191 190 Growth Rings Expertise
Equipment maintenance at Davey dates to before the arboriculture industry operated
heavy equipment, when speed saws, ladders and manila ropes were cutting edge tools.
Back then, shop employees were tasked with sharpening saw blades, repairing ladder
rungs, and shipping rope orders to keep the field employees up and running.
As the machine age dawned, Davey incorporated the use and maintenance of
chainsaws, bucket trucks, chippers, mist sprayers and more into company operations.
Equipment maintenance evolved from simple repairs to rebuilding entire trucks –
complete with new engines.
As engines advanced, in the 1980s and 1990s, the Kent Shop turned its focus from
rebuilding trucks and replacing engines to custom fabrication of truck bodies, lawn
and tree sprayer systems and many other custom equipment innovations required by
Davey field managers. Management there also started a mass auction, during which
retired equipment came from across the U.S. to be serviced, cleaned and prepped for
auction as a means of final disposal of equipment to eliminate that burden from field
personnel.
Employee safety has always been the hallmark of the Davey Company, and this
was reflected in Davey shop facilities where employees started to focus on the mainte-
nance and inspection of aerial lift units. e increased articulation, height and general
evolution of aerial units called for operational and policy changes to ensure the
safety and welfare of Davey arborists. Davey's equipment department implemented
a comprehensive aerial inspection program to assure that all aspects of maintenance
and safety of aerial units were addressed.
Over the years, the number of Davey's shop locations has grown. By 2017, Davey
operated 13 shop facilities with varying capabilities across North America. Locations
ranged from Charlotte to Livermore, California, and Edmonton, Alberta. ese shops
retain equipment service and maintenance responsibilities ranging from oil changes
in trucks and chippers, to chipper and saw blade sharpening and other general
maintenance duties necessary for the safe and efficient production daily of all field
locations.
Davey's Fleet Services department employed more than 100 employees in 2019.
Equipment Maintenance at
Davey Evolved with Machine Age
Davey employees attend a chipper maintenance
training program at the Kent Shop in 2016.
EXPERTISE
Employees are instructed on pump maintenance
for a Davey spray truck circa 1950s-1960s.
