Page 240 - Peterson 85 Years and Going Strong

CORE VALUE: TEAMWORK
that was a Tier 1, but then here comes Tier 2 and Tier 3. Ultimately, you’d have to get rid of some of your equipment to stay compliant because every year the guidelines became harder and harder to meet. Those first repowers, though, were a big shot in the arm. Doing that gave us more time to adjust to the new standards.”
In the 2004–05 season, Independent cycled sixteen machines through the Carl Moyer program. And for the next five years, Peterson’s San Leandro shop was full of Independent repowers. “It was huge for Independent,” recalls D’Amore. “And it was huge for Peterson.”
As the years passed, Tier 1s and Tier 2s were replaced by Tier 3 in 2006 and Tier 4 in 2011. “You can’t hang onto machines any longer, no matter how good of shape they’re in,” says Merrigan. “There are people who can’t afford to stay compliant and use all rental equipment or go out of business. But Independent worked hard to stay ahead of the curve. We were in the program from the very beginning and we just kept going.”
In 2015, Merrigan retired and Darren Caperole stepped into the equipment superintendent position. Since then, he has worked hard at keeping the fleet clean and current with EPA regulations. “We’re buying a lot of used equipment that is Tier 4 compliant. We don’t buy anything—new or used—unless it’s Tier 4 or better,” says Caperole.“We do a lot of work in Southern
California, and you can’t even bid a lot of those jobs unless you’re Tier 4 compliant. The com- petition in Southern California is fierce, and Northern California is getting there.”
Since Independent works throughout Califor- nia, they have to deal with several different air districts, all of which supersede the state’s re- quirements. “You have to pay attention to each air district’s rules and regulations because they
Early Indy repowers—D9 in Peterson’s San Leandro shop
238 | PETERSON: 85 YEARS AND GOING STRONG