Five Star Equipment recently achieved the largest tractor-loader-backhoe deal in its history, selling 19 of the units to a single customer—E.E. Root & Sons Inc. of Oswego, NY.

A John Deere dealership with New York locations in Kirkwood, Syracuse, Rochester and Oriskany, Five Star has an additional location in Stroudsburg, PA, and corporate headquarters in Dunmore, PA.

E.E. Root primarily does contracting work for several local utility companies in central New York, and is headed by Gary Root, who is assisted by his sons, Mark and Jeff.

The contractor has about 150 employees and owns approximately 100 pieces of machinery. E.E. Root decided to buy the 19 machines after being awarded a five-year contract by one of its major customers.

The loader backhoes the company bought were John Deere 310 SG 4X4’s, including heated cabs, extendable dippersticks, power-shift transmissions, and JRB quick couplers set up on the rears. Six of the machines were set up with front-end tool carriers. The package also included four JRB power-angled snowplows, three sets of forks and three JRB power booms.

E.E. Root also owns a John Deere 850 dozer with a cable plow, and a JD 450-G with side boom.

“We wanted to update and standardize our entire fleet. Our fleet of loader backhoes was produced by several different manufacturers, which means we were having to go to several different locations for parts and service,” said Mark Root. “We saw the need to cut our maintenance, and felt that by updating all of our machines, we would effectively do that. We have owned some John Deere machines since 1994, and have been happy with its products, so naturally we explored upgrading our entire fleet to their line.”

Mark Root credits Five Star sales representative Tom Lasicki with completing the sale, with the help of sales manager Rick Kutalek.

According to Lasicki, a large percentage of E.E. Root’s old backhoe loader inventory was 2-wheel drive, open ROPS machines.

“The open ROPS meant that their operators could not effectively use these machines during the winter because it was too cold,” said Lasicki. “And, E.E. Root wanted to get more use out of their machines year round, especially after winning new snow removal contracts.”

Along with Deere quality, and Five-Star’s service, the final factor sealing the deal was convenience.

“We do most of our utility work between Binghamton and Watertown north and south, and east and west from Rochester to the Albany area,” said Mark Root. “This means that Five Star’s various locations in New York state will never be far away when we need them.”

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