Equipment Today February 2019

Trucks & Transportation: How to Give Your Suspension a Helping Hand Helping you optimize ROI on your construction equipment

®

FEBRUARY 2019

Special Report:

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY ECONOMISTS' PREDICTIONS FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD

PAVING EQUIPMENT

WHAT ARE THE ROAD BLOCKS TO INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH?

Ergonomic advances position operators for success

COMPACT EQUIPMENT Vertical lift loaders reach new levels of versatility

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HEROES OF THE JOBSITE.

The precision engineered, ruggedly designed Kubota machines. Built upon a single-minded truth understood by operators on jobsites all over the world. Reliability comes in just one color.

Locate your dealer at KubotaUSA.com. Š Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2017.

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Contents

FEBRUARY 2019 | www.ForConstructionPros.com

SPECIAL REPORT

2019 Report

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

Economists weigh in on prospects for construction in the months ahead. Page 12

PRODUCTS 19 Road Building 35 Compact Equipment

Sort through the latest skid-steer models.

41 Lift Equipment

Find a variety of options for working at heights.

47 Trucks & Transportation 48 Safety & Compliance

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES THE ROAD BLOCKS TO INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH pg 16 Industry experts discuss the challenges that could impact road building activity in 2019 and beyond.

The Latest in Light Tower Technology

34 Compact Equipment

Basic Safety Tips for Using Boom Lifts

16

VERTICAL LIFT LOADERS REACH NEW LEVEL OF VERSATILITY pg 28

24 Portable Lighting

40 Lift Equipment

Construction has been evolving rapidly during the past 20 years and its dynamic advances will continue. www.ForConstructionPros.com/21037124

Safety, productivity and ease of use have been enhanced through ergonomic advancements in asphalt and concrete paver design.

8 Equipment Introductions

Get in the Cloud to Beat the Competition

5 Construction Technology Trends Shaping 2019 & Beyond

ERGONOMIC ADVANCES POSITION OPERATORS FOR SUCCESS pg 20

6 Breaking Ground

38 Profit Matters

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

28

A few limitations for vertical lift skid steers and compact track loaders no longer apply.

GIVE YOUR SUSPENSION A HELPING HAND pg 44 Helper springs can increase stability, improve handling, level loads

It’s Time to Focus on Wellness, Not Just Safety

The importance of construction worker wellness and how to add a program to your business. www.ForConstructionPros.com/21041223

Demolition Contractor Continues to Learn New Tricks After 60 Years

Sixty-year-old Pitsch Companies uses a new shoring system for the first time while demolishing a gas station. www.ForConstructionPros.com/21041592

Maine DOT Uses GPR Technology to Improve Road Pavement Quality and Service Life

Ground penetrating radar helps ensure optimum pavement density throughout the pavement layer. www.ForConstructionPros.com/21043672

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All-new interior drivers love.

Designed by drivers for drivers, the all-new Mack® Granite® interior improves productivity and profitability. With all key controls at arm’s length and a seat that keeps them comfortable all day long, your current drivers—and new ones you’ll attract—will finish the job as strong as they started. See how Mack is right for your bottom line at MackTrucks.com/NoPain

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B R E AKI N G G R O U N D By Becky Schultz

Take Extra Care to Evaluate Acquisitions

Becky Schultz / bschultz@acbusinessmedia.com

ANYONE PLANNING A MAJOR acquisition must take care to evaluate its place in their operation. While this is a given, the advances in both equipment and technology are making such evaluations increasingly difficult. Calculating the potential return on today’s hard iron and high tech is complex given the potential risks and rewards at play.

To start, given the numerous options available, where do you even begin to determine if a piece of equipment or type of technology is the right use of company funds? This in itself calls for careful investigation of the “problem” you’re trying to solve, and identifying and comparing the varied solutions. In some cases, it’s not the obvious choice that makes the most sense.

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For example, say you’re looking to replace a small dozer for finish grading on tight urban jobsites. Is another dozer really the most cost-effective choice, or could a large compact track loader (CTL) — capable of using not only a grading blade but a vast array of attachments — offer faster ROI due to its added versatility? If the CTL appears to make sense, will you also need to acquire the grading blade and a grade control system to ensure the precise finish required? If so, now how does that influence ROI for that machine?

Whether it’s a piece of equipment or a piece of software, there are some key questions to ask before making any new business investment. Here are a few to ponder: ˜˜ Are you missing out on opportunities without it? If you invest in that equipment or technology, will it enable you to take on additional types of jobs, or give you a competitive advantage that helps you secure more projects? ˜˜ Will it help you cut costs and put more to the bottom line? Could the investment help you cut time, labor, errors, rework or other costs that are currently eating into your profits? ˜˜ Will it help you boost productivity?

How could it help to enhance the productivity of your equipment and/or staff in the field or in the office? Is it compatible and/or will it complement the tools already in use? ˜˜ Can you give it a test run first? What are the prospects for an extended demo (or perhaps a field follow program) to ensure the investment will actually work for your operation? Could a long-term rental (perhaps with rentto-purchase option) be an affordable solution to get the answers you need?

Ultimately, the larger questions you need to ask yourself relate to your overall objectives for the investment: ˜˜ Will it serve as a replacement for old or outdated equipment or systems, or are you trying to branch out? If trying to branch out, will this particular investment position you to do so in the most timely and cost-effective manner? ˜˜ What is your timeline for the acquisition and its implementation? Will this unit or system be available or implemented within that timeline? And what is the time frame in which you need to recover your costs?

Investing in any addition to your fleet or business comes with a lot to consider. Yet, there are numerous opportunities in today’s construction environment that can make the time and thought required worthwhile. Work with your equipment and technology suppliers to identify the best options, get input from industry colleagues using similar equipment or systems and do the due diligence to ensure you make investments that can maximize ROI and position your company for longterm growth. ET

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B O B C A T. C O M / T O U G H C O N S T R U C T I O N

Everything we put into Bobcat ® equipment is designed to make more of whatever you bring to the job. Whether it’s strength, versatility, speed or agility, it’s built around you.

Bobcat is a Doosan company. Doosan is a global leader in construction equipment, power and water solutions, engines, and engineering, proudly serving customers and communities for more than a century.

Bobcat ®, the Bobcat logo and the colors of the Bobcat machine are registered trademarks of Bobcat Company in the United States and various other countries. ©2019 Bobcat Company. All rights reserved. | 1361

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EQUIPMENT INTRODUCTIONS

These pages feature some of the latest equipment available. You’ll find a solid sampling of both new machines and models that have been recently revamped by the manufacturers. For more information on these products, simply visit www.ForConstructionPros.com and include the eight-digit code shown.

POWR2 Tycon

RemotePro Mobile Solar Power System The RemotePro Mobile Solar Power System (RPMS24-360-650) has a rugged mobile solar trailer that can support up to 160W continuous power draw with six hours of peak sun per day. Two 325W solar panels are mounted to a heavy-duty, fully adjustable galvanized solar mount. The tilt range is 10° to 65° with horizontal rotation of 360°. The unit handles up to 40A solar input and provides up to 20A load output. Features include a 17-ft. aluminum pneumatic extension mast, temperature-compensated MPPT Solar Controller with 99% conversion efficiency and built-in web-enabled remote monitor system.

www.forconstructionpros.com/21029538

Generac

Dust Suppression Systems Dust suppression system options are available for both large and small jobs.

The DF 2.2 portable system has a maximum horizontal range of 42 ft., while the DF 7500 system can rotate 335°, cover an area of 49,514 sq. ft. and provide a maximum horizontal range of 131 ft. and vertical range of 52 ft. All systems feature an electro-polished stainless steel crown with nozzles and an electric engine-powered fan. They work by nebulizing the water, creating a fine mist of water that evenly covers the area. The nebulized water particles combine with dust particulates down to 80 microns and drag them to the ground.

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SEE VIDEO: http://bit.ly/2AxKzbr

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Hybrid Energy System The Hybrid Energy System (HES) is a portable power supply that integrates with diesel generators to optimize load capacities, virtually eliminating the risk of wet stacking. It also allows use of a smaller generator by providing temporary extra power for load spikes. Lithium-ion battery technology and automatic load level sensing allow the system to switch power flow as needed. Six models offer outputs from 3.7 to 60 kVA and storage ranges from 7.5 to 120 kWh. Users can select from three predetermined run modes based on power needs. The Node ECM (Energy Control Module) 7-in. touchscreen retrieves and displays data from all connected devices.

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Talbert

60CC/55SA-LD Trailer The 60CC/55SA-LD pairs with the optional East Coast-style E1Nitro axle extension to allow for a 60-ton capacity with a closecoupled configuration or a 55-ton hauling capacity with a spread axle configuration. It maintains its 60-ton rating at half the deck length. The unit has a hydraulic detachable non-ground bearing gooseneck and provides a 6-in. ground clearance with an 18-in. loaded deck height. It also offers a 108-in. swing radius, 26-ft. deck length and 8-ft. 6-in. deck width. It is manufactured with heavy-duty T-1, 100,000-psi minimum yield steel with Valspar R-Cure 800 paint to prevent corrosion.

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Makita

Cordless Rebar Tying Solution The 18V LXT lithium-ion brushless cordless rebar tying tool (XRT01ZK) takes the rebar tying process from two-hand to single-hand operation. It has a tying capacity of up to 5,300 ties of #3 x #3 diameter rebar on a single charge of an 18V LXT 5.0Ah battery, and can tie two #5 diameter bars or four #4 diameter bars in under 1 second. Users can digitally adjust tying strength to match various tension strength requirements. Features include two-mode operation (single or continuous wire tie actuation), and an easyload design for wire reel changes with an automatic locking mechanism built into the protective cover.

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You work nonstop. Your equipment should, too. With Wacker Neuson’s industry leading warranties, we stand behind our promise of performance and reliability. With a 5-year excavator warranty and unique 3-year standard, 4-year powertrain and 5-year electrical system coverage for skid steer and compact track loaders, we offer an excellent return on investment. So, you can depend on Wacker Neuson to get the job done right.

Contact your Wacker Neuson dealer today.

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EQUIPMENT INTRODUCTIONS

Cemen Tech

DT-100 and DT-200 Dump Trailers MTW

Power Box Rakes The Power Box Rake attachments are capable of breaking up, raking and leveling hardpacked soil, gravel, sod and other terrain.

Stronger steel frames and simplified controls help refine more material in less time while minimizing downtime due to breakage and repairs. Manual adjustments can be made to deflect material from 10° to 20°. Three models are available for use on mini skid steers to high-flow skid steers and PTO tractors. They come with 6- or 8-in. rotor diameters, range in width from 4 to 10 ft. and can be ordered with weld-on teeth, replaceable teeth or carbide teeth. Airless solid rubber tires are standard.

The DT-100 and DT-200 dump trailers are designed to complement the company’s line of volumetric concrete production solutions. The heavy-duty 1- and 2-yd. units are suited for small- to mid-size jobs and can haul concrete, sand, stone, mulch and other materials. They are fabricated with high-strength 10-gauge steel, and come standard with a double-action hydraulic pump, adjustable relief valve, forward self-adjusting electric brakes and adjustable load-leveling hitch. DOT-approved lighting ensures safety and compliance on the road, while heavy-duty fenders, a one-piece rubber splash guard and supporting tongue crossbars provide added durability.

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Metalcraft

TILT Ejector Scraper Leading Edge Hi-Production

Multi-Ripper Attachment The Hi-Production Multi-Ripper is designed to quickly break through rock, frozen ground and coral with minimal wear on the carrier and less maintenance. Its design also makes switching to a bucket easier. Because no hydraulic lines are used, there is no depth limitation while ripping the sides and bottom of the trench flat. The HP version has five shanks instead of three, allowing the operator to double the rotation of the tool to increase ripping productivity. High-strength Swedish Hardox 400 alloy steel construction allows use in abusive, abrasive and cold weather conditions. The attachment is available for backhoes, mini-excavators or excavators weighing over 6,000 lbs.

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Tilt sensors and GPS controls are used to create precision slopes and come installed on the 2016WT, 2614WT and 2814WT ejector scrapers when the TILT option is purchased. A touchscreen mounted in the tractor cab allows the operator to select from three modes of operation. Manual mode keeps the scraper blade parallel with the rear wheels and also allows for manual tilting. Slope mode lets the operator set the desired slope angle and the scraper blade holds that angle regardless of wheel position. In Auto GPS mode, the controller can receive inputs from any brand of GPS controller and automatically tilts, raises or lowers the blade to the required grade.

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Con X

X AIR SC80 Compressor The X Air SC80 rotary screw compressor has a 24-hp Honda V-twin engine with electric start and is able to generate 80 cfm at 100 psi. This ensures sufficient power to economically operate a chipper, a rock drill and up to a 90-lb. class breaker.

Continuously variable speed control delivers fast throttle response for power on demand. Weighing just 319 lbs., the compact, highly portable unit has a removable 5.0-gal. gas tank that further reduces its weight for transport.

It also incorporates rugged, rental-ready construction.

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S P E CI AL R EP O R T By Rod Dickens

2019 REPORT

State of Construction Industry

T

he New Year got off to a rocky start with an extended federal government shutdown and instability in the global markets. Yet, there is optimism that the U.S. construction industry will continue to see favorable investment and activity in the months ahead.

To give you a better perspective on what to expect, we asked economists from some of the leading construction industry organizations to share their insights and outlooks on what we may expect from 2019 and beyond.

HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION How did federal, state and local spending on highway and bridge construction in 2018 compare to the previous year, and do you see more funds earmarked for rebuilding infrastructure this year?

Anirban Basu, chief economist, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): Infrastructure investment

was very strong in 2018, due in large measure to improved state and local government finances.

Significant spending growth was observable in much of the nation in categories such as water systems, transit systems, highways and flood control.

Ken Simonson, chief economist, Associated General Contractors of America (AGC): After shrinking by 4% in 2017, highway and street

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construction spending increased 6% in the first 10 months of 2018 compared to the same period the year before. The increase resulted not from higher federal funding but from states that have raised fuel tax rates or other funding sources in the past few years and from more toll construction by both traditional toll agencies and by public-private partnerships (P3s).

It appears spending will increase again in 2019 but not by as large a percentage as in 2018.

Jeannine Cataldi, IHS Markit:

Spending on highways/streets declined in 2017, largely due to a wait and see attitude as the (at that time) incoming administration had touted grand infrastructure plans. As the year wore on and no plan was announced or passed, state and local governments started making arrangements for spending in 2018.

Overall spending on highways/streets is expected to increase by 1.6% over 2017 levels. Looking ahead to 2019, there currently is no federal plan in place for increased investment in infrastructure. However, after the mid-term elections, there was a stronger expectation that some type of federal funding plan can be achieved in 2019. Funding any federal bill remains the key headwind, but state and local governments have been taking a stronger role in raising revenues to undertake needed improvements. We expect that spending

growth in the highways/streets segment will expand at an accelerated rate in 2019.

Dr. Alison Premo Black, senior vice president and chief economist, American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA): Public highway, street and related investment by state and local governments is expected to increase to $66.5 billion in 2019 from $63.4 billion in 2018. This is the second year of consecutive growth for public highway construction. The real value of public highway work, when adjusted for inflation, fell to $60.6 billion in 2017, down from $64.5 billion in 2016.

After falling 2% in 2018 to $31.2 billion, the real value of bridge and tunnel construction work is expected to increase to $31.7 billion in 2019, an increase of 1.5%.

Increased investment at the federal, state and local level will continue to support the growing market. Major developments include: ˜˜ increased federal investment through the FY 2018 appropriations bill and the 2015 FAST Act law, ˜˜ the approval of numerous state and local ballot initiatives to raise transportation revenues in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and ˜˜ the action by 30 states to raise or adjust their motor fuel tax rates, and other fees, over the last six years.

Federal highway investment

received a boost from the FY 2018 appropriations bill.

Congress approved $2.5 billion for highway programs in addition to an increase of $930 million approved as part of the core highway program under the 2015 FAST Act law. The market impact of the General Fund investment from the appropriations bill will depend on how quickly states obligate the funding.

Nearly $2 billion will be available to states using the same formula as the federal aid highway program. But states can take up to four years to obligate this money, unlike the traditional program where funds must be obligated within the same fiscal year. The remaining $500 million will be distributed through the federal and tribal lands program and a competitive highway bridge program.

One wild card in the forecast is the outlook for the reauthorization of the FAST Act and the ability of Congress to find additional revenues to support the Highway Trust Fund. If states start delaying projects in response to uncertainty over the future of the federal aid highway program, then it would temper 2019 market growth.

Overall, highway construction market activity is expected to increase in about half of the states and Washington, D.C. in 2019. The market should be steady in another five states, with activity expected to slow down in the remaining 20 states.

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S PECIAL REPORT

Economists weigh in on prospects for construction in the months ahead.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION What are the major drivers of the commercial and housing construction segments and do you anticipate the level of new construction to be sustained in 2019 in both market segments? In which subsets do you expect to see the greatest uptick in activity?

ABC: While apartment construction remained elevated in 2018, total spending is no longer climbing quickly. Single-family home construction slumped due in large measure to higher mortgage rates. Commercial construction, by contrast, was red hot in a number of segments, including hotels and data centers.

AGC: Spending was very closely balanced in 2018 among residential, private nonresidential and public construction. In addition, the spending increases were widely spread across the nation.

All but six states added construction employees between October 2017 and October 2018.

In 2019, I expect slightly less growth in public construction, except for airport and K-12 school construction. Private nonresidential categories will be modestly positive, with the strongest categories being pipelines, warehouses and data centers. Residential construction growth will be helped by an increase in multifamily. Most states will continue to add workers, if contractors can find them.

Robert Dietz, SVP and chief economist, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): While the single-family construction market is expected to post a gain for 2018, it will be at a smaller growth rate than we expected at the start of the year. A nearly 100 basis point increase in mortgage interest rates over the course of

2018, combined with the cumulative effect of prior home price increases, has reduced housing affordability to a 10-year low.

Our expectation is that mortgage rates will continue to rise alongside gains for the 10-year rate, given a tight labor market and the Fed’s intended policy to continue to tighten monetary policy, albeit at a slower rate than expected a year ago.

For 2019, we expect a small gain for single-family construction, but housing affordability will hold back construction volume going into 2020. For multifamily development, we expect roughly flat conditions with the market leveling off. This level of apartment construction, however, is higher than we estimated last year given the 2018 single-family slowdown.

