When earthmoving contractor Brierty Ltd ran off the rails, so to speak, with two profit downgrades in the space of six weeks during April and May this year, it laid bare some of the major pitfalls of operating in a boom-time environment.

When earthmoving contractor Brierty Ltd ran off the rails, so to speak, with two profit downgrades in the space of six weeks during April and May this year, it laid bare some of the major pitfalls of operating in a boom-time environment.