Published Nationally ®
Southeast Edition
February 23 2022 Vol. XXXIV • No. 4
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Inside
Attendance Highlights Southern Farm Show in Raleigh...24
Automation to Spur Many to Buy Excavators in 2022...56
MDOT photo
Crews in Jackson, Miss., are nearing completion on a bridge replacement project that made use of a self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) lifting frame for the first time in Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) history. The $42 million effort has primarily focused on the I-20 Eastbound Bridge 44.9B that spans over U.S. 51, I-55 South and Canadian National / Illinois Central Railroad in Hinds County. “The existing bridge was constructed more than 50 years ago,” said MDOT chief engineer Brian Ratliff. “Multiple inspections revealed the bridge had experienced fatigue cracking in various steel members and concrete elements of the bridge. Overall, it was determined the structure
By Cindy Riley
CEG CORRESPONDENT
Alex Lyon & Son Launches 29th Annual Florida Auctions...84
had reached its useful service life and needed to be replaced.” Nearly a decade ago, there was a similar structure experiencing the same deterioration. “It was happening so rapidly that we almost had to close that bridge before we could get it replaced,” said Ratliff. “Once we started seeing similar issues on this bridge, we got ahead of the game and got it replaced before it could become a major problem for the traveling public. By closing the less traveled State Street, we were able to shore up the westbound bridge. The critical span that was failing was over the ramp to I-55, and we wanted to avoid closing that connection at all cost.” see MDOT page 26
Table of Contents ............4 Paving Section .........29-42 Excavators & Attachments Section ......................43-66 Business Calendar .........68 Parts Section ...........68-69 Auction Section .......81-85 Advertisers Index ..........86
Big Rig Ready By Lucy Perry CEG CORRESPONDENT
Like construction, trucking suffers a workforce shortage. The American Trucking Association (ATA) says 80,000 more truck drivers are needed. As a means to deal with supply-chain issues, the Biden administration is prioritizing trucking as a career field through The Biden administration is apprenticeships and other recruiting programs. More than one government program has been develdeveloping initiatives to attract jobseekers to the con- oped to draw more jobseekers to the trucking industry. struction industry. One program would allow adults as young as 18 to
Fed Wants to Make Truck Driving More Attractive Career Field Choice drive a semi. Another would encourage veterans to make trucking a post-military career. The ATA is happy with the prospect of more recruits, but independent truckers say driver retention is the forest lost among the trees. Lowering Age Barriers According to ATA, 49 states and Washington, D.C., currently give commercial driver licenses to people under 21. These young adults can drive semis throughout large states. They just can’t cross state lines. see TRUCKING page 70