super job."
"One call to Clay, and Judd or Kim will come by to fix it," Larry said. "They know we've got a business to run, and if we're broke down, they get us help."
He also has a good relationship with his sales rep, Don Spence. "If there's a problem, he's on the phone to get it taken care of," Larry said. "He always gets back to me quickly."
The machinery we use is well suited for the kind of work we do. Our Super M+ has a wide track and pulling power that makes it easier to pull a rig out of the mud. The wide-track 850 dozer is also well-suited for working in muddy oilfields.
Future Plans
With Trent working for the company, Larry says he can foresee branching out and buying different equipment. "Every year, we pick up new customers, and we try to figure out which piece of equipment would help us on the job."
After renting an excavator, Larry realized that he had plenty of use for it on various jobs and went on to purchase one.
To learn more about our services or to receive a FREE estimate for your project, give us a call today, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.
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