NAHB expects home construction growth to continue to be concentrated in the West and the South, where job and population gains are strong. This is particularly true for markets in the Mountain states, such as Montana, Idaho and Utah.

IHS Markit. Commercial construction remained healthy in 2018, led by spending in the warehouse, office and lodging segments. Warehouse spending is expected to slow, but remain above 10% for the year. Office and lodging spending are expected to end 2018 with stronger growth than in the previous year.

Tax cuts enacted in 2017 had some benefits to businesses.

The outlook for 2019 is for moderate spending growth in the commercial market. Tariffs enacted through 2018 are having some impact and we expect that office and lodging will grow, but at slower rates through the year.

The housing market has been flat through 2018, with an expected growth rate for construction

spending of less than 1% for the year, weaker than growth of 8% in 2017. Rising mortgage rates and rising prices have made housing less affordable. In addition, costs to build homes are rising, and builders are finding it is more profitable to construct larger homes, which tend to fall outside of many potential homeowner price points. These headwinds will keep the overall housing market flat in 2019.

Areas that are expected to see stronger activity will be in the south and west markets where there is room to build. These are also areas with stronger population growth.

EMPLOYMENT Do you see the labor challenge continuing to plague the construction industry in 2019 and, if so, what can businesses do to mitigate its impact?

ABC: Skills shortages will continue to plague contractors in 2019 and likely beyond.

Retirement of some of the nation’s most experienced, skilled and dedicated construction workers will persist for the foreseeable future, as will inadequate entry of younger workers.

While expanded apprenticeship programs, retraining and other techniques will help, construction’s skills shortages will likely ultimately be solved by the

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emergence and diffusion of new technologies, including robotics, drones, 3D printing, artificial intelligence and modularization.

AGC: The worker shortage will intensify as more sectors compete for workers. Contractors need to adopt a wide variety of approaches to recruit, retain and substitute for workers.

NAHB: As of October 2018, there were nearly 300,000 open construction sector jobs, a significant increase over a year ago. While the housing market slowdown will ease some of the upward pressure on the count of unfilled construction sector positions, we expect the skilled labor shortage to remain a key supply side constraint for the construction industry.

Solving the industry labor woes will take a concerted effort of builders working through state and local home building and industry associations, alongside national organizations like the Home Builders Institute and the National Housing endowment, in partnership with trade schools and community colleges.

For home building, the labor shortage will also increase the market share of modular and panelized construction, although those market segments in total currently represent less than 4% of total single-family construction.

Nonetheless, even a small gain in that share will help lift the industry’s labor productivity and help builders build more with less.

Emily Crowley, IHS Markit: Tight labor market conditions in construction will persist in 2019, resulting in yet another year of labor shortages and strong wage growth in the industry. The good news is the construction labor market is responding to demand.

The construction industry added 225,000 workers through November compared to 2017.

Solving the industry labor woes will take a concerted effort of builders working through state and local home building and industry associations, alongside national organizations...

— Robert Dietz, NAHB

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S P E CI AL R EP O R T

We also expect some demandside relief as the positive effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act subside. Real nonresidential spending growth will slow from 5.5% in 2018 to 2.7% in 2019.

Rising interest rates will also weigh on the residential sector; real residential spending will decline 1.1% in 2019.

The bad news is the construction industry is in the midst of a demographic transition and is expected to retire 30% of its workforce over the next 10 years. While demand growth next year is expected to slow and the pipeline of younger workers is improving, the outflow of experienced workers will keep construction labor markets tight, leading to an acceleration in average industry wages from 3.1% growth in 2018 to 3.6% growth in 2019.

ARTBA: Recruiting, training and retaining workers will continue to be an issue at the local, state and regional level in 2019.

Industry wages for employees on jobsites were up 3% in 2018, on average. Longer term, changes in technology will help drive increased productivity to address labor challenges.

Despite these challenges, half of highway and bridge contractors have significant capacity to increase construction work above current levels, according to the latest results of ARTBA’s quarterly market survey. Fourteen percent of respondents said they are working at below 75% capacity, and another 36% are working at 75% to 90% capacity and could take on more work.

partially enacted attributable in March to weaker 2018 will than anticicontinue pated global to have demand. an impact Moreover, on the domestic highway supply has construcbeen rising tion market. in certain Steel is an instances imporin response tant input Supply of good used equipment is to tariffs for transstill low and demand is high. As the and highportation broader market begins to slow, the need er prices. construcfor quality used units will remain strong This appears tion — for for the first half of 2019. Learn the factors to be the every $1 contributing to this continuing strength at case with spent www.ForConstructionPros.com/21041334. steel and on highsoftwood way and lumber. bridge conFurther, the U.S. dollar is struction, 10 cents goes toward likely to remain strong in 2019, steel-related materials. which would tend to further It is difficult to isolate the suppress construction material impact of tariffs on the price price increases. The implication of steel-related products from is that materials prices in 2019 other market forces, such as the may not rise as rapidly as they cost of energy, transportation or did during much of 2018. input materials. A 2003 report ARTBA: ARTBA estimates overall by the U.S. International Trade highway and bridge project costs Commission (USITC) found remained below general inflation that the economic impact of the between 2013 and 2016, and rose steel tariffs implemented under 2.7% in 2017 and 3.8% in 2018, the Bush Administration in 2002 largely due to increased costs for on the construction industry was diesel fuel and materials. mixed. While 56% of contractors Prices for the materials used reported spot prices for steel had in highway construction projchanged, about 67% of construcects were up an average of 8% tion firms indicated there had not in 2018. This increase is largely been a change in contract prices. driven by the cost of diesel fuel Of the contractors surveyed, 83% and other energy inputs, which indicated there had not been any were up an average of 26% for major contract modifications after highway contractors, accordthe tariffs were implemented. ing to the U.S. Bureau of Labor BLS price data shows that Statistics (BLS). Other sectors average annual prices in 2018 for steel manufacturers making more materialintensive products, such as steel bars, tubes, well — Robert Dietz, NAHB casings and conduits, RAW MATERIAL COSTS of the construction industry also were up 12% to 14% compared saw similar price increases. to 2017. Steel-related products What factors may play an According to BLS price data, that include more labor inputs, instrumental role in raw material the average selling price of key such as bridge expansion joints, costs in 2019? highway materials inputs in structural steel, scaffolding, graABC: There will be many 2018 were up for asphalt (+6% tins, railings and highway guard factors shaping construction vs. 2017), cement (+2%), conrails, were up 6% to 8% in 2018 materials prices in 2019. One of crete block and brick (+2%), compared to average prices in them will be a weakening global aggregates (+3%), ready mix 2017. economy, which will generalconcrete (+4%), iron and steel NAHB: Tariffs on Canadian ly help to suppress further price (+11%) and diesel fuel (+36%). softwood lumber produced a increases. Indeed, the recent The uncertainty created by large amount of price volatility decline in oil prices is at least the steel and aluminum tariffs in 2018. During the summer of

USED EQUIPMENT

OUTLOOK

A new U.S.-Canadian softwood lumber agreement is needed, and broader trade issues need to be resolved quickly to allow the economy to grow.

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2018, higher lumber costs were adding $8,000 per new singlefamily home.

Additional tariffs on steel, aluminum and other Chinese goods could increase development costs by $1 billion or more in 2019, offsetting some of the benefits of the 2017 tax cuts.

Moreover, the higher costs produced by tariffs represent an inflation risk, thus adding pressure to increase interest rates and slow the overall economy.

A new U.S.-Canadian softwood lumber agreement is needed, and broader trade issues need to be resolved quickly to allow the economy to grow.

Deni Koenhemsi, IHS Markit:

Construction materials costs are rising at levels last seen before the recession. Inputs to construction index tracked by the BLS statistics is rising close to 7.5% in 2018. This aggregate index includes materials and energy that goes into construction but excludes labor. Therefore, it is a good representation of the topline inflation that builders face with higher raw material prices throughout 2017 and 2018.

Behind this high escalation in 2018 are important drivers such as fabricated steel (10% price increase) or refined petroleum products (close to 30% price increase).

Section 232 tariffs and other trade decisions certainly played an important role in the escalation of prices for raw materials such as steel and aluminum. We expect Section 232 tariffs to stay in place in 2019. However, prices for steel and aluminum will be lower compared to 2018. They have already begun to drop.

While part of the strength in pricing in the U.S. can be explained by tariffs, the other part of the explanation is the strength of the U.S. economy.

With fiscal stimulus boosting growth, and solid gains in income, we expect fourth-quarter GDP growth to come in at 2.5%, bringing growth overall for 2018 to 3.1%.

However, for 2019, we expect dynamics such as slowing global growth, a strong dollar, fading fiscal stimulus, tightening monetary policy, a hesitant stock market, effects of recent tariffs and the approach to capacity constraints, which point to a slowing pace in U.S. growth.

[These] will also have a tempering effect on demand and raw material prices. ET

www.ForConstructionPros.com

1/29/19 9:31 AM

Zero Turn for Mobility, A Fun New Spin for Pavers

info@gomaco.com ❘ www.gomaco.com Long, straight runs are nice. But many of you have curb and gutter projects with short runs, radii and corners in parking lots or tight locations.

GOMACO’s Xtreme curb and gutter machines have zero-turn capabilities for maneuverability. You’ll be able to place more curb than ever before and move your machine in ways you have never moved before. You’ll be able to pour a tight radius that you could only dream of before. GOMACO’s proprietary G+ controls makes your concrete paver smoother and easier to operate. So, if you want a Zero-Turn GOMACO Paver for your next paving season, you better call now. Our worldwide distributor network and our corporate team always stand ready to serve and assist you.

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1/29/19 9:31 AM

R OAD B U I LD I N G By Jessica Lombardo

THE ROAD BLOCKS to Infrastructure Growth ALISON PREMO BLACK, senior vice

president, policy & chief economist at the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA)

ED MORTIMER, vice president,

transportation infrastructure for the United States Chamber Of Commerce

ANIRBAN BASU, chairman

and CEO of Sage Policy Group

AUDREY COPELAND,

president, National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA)

DARREN COUGHLIN,

president, Asphalt Recycling & Reclaiming Association (ARRA)

Industry experts discuss the challenges that could impact road building activity in 2019 and beyond.

T

he road building industry is experiencing a time of both excitement and anxiety. On the one hand, transportation is finally starting to get the traction it deserves.

In the November 6 mid-term elections, voters approved 81% of transportation initiatives, securing over $30 billion in funds for infrastructure investment nationwide. On the other hand, contractors are still facing uncertainty for long-term federal funding. Pair that with labor struggles and increasing material prices and it’s no wonder they are having a hard time being optimistic about the future. Still, industry experts say the market outlook is positive for 2019.

The value of highway, street and related construction work is expected to grow nearly 5% in 2019, after adjusting for project costs and inflation, according to ARTBA’s forecast model, says Alison Premo Black, senior vice president, policy & chief economist at the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). Overall, highway construction market activity is expected to increase in about half of the states and Washington, DC in 2019.

Anirban Basu, chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group (and ABC chief economist)

agrees, noting, “Despite an uncomfortable level of stock market volatility beginning in October 2018, the U.S. economic outlook for 2019 looks benign. Leading indicators remain upbeat, including a number related directly to construction spending such as the Architecture Billings Index and Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) Construction Backlog Indicator.

The tax reform that came into effect in 2018 remains in place and will presumably produce additional positive business investment impacts in 2019.”

What else is on the horizon?

Industry experts weigh in on what’s ahead.

How the construction projects are paid for is paramount to keeping work in the pipeline.

2018 provided some guaranteed dollars, and states are starting to pick up the tab, as well, helping to keep work going, even without a federal infrastructure package.

BASU: For years, it had always been conventional wisdom that the nation’s infrastructure problems had to be addressed at the federal level. But despite the lack of the much discussed federal infrastructure plan, infrastructure spending has been surging in America for approximately the past year. According to data supplied by the U.S. Census Bureau, from September 2017 to September 2018, construction spending on water supply

systems rose 31%, conservation and development 25% (e.g. flood control), transportation 16% (e.g. mass transit), public safety 15% (e.g. fire stations) and sewage/waste disposal and highway/street each by 9%.

There is a simple explanation for these blossoming public works expenditures. According to the Pew Research Center, 34 states are taking in more tax revenue than they were prior to the Great Recession, even after accounting for inflation. West Virginia, for example, closed the last fiscal year with a $36 million budget surplus, the first time in eight years (not counting surpluses created via budget cuts). Maryland, a state that has

been associated with only moderate job growth for much of 2018, ended the fiscal year with a surplus of over $500 million.

Similarly, North Carolina ran a $440 million surplus.

These surpluses have caused some states to reinvest in their own roads and highways.

For example, last year, North Carolina awarded $7 million in matching grants to help fund 14 short line railroad/railway projects, and the Maryland Transit Administration has already committed to spending $900 million over the next several years on its public transportation system.

PREMO BLACK: If the last decade has taught us anything, it is that many states will start

If Congress does not solve the issue of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) in the next year, this will put a damper on the market and slow down expected growth.

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LACK OF GUARANTEED FUNDING

— Allison Premo Black, ARTBA

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to hold back on projects if they expect a long reauthorization process full of delays and short-term extensions. If Congress does not solve the issue of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) in the next year, this will put a damper on the market and slow down expected growth. On average, federal aid highway funds account for half of state program spending on construction, right-of-way purchases and planning and design work. Federal investment is a core component of state highway and bridge program capital outlays; significant delays or uncertainty over future investment levels will have a market impact.

The two-year budget agreement reached between President Trump and the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate calls for a minimum of $10 billion per year in supplemental infrastructure investment.

Transportation programs received a total of $5.3 billion in supplemental general funds in FY 2018 and are on track to benefit from an additional $5.4 billion to $5.8 billion in FY 2019. Nearly $2 billion of that funding is for highways, bridge and tunnel projects distributed under the same formula as the Surface Transportation Program Block Grants. An additional $320 million is for federal/tribal highways and $225 million is for a rural state competitive grant program for bridge projects.

The additional funding should help boost the transportation construction market in 2019, but the total impact will depend on how quickly states obligate the general fund revenue. States have four years to obligate these funds, as opposed to one year for the core federal aid highway program. So some states may decide to obligate the additional general funds at a slower pace, especially if there is uncertainty and potential delays related to the reauthorization process.

States are also working to make money on their own. We tracked nearly 540 state and local ballot initiatives during the 2018 primary races and general election. Voters approved 81% of those measures, showing their continued support to raise revenues for increasing transportation investment.

HTF INSOLVENCY One wild card in the forecast is the outlook for the reauthorization of the FAST Act and the ability of Congress to find additional revenues to support the HTF. If states start delaying projects in response to uncertainty over the future of the federal-aid highway program, that would slow down market growth next year.

MORTIMER: In 2018, the FY 2018 Omnibus granted $20 billion to “infrastructure.” Highways received an additional $4 billion in FY 2018 and a similar amount is expected in FY 2019.

While legislative action did not occur in 2018 on an infrastructure modernization bill, the U.S. Chamber is optimistic that a new Congress and renewed interest from President Trump will mean both parties can come together to enact a significant bill in 2019.

In January 2018, the Chamber offered its plan for reform, “The Roadmap to Modernize America’s infrastructure.” The plan includes a federal user fee, which was last raised in 1993. Since then, inflation has eroded nearly 40% of the value of the user fee. Fuel efficiency has also improved in the last 25 years. As a result, motorists use less fuel to drive the same number of miles, and there is significantly less revenue to maintain the roads they use.

The U.S. Chamber is calling for an increase in the federal user fee of 5 cents each year over the next 5 years for a total increase of 25 cents. The proposal would include indexing the tax for inflation and for future increases in fuel economy, so there would be no need to revisit this issue in the foreseeable future.

The proposal would raise $394 billion over the next 10 years, which would be invested in our highways, bridges and transit systems in a fiscally responsible fashion. When combined with state, local and private sector funds, this would go a long way toward modernizing the nation’s interstate system. The cost to the average American would be around $9 a month.

The Chamber’s plan for infrastructure reform includes a long-term funding solution through the fuel tax. The Chamber is also open to other long-term funding solutions, including encouraging more private investment. Sustainable funding should be a critical component of any infrastructure modernization bill.

Addressing this issue in 2019 will allow Congress to review

FAST Act policy and be able to accomplish a timely reauthorization of the FAST Act in 2020.

Without the revenue adjustment for the HTF in 2019, it will be very challenging to address this issue during the 2020 election year. We also continue to see state and local governments strongly supporting increased investments in transportation programs.

COPELAND: On the day after the Democrats won the seats to retake the House in the mid-term election, both President Donald Trump and Rep. Nancy Pelosi

(Speaker of the House) identified infrastructure as an area where the administration and Democrats in Congress could work together. It is likely that President Trump will be looking at his infrastructure proposal as the starting point for discussions around the next highway reauthorization bill. We’re hopeful for broad federal funding legislation passed in 2019, but there is a lot of work to do to iron out the details.

Insolvency of the HTF continues to be an issue. As early as Spring 2020, states will have to stop construction because the HTF will not be able to meet its obligations. In 2019, it is critical for Congress to find and enact a sustainable funding stream.

NAPA will continue to work with our partners and Congress to propose viable initiatives for highway funding and increased investments for infrastructure.

Beyond 2020, starting in FY 2022, the federal government will have to find at least $20 billion per year in new HTF tax receipts or additional bailout transfers just to keep highway programs going at current funding levels, plus annual inflation

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increases of around 2% per year.

Thus, it’s critical to come to an agreement on a sustainable funding mechanism for highways in 2019, so implementation can occur before FY 2022.

Many different reauthorization concepts have been floated through Congress and all of them would stabilize the HTF. An estimated $160 billion over five years will have to be raised to maintain current funding levels.

The best option to address the HTF shortfall would be a gas tax increase indexed to inflation, to

impose a tax on car batteries, and a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) user fee on commercial vehicles.

Before any sort of VMT is ready for implementation, there will have to be some sort of nationwide pilot program.

The next highway reauthorization — if it is a long-term bill — will likely have to include a combination of solutions, an increased gas tax (in the early years) indexed to inflation and some type of user-based fee for highly fuel-efficient and alternative fuel vehicles in later years.

If we do not expand the construction workforce, it will be impossible to move ahead with the infrastructure projects we need.

— Ed Mortimer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

ONGOING LABOR SHORTAGE Seventy-eight percent of construction firms report they are having a difficult time finding qualified workers. The industry is going to have to make some serious changes in order to attract workers to these careers.

