THE IRON REPORT / EDITORIAL NOTES
Sources you can follow.
Original explanations, documented public claims, and fictional examples with visible assumptions.
The book is an original companion to The Iron Reporter. It does not reproduce video transcripts or claim personal interviews, field testing, or an independent brand-reliability study. Manufacturer sources describe their own products and programs; local results need their own evidence.
The cover uses an original AI-generated illustration of an unbranded excavator. Page previews are direct exports from the finished PDF. The website calculator uses the same fictional assumptions as the book and processes inputs in your browser without submitting or storing them. This website includes no analytics or marketing forms. Ordinary web hosting may log requests.
Sources · Industry and established brands
Sources were checked September 21, 2026. Public programs may change. These references support the identified factual statements; the worksheets, fictional examples, and decision frameworks are original editorial work. No source is presented as an independent reliability ranking.
S0 · The Iron Reporter — channel description. Public channel metadata identifies its focus on heavy-equipment business, brands, dealers, financing, and buying traps. No video transcript was used as book text.
https://www.youtube.com/@TheIronReporter
S1 · Caterpillar — 2025 Highlights. Manufacturer account of services, Customer Value Agreements, and dealer-related support. Promotional commitments have conditions; obtain the specific agreement.
https://www.caterpillar.com/en/investors/reports/annual-report/segment-highlights.html
S2 · Caterpillar — Annual & Sustainability Reports. Official reporting collection; use the applicable annual report for company and distribution context, not a dealer-performance guarantee.
https://www.caterpillar.com/reports
S3 · John Deere — Construction & Forestry Extended Warranty Offerings, DKE6828. Manufacturer brochure illustrates coverage distinctions and regional qualifications. Obtain current terms for the actual purchase; this edition does not reproduce a warranty promise.
S4 · Komatsu — Komatsu Care programs. Manufacturer descriptions of maintenance and repair programs and their model-specific contracts. Program eligibility requires confirmation.
https://www.komatsu.com/en-us/services-and-support/komatsu-care-programs
Sources · Support and financing
S5 · Volvo Construction Equipment — Included from the start. US manufacturer description of dealer, parts, technician, warranty, and training support. Local performance is not independently established by this page.
https://www.volvoce.com/united-states/en-us/volvo-services/included-from-the-start/
S6 · Volvo Construction Equipment — Volvo Certified Used Equipment: Your Questions Answered. Manufacturer explanation of used-equipment inspection and support. Published in 2020; included for program context, not as a current offer. Obtain the individual unit’s report and present terms.
S7 · SANY America — New Technology, Parts and Service Initiatives at ConExpo-Con/AGG 2026. Manufacturer announcement dated March 3, 2026. Establishes what SANY announced, not independently measured service outcomes.
S8 · SANY America — SY35U brochure. The accessed brochure includes a 2026 model-year qualification to its warranty headline. The URL’s folder date does not establish the brochure’s current edition; verify the actual document and sales terms.
https://www.sanyamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SY35U-2.0-Brochure_LR.pdf
S9 · Cat Financial — Loan, Lease, or Rental? Compare Heavy Equipment Financing Options. Provider explanation of acquisition alternatives. Used for broad categories, not individualized financing or accounting treatment.
https://www.cat.com/en_US/support/financing-protection/financing-options.html
Sources · Auctions, safety, and method
S10 · Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers — Buyer Fees. Official fee information, including lot-related transaction fees and additional services. Use the current rules for the relevant sale. The 10% fee on page 41 is fictional.
https://www.rbauction.com/buying/buyer-fees
S11 · OSHA — 29 CFR 1926.602, Material handling equipment. US construction safety provisions covering, among other matters, earthmoving equipment. This book’s inspection brief is not a compliance determination.
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.602
S12 · US EPA — Frequently Asked Questions from Owners and Operators of Nonroad Engines, Vehicles, and Equipment Certified to EPA Standards. Official explanation including emissions-system responsibilities and tampering restrictions.
https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P100U8YP.pdf
S13 · US EPA — Stopping Aftermarket Defeat Devices for Vehicles and Engines. Official enforcement background addressing road and nonroad engines. Consult current rules for an actual transaction.
Calculation method
Equal-payment loan examples use P × r ÷ [1 − (1 + r) raised to −n], where P is principal, r is nominal annual interest divided by twelve, and n is monthly payments. Zero-rate payments equal P ÷ n. Totals use unrounded payments. Real fees, payment timing, and lender rounding can change results.
Ownership examples use undiscounted nominal dollars with stated exclusions. They are comparisons under assumptions, not valuations. No actual reliability dataset, auction-price sample, or manufacturer cost ranking is claimed.
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