Rokbak Relationship Enhances FT Aggregates’ Service Quality

Sand and gravel producer FT Aggregates is on a mission to produce the highest quality aggregates on time, all the time. Helping the company achieve its ambitions are its trusty Rokbak RA30 and RA40 articulated dump trucks.

FT Aggregates is a premium aggregates supplier to the Greater Edmonton Area, in Alberta, with a reputation for reliability and relatability. To maintain this reputation, the company relies on using the very best equipment, including articulated haulers from Scottish manufacturer Rokbak.

FT Aggregates produces over 1 million t/y of sand and gravel. A symbiotic relationship with Rokbak and local construction equipment dealership Headwater Equipment has formed a powerful team in this part of North America and aided their consistent service quality.

FT Aggregates has employed 4 RA40 articulated haulers since 2023 and added an RA30 to its fleet less than a year later. It runs a highly efficient operation and its Rokbak trucks must handle large volumes of material, essential for productivity and consistency of performance, with the trucks on maintenance plans to ensure minimal downtime.
Every RA40 moves between 100 and 120 loads and 5,000 t of material every day, 5 or 6 days a week, and the RA30 is an operator’s favourite for its comfort and surface handling.

“If our operators had to pick a truck amongst our fleet to run on site, it would be a Rokbak truck,” said Shane Smith, FT Aggregates president. “We’ve been very impressed by the fuel economy, the look and the comfort.”
At Pit 23, located south of Camrose, excavators load overburden into the RA40’s all-welded body, which has a capacity of 38 t. Each RA40 transports the material for production. The truck’s body is fabricated from high-hardness steel with a 1,000 MPa yield strength and features a dual-slope tail chute that facilitates material ejection.

Fully automatic transmission ensures smooth gear shifting, reducing fuel consumption and increasing operator comfort, even in tough environments. The pressurised cab with HVAC offers enhanced control and comfort. Key features include excellent traction and a strong power-to-weight ratio, ensuring fast material movement. This maximises productivity while minimising costs.

FT Aggregates was formed via a foreseen opportunity in the market by identifying the Camrose area becoming a major source of aggregates for the region. Beginning in the mid-2000s with just one crusher, one screener and one wheel loader, and a workforce made up of Shane and ‘just a couple of guys’, FT Aggregates has experienced substantial growth in recent times, doubling its staff in the last year from 25 to 50, employing 75 to 100 subcontractors and operating 6 pits across Alberta.
FT Aggregates plans sustained growth by adding new crushing and wash plants, aiming to strengthen its market position while maintaining the quality of personal customer interactions​. The introduction of new plants has created employment opportunities in the local area, contributing to the community’s economic development.

Close relationships are fundamental to FT Aggregates’ framework. It is a real family affair. Shane’s son Josh runs the operational side of the business, and his nephew Reuben is the production supervisor. Shane’s wife handles the HR, and his 2 daughters own the coffee shop at the landscape yard. Differentiating itself from larger, more faceless competitors, this personal approach is a key aspect of FT Aggregates’ success and operational model.

FT Aggregates’ rapid growth is both a positive development and a challenge, as maintaining personal connections and being approachable despite size and market share increase is crucial.

Source: Rokbak

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