MORTIMER: The USG and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index found that though demand for new projects increases, a majority of contractors struggled to find skilled workers in 2017. If we do not expand the construction workforce, it will be impossible to move ahead with the infrastructure projects we need.

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The concern is that the infrastructure industry has not fully embraced new technologies and is not evolving fast enough to meet the changing needs of society.

Congress and the administration can help address the worker shortage. A recent example is the Carl D. Perkins Act, which was reauthorized earlier this year.

Policymakers should also modernize America’s apprenticeship system, leverage the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to expand the national network of sector-based construction partnerships, and keep the skilled workers who are already in the workforce thanks to programs like DACA and TPS. COPELAND: At NAPA, we’re developing a national strategy to address the skilled labor shortage that will serve asphalt contractors. Over the next year, we will be educating our members and raising awareness on the issue.

In order to fully address the challenges, we are going to have to understand the causes and issues

apprenticeships and student competitions. It’s also been identified through these efforts the importance of exposing middle school and high school kids to the opportunities our industry offers. We need to do a better job reaching out to guidance counselors that can inform children and young adults that trade work such as the asphalt industry can lead to a fruitful career.

The Asphalt Pavement Association of Indiana (APAI) has done a fantastic job of building connections with high schoolers that are members of the FFA (FFA.org) to highlight road building as a potential career. NAPA, with the help and support of APAI, attended the FFA’s annual convention in Indianapolis. More than 65,000 young people raised in farming communities across America attended the meeting,

Since that signing, there have already been a number of positive indications. Bloomberg BNA reports that the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has taken the lead on implementing the President’s plan. The ETA is working to streamline the processes third-party groups, including unions and trade groups, have to navigate in order to initiate accredited apprenticeship programs.

COUGHLIN: The lack of skilled workers affects contractors’ ability to complete work on a timely schedule. Wages are increasing to be able to compete for skilled labor, which creates an even greater need to properly fund the HTF. Therefore, contractors are engaged in education and making efforts to get vocational programs back into the education system.

LONG-TERM THREATS

— Audrey Copeland, NAPA

within our industry, so a major part of our strategy will be market research, which then can be used to further develop our strategy and communicate with the potential workforce the many opportunities for good-paying jobs and life-long careers in the asphalt industry.

We will also harness the power of collaboration and partnerships with other organizations... to expand our reach and amplify our efforts. One key, highly successful initiative implemented in 2018 was the creation of the Women of Asphalt (womenofasphalt.com), an industry-wide initiative to empower women to consider the asphalt industry for their careers and educate them on the opportunities within our industry.

Asphalt pavement associations on the state level have had success in three key areas: career communications that highlight the opportunities in our industry,

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evolving fast enough to meet the changing needs of society.

In 2019, we’ll likely see continued advancements and implementation of intelligent equipment that can sense and provide real-time information to contractors. Our members report implementing fleet management technology for fuel savings and safety and collecting data to improve operations. We will also continue to see advances in work zone safety such as intrusion-sensing technology, remote flagging and autonomous truckmounted attenuators that can be implemented to keep our workers safe in the work zone.

Coughlin: Most contractors see the benefit of technology to their bottom line and quality control by implementing technology as soon as it becomes available to the private sector. Technology like equipment maintenance tracking, estimating, intelligent compaction and automated grade control have been implemented for years.

Most recently, total autonomous excavation sites are coming to the private sector.

providing NAPA and asphalt contractors an opportunity to introduce [them to] the asphalt pavement industry...

NAPA will also be hosting an Ag2Asphalt Career Day at World of Asphalt in February.

FFA students will be able to see construction equipment and the latest technologies at the show, and equipment manufacturers have planned a full day of handson learning for the students.

BASU: Apprenticeships represent a key avenue to career preparedness and the American middle class. The current administration in Washington, D.C. has become neatly aligned with the apprenticeship movement.

In June 2017, President Trump signed an executive order entitled “Expanding Apprenticeships in America”, doubling the annual funding for apprenticeship grants from $90 million to $200 million in the process.

NEED FOR TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION A 2017 survey conducted by KPMG found that while 72% of the engineering and construction executives surveyed stated technological innovation played a role in their company vision, less than half had a clear strategy in place to integrate those advancements.

COPELAND: It has been established that the labor productivity growth in the construction industry lags that of manufacturing and the total economy.

According to a report by Balfour Beatty, productivity in the global infrastructure sector has remained static at 1% for the past 20 years. With this, profit margins are very thin and we’re facing a critical skills shortage due to a “low tech” image.

According to a report by AECOM, we are facing an “innovation deficit.” The concern is that the infrastructure industry has not fully embraced new technologies and is not

Despite the confidence in the economy, contractors need to be aware of struggles that might lie ahead.

BASU: The early months of 2019 are set to be good ones for the U.S. economy; however, there are looming threats to the economic outlook. Contractors should be aware that recessions often follow within two years of the peak in confidence. In 1999, the U.S. economy was booming.

That year, the economy expanded 4.8%. Within two years, the nation was in recession after the dot-com bust of 2000.

This is not to suggest that recession is necessarily coming in late 2019, 2020 or 2021. This is merely to suggest that contractors should be wary and should remain vigilant with respect to cash flow management and balance sheet health during the year ahead.

It is conceivable that falling asset prices in 2019 and/or 2020 could trigger the next economic downturn shortly thereafter. But there is also the possibility that outcomes will turn out better than anticipated. Should the federal government be able to structure a meaningful infrastructure deal, it could unleash even faster economic growth and the long-awaited surge in worker productivity. ET

Jessica Lombardo is the editor of Asphalt Contractor magazine.

www.ForConstructionPros.com

1/28/19 11:22 AM

ROAD BUILDING Products Wirtgen SP 62i Concrete Paver

Carlson CP75 II Commercial Paver The CP75 II provides higher material transfer with its 36-in.-wide independent conveyors.

• 74-hp Deutz 2.9 Tier 4 Final turbocharged engine • Electrically heated EZC815 screed with a standard paving width of 8 to 15 ft.

• Operator-focused platform with screedmounted controls, intuitive electric switch functions, direct connect lever steering and ability to run the platform from either side • High-efficiency chain/slat conveyors or High Flow Material Conveyor

www.forconstructionpros.com/21041395

Roadtec MTV-1100e Material Transfer Vehicle The 47,890-lb. MTV-1100e has a lower 9-ft. 10 1/2-in. height and a deck height of 6 ft. 2 in.

• Dump hopper includes a 22-in. triplepitch segmented auger and offers a 500-tph capacity • Front hopper with vibrating bottom plate to prevent material buildup • Heavy-duty, swiveling support casters under hopper designed to provide smooth movement • Hydraulically operated clean-out doors located at each conveyor • 250-hp Cummins QSB 6.7 Tier 4 Final engine

www.forconstructionpros.com/12305565

Allen 255T4 Triple Roller Tube Paver The 255T4 high-production, triple roller tube paver has available widths ranging from 12 to 34 ft. in 2-ft. increments with a roller tube diameter of 10 in.

• 49.5-hp Hatz 4H50TIC Tier 4 Final engine • Includes three roller tubes and a heavy-duty sectionalized overhead truss system that provides rigidity while facilitating easy width changes • Pendulum shaft-driven vibrators can be adjusted from 0 to 11,000 vpm from the operator console • Features a standard spray system, easy to use controls and a light weight

The SP 62i can precisely pave concrete in widths from 6 ft. 6 in. to 25 ft. and thicknesses of up to 18 in., or more upon customer request.

• Intelligent steering and control systems ensure highly smooth operation even around tight corners • Produces slabs with a central crown up to 3% • 12 hydraulic vibrator connectors standard with the option for six more • Eco Mode automatically matches the 241-hp Deutz engine’s output to demand • Two-track, modular design offers easy transport, setup and multiple configurations • Optional interface ensures compatibility with leading 3D control systems

www.forconstructionpros.com/20989464

Volvo P4410B Tracked Paver The P4410B comes factory fit with the 6,500-lb. Ultimat 16 front-mount screed, which can hydraulically extend to a full 16 ft. or up to 18 ft. with extensions.

• 155-hp Deutz Tier 4 Final engine • Ergonomically placed dual screed consoles and remote controls allow optimal visibility and precise speed control • Includes power slope and power crown, a large hopper capacity and durable rolled hopper wings that prevent material buildup • Adjustable auger-to-screed distance • Built-in SmokEater extraction system

www.forconstructionpros.com/20865647

www.forconstructionpros.com/12300054

Caterpillar F-Series Pavers The AP500F and AP600F have wheeled undercarriages while the AP555F, AP655F and AP1055F come with the Mobil-Trac undercarriage.

• SE-Series screed platform available with vibratory only or vibratory and tamper bars • Some models offer screed packages with the capability of paving up to 33 ft. wide • ACERT Tier 4 Final engine includes standard Eco-mode and automatic engine speed control • Refined heat distribution of screeds allows integrated generator to bring screed plates to proper temperature in about 15 minutes • Screed extensions with two-speed proportional control for enhanced responsiveness near obstacles and more precise control

www.forconstructionpros.com/21037730

Dynapac FC1600C Paver

Power Paver SF-2404 Slipform Paver The SF-2404 slipform paver can perform conventional and offset paving or custom applications, and is suited for residential and intermediate projects up to 24.6 ft. wide.

• Telescoping frame allows simple width adjustments • One-touch track positioning and simple steering controls • 138:1 track drive gear ratio ensures smooth paving even at extremely low speeds • Vibrators can be controlled individually or globally from the operator’s console • Stringless-ready from the factory • Optional Smart Vibe system • Two-track SF-2402 also available

www.forconstructionpros.com/12309722

The 4,500-lb. FC1600C highway class paver includes extreme-grade poly pad tracks, rebuildable wear-resistant conveyor floor plates and segmented high-wear augers.

• 99-hp Cummins diesel engine with double pump drive system • Offers a hydraulic tow point, power crown and power match height • Feed system uses a 24-in.-wide wearresistant dual slat conveyor and a 9-in.diameter segmented high-wear auger • VF0816C screed with a 16-kW generator for high-precision electric heat • Ultrasonic sensors automatically control auger and conveyor speeds

www.forconstructionpros.com/12314994

VT LeeBoy 8520 Asphalt Paver The 8520 has a paving width from 8 to 15 ft. and a 9-ton hopper capacity.

• Features a 106-hp Kubota Tier 4 Final engine and enhanced hydraulic system • Legend 815 heavy-duty electric screed • Under auger material cut-off gates • Continuous rubber tracks

GOMACO Commander II with G+ Digital Control System • Capable of slipforming over 40 fpm with a travel speed of up to 82 fpm • 60-in.-wide sectional direct drive trimmerhead for exacting grade preparation • G+ control allows independent track drive • Concrete fed into the hopper by a 20-in.wide, 6-ft.-long conveyor belt with a belt speed of 350 fpm • Vibration-isolated operator’s platform with pivoting control console • 102-hp Kohler Tier 4 engine • GOMACO Remote Diagnostics (GRD) system

www.forconstructionpros.com/10078544

Terex Bid-Well 3600 Paver The Bid-Well 3600 with enhanced paving carriage design can complete standardduty slab-on-grade paving jobs as well as bridge decks, and offers standard paving widths from 8 to 86 ft.

• 21-hp Kohler ECH650 fuel-injected gas engines • Paving carriage includes segmented upper and lower sections and a heavy-duty design for dual drag-pan configurations • Available with universal power crown adjuster, swing leg design for zero clearance paving, pivot leg configuration for a true vertical operating position and integrated LED lighting system • Rota-Vibe system with 11.5-in.-long roller generates up to 5,000 vpm to consolidate the top 2.5 in. of the slab

www.forconstructionpros.com/12038493

www.forconstructionpros.com/12313458

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R OAD B U I LD I N G

Ergonomic Advances Position O Safety, productivity and ease of use have been enhanced through ergonomic advancements in asphalt and concrete paver design.

S

implified controls, operator stations that can be configured for the job and comfort enhancements help paver operators concentrate on producing a quality product.

To get the inside scoop, we asked several leaders in the asphalt and concrete paving industry to address advancements made in the operating stations and controls of their latest pavers.

WHAT ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENTS MADE IN THE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT/ OPERATOR STATIONS OF YOUR COMPANY’S CONCRETE AND/ OR ASPHALT PAVERS AND WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS IN TERMS OF OPERATOR COMFORT AND PERFORMANCE? Jon Anderson, global sales consultant, Caterpillar: A lot of thought has gone into design enhancements that affect the operator and crew.

The fume extraction system improves the work environment for the crew dramatically by removing a large portion of the asphalt fumes that accumulate in the auger chamber and in front of the screed and discharging them up the stack with the engine exhaust.

The cooling system is designed to draw air in from both sides of the paver and discharge it out the front, away from the operator and crew.

This cools down the operator environment on the paver, eliminates the hot air discharged out the side of the paver, and creates a barrier to fumes. In addition, it also directs the noise of the fan away from the crew.

For cooler days, optional airride heated seats are available on the tractor.

Operators enjoy the benefits of faster heat-up and more daily production from the exclusive Cat generator design, as well as experience less ambient noise around the machine, helping them focus on the work and improving verbal communications around the machine.

Grade Control systems that share information with multiple operators (screed to screed, tractor) ensure everyone has information to do their jobs.

The operator station is designed to position the operator

On Caterpillar paving machines, the fume extraction system dramatically improves the work environment for the crew by removing a large portion of the asphalt fumes that accumulate in the auger chamber and in front of the screed, discharging them up the stack with the engine exhaust.

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so that he has a clear line of sight outside of the hopper without having to lean to the outside, eliminating strain. It also allows the operator to only have to turn his head about 45˚ in each direction between looking forward and looking at the auger chamber.

ECO-mode, while reducing fuel consumption, also reduces the environmental noise, allowing operators to talk to each other in a normal speaking voice.

Kevin Klein, vice president of engineering and research and development, GOMACO: We are continually upgrading and making advancements with our exclusive GOMACO G+ control system with suggestions from machine operators. With our inhouse control engineers, we can directly address requests, and build them into the G+ software and operating experience. And, with GRD (GOMACO Remote Diagnostics) on board, we can send that upgrade directly to the paver anywhere in the world from our headquarters here in Ida Grove, IA. We’ve redesigned our platforms for operator comfort by incorporating isolators to eliminate vibration. New cooling packages on our pavers allow quiet and efficient operation. We offer sliding or pivoting operator control consoles to accommodate the direction of travel of the paver. Operator platforms are designed to provide a complete, unobstructed view of the entire paving operation. Hand-held remote controls are also available

for a complete hands-on paving experience.

With our new Xtreme technology and the G+ control system, we can now offer paving equipment with rotary-sensored slew drives, so we can rotate our tracks further than ever before for machine maneuverability and tight radius paving, 24 in. or less. Our Xtreme Radius program allows the operator to program the size of the radius into the controller.

G+ calibrates and manages all the aspects of traveling around the radius, either on stringline or utilizing 3D machine control, including track angles and individual track speed control.

A smart hydraulic cylinder is also utilized for intelligent offset when telescoping and side shifting the mold mounting system and for repeatable mold offset.

Fred Bryan, vice president of sales, Power Curbers: Our newest machine, the Power Curber 7700 multipurpose slipform nachine, was designed with a movable operator’s station. The 7700 is ideal for center pour paving and offset paving, barrier walls, ditch liners and more.

Its diverse applications might require the machine to operate

The GOMACO 3300 features the new Xtreme Radius control technology. It makes it simple to learn how to pave complex projects, where operators may have previously learned only through experience and trial and error.

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n Operators for Success in different orientations, so having a movable console ensures the operator is always positioned in the correct direction. This feature maximizes operator visibility and efficiency while running the machine and reduces fatigue.

Kyle Neisen, product manager - Pavers and MTVs, Roadtec: Our rubber track pavers use an electronic joystick, which promotes operator comfort and ergonomics. Operators can use the joystick with their hands resting at their sides.

The joystick does a very good job of holding a straight line.

Operators can have confidence in letting go of the joystick when traveling straight and using their right hand for other machine controls.

Additionally, Roadtec operator platforms use hydraulic swing-out stations, which improve the operator’s sightline. Seats of the dual operator stations move out beyond the sides of the machine, providing increased visibility. Infinitely variable movement allows the operator to be in the best position while paving, but also allows the operator to move when approaching obstacles.

Also, operators sit higher than they do on other pavers, which allows them to see more of their surroundings, improving efficiency, productivity and safety.

The machine’s controls and display screen are conveniently arranged and move with the seat to allow for safe and convenient operation.

In addition to the increased visibility, operator efficiency and productivity are increased through an airflow system that creates a barrier near the back wall of the hopper. This air curtain pushes fumes and heat up and away from the operator

Roadtec rubber track pavers use an electronic joystick, which promotes operator comfort and ergonomics. Operators can use the joystick with their hands resting at their sides. Because it effectively holds a straight line, operators can have confidence to let go of the joystick when traveling straight and use their right hand for other machine controls.

platform, enabling the operator to be more productive.

Bill Laing, paving product manager, Volvo Construction Equipment: Safety, productivity and ease of use are some of the benefits of the operator environment design in the latest generation of our pavers. For instance, a low-profile deck on our B-series asphalt paver — including the P4410B, P7110B and P7170B — provides the operator with 360˚ visibility and an unobstructed view into the hopper and auger tunnel. Operators can run the machine from either side of the paver thanks to the swing console with grouped controls. Plus, when the operator does need to move throughout the machine, the pavers feature wide non-slip walkways, plentiful handrails, a flat deck surface and a glareresistant hood.

Matt Graves, director of marketing, Wirtgen America: Giving operators luxury heated seats and a glass windbreaker as a standard in North America was necessary. If you ever had to operate a machine at 2 a.m. with a tight deadline then you know.

How could we forget the screed operator on that same 2 a.m. shift who needs to move around the screed and maintain that consistent pile height? We have installed high-power LEDs in the bottom of the screed consoles for better visibility on the walkway. Visibility in the auger box could always be better, and that is why we put the same LEDs on the auger sensor, allowing the screed operator to

see the material height in that auger box.

SPECIFICALLY, HOW ARE CHANGES IN THE CONTROL SYSTEMS OF TODAY’S PAVERS HELPING TO PROMOTE ENHANCED OPERATING EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY? Anderson: One example is 3D grade control systems, which can take a lot of the responsibility for adjustment away from the operators, allowing them to focus on tasks that ensure continuous paving. This can maximize quality in terms of things you can see, such as matching the virtual design, as well as things you can’t see like optimizing smoothness by minimizing paver stops.

