What It Takes to Build a Successful Earthmoving Business: Lessons from Beau at BRC Dirtworks
What It Takes to Build a Successful Earthmoving Business: Lessons from Beau at BRC Dirtworks
If you’ve ever wondered how someone goes from chasing motocross dreams to running a serious earthworks and crushing operation, Beau’s story is a great one to study. In this conversation, he breaks down how he got started, how he grew his business, why he’s loyal to Komatsu, and what it really takes to keep a small earthmoving business moving forward.
What stands out most is that Beau didn’t build BRC Dirtworks by following a neat plan. He built it by getting in, learning fast, backing himself, and saying yes to opportunities that most people would have missed. If you’re in earthmoving, thinking about starting out, or trying to grow without losing the love for the work, there’s a lot here for you.
How Beau Got Started in Earthworks
Beau’s path into earthmoving wasn’t linear. He always wanted to work with machinery, but early on, no one would give him a chance because he was too young. He started a greenkeeping apprenticeship instead, and even then he was already teaching his teachers how to use bobcats.
That says a lot about how he learned – by doing, watching, and figuring things out quickly.Eventually, he got sick of waiting for someone to “give him a go.”
While he was still racing motocross and making decent money from that, he sold his bikes, scraped together a deposit, and bought his first machine. That decision changed everything.
His first machine and first break
Beau bought a wheel loader first, not an excavator. He went looking at brands and found that Komatsu took him seriously when others didn’t. They showed him multiple machines, helped him find something in budget, and treated him like a real customer instead of a kid wasting their time. That early experience mattered.
It wasn’t just about the machine. It was about being treated with respect, and that built the trust that still shapes how he buys equipment today.
The first machine was an older Komatsu 180-3 with a 4-in-1 bucket, and from there he started doing work through contacts in building and golf course projects. It was a classic example of starting small, backing yourself, and building momentum from whatever came next.
What this teaches youIf you’re trying to get started, Beau’s story is a reminder that you do not need perfect timing. You need:
a way in
enough confidence to buy the first machine or take the first job
the patience to build from there
He also shows that your first opportunity might come from an unexpected place. For him, it came from racing, greenkeeping, family contacts, and just being persistent enough to keep showing up.
Why Motocross Helped Shape His Earthworks Career
One of the most interesting parts of Beau’s background is how deeply motocross shaped the way he works now. He wasn’t just a casual rider. He raced seriously, spent years in the sport, and eventually moved into track building too. That experience gave him something most earthworks contractors do not have – a deep understanding of how riders actually use the tracks they build.
Building tracks is more technical than people think. A lot of people assume motocross track building is just pushing up a few jumps and shaping some berms. Beau makes it clear that’s nowhere near the truth.
The track has to suit the rider, the bike speed, the corner flow, the straight lengths, and the skill level of the people using it. If it’s a competition track, there are rules to follow. If it’s private, the build has to match the rider’s ability and goals. Supercross tracks are even more demanding because everything must be precise.
He’s built more than 100 tracks, and he still approaches them with the same mindset:
know who the track is for
understand how the bike will move
make sure the jumps and lines flow properly
keep it safe enough to ride, but fun enough to matter
That mix of earthmoving and riding experience gives him a real edge.
Maintenance is part of the job too.
Beau also explained that track building is not a one-and-done job. Especially with busy ride parks, maintenance can be constant. At one point, a track was getting around 700 riders a week, and every Friday it needed grading before the weekend. The dirt got chopped up, the lines changed, and the surface had to be reset repeatedly. That’s a good reminder that some of the best earthworks jobs are not just about building – they’re about keeping things working under pressure.
For Beau, the reward is seeing people enjoy the result. He doesn’t mind if the track gets torn up, because that means people are riding it hard and having fun.
How BRC Dirtworks Grew into a Multi-Arm Business
Beau’s company did not grow overnight. Like many contractors, he started with one machine and slowly added more as the work and cash flow allowed.
