Complete Equipment

Because business isn’t just about what you know, it’s about who you know.

Duvid Streicher of Complete Equipment

Some businesses need to rent several rooms of office space for their operations. The Lakewood-based Complete Equipment rents 1.5 acres. 

With a fleet of several hundred pieces of large construction machinery that on any given day, is being used on construction sites across New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, when Duvid Streicher says that the job involves keeping track of lots of moving parts, he means it quite literally!

Yet, for him, this is all part of the excitement of a job that, for a frum-owned business, is quite off the beaten path.

“I was looking for a unique niche,” he says about his decision to start a construction equipment business eight years ago. “And I’d long had an interest in equipment and machinery.”

He started his business with one 8K telehandler. Today, his huge fleet includes aerial lifts, material handlers, earth moving equipment, and specialty equipment, particularly machinery for the glazing industry.  And the area that they service is constantly expanding.  In fact, after exhibiting at the recent Mid-Atlantic OJBA show, he’s decided to expand to the Baltimore region as well.

“People sometimes ask me, ‘Is it really worth it for you to transport heavy equipment to such distant locations?’” Streicher says. “I tell them, don’t worry about where we’re coming from; our location is on the trucks! You just put in your order, tell us where you need it to go, and we’ll make sure it does!”

But, according to Streicher, more than the equipment, the key ingredient to his business’s success is the way they take care of their customers.  And that boils down to having a great team.  Assembling the right team is crucial for a business owner, especially for a business like his, which depends on tight coordination between so many different pieces.

His drivers need to be skilled enough to drive large tractor-trailers through tight city streets. His team of experienced mechanics are on constant call to be able to offer quick turnaround on repairing the machines when they break down while on the job – which, machines being what they are, inevitably happens.  And, of course, his office staff are there coordinating it all, and ensuring that every client receives the personal care and service they need.

So what’s his secret to maintaining a top-notch team? Creating an environment of positivity and excellent morale – and that starts, he says, at the top.

“We work hard to create an exciting work environment. We have company parties, employee reward programs and great benefits.”  It’s an environment that encourages dedication and accountability – and their customers feel it.

“We’ll do anything for our customers, ”he says.  For example, he tells about a call he received from a client one Sunday – when their business is closed -saying he urgently needed a certain machine by Monday morning. 

“Our trucks and drivers are typically booked ahead of time, but we managed to work it out for him.  Since our equipment and trucking are all in-house, we’re able to rearrange things to accommodate such last-minute requests.”

Because, the way he sees it, his ultimate job is to make sure his clients’ construction projects run as success fully as possible.