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February 4, 2012 • Vol. IXX • No. 3 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215-885-2910 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Inside
Construction Employment On the Rise
rejected a plan to build an oil pipeline from Canada to Texas. But the Canadian government expressed optimism the Keystone XL pipeline will ultimately be approved. Natural Resource Minister Joe Oliver said it’s clear the process is not yet over and said
Construction employment rose in 28 states and the District of Columbia between December 2010 and December 2011, the largest number of states with year-over-year employment gains since November 2007, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. In contrast, 24 states plus D.C. lost jobs between November and December 2011, while 23 states added construction jobs for the month. “It is encouraging that a clear majority of states added jobs during 2011, but it is too early to conclude that the industry is on a steady upswing,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Public construction is likely to shrink in 2012 and there are many uncertainties about home building, office and retail construction.” Seasonally adjusted construction employment climbed from November to December in 22 states — New Hampshire had the largest one-month percentage gain (4.9 percent, 1,000 jobs), while California added the largest number of construction jobs for the month (4,800 jobs, 0.8 percent). Vermont had the second largest one-month percent gain (4.7 percent, 600 jobs). Indiana added the second largest number of jobs for the month (3,600 jobs, 2.9 percent increase). Of the 25 states plus D.C. that lost construction jobs from November to December, West Virginia had the largest one-month percentage drop (minus 4.7 percent, minus 1,600 jobs), with New York next (minus 3.6 percent, minus 11,400 jobs), followed by Nevada (minus 3.5 percent, minus 2,000 jobs) with Wyoming (minus 3.0 percent, minus 700 jobs) and Rhode Island (minus 3.0 per-
see PIPELINE page 67
see JOBS page 67
AED Hol ds Annual Summit, CONDEX in D.C. …12
Erb Equipment A nnounces New Appoint ments...18
There are different measures and projections of Michigan road quality, but none of them look good over the next five to 10 years at current funding levels.
Gov. Looking to Invest $1.4B in Michigan’s Roads, Bridges By Tim Martin ASSOCIATED PRESS MITA Holds A nnual Conf erenc e... 28
Table of Contents ........4 Attachment Section ...... ............................29-31 Recycling Section 43-53 Truck & Trailer ....59-63 Auction Section ....71-79 Business Calendar…..72 Advertisers Index ......78
LANSING, Mich. (AP) Gov. Rick Snyder said it makes financial sense to start paying more to fix roads now rather than wait and face an even bigger annual repair bill in the future. The Republican governor — a certified public accountant by training — is pushing lawmakers to
raise an additional $1.4 billion a year for roads and bridges, and he wants to start the process sooner rather than later. “When you’re talking transportation infrastructure, you should have a 10- or 20-year mindset,” Snyder told The Associated Press the day after his recent State of the State address. “This is the accountant coming out in me again. By investing see FUNDING page 42
Canada ‘Profoundly Disappointed’ Over Keystone Pipeline Rejection By Rob Gillies ASSOCIATED PRESS
TORONTO (AP) Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper said Jan. 18 he told Barack Obama he was profoundly disappointed after the U.S. president called to tell him the administration