That growth happened gradually:
one loader
then a bobcat and truck
then a three-tonner
then more excavators, loaders, trucks, and support gear
Today, BRC Dirtworks handles a broad range of work:
domestic earthworks
site cuts and driveways
rock walls and landscaping
civil jobs like car parks
dams and wetlands
golf courses
motocross tracks
equine centres and horse arenas
That kind of diversity helps reduce risk. If one area slows down, another can pick up the slack. It also keeps the work interesting, which matters if you want to stay motivated long term.
The crushing plant changed the game
One of the smartest moves Beau made was buying a crushing yard and building that side of the business out. It started almost by accident. He bought the property because the opportunity was there, not because it was some grand master plan. Later, he learned the crushing permit was attached to the title, which meant the site had much more value than expected. From there, he brought in outside operators, but eventually found it made more sense to buy his own mobile crushing setup. That decision turned waste into a revenue stream.
Now the business can:
take in concrete, bricks, and asphalt
crush it into usable product
reuse that material on their own jobs
sell it back to others
That means the business is earning on the front end and the back end. It’s a great example of finding a way to make one part of the operation support another.
Why this matters for your business
A lot of small earthmoving businesses get stuck trying to do only one thing. Beau’s model shows the benefit of building around related services that feed each other. If you’re operating in a region where material handling, cartage, recycling, or site prep overlaps with your core work, look for ways to keep more of the value in-house.
Why Beau Swears by Komatsu
Beau is very open about his brand loyalty. If it’s not a Komatsu machine, he’s usually looking elsewhere only when Komatsu doesn’t make the right option. That loyalty didn’t come from a sales pitch. It came from being treated well when he was starting out.
What won him over
He explains that Komatsu helped him early, treated him like family, and backed him with real support. They even loaned him demo machines, set up GPS, delivered equipment, and made the whole process feel simple. But it’s not just emotional loyalty. He also genuinely believes the machines suit the kind of work he does.
What he values most:
stability
strong lifting and pushing power
good visibility
fuel efficiency
comfort for long days on site
He especially rates the Komatsu dozers, including the D71, which impressed him with visibility, smoothness, and the amount of material it can move.
The bigger lesson about buying equipment
Beau’s comments on machinery are useful because they go beyond brand preferences. He’s not just saying “I like Komatsu.” He’s saying that a good machine fit matters more than hype.
He also pointed out that the best companies do more than sell iron. They support you with service, delivery, GPS setup, advice, and follow-up. That kind of relationship is often what makes the difference between a machine being a great buy or a frustrating one. And to be fair, the same principle applies across the industry. Whether you like Komatsu, CAT, Volvo, Kobelco, or another brand, the key is finding a machine that suits your work and a dealer who backs you when things go wrong.
What Beau Thinks About Rates, Staffing, and Growth
This part of the conversation is where Beau gets especially relatable. He speaks openly about the challenges of running a business, and a lot of it will sound familiar if you’re in the industry.
Staffing is one of the hardest parts
One of the biggest headaches in the early days was finding good staff. Beau talked about how some people want the wage but don’t care enough about the machines, the work, or the standards. Others oversell their experience and then disappear after a few months when they realise the job is actually hard.
That’s a lesson many business owners learn the hard way. Now, with better staff in place, the business runs much more smoothly. He gives people options, keeps things flexible, and works with a crew that actually wants to be there.
Rates need to reflect reality.
Beau also made a strong case for better hourly rates across the industry. His point was simple: equipment is expensive, fuel is expensive, insurance is expensive, and machinery takes skill to operate well.
He compared it to trades like plumbing and argued that earthmoving operators are often underpriced for the value they deliver. If you’re moving hundreds or thousands of cubic metres a day, the numbers can be huge – and yet rates don’t always reflect that output. His solution was to put a 10 percent increase across the board and hold it there. That move helped absorb rising fuel costs without constantly adjusting quotes.
Growth is not always the goalOne of the most honest parts of the interview was Beau’s take on business growth. He’s not chasing size for the sake of size. He’s at a point where the business supports the lifestyle and the work he wants to do. There are enough machines, enough staff, and enough work in the pipeline to keep things comfortable.
