re equipment that appears abandoned - We noticed one state highway construction contractor who seemed to have nothing but obsolete junk for heavy earthmoving equipment.
The 'Resident Engineer' (state project manager) at one project site explained how this contractor was different: He was in a remote part of the state where contractors elsewhere were unlikely to bid jobs in his region during times they were busy closer to their home bases. He would simply take the state's project estimate which already included profit, add 30% and bid that. Since the highways had to be repaired somehow the state would sometimes accept his very profitable bid, perhaps after re-advertising the project for bids, if no one else bid the project. With such a large profit margin he could afford to own a lot of junk equipment, and have his equally worn out spares ready to substitute if needed.
His strategy was unlike any other contracting firm in the state. The others simply bid cost plus reasonable profit, and owned (or leased) modern efficient equipment.
That owner wasn't busy continually but he had become quite wealthy.
Your Tax Dollars At Work.