We also have ECO mode, which enhances operating efficiency by getting the engine closer to peak torque. Often, operators think ECO mode reduces productivity to save fuel, but the reality is we are just getting the engine speed to where it makes power more efficiently.

Some ECO modes can reduce productivity, but with our oversized feeder pumps and auxiliary system pump, we believe we have the ability to work in ECO mode close to 95% of the time.

Klein: With G+ on board, we offer a user-friendly experience that is easy to learn and easy to operate all of our GOMACO equipment.

The exclusive G+ control system features self-diagnostics for grade and steering. It features new and easy to operate hardware with steering and travel

“WE BELIEVE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK IN ECO MODE CLOSE TO 95% OF THE TIME.” — Jon Anderson, Caterpillar

Wirtgen provides luxury heated seats and a glass windbreaker as standard in North America. www.ForConstructionPros.com

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R OAD B U I LD I N G

“WE CHALLENGE OUR ENGINEERS TO DEVELOP CONTROLS THAT ARE EASY TO LEARN, SIMPLE TO USE AND ENABLE QUICK TRANSPORT AND SETUP.” — Fred Bryan, Power Curbers

dials. The elevation jog buttons, located to the left of the display screen, are used to manually change the elevation of the leg when the control loop is set to manual mode. The steering jog buttons, located above the display screen, are used to manually change the steer direction of the leg when the control loop is in the manual mode.

A flat-panel 6.5-in. anti-glare display screen is provided with sensor-controlled backlight levels for superior visibility in all operating conditions. The screen is rugged and shock resistant in its construction to protect against dust, moisture and rain.

G+ provides a full-color display on the control panel to illustrate the various aspects of the paver for setup and operation. A “run” screen on the control panel illustrates the various aspects of the paver. It includes leg position, paving speed and percentage of drive, steering, travel information, grade information, deviation meters, and more.

Newly designed icons and color graphics make it easy to understand and easy to identify the targeted functions. G+ controls feature a detailed fault history with the time stamp date and information to track when each fault occurred.

Bryan: It has always been our philosophy to make the operator’s station simple.

We challenge our engineers to develop controls that are easy to learn, simple to use and enable quick transport and setup. Our network controller on the Power Curber 5700-C is formatted so you don’t need to hunt through multiple menus to find the screen you need. We use the newest technology

The network controller on the Power Curber 5700-C is formatted so you don’t need to hunt through multiple menus to find the screen you need.

available to accomplish our goals simply. The 7700 has sensors and controls for each of the four legs to ensure the tightest specifications.

Our Simple Steer Track Positioning System aligns all four crawlers into position with the touch of a button to greatly reduce complexity for the operator.

Neisen: Operators have an abundance of data at their fingertips, thanks to Guardian Telematics. Roadtec’s Guardian Telematics is the only telematics system that allows live two-way wireless communication. This data enables troubleshooting and diagnostics in real time, increasing efficiency and productivity exponentially. Operators and those at the office or other locations share the same data at the same time. Modifications are made in real time to prevent machine issues and maintain productivity, reduce in-person service calls and downtime and lower overtime and labor costs.

Laing: Seemingly small mistakes by the operator can have an enormous impact on mat quality. That’s why so many of the new features help automate paver functions.

Speed limiters, grade and slope control, auto

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vibration and material flow sensors on the screed are all perfect examples of technologies on Volvo asphalt pavers that help automate tasks that could cause mat quality problems, and really help to make paver functions more efficient for the operator.

Another area used to increase efficiency, uptime and productivity is telematics.

Traditional telematics systems such as CareTrack can let contractors see where their machine is, how much fuel it’s consuming, and get basic fault codes to help diagnose issues before they result in downtime.

One major differentiator... is ActiveCare Direct, a 24/7/365 machine monitoring and reporting service managed directly by Volvo.

Right now, ActiveCare Direct is available on other earthmoving equipment, but it will be available on select pavers by the second quarter of 2019. This service allows dealers to shorten the reaction time if there is a problem with the machine. If a fault code comes through, Volvo does the legwork of providing the probable cause and recommended solution, so that the dealer and customer will know about it in near real time and can take action.

Graves: We have added operating range LEDs on all of our sensors, making it faster to set up and reducing the potential for errors. When setting up the sensor over the reference, it is as simple as moving it up or down until you have two LEDs letting you know you are in the correct operation range; there is no need for a tape measure or a yardstick.

When adjusting the material height, you can now control it from the sensor hand remote and the screed console. No longer will you need to look for the screen in the display because when you make the adjustment, it automatically pulls that auger page up in the display.

Lastly, with our two-speed smart wheel, the screed operator has the choice of slow for matching a joint or fast for catching a driveway.

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Anderson: Our systems can enhance the performance of both experienced and inexperienced personnel by making day to day operation easier and more consistent. Cat pavers are designed to simplify a complex process by providing controls and

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ROAD BU IL DING

interfaces that are easy to learn, use and understand. This reduces the need for human interpretation and enhances performance by automating some processes. The result is smoother, more accurate and more consistent pavements.

The control interface has great appeal to future hires that find comfort in video screens. The modern controls make it easier to onboard inexperienced operators when you compare a modern paver and screed control system to a few generations previous, with manual levers and screws. Operators who feel safe and comfortable with the tools they use are typically easier to retain. Even very experienced operators have quickly learned to use the system and have found the additional features and information beneficial in day to day operation.

Klein: The controls are more intuitive than ever, and aid the operator in making decisions on both how to setup the paver initially, and then operate efficiently when doing the work.

Instant feedback on performance of the paver through the controls is provided in easy to understand operating screens, and provides the operator with the knowledge and comfort that he/she has it tuned as best it can be. If not, he/she can see from the information provided on where he/she may need to tune things better.

Features like the Xtreme Radius control make it simple to learn how to pave complex projects, where those operations may have been learned only through experience and trial and error before.

Bryan: Our focus on simple controls and ease of operation ensures that when an operator needs to make an adjustment, it can be done quickly and accurately. Another fundamental design focus on all Power Curbers and Power Pavers machines is the quick transition for transport. At the start of the day or the end of a pour, our machines can get into position quickly and make transitions easier on the operator.

Stringless controls are becoming more popular among contractors and they have a huge impact on operators.

One of the benefits of 3D controls is the absence of stringline sensors.

Operators no longer need to set up sensors for every pour and monitor that they remain on the line.

Neisen: Advancements in operator stations help equipment operators feel comfortable and safe, which leads to increased confidence. Confident operators are able to focus on the work, and create a better result. When employers and manufacturers make investments that contribute to operator stations that are ergonomic, easy to use and safe, they demonstrate a commitment to their employees.

Laing: Advancements in the Volvo asphalt pavers have improved

the operating experience by making the equipment easier to use, safer and more productive, while still focusing on the operator’s comfort. Valuing the operator and giving them a comfortable, safe working environment increases the likelihood contractors will retain their experienced operators.

Making these machines more accurate and easier [to operate] with technology features like material flow sensors, auto vibration and grade and slope control expands the potential labor pool and shortens the training cycle for

less experienced operators. At the same time, these machines are automating certain parts of the job, which also makes the lives of experienced operators easier and could lead to improved retention.

Graves: We have simplified operation for operators who have been paving for years, making their life more conformable. In addition, we created a control system that the younger generation has access to from birth — push buttons and joysticks. ET

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L I G HT I N G EQ UI P M E N T By Jenny Lescohier

The ability to ensure sufficient light coverage on a jobsite is an important area of focus for lighting equipment suppliers.

The Latest In

multiple towers are chained together, providing several hundred feet of lighting powered by a single source,” Westwater notes.

“The chain tower contains no engine or other power source, and best of all, no emissions.”

Power is received from the parent generator, light tower or an auxiliary power source. “One parent generator can power several chain towers, depending on its size and power requirements,” Westwater explains. “This results in flexibility to the jobsite by having a single source provide the necessary power for several chain towers as needed, requiring less overall fuel, less maintenance and less noise.”

Chain towers can be used in any application where light towers are used, and where minimal refueling and less noise Pneumatic Power Technique, to guarantee perforare important factors. points to timers and photo eye mance and durability.

Chicago Pneumatic’s range of options as choices that can help The expected average life new electrical light towers — reduce fuel usage and the labor is 30,000 hours.” the CPLT P2, CPLT V2, CPLT hours required to tend to mulBut according to Erin V3 and CPLT E3 — can tiple light towers. “The optics Brown, senior prodbe plugged into and housing designs improve uct specialist, Doosan the power the amount of light cast from Portable Power, LED is grid or the elements and the optics help still the most prevalent used control the light directionally with from the element, increasing the power power and durability,” he adds. from a Lighting coverage is anothgeneraer area of focus. “The ability to trend. “It’s defitor. spread the light to optimize light nitely gaining “Keep coverage is just as important as traction as the pricin mind efficiently producing light,” says es are going down.

LED continues to you’re limited to Angel Nieto, product managTotal cost of ownbe a prevalent trend the number of these er, power & light, Atlas Copco ership is becoming light towers by due to lower total Power Technique. “The design of more important... vs. the size of the circost of ownership the optics makes the difference the equipment acquicuit they are being over the long term. used with,” says in achieving maximum light covsition cost, so more erage. At Atlas Copco, we have [customers] are actuMassinon. “The total reduced the number of LED ally buying LED models because number used in parallel can’t chips to one or two, depending they cost less to own over the require more power than the ciron the model, and used the right long term,” Brown states. “At this cuit protection is sized for. optics to spread the light beam in point, 50% of our customers are “For example, a 20-amp cirhorizontal and vertical directions. purchasing LED lamps over tracuit can supply up to 2,400 “The floodlight is also impor- ditional metal halide.” watts — enough to power three tant,” Nieto adds. “Our design of the E3 light towers. Or a rapidly radiates the heat proINS AND OUTS OF PARALLELING 30-amp breaker can provide up duced in the chip, keeping the “Paralleling light towers refers to 3,600 watts for light. That’s temperature at the correct level to a ‘daisy chain’ of towers, where enough power for seven of the V3 LED light towers,” he points out. “The light towers are all rated by the wattage needed. By simply adding the wattage, you can calculate the power needed.”

The benefit is that a single generator can provide — Angel Nieto, Atlas Copco Power Technique

Light Tower Technology Electric models, paralleling capabilities and LED technology top the list of things to look for in lighting technology today.

T

raditionally, light towers have not set the world on fire in terms of technological advancements. Yet, there are a few important trends to keep in mind when choosing a unit for your projects. Things such as electric models, paralleling capabilities and LED technology are gaining popularity and taking lighting to the next level.

TRENDS IN LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY According to Joan Westwater, product manager, jobsite, Allmand, “Lighting technology is constantly advancing in order to provide the customer with more efficient and economical choices, as well as flexibility for the jobsite. Different fuels and power systems utilizing electric, chain, hybrid battery and solar technologies, along with diffused lighting for DOT compliance regulations and construction safety, are all becoming more and more critical to the jobsite.”

Eric Massinon, business development director, Chicago

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“The ability to spread the light to optimize light coverage is just as important as efficiently producing light.”

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L IGHTING EQU IPMENT

Each application requires a different solution depending on the relevancy of glare, mobility, noise, serviceability, ease of use and light coverage. bulbs require time to come on and they can’t be turned on and off without a cool down period. metal halide bulbs also require a ballast, which can burn out or fail due to incorrect starting or stopping.”

There are numerous benefits of LED technology, including low energy consumption, durable performance, robust design, instant-on light, etc. Another advantage that might often be overlooked is that LED has a Color Rendering Index (CRI) above 85 (solar light is 100, metal halide light is around 60).

“This means that colors can be represented more accurately,

closer to solar daylight conditions,” says Nieto. “This is critical in certain applications.”

Another trend to monitor is the demand for traditional, incandescent light towers. While LED light towers are definitely gaining traction, metal halide is still the “gold standard.” “It’s what everyone is comfortable with,” says Brown. “But we have seen prices for LEDs coming

down across the industry, so that will make their popularity grow.”

“Metal halide light towers remain the standard workhorse of the industry where light output and even distribution of light are required,” Westwater states. “Standard diesel/metal halide units should be on hand and readily available for many of the construction applications.” ET

power for a multitude of light towers.

This reduces capital cost, operating cost and service cost.

LED technology is also bringing new possibilities to jobsite lighting.

“In particular, lower consumption and a more compact, lighter design expands the possibilities of mobile electric light towers,” says Nieto.

For example, Atlas Copco’s electric HiLight light towers enable several light towers to be easily coupled, or daisy chained, and run from a single power source.

For rental jobs where there are noise limitations, indoor projects or where high mobility is important (e.g. urgent deployment required, frequent relocation of the light towers), the electric light towers, and specifically the ability to have them coupled, adds more flexibility and versatility for end users.

Electric light towers can also be used in conjunction with self-powered light towers to improve light coverage at the jobsite.

SIZE AND NUMBER OF TOWERS NEEDED As Nieto indicates, “Every application requires a different solution in order to optimize performance, efficiency and benefit. Depending on the relevancy of glare, mobility, noise, serviceability, ease of use and, of course, light coverage, Atlas Copco’s range of light towers was designed to meet all these needs.”

“One size fits all is rarely the best solution,” Massinon cautions. “If you need light in a warehouse under construction and you have power from the grid, you wouldn’t want engine-driven light towers. Instead you would want the P2, V2 or V3 electrical light towers (depending on how much light is needed), which have no fuel or engine service required.”

BENEFITS OF LED LED lights will provide brighter, cleaner light that is more like daylight, while requiring less power and less maintenance.

“LED elements last longer and can be turned on and off like the lights in your home,” Massinon explains.

“The conventional metal halide-type

The Power Curber 7700 Multipurpose Slipform Machine At Power Curbers & Power Pavers, we believe in keeping things simple. Our engineering is focused on providing you a reliable and productive machine that is customizable and easy to use, no matter your application. Whether you’re paving a highway, or pouring variable barrier, ditches, and more, the 7700 will maximize your production, your efficiency on the job, and your bottom line.

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SCAN THIS CODE TO VISIT THE WEBSITE! © 2018 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, LET’S DO THE WORK, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” and the “Power Edge” trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

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COM PA C T E Q UI P M E N T By Curt Bennink

Vertical Lift Loaders

Reach New Level of Versatility

The design of lift arms today is significantly different than what has been available from Bobcat in years past. Today, the durability and longevity of radius lift path and vertical lift path machines is comparable.

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A few limitations for vertical lift skid steers and compact track loaders no longer apply.

M

anufacturers have concentrated Versatility is a key R&D resources to perfecting the strength of vertical lift performance characteristics of loaders. The newer designs vertical lift skid-steer and comare suited to grading with pact track loaders (CTLs). In many cases, a dozer blade, bucket and this has resulted in increased durability fork applications, as well as and digging performance to compliment the greater lifting capacity and height these use with high-performance machines afford compared to their radial hydraulic-driven attachments lift counterparts.

“In the past, the saying was that the radial lift is generally a better option for excavating and grading. And if jobs typically require working above eye level, a vertical lift would be the better option,” says Lars Arnold, global product manager, skid-steer loaders, Volvo Construction Equipment.

“However, that is no longer true. Vertical lift is the way to go to be able to work in various different applications with a skid steer all year long. They are great for grading with a dozer blade, bucket and fork applications, as well as for high-performance hydraulic-driven attachments.

“Radial lift offers more reach at mid-range height compared to a vertical lift, which can reach higher with more stability,” he continues. “Digging is an application done mostly at mid-range height or lower, which is why the radial lift is traditionally considered the best option. Also, because radial lift loaders have fewer maintenance and wear points and a reputation for durability, they’re more commonly used for tougher applications, like digging.

These traditional views are being challenged as the trend is clearly toward vertical lift machines since they are the better choice for being a multi-tool carrier.”

Vertical lift loader linkage designs have progressed significantly. “The design of the lift arms today are significantly different than what has been available from Bobcat from years past,” says Mike Fitzgerald, product representative, Bobcat. “In the early days of compact equipment — skid-steer loaders in particular — the radius lift path machine was designed to do certain work and the vertical lift path did a little bit different job.”

Kubota is careful to place the loader hinge pivot points in The simplicity of the radiprecise locations to distribute the load on the main loader chassis al lift path machines translated much like a radial lift loader. This placement gives the performance into increased durability, which characteristics of a radial lift with the benefits of a vertical linkage. made them well suited for digging

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COM PACT E Q UI P M E N T

SKID-STEER & COMPACT TRACK LOADERS REACH THE LIMIT The largest vertical lift skidsteer and compact track loader designs are now actually encroaching on lift heights associated with wheel loaders.

“Our largest machines, the S850 skid steer and T870 on the track loader side, have a 12-ft. lift height/144-in. pin height,” says Bobcat’s Mike Fitzgerald.

“Anything above that height is getting a little out of the compact equipment realm.”

applications, while the vertical lift path machines were targeted more toward lift and carry applications.

Today, the durability and longevity of radial path and vertical path machines is comparable.

Tools such as CAD and finite element analysis have made it possible to isolate stress and improve the designs. “The structural integrity and reliability, durability of the lift arm/frame configuration have made it so the customer doesn’t have to take that into consideration in the purchasing decision anymore,” says Fitzgerald.

THE PERFORMANCE GAP NARROWS In many cases, the performance gap has also narrowed.

“If you optimize the tilt cylinder locations, the pivot points, then the breakout forces are similar from one machine to another,” says Fitzgerald.

A key advantage to the vertical lift machines is that the load travels straight up and down with the loaders arms instead of swinging out in an arc, which keeps the center of gravity close to the machine. “Whatever you can lift at the very bottom on the stroke of a vertical lift you can typically take all the way to the top,” says Gregg Zupancic, product marketing manager, John Deere. With a radial lift machine, you might be able to pick the load off the ground, but as the load swings out slightly in the arc of the lift arms, you can lose the center of gravity and are more likely to tip forward. “So a heavy load at truck bed height may make you unstable.”

Many of the new vertical loader designs strive to achieve the durability and breakout forces of the radial lift models.

“Kubota is careful to place the loader hinge pivot points in precise locations to distribute the load on the main loader chassis much like a radial lift loader,” says Jeff Jacobsmeyer, CE product manager, Kubota Construction. “This placement gives the performance characteristics of a radial lift with the benefits of a vertical linkage. Large bucket pivot pins in the front bucket coupler and loader arms evenly distribute the load, which ensures long life when used in severe-duty applications.

