Customer Spotlight: An Interview with Eric Thomas at Miller Drilling

Eric Thomas and son picking up their new MARK70.

“What I appreciate about Versa-Drill versus some of the other companies is that Marcus and his team stay on the cutting edge of technology.”

In 2017, Eric and Carrie Thomas purchased Miller Drilling with the intent to carry on tradition. The name, colors of the brand, and the work itself have continued since the company was founded in 1959. Keeping that original spirit was important to the couple. However, the Thomas family decided to take a different approach when it came to growing the business. They’ve updated their equipment, added new employees, and continue to look for ways to grow and innovate. One such way—investing in Versa-Drill.

Here’s our interview with Eric Thomas.

VD: What's been your biggest obstacle in owning and operating a business so far?

ET: Hiring employees is always a challenge. And I'm sure you hear that a lot. There were a lot of retirements around the time we purchased, and the final two original employees retired last year. Since Covid it’s been an even bigger challenge. But we’re still growing in spite of that.

VD: And growing requires new rigs. Which Versa-Drill rigs have you purchased so far?

ET: The Mark 70. We are a drilling contractor for domestic and agricultural water wells, and it’s been working really great for us.

VD: What made you choose Versa-Drill this time around?

ET: Their knowledge of the product, what they represent as a brand, customer service—all of that made it a pretty easy decision.

VD: What would you say is different or unique about the Versa-Drill rig that you're using compared to the one you already owned?

ET: Twenty-two years more modern—we went from a table machine to a top head machine. It's a pretty different technology. And what I appreciate about Versa-Drill versus some of the other companies is that Marcus and his team stay on the cutting edge of technology. They constantly work to improve these machines and make them user-friendly for the younger generation who are now in the workforce. Some of the older generation may not appreciate some of it, but if we don't keep on top of the technology, it's going to become even harder to hire younger employees moving forward.

VD: So what do you think is the biggest advantage of the Mark70—any specific features that help you the most daily?

ET: We appreciate the rod automation, the rod handling system, and the speed in which this machine operates. Most other drilling companies struggle with getting to some of these higher speeds on rotation. That makes this rig an advantage for us.

VD: Earlier you mentioned the service departments as being a major pro of Versa-Drill. Do you have any specific experiences?

ET: Actually, we've got parts in transit right now. The customer service is just lights out. When it comes to what the product is, why it works, what it needs—they know so much.

VD: Why would you choose to work with Versa-Drill in the future?

ET: At the time that we ordered this machine, everybody was having a hard time getting equipment replaced. But at Versa-Drill, I was fortunate that it was just under a year from time of order to delivery. I was so impressed with that, because I know that the lead time for most companies would have been much longer. Their ability to produce and get orders out at such a clip, well, it makes customers happy. That’s hard to do nowadays.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, Eric! We wish you and Carrie a great year at Miller Drilling and look forward to being a part of your success.

Check out our full line of water well drilling rigs to see which drill rig is right for you. Reach out to us today to learn more.