That’s a useful reminder that success does not have to mean endless expansion. Sometimes the right goal is building a business that:
pays well
keeps you busy
lets you enjoy the work
stays manageable
The Best Advice Beau Would Give a Young Operator
When asked what he would tell a 20-year-old starting out today, Beau kept it practical.
His advice:
play the long game
focus on tomorrow, not just today
listen to older operators
take the good from several people, not just one
build your own style
That’s solid advice for anyone in earthmoving. He also explained that the hardest jump is often going from one machine to two. Once that happens, you can use the first one to help fund the next move. From there, the business can start to compound.
He’s a good example of how experience from different people can shape your own path. He didn’t copy one operator or one business model exactly. He took useful ideas from several, filtered them through his own style, and built something that fits him.That might be the most important lesson in the whole conversation.You don’t need to build your business exactly like someone else. You need to build it in a way that suits your skills, your lifestyle, and the kind of work you want to be doing in five or ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Beau from BRC Dirtworks get started?
He started by trying to get machine work as a young bloke, but nobody would give him a go. He eventually sold his motocross bikes, bought a wheel loader, and began building his business from there.
What kind of work does BRC Dirtworks do?
BRC Dirtworks does a mix of domestic earthworks, civil jobs, golf courses, motocross tracks, equine centres, and crushing/recycling work.
Why is Komatsu Beau’s preferred brand?
He says Komatsu supported him early, treated him well, and gave him confidence as a young operator. He also genuinely rates the stability, visibility, and fuel efficiency of the machines.
Is track building harder than it looks?
Yes. Beau explains that motocross and supercross tracks have to suit the rider, the bike, the layout, and in some cases competition rules. It takes technical knowledge, not just machine time.
What is Beau’s advice to new operators?
Think long term, learn from experienced people, and don’t try to copy one person exactly. Take the best ideas from several operators and make them work for you.
Final Thoughts
Beau’s story is a good reminder that earthmoving businesses are built one decision at a time. He started with a dream, got his first machine when nobody else would help, and kept building from there through motocross, track building, civil work, and crushing.
What makes his approach stand out is not just the machinery – it’s the attitude. He backs himself, respects good operators, values good dealers, and understands that the best businesses are often the ones that stay adaptable.
If you’re building your own path in earthworks, the takeaway is simple: keep learning, stay selective, and build a business that actually suits the life you want.
For more industry conversations and operator insights, check out the full Earthworks Hub episode on YouTube, Spotify or Apple.
What It Takes to Build a Successful Earthmoving Business: Lessons from Beau at BRC Dirtworks
What It Takes to Build a Successful Earthmoving Business: Lessons from Beau at BRC Dirtworks
What It Takes to Build a Successful Earthmoving Business: Lessons from Beau at BRC Dirtworks
If you’ve ever wondered how someone goes from chasing motocross dreams to running a serious earthworks and crushing operation, Beau’s story is a great one to study. In this conversation, he breaks down how he got started, how he grew his business, why he’s loyal to Komatsu, and what it really takes to keep a small earthmoving business moving forward.
What stands out most is that Beau didn’t build BRC Dirtworks by following a neat plan. He built it by getting in, learning fast, backing himself, and saying yes to opportunities that most people would have missed. If you’re in earthmoving, thinking about starting out, or trying to grow without losing the love for the work, there’s a lot here for you.
How Beau Got Started in Earthworks
Beau’s path into earthmoving wasn’t linear. He always wanted to work with machinery, but early on, no one would give him a chance because he was too young. He started a greenkeeping apprenticeship instead, and even then he was already teaching his teachers how to use bobcats.
That says a lot about how he learned – by doing, watching, and figuring things out quickly.Eventually, he got sick of waiting for someone to “give him a go.”
While he was still racing motocross and making decent money from that, he sold his bikes, scraped together a deposit, and bought his first machine. That decision changed everything.
His first machine and first break
Beau bought a wheel loader first, not an excavator. He went looking at brands and found that Komatsu took him seriously when others didn’t. They showed him multiple machines, helped him find something in budget, and treated him like a real customer instead of a kid wasting their time. That early experience mattered.