“Machine lift performance and overall balance is critical in

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today’s competitive market,” he comments. “Kubota only manufactures a vertical lift design, so it is imperative that each model delivers the advantages of a vertical lift loader, yet performs to the lasting durability demands and performance of a typical radial design. Kubota’s unique vertical linkage design tucks in the rear and sides of the unit when retracted, allowing these models to push and dig more like radial machines.”

Case Construction Equipment counters that it is difficult to beat the simplicity of a radial lift machine. “The durability of the vertical lift design has definitely improved with the newer designs,” says Debbie Townsley, product marketing manager, skid-steer loaders and CTLs. “However, the simplicity of the radial design offers inherent durability advantages over the vertical style. From a customer’s perspective, the higher number of parts on many vertical lift loaders can potentially lead to more component failures.”

“Vertical lift machines do tend to have more wear points and therefore more maintenance needs. But speaking for Volvo skid-steer loaders, durability is always a top consideration in our development process, no matter the lift design,” says Arnold.

LOADER SIZE MATTERS The percentage of machines with vertical lift correlates closely with machine size.

“Smaller machines tend to be more entry level. By nature, customers want them a little lighter,” says Zupancic. “If

you look at the smallest size machines, maybe 60% are radial lift and 40% are vertical lift.

Then you get into the medium size and it is more opposite — you have 60% to 70% vertical and the remainder radial.

On the largest machines, they are all vertical lift.” In this case, the machines are already heavy, so adding the extra structure to achieve higher lifting or better breakout forces makes sense.

Vertical lift is popular with large- and medium-frame loaders. “The entire industry has moved more toward the vertical lift path machine because customers see value in spending additional money to get the extra rated operating capacity (ROC), with no trade-off in durability,” says Fitzgerald.

“There are various reasons for the shift to more vertical loader models,” says Townsley.

“One of the main reasons for the shift to vertical is the growth of the loader market to larger machines. The largest size loaders almost exclusively use vertical lift designs. Customers running larger loaders generally want the lift and carry performance of a vertical design. The vertical lift design particularly helps in the loading of dump trucks and placing materials at elevated heights.”

Arnold agrees, adding, “The lifting capacity is the reason larger skid-steer loaders tend to be vertical lift. Contractors want to be able to lift more with the larger machines. A vertical lift can also make it easier to work in confined spaces because of its straighter up-anddown path.”

Customers running larger loaders generally want the lift and carry performance of a vertical design. The vertical lift design particularly helps in the loading of dump trucks and placing materials at elevated heights.

BOOM GEOMETRY SEPARATES THE PLAYERS Boom geometry is a major point of differentiation between all of the loader manufacturers who offer a vertical lift machine. A lot of effort goes into the boom design, especially where the cylinders connect to the boom and how the boom connects to the machine.

“Typically, every competitor has a patent on that design. There is a lot of work that goes into that and you cannot exactly replicate someone else in the marketplace,” says Zupancic.

Manufacturers have to make deliberate trade-off choices when designing the boom geometries. “Every manufacturer has a different priority,” acknowledges Zupancic. Engineers study the kinematics of the boom design.

“That is where all of the cylinders might connect, what portion of the boom it might connect to, the angle of the cylinder.” This allows the OEM to tune specs such as breakout force.

“On the large frame, we did push the envelope on the boom breakout,” says Zupancic. “That is the lifting force of the boom.

The angle of the way the boom sits on the frame, the pivot points that the cylinders connect to and the linkage connects to were modified slightly so we could pick up another 1,000 lbs. of boom breakout force/lifting power.”

John Deere recently changed the vertical lift design on its large-frame G Series loaders.

“One of the key drivers for the change of the vertical lift was related to getting more height to hinge pin, or lift height,” says Zupancic. “We

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COM PACT E Q UI P M E N T

were previously around 10 ft. and we changed the design of the large machines to get up to 11 ft. today.”

This change required a different lift pattern arc for the loader arms.

“In the past, the lift pattern basically went straight up and then at full height it would move slightly away so you could better reach into a dump truck,” Zupancic explains. With a higher reach, this approach would have required additional counterweight. “We didn’t want

to add a bunch of extra weight to the frame of the machine to be able to counter that. Typically, our strategy was to have really good breakout force with our bucket at the lower heights.”

All manufacturers have their own lift arm designs and geometry. “Volvo differentiates itself with the unique single arm on both vertical and radial lift machines, providing side door entry and eliminating the need to climb over attachments to enter the cab,” says Arnold.

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Some vertical lift designs can restrict visibility to the rear of the machine.

“There are manufacturers that have a large portion of the linkage exposed very high, which can hinder rear operator visibility,” says Jacobsmeyer. “Kubota uses a lower profile integrated linkage system that provides a desirable front to rear weight ratio, resulting in excellent loader performance as well as visibility.

The lower placement of the vertical linkage provides outstanding rear and side

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VERTICAL LIFT IS MORE COMPLEX The additional linkage providing the vertical geometry does come with incremental cost, but that varies with designs among the manufacturers.

“Initial costs are higher when manufacturing a vertical lift machine simply because more materials and labor are involved in production,” notes Jacobsmeyer. “The additional pivot pins, fabricated loader linkage and assembly labor add to the cost of the loader during manufacturing.”

Depending upon the manufacturer, the increased cost for vertical lift can be negligible. “When you move up to a vertical path loader, there are performance benefits that justify the additional investment,” says Fitzgerald.

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Smaller machines and certain applications will continue to favor radial lift. “Radial lift styles are generally offered on the more price sensitive smaller loader models,” says Townsley. “However, in applications that require a lot of digging, there are larger radial lift loaders on the market to meet those specific customers’ needs. For example, Case offers the SR270 model that provides an ROC of 2,700 lbs. for customers that want both extra power and lift capacity in a radial lift machine.”

The demand for radial lift models isn’t going away. “There may be a bit more movement toward vertical lift loaders in the market, but there are still applications where it is more advantageous to use a radial lift loader,” says Townsley. “For certain applications, the design characteristics of a radial lift-style loader still have a clear advantage over a vertical model.”

The radial lift machine is better suited for loading and unloading off small vehicles or platforms, such as low-sided trucks or the back of trailers. “As the travel path is more similar to an arc, this configuration provides greater reach at mid ranges, which makes it ideal for loading and unloading off smaller vehicle platforms, such as lower-sided trucks or flatbed trailers,” says Townsley.

Many manufacturers still offer a radial loader option for digging in tight spaces. “Radial lifts are really good digging machines,” says Zupancic. “The bucket at the bottom is really close to the machine so you get good leverage to pry. There is less linkage in general, so there are fewer bushings to maintain or replace.

There are half the grease zerks of a vertical lift machine. You are also going to get better visibility with the radial lift. A customer may choose a radial lift simply for the visibility.

And Strategic Media Partners:

www.ForConstructionPros.com/10369209

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1/29/19 8:51 AM

COMPACT EQU IPMENT

Manufacturers have to make deliberate trade-off choices when designing the lift arm geometries.

Every manufacturer has a different priority. On the large-frame loaders, John Deere pushed the envelope on the boom breakout.

“THE ANGLE OF THE WAY THE BOOM SITS ON THE FRAME, THE PIVOT POINTS THAT THE CYLINDERS CONNECT TO AND THE LINKAGE CONNECTS TO WERE MODIFIED SLIGHTLY SO WE COULD PICK UP ANOTHER 1,000 LBS. OF BOOM BREAKOUT FORCE/ LIFTING POWER.” —Gregg Zupancic, John Deere They tend to be compact. The way the radial lift works is if you bring it up, the bucket is the highest point.

So in indoor applications, being that it is more compact, you have better visibility and the highest point is the bucket, which is out if front of you so you can see it better. It may be a better solution for those applications vs. a vertical lift.”

The radial lift geometry has its advantages. “People who stay with the radius path loaders are operations where they may be ground engaging or backfilling foundations, as a radius path will reach out farther at a lower height,” says Fitzgerald. “There are certain applications that a radius path machine still does the job a little different and meets the needs of a specific set of customers a little better.”

Tandem axle landscape trailers often require lift heights between 30 and 50 in. “With a typical landscaping trailer, you are going to reach a little farther onto the bed with a radius path loader than with a vertical path loader,” says Fitzgerald.

“Conversely, when you load a truck or hopper with high sides, the vertical path loader is going to reach in farther at those upper heights. What you are doing and how you have your jobsite set up will determine which machine suits your application best.” ET

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ET0219_28-33_Skid_Steer_Loaders_CB.indd 33

1/29/19 8:51 AM

COM PACT E Q UI P M E N T

6 Reasons

RENTING COMPACTS MAKES SENSE Six reasons renting may be best for your business.

1

COMPLETE SHORTTERM PROJECTS

Prior to adding compact equipment to your fleet, consider the type of work you will be completing. For instance, rental may be the best option when taking on new short-term projects.

“In many cases, companies are balancing several projects at the same time. Sharing the equipment among jobsites may not be logistically feasible or economical,” says Boerger.

“With certain short-term projects, it may be beneficial to rent,” he continues. “This helps eliminate some of the logistical issues you may have experienced by sharing equipment.

It also keeps the resources on site, making it easier to keep the project on schedule rather than waiting on equipment from another site.”

In addition, if your company traditionally operates skid-steer loaders on concrete and asphalt, and the need arises for a project in soft, wet or sandy soil conditions, renting a compact track loader to complete the project may be beneficial because of its increased pushing and digging performance in these ground conditions.

2

A

s a contractor, there are many benefits to renting compact track loaders, skid-steer loaders and compact excavators (along with attachments) to improve productivity. You can easily take on short-term projects, access new revenue sources, use the newest and most advanced equipment, reduce operating costs, minimize downtime, eliminate storage requirements and decide if a rent-to-purchase option is right for you at the end of your rental period.

Jason Boerger, marketing manager, Bobcat Company, outlines six advantages that could make renting a viable alternative for your business.

INCREASE BUSINESS WITH NEW SERVICES

Renting an attachment for use with a compact machine may be a good decision if you are looking to expand your company’s services. According to Boerger, a well-paired compact loader or excavator attachment may enhance a project, delay purchasing a dedicated piece of equipment and open up new revenue sources.

“If you use your machines for one task or one job only, you may be missing some profitable expansion opportunities,” Boerger says. “Renting a compact excavator with a hydraulic clamp could help you add land clearing and site preparation projects, or a hydraulic breaker attachment could help you compete for demolition jobs.”

In addition, in cold weather climates, a skid steer with a snowblower, snow blade or snow pusher attachment could help expand your services into snow removal and provide additional revenue during winter. It may also allow you to keep seasonal employees on staff when they may be otherwise not working, or working for another company.

3

KEEP YOUR BORROWING POWER

Currently, financial institutions don’t typically treat rental expenses as a liability on a company’s balance sheet.

This means rental equipment can help you maintain stronger borrowing power for your business.

Rental costs can often be deductible as business expense, as well. If you were to choose to purchase construction equipment rather than rent, the equipment would need to be depreciated over the life of the machine.

5

4

ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR STORAGE

Making space to store compact equipment or attachments may not be feasible for some contractors. For some, once a project is completed, it is easier to return compact equipment to a rental store or dealership where it can be properly stored. This means it is important to give consideration to the space needed to properly store equipment that is not out for rent, as it can incur additional cost.

REDUCE OPERATING COSTS

When you own equipment, you absolutely must take service costs such as maintenance and repairs into consideration, and you need to think of it in terms of its entire life cycle.

When renting a compact machine, maintenance is still important, but costs will be significantly lowered when compared to ownership. This allows you to focus on the task at hand and worry less about the overall long-term maintenance plan.

“It isn’t uncommon for rental contracts to include repairs or parts. The rental store or compact equipment dealership should be following a routine maintenance schedule — such as engine oil and filters and hydraulic filter changes — to help promote the machine’s long-term durability,” Boerger points out. “Make sure that you read and understand your rental contract and what is included for maintenance and parts before you sign the rental agreement.”

6

OPPORTUNITY FOR RENTAL PURCHASE OPTION (RPO)

Compact equipment and attachments that work longer, harder and smarter than other machines may become permanent additions to your fleet. An RPO is essentially a flexible rental agreement with an option to purchase the equipment, with your rental payments going toward the purchase of the machine at a later date.

This can be a good plan for those who don’t want to purchase the equipment outright, but may have the need to purchase the equipment in the future.

“If you are considering an eventual machine purchase, it’s important to structure an RPO contract and start a conversation with your sales and/ or rental representative to ensure this type of contract is available,” Boerger says. “RPOs may have a higher up-front cost, but it helps curb some of the risk.

However, if the jobs keep coming in, it can justify the purchase toward the end of the RPO agreement.”

Renting compact equipment and attachments can offer unique benefits to your business, help you better budget for equipment expenses and reduce your overall cost of ownership on a particular project. As you evaluate where your equipment needs stand, the final decision is dependent on what services you want to offer and what projects you are looking to complete in the most efficient and affordable manner. ET

Renting compact equipment for short-term projects can help eliminate some of the logistical issues of sharing equipment between jobsites.

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www.ForConstructionPros.com

1/28/19 11:30 AM

COMPACT EQUIPMENT Products Kato AS12 Skid Steer With its pilot-operated joystick controls and compact design, the AS12 rubber-tire skid-steer loader is designed to provide maximum flexibility while working in confined spaces.

• 2,955-lb. operating weight • Can handle an operating load of up to 728 lbs.

(SAE) and generates a breakout force of 1,658 ft.-lbs.

• 6-ft. 6-in. dump height • Yanmar 3TNV76 diesel engine rated at 21 hp at 2,500 rpm

www.forconstructionpros.com/10826307

Caterpillar D2 Series Loaders Kubota SSV65 and SSV75 Skid-steer Loaders The 64-gross-hp SSV65 boasts a 1,950lb. rated operating capacity (ROC) and 4,839-lb. bucket breakout force, and the 74-gross-hp SSV75 has a 2,690-lb. ROC and 5,884-lb. bucket breakout force.

• Vertical lift configuration can dump into a dump truck with 10-ft. sides • Kubota Tier 4-certified four-cylinder diesel engine • Include a spacious, dust-resistant, pressurized cabin with an optimized climate control system, slide-up frontentry door and hand-foot controls • Standard two-speed travel • Optional high-flow hydraulics and multifunction lever for fingertip control of major machine and implement functions

www.forconstructionpros.com/12010695

The 98-gross-hp 272D2 skid-steer, 297D2 multi-terrain and 299D2 compact track loaders and their 110-gross-hp XHP counterparts are designed to meet Tier 4 Final standards.

• 272D2, 297D2 and 299D2 deliver rated operating capacities of 3,400, 4,700 and 4,600 lbs. (50% of tipping capacity) • 272D2 XHP, 297D2 XHP and 299D2 XHP are rated at 3,650, 4,800 and 4,725 lbs.

• In-cab heads-up Advanced Display can be paired with a rear view camera • Full-color, 5-in. LCD monitor enables on-screen adjustment of implement response, hydrostatic drive response, creep control speed, ride control activation speed and more

www.forconstructionpros.com/12083431

John Deere Large Frame G Series Loaders

Case SV340 Skid Steer

The 330G and 332G skid steer and 331G and 333G compact track loaders have a refined vertical lift loader boom design that has an 11-ft. height to hinge pin and extends an added 6 in. from the machine.

• Rated operating capacities of 3,000 up to 3,700 lbs. and bucket breakout forces ranging from 6,000 to 7,750 lbs.

• Offer 8,770- to 12,100-lb. operating weights and 91.2 to 100 gross hp • Increased auxiliary hydraulic flow and power allow use of a range of attachments • Cab includes an easy access entryway, tightly sealed swing-out door, ample foot and legroom and enhanced visibility • EH Boom Performance Package option automates repetitive functions

The SV340 vertical-lift skid steer has a rated operating capacity of 3,400 lbs. and a bucket breakout force of 9,531 lbs.

• 24.2-gpm standard auxiliary hydraulic setup or available high flow at 38.7 gpm and 3,450 psi and enhanced high flow at 35 gpm and 4,000 psi • 90-hp FPT engine with selective catalytic reduction eliminates the diesel particulate filter and associated regeneration • EZ-EH (electrohydraulic) controls provide nine adjustable speed and control sensitivity settings that can be adjusted on the fly • Single rocker switch allows operators to switch between “H” operating pattern and ISO pattern controls • Push-button Ride Control

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Gehl V420 Skid-steer Loader The V420 has an 11,665-lb. operating weight, 4,200-lb. rated operating capacity and vertical lift path of almost 12 ft.

• 120-hp Deutz Tier 4-certified engine • Standard high-flow auxiliary hydraulics (up to 41 gpm) • Comes with a spacious, comfortable cab with suspension seat, pilot joystick controls, foot or hand throttle and heat and air conditioning • Incorporates a 14-pin connector, two-speed travel and hydraglide for a smoother ride and less material spillage • Optional rear view backup camera and radio with hands-free Bluetooth

www.forconstructionpros.com/20991977

LET'S BUILD

YOUR IDEAL

STRUCTURE

Takeuchi TS80 Series Skid-steer Loaders The large-frame TS80 series skid steers feature 74-hp Deutz Tier 4 Final engines that supply 192 ft.-lbs. of torque at 1,800 rpm and incorporate a maintenance-free diesel oxidation catalyst.

• 7,950-lb. radial lift TS80R2 has a 2,825lb. rated operating capacity (ROC), 5,845-lb. bucket breakout force and 10-ft. 5-in. maximum hinge pin height • 8,965-lb. vertical lift TS80V2 has a 3,500-lb. ROC, 5,920-lb. bucket breakout force and 10-ft. 10-in. hinge pin height • Functional, well-equipped cab includes a lower threshold for easier entry and exit • Optional ride control, bucket positioning and high-flow auxiliary hydraulics

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COMPACT EQUIPMENT Products Volvo D-Series Skid Steers and Compact Track Loaders

Bobcat M2-Series Compact Loaders The M2-Series encompasses 24 models of 400, 500, 600, 700 and 800 frame size skid-steer, compact track and all-wheelsteer loaders, all featuring Bobcat diesel engines with a non-DPF design.

