M. D. Moody and Sons, Inc.

M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc. is a privately owned construction equipment distributor headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. The firm was established in 1913, is the oldest family owned construction equipment distributor in the United States and the largest crane dealer in the southeast. It currently operates out of several locations around the southeast, which include offices in Fairburn, Georgia, Pompano Beach, and Fort Myers, Florida.

History

It all began in Jacksonville back in 1913. Max Moody, Sr., wearing the hats of salesman, parts manager and serviceman, launched a construction machinery distributorship known simply as M. D. Moody. The purpose of the enterprise was to “sell construction equipment to road builders.” Lines represented by M. D. Moody in those early years included Adams road graders, Best Tractors, and P & H cranes. A highlight year for Mr. Moody was 1924 when he sold 238 P&H Draglines.

A year that also stands out in the unfolding history of M. D. Moody is 1942. That was the year Moody was appointed as the Florida distributor for American Hoist & Derrick Company, which was American Crane and is now a part of Terex Cranes. Moody’s spectacular sales of American Cranes and draglines vaulted it into the number one position among American’s distributors worldwide. Max Moody, Sr. continued as head of the enterprise until his death in 1949. Max Moody, Jr. then became president of M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc., which was incorporated in 1947. Max Moody, Jr. who joined his father's business in 1938, continued as president until his death in 1987.

It was under the leadership of Max Moody, Jr. that the firm’s greatest growth took place. The pace of growth and expansion has continued under the leadership of Max Moody, III who succeeded his father as president in 1987.This year Lisa Moody was appointed President of the company after a restructuring of the business.

Location and current operation

Moody’s complex at 4652 Philips Highway, Jacksonville, FL has been a familiar sight since it was first occupied in 1951. The company is one of the world’s largest crane dealers, both in units sold and in it’s rental fleet that includes crawler cranes, rough terrain cranes, hydraulic truck cranes, derricks, and lattice boom cranes. The fleet ranges in size up to 450 tons. The firm has provided cranes for some of Florida’s biggest lifts and road and bridge construction across the Southeast. M.D. Moody and Sons, Inc. is a Terex dealer for the southeast region of distibution.

References

* [http://www.mdmoody.com M.D. Moody and Sons Website]
* [http://www.cegltd.com Construction Equipment Guide CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT GUIDE • March 16, 2005 • Page 9]
*Joseph Di Giovanni (Markets Analyst at M.D. Moody’s)
* [http://www.mdmoody.com www.mdmoody.com]