It wasn’t just about the machine. It was about being treated with respect, and that built the trust that still shapes how he buys equipment today.
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The first machine was an older Komatsu 180-3 with a 4-in-1 bucket, and from there he started doing work through contacts in building and golf course projects. It was a classic example of starting small, backing yourself, and building momentum from whatever came next.
What this teaches youIf you’re trying to get started, Beau’s story is a reminder that you do not need perfect timing. You need:
He also shows that your first opportunity might come from an unexpected place. For him, it came from racing, greenkeeping, family contacts, and just being persistent enough to keep showing up.
Why Motocross Helped Shape His Earthworks Career
One of the most interesting parts of Beau’s background is how deeply motocross shaped the way he works now. He wasn’t just a casual rider. He raced seriously, spent years in the sport, and eventually moved into track building too. That experience gave him something most earthworks contractors do not have – a deep understanding of how riders actually use the tracks they build.
Building tracks is more technical than people think. A lot of people assume motocross track building is just pushing up a few jumps and shaping some berms. Beau makes it clear that’s nowhere near the truth.
The track has to suit the rider, the bike speed, the corner flow, the straight lengths, and the skill level of the people using it. If it’s a competition track, there are rules to follow. If it’s private, the build has to match the rider’s ability and goals. Supercross tracks are even more demanding because everything must be precise.
He’s built more than 100 tracks, and he still approaches them with the same mindset:
That mix of earthmoving and riding experience gives him a real edge.
Maintenance is part of the job too.
Beau also explained that track building is not a one-and-done job. Especially with busy ride parks, maintenance can be constant. At one point, a track was getting around 700 riders a week, and every Friday it needed grading before the weekend. The dirt got chopped up, the lines changed, and the surface had to be reset repeatedly. That’s a good reminder that some of the best earthworks jobs are not just about building – they’re about keeping things working under pressure.
For Beau, the reward is seeing people enjoy the result. He doesn’t mind if the track gets torn up, because that means people are riding it hard and having fun.
How BRC Dirtworks Grew into a Multi-Arm Business
Beau’s company did not grow overnight. Like many contractors, he started with one machine and slowly added more as the work and cash flow allowed.
That growth happened gradually:
Today, BRC Dirtworks handles a broad range of work:
That kind of diversity helps reduce risk. If one area slows down, another can pick up the slack. It also keeps the work interesting, which matters if you want to stay motivated long term.
The crushing plant changed the game
One of the smartest moves Beau made was buying a crushing yard and building that side of the business out. It started almost by accident. He bought the property because the opportunity was there, not because it was some grand master plan. Later, he learned the crushing permit was attached to the title, which meant the site had much more value than expected. From there, he brought in outside operators, but eventually found it made more sense to buy his own mobile crushing setup. That decision turned waste into a revenue stream.
Now the business can:
That means the business is earning on the front end and the back end. It’s a great example of finding a way to make one part of the operation support another.
Why this matters for your business
A lot of small earthmoving businesses get stuck trying to do only one thing. Beau’s model shows the benefit of building around related services that feed each other. If you’re operating in a region where material handling, cartage, recycling, or site prep overlaps with your core work, look for ways to keep more of the value in-house.
Why Beau Swears by Komatsu
Beau is very open about his brand loyalty. If it’s not a Komatsu machine, he’s usually looking elsewhere only when Komatsu doesn’t make the right option. That loyalty didn’t come from a sales pitch. It came from being treated well when he was starting out.
What won him over
He explains that Komatsu helped him early, treated him like family, and backed him with real support. They even loaned him demo machines, set up GPS, delivered equipment, and made the whole process feel simple. But it’s not just emotional loyalty. He also genuinely believes the machines suit the kind of work he does.
What he values most:
He especially rates the Komatsu dozers, including the D71, which impressed him with visibility, smoothness, and the amount of material it can move.
The bigger lesson about buying equipment
Beau’s comments on machinery are useful because they go beyond brand preferences. He’s not just saying “I like Komatsu.” He’s saying that a good machine fit matters more than hype.