• S850 skid-steer loaders come standard with 100-hp engines • 600 and 700 frame size models include a low-effort hydrostatic pump that reduces drive lever effort by as much as 25% • Enhanced automatic ride control option is turned on or off from inside the cab • Auto mode enables ride control function to be automatically activated by detecting increased hydraulic lift arm pressure • Cab improvements include front and rear cab isolators, door seals, side screen dampers and redesigned top window

www.forconstructionpros.com/12275160

Wacker Neuson Medium-frame Loaders The SW16 and SW17 radial lift and SW20 and SW21 vertical lift skid steers have 1,600- to 2,100-lb. rated operating capacities (ROC), and the ST28 radial lift and ST31 vertical lift compact track loaders have a 2,800- and 3,100-lb. ROC (50% tipping load).

• Bucket breakout force of 5,300 lbf.

• Vertical lift models provide a 124-in. hinge pin height • 55-hp Kohler 1903 three-cylinder (SW16, SW20) or 74.3-hp Kohler 2504 four-cylinder diesel engine with no DPF • Offer 38.6 hydraulic hp standard with optional high flow (57.2 hp) • One-piece pod-style cab design allows the entire cab to tip forward with the arms down

www.forconstructionpros.com/12289906

S I N O I T A V INNO

.

D R A D N A T S R U O

The MC110D, MC115D and MC135D skid steers, and MCT110D, MCT125D and MCT135D compact track loaders have a stronger boom design with up to 11% higher lifting capacities.

• Curved single loader arm’s heavy-duty design and extra reinforcement provide more strength and rigidity while efficiently distributing the load • Standard rated operating capacities from 2,500 to 3,000 lbs.

• Roomy ROPS/FOPS, noise-insulated high-spec cab includes a wider side-entry door, new handrails, adjustable seat, more legroom and storage, an advanced climate control system and easy-to-read gauges • 270° of visibility around the machine

www.forconstructionpros.com/20997901

JCB Teleskid Available in tracked and wheeled versions, the Teleskid can perform the work of a telescopic handler, masted forklift, compact loader and skid steer, all in one easily serviced machine.

• Telescopic boom combines vertical and radial lift capability • Provides a forward reach of 8 ft., a lift height of 13 ft. and can dig below the chassis to a depth of 3 ft.

• Bucket-positioning leveling system allows the bucket level to be set and maintained throughout the boom’s range of movement • 74-hp JCB Ecomax Tier 4 Final engine provides high torque at low rpm • JCB myCHOICE software allows control responsiveness and joystick sensitivity to be tailored to match operator preferences

Yanmar Skid-steer Loaders The S190R-1 and S220R-1 skid steers feature an improved operator’s cab, intuitive designed controls and increased hydraulic performance.

• Tier 4 Final-compliant, electronically controlled diesel engines • S190R-1 boasts a 68.4-hp engine with a 1,900-lb. rated operating capacity, while the S220R-1 comes with a 70.7-hp engine and a 2,200-lb. rated operating capacity • Feature roomy, comfortable cabs, self leveling, choice of quick-attach mounting systems, suspension seats, universal attachment plate and more

www.forconstructionpros.com/10783414

www.forconstructionpros.com/12312995

ASV RS-75 and VS-75 Skid Steers

Mustang 4200V Skid-steer Loader

Mechanic Trucks & Cranes by Stellar Industries offer the perfect blend of weight-saving features and innovative technology.

Learn more at StellarIndustries.com!

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36 EQUIPM ENT T OD AY | February 2019 ET0219_35-37_CompactEquipProd_BC.indd 36

The 11,665-lb. 4200V has a 4,200-lb. rated operating capacity and a vertical lift path of almost 12 ft.

• Deutz Tier 4-certified engine rated at 120.7 hp and 354 ft.-lbs. of torque • Standard high-flow auxiliary hydraulics offer hydraulic flows up to 41 gpm • Standard cab with suspension seat, pilot joystick controls, foot or hand throttle, heat and air conditioning • Includes a 14-pin connector, two-speed travel and HydraGlide for a smoother ride and less material spillage

www.forconstructionpros.com/20992091

The large-frame radial-lift RS-75 and vertical-lift VS-75 are powered by an industrial 74-hp, naturally aspirated, 2.9-liter displacement diesel engine that generates 192 ft.-lbs. of torque.

• VS-75 offers a 3,500-lb. rated operating capacity (ROC), 7,000-lb. tipping load and 10.8-ft. lift height, while the RS-75 has a 2,600-lb. ROC, 5,200-lb. tipping load and 10.4-ft. lift height • Dedicated skid-steer frames enable a 10.5-in. ground clearance and a 24˚ departure angle • Standard hydraulic joystick controls • Travel speed up to 11 mph when equipped with optional two-speed drive • Auxiliary hydraulic system with optional 30.9-gpm high-flow pump capacity and 3,335-psi system pressure

www.forconstructionpros.com/20976355

www.ForConstructionPros.com

1/28/19 11:32 AM

ELEVATE

[ YOUR ] CONTROL

AND YOUR COMFORT. L-Series Wheel Loaders provide control like never before, with exclusive features such as programmable multifunction buttons, controls for up to a sixth hydraulic function in a single joystick, and bucket vibrate for precise material dumping. And with ample legroom, automatic temperature control, and an available heated, ventilated seat, your operators will be as comfortable as they are in control.

JohnDeere.com/Elevate

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ET0219_35-37_CompactEquipProd_BC.indd 37

1/28/19 11:32 AM

P R OFI T M AT T E R S By Jonathan Barnes

GET IN THE CLOUD to Beat the Competition Cloud project management software simplifies collecting, analyzing and collaborating over field data for smoother projects.

Canadian contractor Graham Group recently saved $35,000 just on printing costs on a single project using Fieldwire field management software.

C

ontractors are embracing cloud computing for project management to get omnipresent data, lower printing and jobsite costs and ensure fewer record keeping errors than with handwritten data collection.

Putting project data in the cloud reduces paper printing costs and jobsite visits. Cloud data is always accessible, decreasing document retrieval time and providing up-to-date intel about the status of a project so that managers can adapt plans to improve cost and production as conditions change.

Getting the full benefit of project data means integrating project management tools, and smoother cooperation on projects. It involves using project management software that fits.

COLLABORATING FREELY Construction is becoming more technology driven and

38 EQUIPM ENT T OD AY | February 2019 ET0219_38-39_ProfitMatters_BC.indd 38

contractors that don’t keep pace will be less competitive than others. Tech knowledge is trending upward.

“As the construction industry adapts to the availability of data any time, any place, mobile usage continues to grow on the jobsite and in the office,” says JBKnowledge’s 2018 Construction Technology Report (https://bit.ly/2SiOwHI).

Cloud computing enables greater collaboration and immediate changes, improving accuracy, saving costs and boosting profits. Taking full advantage of cloud computing means working smoothly with other site management apps and gaining the production insights available when tracking individual tasks, labor hours, materials and other costs. It also improves value for owners, who want contractors to respond quickly to changes.

“Today, with 2D and 3D tools, changes in design can be made daily by owners who expect to see the cost impacts of those changes almost immediately,” says Walter Davis, estimating market manager, Sage Construction & Real Estate Division.

Clear communication between managers and tradespeople on a project means fewer mistakes will be made and less rework needed.

Constant communication ensures deadlines are met.

Better software and cooperation between workers can simplify documenting change orders. So when project costs increase unexpectedly, photos can document the work and defuse potential for disagreements between owners and contractors.

WHEN A NEW TOOL IS NEEDED To know whether to adopt a new project management tool, identify critical tasks and decide whether your existing software handles them well.

“Look at software that helps you win revenues, like bidding software, and software that helps you deliver profitability, like field management software,” says Yves Frinault, CEO of Fieldwire, a project management software firm focused on field operations.

If the project management software you’re using doesn’t make your processes simpler, faster and better, it could be time to change.

If the software cannot automatically maintain a current set of documents, has difficulty sharing information between the field and office, or the company is using spreadsheets to manage construction workflows like RFIs, submittals or punch lists, consider new project management software, says Kumar Wiratunga, corporate VP for ARC Document Solutions.

ARC’s SKYSITE provides project management for construction.

Contractors of all sizes may use several apps together on a project. Those tools should integrate well so that data collected in one app can be used in the others to make digital insights more practical. The right software in the cloud will make the integration easier.

MANAGING SAVINGS

“Since implementing Jonas eMobile, our techs complete jobs from the field and don’t have to return to the office to drop off paperwork on a weekly basis,” says Ted Current, vice president and CEO of Current Mechanical. “It’s allowed us to have access to more timely information.”

Accurate info when you need it helps you run projects with a proficiency that gains longterm clients, and better bidding based on correctly reported labor, equipment and materials costs makes projects more profitable. Timeliness of the data tends to reduce change orders and rework, improving profit and competitiveness.

“The construction industry is experiencing a labor shortage,” Frinault says. “Companies have to find extra leverage somewhere; that means making the process more efficient.”

Many improvements come with the right software. “Our customers report saving one hour each day due to improved jobsite coordination. One of our larger contractors, Graham Group, recently saved $35,000 on a single project just on printing costs, while Fuse Consulting Engineers saved 10 to 15 hours per week for each engineer using the platform,” says Zachary ReissDavis, director of marketing for Fieldwire.

On a $285 million hospital project, Canadian general contractor Graham tracked 15,000 punch items and collaborated with trades to complete the work.

By using Fieldwire for jobsite coordination, mobile plan viewing, punch list and document management, the company reduced printing costs by $35,000.

Prior to Fieldwire, doing one inspection report per week could take Fuse employees 10 hours or more in the office. Now, every week, Fuse is saving a day of work hours previously spent on reporting. ET

If the project management software you’re using doesn’t make your processes simpler, faster and better, it could be time to change.

Based on better performance, project management software provider Jonas Construction Software won a client away from its previous provider.

Current Mechanical, a contractor specializing in mechanical, HVAC and plumbing, found its former software cumbersome because it isolated data in places not accessible to all departments. It also encouraged using pen and paper.

Current Mechanical’s search for a project management alternative led it to Jonas’ eMobile solution. The company saved money by reducing time spent on jobsite visits and handwriting reports, and by enabling it to bill faster, speeding payroll processing.

www.ForConstructionPros.com

1/28/19 11:34 AM

430LRT Engine Powered Scissor Lift

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For tough job site situations, you choose a specialist from your crew. The same consideration should be given to the selection of a scissor lift. When you choose JLG, you’re choosing the leader in aerial work platforms to help boost productivity and ensure uptime.

CHOOSE JLG.

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ET0219_38-39_ProfitMatters_BC.indd 39

1/28/19 11:34 AM

L I F T E QU I P M E N T By Jim Arabia

Basic Safety Tips for Using Boom Lifts

LEARN MORE ONLINE Workplace safety programs protect your employees and empower them to confidently complete tasks without fear of injury or death. But creating a culture of safety can be difficult. JLG Industries shares five key elements that must be present for a safety and health program to get off the ground.

Learn more at www.fcp.news/5Elements.

These tips can help enhance safety when working at heights.

B

oom lifts are an important component in the proper deployment and completion of many construction projects. However, given the size, scale and structure of this type of equipment, they can also pose substantial risk and have the potential to cause serious injury if effective safety measures are not followed.

These safety tips are important to consider and implement when operating boom lifts, and can help prevent injuries, accidents, damage and liability concerns.

KEEP A CLEAR BASE AND CIRCUMFERENCE Always make sure that the base and the entire circumference of the boom lift are clear of any personnel while the machine is in use. The circumference of the lift is often significant and tools can easily fall from the platform and seriously hurt anyone who may be standing below. Keeping the entire area clear minimizes the risk of anyone below being hit by objects that may fall.

Though very rare, it is also possible for boom lifts to tip over. Keeping the area under and around the boom lift clear will help ensure that no one is hurt if the entire structure tips over.

HIRE TRAINED LIFT OPERATORS Hiring employees who are properly trained to operate boom lifts, and who maintain relevant safety certifications and knowledge, can help keep you and your other employees safe while the machine is in use. Testing potential new hires

with hands-on assignments that demonstrate their operational knowledge of the lift can help detect potential problems and address them before any accidents happen on the actual job.

WEAR YOUR HARNESS A simple but vital safety measure is wearing a harness and ensuring the lanyard is fully secured to the bucket. While it may seem unlikely that an operator will fall out of the platform, even the slightest bump from another piece of equipment or object can throw an operator off balance and put them at risk of falling. Even a strong gust of wind could knock someone down or off of the platform and cause serious injury.

DON’T GO OVER THE WEIGHT LIMIT Each boom lift has a specific weight capacity. It is important to identify and adhere to these restrictions. Going over this limit even slightly could potentially make the lift top heavy and cause it to tip over.

Prior to operation, always account for the weight of the operator on the lift plus all tools and materials on the platform to ensure that the combined weight isn’t more than the recommended capacity. It’s also important to remember not to use the boom lift for lifting heavy supplies.

DON’T CLIMB OR SIT ON OUTER EDGES When on the platform of a boom lift, it’s easy to be inclined to climb on the platform edge to reach something instead of

40 EQUIPM ENT T OD AY | February 2019 ET0219_40_LiftEquip_BC.indd 40

moving the entire machine to reach it. This is more dangerous than many realize. Climbing or sitting on the edge of the platform significantly increases the chances of falling off the platform, and can result in serious injury.

If there is something that isn’t accessible, communicate with the boom lift operator to help get to a safe position where you can easily reach what is needed from the platform.

AVOID WINDY CONDITIONS When a boom lift is extended very high, the wind can pose a substantial safety concern. If it is strong enough, the wind can knock the machine over completely.

Avoid using boom lifts in extremely windy conditions or other adverse weather to avoid the risk of it potentially falling over. Each lift has a limit of how much wind it can withstand.

Hiring employees who are properly trained to operate boom lifts, and who maintain relevant safety certifications and knowledge, can help maximize safety while the machine is in use.

Reviewing the user manual will help an operator understand the specific restrictions of the machine they are operating and identify strategies for using it in challenging weather.

OPERATE ON LEVEL GROUND The height at which boom lifts can extend makes this equipment particularly vulnerable to tipping over. Ensuring the machine is being operated on even ground and on a stable base will help keep the operator and surrounding workers safe.

Using the boom lift brakes correctly is one method that can be implemented to help stabilize the machine’s base.

MOVE THE LIFT CORRECTLY Properly reviewing the manufacturer’s operator manual will

help an operator understand how to effectively maneuver the boom lift, and when it is and isn’t safe to move the lift while it is extended.

As a best practice, it’s often best to avoid moving the lift in this manner. Moving a lift while extended creates opportunity for injury and should only be done when it is necessary and only if the operator’s manual specifically condones it. Otherwise, you should lower the boom lift completely, move it and then extend where needed.

Operating boom lifts can pose challenges and risks, but following these safety tips can help prevent accidents and injury on site. ET

Jim Arabia is vice president of marketing at BigRentz (www.BigRentz.com).

www.ForConstructionPros.com

1/28/19 11:35 AM

LIFT EQUIPMENT Products Dieci Pegasus 45.30 Rotating Telehandler The compact Pegasus 45.30 has a 98-ft. lift height when equipped with four proportional extensions, and a lift capacity of 9,921 lbs.

• 170-hp FPT Tier 4 Final turbo diesel engine and electronically controlled hydrostatic transmission • “ECOWORK” system draws power to the engine only when required • Improved hydraulic system with load-sensing, flow-sharing, variable flow pump • Outrigger automatic leveling system • SMART navigation system controls main electronic functions including driving modes, minimum rpm control, forward speed and diagnostics

www.forconstructionpros.com/12321834

Caterpillar TH514D Telehandler The TH514D has a rated load capacity of 11,021 lbs. and a maximum lift height of 45.5 ft.

• 100-hp C3.4B Tier 4 Final diesel engine and 4F/3R powershift transmission • Closed-center, load-sensing hydraulic system with variable-displacement, axial piston pump and flow-sharing valves • Four-wheel-drive system uses heavy-duty axles with planetary reduction hubs, front limited-slip differential and dual-axle braking • Ride control system dampens boom movement during travel and a boom-float system allows the boom to automatically follow terrain contours • Single multi-function joystick

www.forconstructionpros.com/12318344

Liebherr LRT 1090-2.1 and LRT 1100-2.1 Rough-terrain Cranes The LRT 1090-2.1 and LRT 1100-2.1 feature Cummins 6.7-liter, emissionscompliant engines that supply 264 bhp and a maximum torque of 730 lbs.-ft.

• 100-ton LRT 1090-2.1 has a 154ft. telescopic boom with a two-stage hydraulic cylinder and a rope extension mechanism • 110-ton LRT 1100-2.1 offers a 164ft. five-part telescopic boom with “Telematik” telescoping system • Lifting capacities over the radius range can be achieved with just two telescoping modes (Strong or Long) • VarioBase variable support base allows each individual outrigger beam to be extended to arbitrary lengths

www.forconstructionpros.com/12272408

Bobcat V723 Telescopic Tool Carrier

JCB 512-56 and 514-56 Loadall with DualTech VT Designed for the 512-56 and 514-56 Loadall telehandlers, the DualTech VT is a dual technology transmission that combines power shift and hydrostatic drives in a single housing.

• Enables a 25-mph top speed for the 145hp 514-56 S Energy Master models and 18-mph top speed for 74-hp machines • Hydrostatic drive provides fine stepless speed control up to 12 mph on the S models and 5 mph on the 74-hp models • Automatic switching to electronically modulated three-speed powershift for higher speed operation • Models provide lift capacities of 12,000 and 14,000 lbs. to a maximum lift height of 56 ft.

www.forconstructionpros.com/12313466

The 17,155-lb. V723 is in the 7,000- to 8,000-lb. size class and is powered by a side-mounted, 100-hp turbocharged diesel engine that doesn’t require a diesel particulate filter for Tier 4 compliance.

• 22-ft. 10-in. maximum lift height and 13-ft. 5-in. maximum reach • Front-wheel, all-wheel and crab steering modes • Travel modes include a two-speed option, speed management and inching control • Boom cushioning and ride control cushioning suspension systems • Asymmetric cab design with a wraparound rear window and a split door provide 360° visibility • Power Quick-Tach mounting system

www.forconstructionpros.com/20988718

HIGH PERFORMING

Reaching high places at a low ownership cost, the Snorkel S3226E delivers performance and value with a working height of 32 ft. (9.9m) and 500 lbs. (227kg) platform capacity.

Its

super-heavy-

duty steel construction and over engineered components offer a high-quality design that rises above the rest.

