Industry: Stockpile Volumes

In mining and aggregates, customers use drones because drone-based volumetric measurement has become the industry standard for bulk inventory. While early on we had to prove accuracy, today the conversation has shifted. Customers generally trust drone accuracy but struggle reconciling drone-measured volume with their internally measured mass.

The core tension in sales conversations is this:
They measure mass. We measure volume.
Bridging that gap requires education around density factors, moisture content, and measurement methodology.

The biggest competition is not another drone company — it is internal drone programs. After that come established players like Firmatek, scale companies like Wingfield, and contract-driven firms like Stockpile Reports.

▶️txStockpiles: Sales Training Videos

txStockpiles 1 - Industry Overview

txStockpiles 2 - Customers Pt. 1

txStockpiles 3 - Customers Pt. 2

txStockpiles 4 - Prospecting

txStockpiles 5 - Trade Orgs

txStockpiles 6 - Competitors

 

txStockpiles 7: In-Person Sales Calls

Part 1: Industry Structure

Part 1: Industry Structure

PART 1: INDUSTRY STRUCTURE (Aggregates & Mining)

1.1 What We Actually Do

We do not “serve mining.”

We perform:

Aerial inventory measurement and volumetric reporting for outdoor bulk materials.

Mining & aggregates just happens to be the best-fit vertical.

Core Function:

Everything else is industry context.

1.2 The Mining & Aggregates Ecosystem

A. Metals Mining (Not Our Focus)

Status: Opportunistic, not primary.

B. Coal Mining (Declining Sector)

Status: Low priority.

C. Construction Materials (PRIMARY FOCUS)

This is where we dominate.

It includes:

This entire chain touches the same materials multiple times.

That’s the key insight.

PART 2: THE MATERIAL FLOW

Why This Industry Works for Us

PART 2: THE MATERIAL FLOW

2.1 Quarry (Stone Mining)

Process:

  1. Remove overburden

  2. Drill bore holes

  3. Blast rock

  4. Load shot rock

  5. Haul to primary crusher

  6. Convey to secondary crushers

  7. Separate by size

  8. Stockpile finished product

Drone Applications:

PART 2: THE MATERIAL FLOW

2.2 Sand & Gravel Plants

Process:

  1. Excavate or dredge

  2. Wash material

  3. Screen material

  4. Separate sand vs gravel

  5. Stockpile products

Key Differences vs Quarries:

Drone Applications:

PART 2: THE MATERIAL FLOW

2.3 Cement & Lime Plants

Process:

  1. Mine limestone

  2. Crush material

  3. Heat in kiln (extreme temps)

  4. Produce clinker/lime

  5. Store in silos

  6. Fuel kilns with coal

Drone Applications:

Indoor stockpiles = possible but not preferred.

PART 2: THE MATERIAL FLOW

2.4 Terminals

Function:

Strategic importance:

Terminals are ideal recurring customers.

PART 2: THE MATERIAL FLOW

2.5 Ready Mix (Batch Plants)

Function:

Why We Love Them:

PART 2: THE MATERIAL FLOW

2.6 Asphalt Plants

Process:

Key marker:

Drone Applications:

PART 2: THE MATERIAL FLOW

2.7 Concrete Recyclers

Function:

Often:

Great recurring volume clients.

PART 3: COMPANY STRATIFICATION

PART 3: COMPANY STRATIFICATION

Tier 1 – Super Majors

Examples:

Characteristics:

Approach:

PART 3: COMPANY STRATIFICATION

Tier 2 – Regionals

Examples:

Characteristics:

Ideal targets.

PART 3: COMPANY STRATIFICATION

Tier 3 – Local Multi-Yard Operators

Examples:

Sweet spot:

PART 3: COMPANY STRATIFICATION

Tier 4 – One-Off Operators

Examples:

Generally:

Low priority unless:

Part 4: Prospecting System

We structure it into 4 channels.

Part 4: Prospecting System

4.1 Visual Map Prospecting (Old School)

Method:

Purpose:

This is strategic, not random.

Part 4: Prospecting System

4.2 Permit-Based Prospecting (Underrated Weapon)

Key idea:

Go where they are required to register.

Examples:

These lists:

From there:

This is scalable prospecting.

Part 4: Prospecting System

4.3 Trade Organization Prospecting

Levels:

National:

State:

Tactics:

These are curated lists of ideal clients.

Part 4: Prospecting System

4.4 GIS & Industry Databases

Examples:

These allow:

PART 5: IDEAL CUSTOMER PROFILE (ICP)

PART 5: IDEAL CUSTOMER PROFILE (ICP)

PART 5: IDEAL CUSTOMER PROFILE (ICP)

Ideal Customer:

Avoid:

PART 6: INTERNAL REQUIREMENTS

To serve this industry well, we must:

This is how we differentiate.

PART 6: INTERNAL REQUIREMENTS

Key Sales Concepts

1. Volume vs. Mass (The Core Education Piece)

Customers measure:

These all measure mass.

We measure:

To convert volume to mass, they must apply a density factor, which is:

Example principle:

Density is never constant:

This is why discrepancies occur.

2. The Moisture Problem (Hidden Differentiator)

At sand plants:

So when customers say:

"Your numbers don’t match ours."

The real issue is often:

Sales Angle:
Volume rarely changes month-to-month.
Moisture constantly changes.

We can show consistent ±1% volumetric tracking over time. That’s reliability.

PART 6: INTERNAL REQUIREMENTS

Strategic Sales Themes

Educate without attacking.

Emphasize consistency over time.

Frame internal programs as hidden cost centers.

Reinforce that we are specialists — not generalists.

PART 6: INTERNAL REQUIREMENTS

Competitor Breakdown

1️⃣ Internal Drone Programs (Biggest Competitor)

Most common threat:

Typical setup:

Sales Positioning:

Simple framing:

If you don’t want to change the toner in your copier, you probably don’t want to manage your own drone program.

2️⃣ Firmatek

They:

Sales angle:

3️⃣ Wingfield (Scale Companies)

Primary business:

Secondary:

Often regional.

Sales angle:

4️⃣ StockpileReports.com

Approach:

Issues:

Customer feedback:

Sales angle:

🔽Sample Stockpile Reports

Stockpile Inventory – Sample Reports

Purpose of This Page

This page provides downloadable sample reports for use in the sales process.

These reports are:

Use these samples to:

🎯 When to Send a Sample Report

Send a sample report when:

Do not send samples too early in cold outreach.
Send them once there is established interest.

📊 What Our Reports Communicate

When sharing a sample, you are not just sending a PDF.

You are communicating:

Remember:
We are not selling drone flights.
We are selling inventory confidence.

Available Sample Reports

Standard Monthly Inventory Report

Best For: Aggregates, sand & gravel, crushed stone operations

Includes:


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🔗 Asphalt Plant Demo Report
🔗 Ready-Mix Plant Demo Report 

 
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🔗 Sand & Gravel Plant Demo Report
🔗 Quarry Plant Demo Report