He also pointed out that the best companies do more than sell iron. They support you with service, delivery, GPS setup, advice, and follow-up. That kind of relationship is often what makes the difference between a machine being a great buy or a frustrating one. And to be fair, the same principle applies across the industry. Whether you like Komatsu, CAT, Volvo, Kobelco, or another brand, the key is finding a machine that suits your work and a dealer who backs you when things go wrong.
New machine vs second-hand machine – which is better for your business?
What Beau Thinks About Rates, Staffing, and Growth
This part of the conversation is where Beau gets especially relatable. He speaks openly about the challenges of running a business, and a lot of it will sound familiar if you’re in the industry.
Staffing is one of the hardest parts
One of the biggest headaches in the early days was finding good staff. Beau talked about how some people want the wage but don’t care enough about the machines, the work, or the standards. Others oversell their experience and then disappear after a few months when they realise the job is actually hard.
That’s a lesson many business owners learn the hard way. Now, with better staff in place, the business runs much more smoothly. He gives people options, keeps things flexible, and works with a crew that actually wants to be there.
Rates need to reflect reality.
Beau also made a strong case for better hourly rates across the industry. His point was simple: equipment is expensive, fuel is expensive, insurance is expensive, and machinery takes skill to operate well.
He compared it to trades like plumbing and argued that earthmoving operators are often underpriced for the value they deliver. If you’re moving hundreds or thousands of cubic metres a day, the numbers can be huge – and yet rates don’t always reflect that output. His solution was to put a 10 percent increase across the board and hold it there. That move helped absorb rising fuel costs without constantly adjusting quotes.
Growth is not always the goalOne of the most honest parts of the interview was Beau’s take on business growth. He’s not chasing size for the sake of size. He’s at a point where the business supports the lifestyle and the work he wants to do. There are enough machines, enough staff, and enough work in the pipeline to keep things comfortable.
That’s a useful reminder that success does not have to mean endless expansion. Sometimes the right goal is building a business that:
The Best Advice Beau Would Give a Young Operator
When asked what he would tell a 20-year-old starting out today, Beau kept it practical.
His advice:
That’s solid advice for anyone in earthmoving. He also explained that the hardest jump is often going from one machine to two. Once that happens, you can use the first one to help fund the next move. From there, the business can start to compound.
He’s a good example of how experience from different people can shape your own path. He didn’t copy one operator or one business model exactly. He took useful ideas from several, filtered them through his own style, and built something that fits him.That might be the most important lesson in the whole conversation.You don’t need to build your business exactly like someone else. You need to build it in a way that suits your skills, your lifestyle, and the kind of work you want to be doing in five or ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Beau from BRC Dirtworks get started?
He started by trying to get machine work as a young bloke, but nobody would give him a go. He eventually sold his motocross bikes, bought a wheel loader, and began building his business from there.
What kind of work does BRC Dirtworks do?
BRC Dirtworks does a mix of domestic earthworks, civil jobs, golf courses, motocross tracks, equine centres, and crushing/recycling work.
Why is Komatsu Beau’s preferred brand?
He says Komatsu supported him early, treated him well, and gave him confidence as a young operator. He also genuinely rates the stability, visibility, and fuel efficiency of the machines.
Is track building harder than it looks?
Yes. Beau explains that motocross and supercross tracks have to suit the rider, the bike, the layout, and in some cases competition rules. It takes technical knowledge, not just machine time.
What is Beau’s advice to new operators?
Think long term, learn from experienced people, and don’t try to copy one person exactly. Take the best ideas from several operators and make them work for you.
Final Thoughts
Beau’s story is a good reminder that earthmoving businesses are built one decision at a time. He started with a dream, got his first machine when nobody else would help, and kept building from there through motocross, track building, civil work, and crushing.
What makes his approach stand out is not just the machinery – it’s the attitude. He backs himself, respects good operators, values good dealers, and understands that the best businesses are often the ones that stay adaptable.
If you’re building your own path in earthworks, the takeaway is simple: keep learning, stay selective, and build a business that actually suits the life you want.
For more industry conversations and operator insights, check out the full Earthworks Hub episode on YouTube, Spotify or Apple.
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