Because

Genie S-60 XC, S-65 XC, S-80 XC and S-85 XC Boom Lifts The S-60 XC, S-65 XC, S-80 XC and S-85 XC offer a dual lift capacity of 660 lbs. unrestricted and 1,000 lbs. restricted.

• Working heights from 65 ft. 9 in. to 91 ft. with outreach of 50 ft. 10 in. to 74 ft.

• Xtra Capacity (XC) feature enables operation with up to three people on board with room for tools and materials • Automatic envelope control • Load sense cell continuously checks weight in the platform and limits operating envelope to match load chart • Feature a 74-hp Tier 4 Final diesel engine, four-wheel and positive traction drives and Lift Power generator solution

www.forconstructionpros.com/20980150

Haulotte HA80 RTJ Pro Articulated Boom The HA80 range has a working height of 86 ft. 1 in., up-and-over clearance of 30 ft. 6 in. and horizontal outreach of 57 ft. 5 in.

• Dual load capacity option enables switching between 550- and 770-lb. modes • Boom rigidity, regulated kinematics and automatic damping of ramp motion when approaching full extension ensure fluid boom movements • ACTIV’Lighting System-Safe Load system illuminates controls and area around the boom • ACTIV’Shield Bar 2.0 fully incorporated into the upper control protection cover

sets

standards higher.

TOP PERFORMER

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL

Snorkel™ at +1 (785) 989-3000 or visit www.snorkellifts.com

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ET0219_41-43_LiftEquipProd_BC.indd 41

Snorkel

February 2019 | EQ U I P MEN T TO D AY 41

1/29/19 9:48 AM

LIFT EQUIPMENT Products Snorkel SR5719 Compact Telehandler The 10,360-lb. SR5719 is capable of lifting up to 5,732 lbs. with a maximum lift height of 19 ft. and a maximum forward reach of 10 ft. 4 in.

• Features full-time four-wheel drive, a fully enclosed cab, power-assisted steering and proportional joystick controls • 70.3-hp Yanmar Tier 4 Final engine • 10-ft. 8-in. outside turning radius • Overall width of 6 ft. 2 in. and height of 6 ft.

4 in.

• 13-ft. 3-in. length to fork face

Manitou 74-hp Easy74 Telescopic Handlers

www.forconstructionpros.com/20992624

The MTA 6642 Easy74, MTA 8044 Easy74 and MTA 10055 Easy74 feature full-time four-wheel drive, three steering modes and travel speeds up to 15 mph.

• 74-hp Cummins Tier 4 turbocharged diesel engine does not require regeneration or diesel exhaust fluid • 295 ft.-lbs. of torque at 2,500 rpm • Dana four-speed powershift transmission • Single all-in-one joystick control • Offer the same height and lift capacities as the MTA Series III models

Skyjack SJ519 TH Compact Telehandler

www.forconstructionpros.com/21006132

The 10,500-lb. SJ519 TH has a 5,500lb. lift capacity (4,400-lb. rated load), a 19.1-ft. maximum lift height and a maximum reach of 11.25 ft.

• Fully opening door allows operators to easily access the roomy, modular “Little Big Cab” • Standard cast rear counterweight with hitch pin, yoke-mounted lift shackle and quick-attach carriages • Simple control panel design and in-cab engine multifunction display • Includes a 74-hp Deutz Tier 4 Final engine, hydrostatic drive and Dana axles • Oversized engine bay and fully opening steel cowling ensure easy access to all major service points

www.forconstructionpros.com/20993315

Forever-ODM 32/15 Scissor-Boom The 32/15 Scissor-Boom combines a scissor lift’s low cost, easy operation advantage with a boom lift’s outreach capability.

• Large working platform with a single joystick control • Tight site maneuverability • Easy transportation • Model 32/15 designed for industrial and municipal applications • Model 45/22 designed for construction is expected to be introduced in early 2019

RY N INDUST STRUCTIO N O C E H T HES FOR TY WINC SPECIAL

www.forconstructionpros.com/20995314

UP Equipment Hoeflon Compact Tracked Cranes The C1, C4, C6 and C10 compact crawler mini cranes are offered in combustion and electric models.

• Lift capacities range up to 8,810 lbs. to a maximum height of 72 ft.

• Include two telescopic sections and 210° of articulation, with a hydraulic jib for up-and-over capability • Searcher hook, hydraulic winch or vacuum lifting device can be used in articulated mode and the straight mast with jib removed • Infinite swing-out and telescopic outriggers allow for up to 7,200 different positions • Come with a wireless remote control with LCD display

www.forconstructionpros.com/20994894

Better fueling. better payback.

A No HAZMAT Fuel Trailer can add hundreds, or even thousands to your bottom line each month.

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JLG X1000AJ Compact Crawler Boom

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ET0219_41-43_LiftEquipProd_BC.indd 42

These compact telehandlers offer maximum load capacities from 5,900 to 6,600 lbs. and maximum lift capacities of 20 to 28 ft. 2 in.

• Maximum reach ranges from 11 ft. 5 in. to 18 ft. 7 in.

• Spacious, ergonomic cabs with 360° visibility via the low pivot boom • Hydrostatic transmission • Enclosed boom electrical and hydraulic systems • Load-sensing systems

www.forconstructionpros.com/20998548

W I N C H E S

42 EQU IPM ENT T ODAY | February 2019

Merlo Compact Telehandlers

®

800.816.3706 | ThunderCreek.com |

www.ForConstructionPros.com/10813227

The X1000AJ Compact Crawler Boom (CCB) features an extended work envelop of 56 ft. up and over and 54 ft. of horizontal outreach.

• 500-lb. unrestricted platform capacity • Articulated column design allows work flush with the surface of a structure • Smart technology improves boom functionality by enabling multiple simultaneous movements • +/- 90° jib movement for added reach • One-touch self-leveling outriggers to stabilize and level the machine on slopes up to 16° • Kubota diesel power source standard or advanced technology 76-volt lithium ion system available

www.forconstructionpros.com/21026952

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1/29/19 9:48 AM

Products L IF T EQU IPMENT

Link-Belt TCC-1200 Telecrawler The 110-ton TCC-1200 Telecrawler has an upgraded base rating and a full-power boom fabricated from ultra-high-strength steel.

• 40- to 150-ft.-long main boom height • Boom incorporates Teflon wear pucks to eliminate boom grease • Extended (18 ft. 2 in.), intermediate (15 ft. 8 in.) and retracted (11 ft. 11 in.) track widths • Optional wireless remote control system

Elliott 40142 Boom Truck The 40142 boom truck has an 80,000-lb. lifting capacity, five-section, 142-ft. main boom and telescopic jib.

• 50-state federal bridge legal configuration • EZ-Crib high-speed out-and-down outriggers with two-stage vertical stroke reduce cribbing to reduce lane restriction • 360° stability without a front stabilizer • Features an externally wired anti-two block, gravity boom down for smoother operation and oil/oil hydraulic controls • High-visibility tilting cab with A/C, heated seat, ergonomic operator position and increased storage space • Optional 36” x 72” two-person hydraulically assisted work platform rated to 600 lbs.

www.forconstructionpros.com/20988726

Reachmaster Bibi 26-BL Compact Scissor Lift

Gehl RS9-50 GEN:3 Telehandler

www.forconstructionpros.com/21017766

An additional boom section extends the reach of the RS9-50 GEN:3, and the frame design eliminates the need for front outriggers.

• Can lift up to 9,000 lbs., reach heights up to 50 ft. and extend 36 ft. 7 in.

• Single joystick option to control boom extension and retraction, attachment tilt, auxiliary hydraulics and travel direction • 120-hp Tier 4 engine with 360 ft.-lbs. torque • Four-speed powershift transmission • Features four-wheel drive, three steering modes and travel speeds up to 20 mph

Pettibone Extendo 944X Telehandler

The 4,400-lb. Bibi 26-BL is mounted on a track-based chassis, enabling it to drive on sloped and soft surfaces.

• 25-ft. 11-in. working height and 550-lb. basket capacity • Comes with a 220V electric motor and a Honda GX930 gasoline engine • Bi-leveling chassis enables up to 25° gradeability and adjustable tracks can accommodate a 21° side slope • Features include proportional controls, single door/gate access, electrohydraulic brakes and adjustable tracks

www.forconstructionpros.com/12160566

www.forconstructionpros.com/20989503

The Extendo 944X has a maximum lift capacity of 9,000 lbs., maximum forward reach of 30 ft. and maximum lift height of 44 ft. 6 in.

• 74-hp Cummins QSF 3.8 Tier 4 Final diesel engine features DOC muffler and requires no DEF • Hydraulics deliver optimal controllability and overall operating feel, while enhancing efficiency and cycle speeds • Cylinder cushioning dampens end of strokes to avoid wear and tear of hard, jarring stops • Full-time four-wheel-drive with limitedslip front axle differential • Cab maintains ergonomic seat, pedal, joystick and steering wheel positions, while optimizing line of sight

www.forconstructionpros.com/21041540

Xtreme XR1055 Telehandler The 34,600-lb. XR1055 has a lift capacity of up to 10,000 lbs., a maximum lift height of up to 55 ft. and a forward reach of up to 39 ft.

• Large cross-section boom with heavy-duty boom chains and protected tilt and extend cylinders • 120-in. wheelbase delivers a machine weight of just 34,600 lbs.

• Offers 11° frame leveling and rear axle stabilization • Standard 74-hp Cummins 3.8L high-torque Tier 4 Final-compliant engine, ZF axles and transmission • 120-hp engine upgrade available for working at altitude or in extreme environments

www.forconstructionpros.com/20992662

ARTICULATING OUR AWARDS

THE THREE-TIME AWARD-WINNING* GENIE® Z™-60/37 FE

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T R U CKS & T R A N S P O R TAT I O N By Curt Bennink

Give Your Suspension a Helper springs can increase stability, improve handling, level loads and reduce maintenance.

H Helper springs are a crucial part of a commercial application because the original equipment just wasn’t intended to do the tasks end users ask work trucks to do, including adding weight all the way up to the GVWR.

elper springs are engineered to enhance and support the OEM suspension. They are most commonly available in two variants: steel springs and pneumatic springs. Helper springs serve several functions, including load leveling, increasing safety by offsetting the effects of heavy loads on vehicle handling and reducing maintenance costs by ensuring components are not overloaded.

The return on investment is twofold. No. 1 is safety. “A fleet or private business owner is always going to put safety

44 EQU IPM ENT T ODAY | February 2019 ET0219_44-45_Transport_CB.indd 44

before anything else,” says T.J. Miller, chief marketing officer, SuperSprings International.

Next in line is the maintenance costs. “They are reducing the maintenance costs associated

with the wear and tear caused by uneven loads.” This includes tire wear, brake wear, rotors wearing unevenly and really anything underneath the frame.

Firestone Industrial Products

offers a full line of air helper springs. “Air springs are designed to maximize safe load carrying capacity, stability and overall ride quality,” says Paul Fessel, global light duty aftermarket channel manager. “Air springs improve vehicle handling when it is necessary to carry an uneven load, which allows for more effective braking, improved handling and a better ride quality. By alleviating fatigue on the suspension system, air springs also help improve tire wear life and reduce overall maintenance costs.”

SuperSprings International offers a full line of both steel helper springs and pneumatic springs. “Our products are specific to light- and medium-duty applications,” says Miller. “When you get into heavy-duty applications, things drastically change.

Relevant to the light- and medium-duty applications, helper springs are a crucial part of a commercial application because the original equipment just wasn’t intended to do the tasks we ask our work trucks to do.

We put uneven loads on them, such as cranes. We [add] weight all of the way up to the GVWR.” That can cause additional wear and tear on other components.

With helper springs, you achieve a longer lifespan from the original equipment. “It reduces the wear and tear,” says Miller. “And more importantly, it increases safety and reduces maintenance cost and downtime. A level load is a safe load.

A truck that is sagging or an unlevel load is just dangerous.” The helper springs are there to help stabilize the load and provide additional safety.

The benefits of helper springs are well recognized. “Everything from a contractor body to a service truck [with crane], to wreckers and tow trucks — you name a light- or medium-duty application and I can point you to an upfitter who is using our equipment as stock,” says Miller.

It’s important to note that while helper springs increase stability and safety, they do not

Air springs are designed to maximize safe load carrying capacity, stability and overall ride quality. Air springs improve vehicle handling when carrying an uneven load, which allows for more effective braking, improved handling and better ride quality.

www.ForConstructionPros.com

1/29/19 8:55 AM

TRU CKS & TRANS PORTATION

actually increase the capacity limits set by the vehicle manufacturer. “There is absolutely no aftermarket product in the world that increases the GVWR of any vehicle,” Miller emphasizes. “The GVWR is set by the manufacturer. What we are doing within that payload range is as more weight is applied, we are going to help that stock suspension carry the weight in a safer and more reliable way.”

You will realize the benefits if you have a payload approaching the maximum GVWR, or have a side load, such as a crane, that causes the truck to lean toward one side.

Then there is the auxiliary spring option. These “overload springs” are attached to the main spring assembly and will take some of the load once the ends of the auxiliary spring make contact with the frame.

Auxiliary springs do not assist with the load until the ends make this frame contact. Until that point, auxiliary springs are

STEEL SPRING OPTIONS Steel helper springs come in several variants, including the add-a-leaf, which adds a steel spring to your existing leaf spring pack; the auxiliary spring, which can be added above or below the existing leaf spring assembly; or the helper spring system that includes steel springs in conjunction with some form of system. The steel spring options do not require any additional maintenance.

Yet, there are trade-offs with many helper spring solutions that must be considered to make the most appropriate choice.

For instance, consider the add-a-leaf solution. While the addition of more steel springs to the existing leaf spring pack does offer more load support, it also changes the ride quality of the vehicle. Adding more leaf springs results in greater stiffness since the leaf spring is engaged all of the time, even when the truck is unloaded.

“Unloaded, your ride quality is going to be jeopardized,” says Miller. “Loaded up, it is probably going to be better. Most people automatically start thinking about the trade-off — the stiffness vs. the load capacity.

What they don’t factor in and what we communicate to upfitters is the time to add a leaf if you have to take a truck to the shop. You need the spring shop to [disassemble] the leaf spring, add the leaf, reassemble and reinstall the leaf spring.

Then you have to get it from the spring shop back to your shop.

At a minimum, we have seen two and three days of downtime with trucks for add-a-leaf.”

When it comes to air bag systems, there are many choices available. There are many ways to get air into the bag/ bladder and the systems range in complexity from those that are manually inflated to those where the air pressure can be remotely adjusted from inside

The SuperSprings system is self adjusting. As a load is applied, rollers on the shackle flex out, accommodating movement.

Regardless of a smaller or a larger amount of weight, the ride quality is going to be minimally affected.

There are many ways to get air into air bags/bladders. Systems range in complexity from those that are manually inflated to those where the air pressure can be adjusted remotely.

not used and add extra weight to the vehicle.

Helper spring systems, on the other hand, constantly help as weight is added to a vehicle. These systems can address a major drawback with add-a-leafs and auxiliary springs — a compromised unladen ride quality.

“Our company is unique in that we can provide a better ride,” says Miller. The company’s SuperSprings system is self adjusting. “As load is applied, rollers on the shackle flex out.

They accommodate movement.

Regardless of a smaller amount of weight or a larger amount of weight, the ride quality is going to be minimally affected.”

The installation is a bolt-on process that takes less than a day out of service.

PNEUMATIC OPTIONS Pneumatic solutions include inflatable air bag systems or hollow rubber core springs.

the cab.

The challenges faced by these systems include air leaks and the potential for torn or ripped air bags.

“Air springs provide benefits to various types of vehicles on the road today, from heavyduty trucks to trailers and buses,” says Fessel. “When determining if an air spring kit is a fit for a vehicle, customers should work closely with a trusted dealer or manufacturer to assess the vehicle’s condition, purpose and need to ensure the purchased helper spring is the right fit... There are also many resources available online to assist in the selection process. For example, Firestone Industrial Products provides customers with an easy to use Kit Search Tool (available on its website) to determine which product fits a certain vehicle.”

The air springs prevent premature suspension wear. “When a vehicle’s suspension is worn, there are direct impacts on tire wear and, as such, gas mileage,” explains Fessel. “Air springs are

www.ForConstructionPros.com

ET0219_44-45_Transport_CB.indd 45

engineered to diminish fatigue on a vehicle’s suspension system, which allows for better handling and a smoother ride quality.

When the suspension system is heavily loaded, tires and brake pads are pushed to their full potential, causing fleet owners to repair and replace more often.

By using air springs, drivers are opting for more efficient gas mileage and a lower total cost of ownership.”

Air springs adapt to the load. “The purpose of air helper spring kits is to improve the loaded vehicle conditions so there are no penalties when vehicles are unladen,” says Fessel.

“Typically, air spring kits solely serve to assist a vehicle’s suspension when the vehicle is loaded and, as such, do not affect the vehicle’s

SuperSprings offers a product called SumoSprings that contains millions of microscopic air bubbles enclosed in urethane. They are virtually maintenance free and cannot pop or rip. manufacturer warranty.”

You do have to ensure your vehicle is compatible with an air spring kit. “Most air spring kits are uniquely designed based on a vehicle’s year, make and model, as they are installed between the frame of the vehicle and the suspension system, which varies between vehicle types,” notes Fessel. “Though universal across each specific vehicle year, make and model, air spring kits often offer multiple spring combinations that can provide the tailoring to fit individual needs. To give further control of an individual ride, Firestone Industrial Products offers AirRite Air Command Systems that allow drivers to adjust their ride for various load and road conditions with the flip of a switch, the click of a remote or even by using an app on a mobile device.”

The other options for pneumatic helper springs are hollow rubber core springs and microcellular urethane springs.

SuperSprings offers a product called SumoSprings that contain millions of microscopic air bubbles enclosed in urethane. “It is very similar to an air bag but very different,” says Miller. “They have superior damping qualities

when even compared against the traditional air bag. They actually smooth out the ride.”

Unlike an air bag, the microcellular urethane springs do not require compressed air. “They don’t pop. They don’t leak. There is literally no maintenance,” says Miller.

MAKE SURE THE SUSPENSION IS PROPERLY BALANCED A properly designed helper spring system does more than stiffen the rear springs. “We always describe suspension systems as a holistic system with the front and rear working together,” says Miller.

“It is not going to become stable until you support all four corners.”

If you support the rear end to eliminate sag but do not support the front, the truck will not be stable when the weight shifts forward during braking, turning or hitting an expansion joint.

“We always recommend if you are going to put a helper spring in the back, put something like SumoSprings or Coil SumoSprings in the front,” says Miller. This prevents all of the stress being transferred to the original coils when the weight shifts forward.

SELECT THE BEST FIT You must understand what you are trying to achieve in order to pick the right helper spring solution.

“If you have a concern about ride quality, then you really should lean toward the air springs, the SumoSprings, in our product line,” says Miller. If you are more concerned with how much weight the helper spring can level out, you should lean toward the steel. “We can make steel a lot bigger and a lot stronger than an air spring. So when it comes to a medium-duty application that is under load constantly, I will almost always default to the steel helper spring system.

“When we are talking lightand medium-duty applications of variable loads, like a contractor, I almost always default to the air spring,” says Miller. “The beauty of the SumoSprings is it is a progressive spring. So when [the vehicle is] under load and pressure is being applied to the spring when it is being compressed, the more it compresses, the more it is going to resist. It will support the load when the load is applied, and it will be there as a damper or a shock absorber when the load isn’t there.” ET

February 2019 | EQ U I P MEN T TO D AY 45

1/29/19 8:55 AM

The world is tough.

Be tougher.

Challenges come in a lot of different sizes and no truck takes them on better than the Western Star® 4700. It was created to help you tackle the toughest jobs and win. Whether as a tractor, or as a truck bodied up the way you need it, the 4700 gives you the edge. And in this world, we could all use a little edge. FIND YOURS AT WESTERNSTAR.COM Western Star - A Daimler Group Brand WS/MC-A-588 Specifications are subject to change without notice. Western Star Truck Sales, Inc. is registered to ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004.

Copyright © 2019 Daimler Trucks North America LLC. All rights reserved. Western Star Truck Sales, Inc. is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, a Daimler company.

www.ForConstructionPros.com/10076365

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1/28/19 11:40 AM

TRUCKS & TRANSPORTATION >> Products

2020 JEEP GLADIATOR

The AMT T-Tank attachment for the Articulating Multi-Purpose Truck (AMT) is designed to carry diesel fuel or water up to 1,300 gal. for the AMT 400 model or 2,500 gal. for the AMT 600.

• Features a flat top cargo area, integrated side storage compartments and lockable cabinets for pumps and hoses • Compatible with the modular back-end platform of the AMT

The enhanced 4700 offers a number of new features to make getting a hard job done even easier.

www.forconstructionpros.com/21035920

Galbreath Work Truck Series Cable Hoists The WT-1216/X and WT-2018/X with 6-in. mainframe can transport loaded containers and equipment up to 20,000 lbs. and 18 ft. in length.

• Feature electric-over-hydraulic controls using a wireless remote control • Bolt-on ready and easily installed with no welding required • Standard externally mounted secondary manual controls, back of cab-mounted steel tank, adjustable bolt-on rear apron and split bumpers and dual 4-in. lift and winch cylinders • Include an automatic springloaded (pass-over style) front safety lock, in-cab 3/4-in. flashing LED hoist up warning light, backup and hoist alarms and dual safety/maintenance props

Ram 1500 North Edition

The Venturo ET12KXP service crane can be installed on any Class 2 (6,001- to 10,000-lb. GVWR) truck.

• Features a 12,000-ft.-lb. rating and a maximum capacity of 3,500 lbs.

• 9- to 16-ft. full-powered boom extension with proportional controls, lightweight crane housing and auto-adjust anti-two block device to minimize damage • Dual-pole slip ring provides better electric power to the crane

www.forconstructionpros.com/21022470

2020 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD

When the 2020 Silverado HD debuts in February 2019, it will be the third all-new Silverado model from Chevrolet in just 18 months, each designed for different customers. The vehicle’s singular exterior has a modern, chiseled finish that shares only the roof with its Silverado 1500 stablemate. The interior benefits from similar architectural changes made to the all-new Silverado 1500, including an additional 3 in. of legroom on crew cab models and a taller, more comfortable seating position.

Under the Silverado HD’s hood is a choice of two new powertrains: an all-new gasoline engine with direct injection mated to a six-speed transmission, or the Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8, which delivers 910 lbs.-ft. of torque through an Allison 10-speed transmission.

Other features include all-new customer-focused trailering technology, significant increases in towing and payload capabilities and a host of technologies and features designed specifically for heavy-duty truck customers. www.forconstructionpros.com/21035186

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BE SAFER Along with great handling and visibility, the 4700 now comes with Collision Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning for greater safety and uptime.

Title: Pub: Trim Size: Bleed Size: Close Date:

www.forconstructionpros.com/21033184

Be Tougher/4700SB Bulk Haul Equipment Today 3.375”x 14.5” 3.625”x14.75” 1/17/2019

The 2019 Ram 1500 North special edition truck is available in Crew Cab 4x4, short bed or long bed cab body styles with the eTorque 3.6-liter Pentastar or 5.7-liter HEMI V8.

• Offers a 1-in. factory lift, electric locking rear axle and Three-peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) severe snow service-rated on/off-road Falken LT tires • 4x4 transfer case with 4x4 Auto, 4x4 High and 4x4 Low settings • Uconnect 8.4-in. touchscreen with SiriusXM Travel Link Weather • Incorporates heated seats and steering wheel, remote start, engine block heater, heated, folding mirrors and more

Venturo ET12KXP Electric-Hydraulic Telescopic Crane

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BE LIGHTER In addition to its other lightweight options, the 4700 is now available with the Cummins X12, which is up to 600 pounds lighter than other medium-bore engines.

www.forconstructionpros.com/21043265

WST 13422_4700SB_Bulk_Haul_3.375x14.5 Western Star WST 13422 InDesign CC 4cp

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator promises enhanced towing and a 4x4 payload, advanced fuel-efficient powertrains, optimal on- and off-road dynamics and advanced safety and technology features. Off-road capability comes courtesy of the Command-Trac and Rock-Trac 4x4 systems, third-generation Dana 44 axles, Tru-Lock electric front and rear axle lockers, Trac-Lok limited-slip differential, segment-exclusive sway bar disconnect and 33-in. off-road tires.

The vehicle is available in Sport, Sport S, Overland and Rubicon trim configurations, and will offer a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine at launch in Q2 2019. The engine delivers 285 hp and 260 lbs.-ft. of torque and features ESS as standard. It is engineered to provide a broad torque band with a focus on low-end torque needed for extreme off-roading. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and an eightspeed automatic transmission is optional.

A 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine will be available starting in 2020, and will be rated at 260 hp and 442 lbs.-ft. of torque with ESS standard. It implements refined turbocharger technology with a low-friction bearing designed for low-end and transient performance. Low-friction pistons improve fuel economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide an enhanced combustion system. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission is designed to handle the engine’s increased torque output. www.forconstructionpros.com/21035487

Tougher just got better.

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MIDSIZE TRUCK

BE MORE PRODUCTIVE The 4700 is now available with our proven Detroit DT12 automated manual transmission that’s easier to operate and ideal for drivers of all experience levels.

Find all the enhanced features at westernstar.com/4700

www.ForConstructionPros.com/10076365 February 2019 | EQ U I P MEN T TO D AY 47

1/28/19 11:40 AM

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE >> Products

CONNECTED WORK ZONES IMPROVE WORKER SAFETY iCone initially developed its Smart Safety Barrel as a way of communicating work zone traffic data to a central location. This helped with developing and planning for a smart work zone and traffic management, but the company quickly realized this technology could do more to keep workers safe.

The iCone sensors can now be placed along the jobsite. Using radar sensors, the technology knows where the stopped traffic event starts and ends and can communicate those messages effectively.

Nightstick ZEROBAND Series of Headlamps These zero-slip, zerowear, waterproof LED headlamps include a Model NS-HMC4 Hard Hat Clip Mount that easily and securely bonds to a hard hat using a sturdy PSA material.

• Tilting-head design allows user to change light position without having to readjust • Zero-Band Series offers four Intrinsically Safe Dual-Light (spotlight/floodlight) headlamps and one Dual-Function (high/low beam) headlamp model • All five models IP-X7 rated waterproof and feature an integrated stainless-steel clip • Three AAA batteries included to power each light

www.forconstructionpros.com/21005383

Versatile Cones Folding Traffic Cones Reusable, weather-resistant traffic cones fold up so they can be stored flat and are able to be assembled in seconds.

• Take up 10% of the space of standard cones • 20% of the cost of a standard cone • Company logo applied free • Available in orange or pink (proceeds go to breast cancer research charities)

www.forconstructionpros.com/21002408

The sensors can also tell if there is a high-speed vehicle approaching the work zone. Not only are flaggers notified of a high-speed vehicle approaching, the technology is able to communicate directly with the driver. When a flagger is equipped with the iCone flagging baton, drivers can know exactly where that flagger is located when the alert comes through their phone.

Learn more at www.

ForConstructionPros.com/21021837.

Night Tech Gear Night Shift Shoe Lights The 2.4-oz. Night Shift Shoe Lights are worn on boots or shoes to provide hands-free lighting in low-light work environments.

• Feature 400 lumens of LED lights and deliver 90 meters of forward beam and visibility from all sides • Fortified, high-impact, water- and dust-resistant case • Mounted on ultra-secure adjustable shoelace clips • Rechargeable battery pack lasts up to 10 hours

www.forconstructionpros.com/21008031

Werner Max Patrol Leading Edge Selfretracting Lifelines

The Speedglas Welding Helmet 9002NC combines features of the Speedglas 9000 with improved optics for a lighter, brighter, more realistic view that helps provide better control of the weld puddle.

• Built-in exhaust vents reduce lens fogging • Slim profile allows more freedom of movement • Improved comfort and ergonomically designed suspension for precise fit • Suspension features a smooth ratchet for easy tightening

The Max Patrol R4100 series self-retracting lifelines (SRLs) combine freedom of movement performance with a fall arrest mechanism designed to minimize clearance requirements.

• Approved for use over steel beam, precast concrete and B-deck, and can also be used in non-leading edge applications • Available in 20-, 30- and 65-ft. lengths • Support worker and tools up to 400 lbs.

• Minimize fall arrest distance to 24 in. when used overhead while allowing freedom of movement with line-lock performance • Impact-resistant polymer housing with swivel top and carrying handle

www.forconstructionpros.com/20861362

www.forconstructionpros.com/21027335

3M Speedglas Welding Helmet 9002NC

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CONTRACTOR TAKES AN EPIC APPROACH TO SAFETY

To enhance safety, Superior Paving Corp. Gainesville, VA, invented the Entry Prevention Interactive Control (EPIC) Safety System.

The EPIC system creates a physical barrier that prevents crew members from walking between the paver and a material transfer vehicle (MTV). The system consists of two retractable 65-ft.-long, 4-in.-wide segments of tape that mount to the MTV. A magnet connects the extended tape to the paver, creating the physical barrier that limits entry to the space between the MTV and paver.

Learn more at www.ForConstructionPros.com/21016703.

Milwaukee USB Rechargeable Heated Gloves These USB Rechargeable Heated Gloves are constructed with GRIDIRON Ripstop Polyester that is more durable against tearing and abrasion, 25% lighter and wind and water resistant.

• Powered by REDLITHIUM battery technology that provides heat on-demand and up to 6 hours of runtime • Include low, medium and high heat settings and fully heat up in just 2.5 minutes • 100% leather palms and fingers provide dexterity and durability • Extended cuff also works to keep debris, water and snow out of the glove and easily pulls over jacket sleeves.

• Include SMARTSWIPE on index fingers to permit use of touchscreen devices

www.forconstructionpros.com/21011242

SLIDE RAIL HELPS BUILD STORM SEWER FROM BOTTOM TO TOP Shelly & Sands, Inc. (SSI), based in Zanesville, OH, was the low bidder on an ODOT project to install a new sewer system that diverts water from a large existing sewer line through four hydrodynamic separators that “clean” stormwater runoff before it is discharged into the Scioto River. The project consisted of four different excavation projects, each a different depth — some with different soil conditions or existing crossing utilities to navigate — and each having different-sized pipes, structures and/or manholes to install.

“The first thing we considered were trench boxes — possibly using the equipment that we had in our fleet or we could easily rent,” says Brian Snode, Shelly & Sands’ project superintendent.

“But we realized with the soil conditions and the existing utilities that were in the ground, plus the surrounding buildings, dropping in a box just wasn’t going to work.”

So the company turned to a slide rail system from Efficiency Production Inc. instead. Learn more at www.ForConstructionPros.com/20997922.

www.ForConstructionPros.com

1/28/19 11:42 AM

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ADVERTISER INDEX ADVERTISER.................................. PAGE ADVERTISER.................................. PAGE ADVERTISER.................................. PAGE Access Construction Equipment........................... 49 AEMP................................................................... 32 American Honda Motor Co. Inc........................... 29 BKT USA Inc....................................................... 33 Bloom Manufacturing Inc..................................... 42 Bobcat..................................................................... 7 Caterpillar Inc....................................26 – 27, Insert ClearSpan Fabric Structures.................................. 35 Curry Supply Company........................................ 49 Dynapac Fayat Group........................................... 52 Eager Beaver Trailers............................................. 51

Genie a Terex Brand.............................................. 43 Gomaco Corporation............................................ 15 JLG....................................................................... 39 John Deere............................................................ 37 Kubota Tractor Corporation................................2 -3 Mack....................................................................... 5 Minnich............................................................6, 23 No Spill Systems................................................... 49 Power Curbers....................................................... 25 Schweiss Doors..................................................... 49 Snorkel.................................................................. 41

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Stellar Industries Inc............................................. 36 Super Springs........................................................ 43 Thunder Creek Equipment................................... 42 Uline..................................................................... 22 Verizon Connect................................................... 31 Wacker Neuson....................................................... 9 Western Star....................................................46, 47 Wirtgen America Inc............................................. 11 This index is provided as a service. The publisher does not assume liability for errors or omissions.

February 2019 | EQ U I P MEN T TO D AY 49

1/29/19 12:29 PM

R U N N I N G T H E BUS I N E S S By Garry Bartecki ® Published by AC Business Media

A Guide to

TAX PLANNING FOR 2019 With tax reform adding complexity, start early to get maximum benefit.

In my estimation, the biggest risk you face is a reversal of TCJA if Democrats control Congress. In short, you don’t want to jump into C-Corp status and then have the rate benefit disappear. And quite frankly, you don’t want to be a C-Corp in the first place.

T

he topic this month covers tax planning for 2019. Not 2018, mind you, but 2019, even though we are nearly 11 months away from year end. But since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is so complicated, and can have both positive and negative outcomes depending on decisions you make, I felt a brief discussion is in order to help you deal with this issue in a prudent manner.

I have been bugging you for at least six months to gain an understanding of the TCJA to help avoid mistakes and get maximum benefits from the bill. What you should have done is sit down with a tax expert for an in-depth discussion of your options for both 2018 and 2019 to maximize tax benefits available. I hope you did, because this tax bill is extremely complex and requires your full attention, along with an authority who not only knows the TCJA but the ways to minimize your tax bill for this year and the past one.

LISTEN UP ABOUT NEW TAX LAW To get you started in the right direction, I refer you to a podcast presented by Ken Hedlund, Somerset CPAs. This construction industry-specific program does a great job explaining the bill (with live examples), and adds direction on how to deal with its complex provisions. You will still be confused after listening to it, but at least you will know what issues to zero in on that need further discussion and guidance. And if you want to ensure you are dealing with a tax person who understands your industry, you can contact Ken for assistance.

The podcast is on the new website ContractorMD.org and is listed under “webinars” in the upper right corner. ContractorMD is a new venture I was supposed to introduce you to this month. I have arranged a group of industry experts to assist contractors in dealing with both financial and operational problems. I won’t go into more detail at this time other than to suggest you check out the website to peruse the list, and feel free to contact anyone on it. Just tell them I asked you to do so and they will take care of you.

Back to the tax issue. When you listen to the podcast, pay attention to the discussion about the different tax calculations required for C-Corps and S-Corps. This is probably the most complex section of the tax bill because the 21% C-Corp rate looks real attractive compared to the 37% individual rate you pay on income received from a pass-through entity. But then, maybe not.

Even though it appears there is a material difference in the tax rates for C-Corp vs. flow-through entities, there is a complex tax review required to truly understand if that difference is really a factor.

You will hear examples in the podcast comparing the tax bill for each type of entity. To make this comparison, you are estimating business income, W-2 income and other factors. In fact, you may find yourself discussing how much you get paid and how much you take as distributions to arrive at results you can live with.

I have come across multiple articles stating that you are better off with a flow-through status because of the double tax exposure associated with C-Corps. The articles note that a taxpayer receiving a K-1 from a flow-through entity using the new standard deduction and filing a joint return would have to have adjusted gross income (AGI) of $402,000 to pay tax at the 21% rate. If they use the full 20% OBI deduction, the AGI would have to be $808,000 before being taxed at a 21% rate. The point is do not jump into a C-Corp thinking your overall rate will be 21%.

Also consider that C-Corps are taxed on what is left in the company, and that the compensation and rents you get from the company could give back all the marginal tax rate savings. In addition, a nondeductible such as a dividend would be taxed at about 19% for a total potential tax rate of 39.8% compared to the 37% top rate for an owner of a pass-through entity.

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Garry Bartecki is the managing member of GB Financial Services LLP and a consultant to the Associated Equipment Distributors. He can be reached at (708) 347-9109 or gbartecki@comcast.net.

BONUS DEPRECIATION Bonus Depreciation changed to allow a 100% deduction for both new and used equipment, which is a big change. You can no longer generate an operating loss carryback, but can carryover any tax losses, with the ability to offset business income from other sources.

Many questions have surfaced asking why Sec 179 is still available and how you would use it now that Bonus Depreciation applies to new and used equipment. The fact is Sec 179 still applies to certain assets that Bonus can’t be applied to. So, the rule of thumb would be to use Bonus first then Sec 179 if you must, keeping in mind that Sec 179 cannot create a net operating loss (NOL).

Even if you use Bonus Depreciation to generate a loss carryover, be aware that a NOL can only offset 80% of the taxable income being offset against the carryover (new TCJA change). However, it can be carried forward indefinitely.

Also pay attention to the book/tax differences when you depreciate assets over a long term for book purposes but expense them 100% in the year purchased for tax purposes. It is easy to forget that those book values on your balance sheet may not be available to reduce taxable income.

CHANGES IN DEDUCTIONS Congress also decided to play with your interest deductions.

Interest is subject to a disallowance of the deduction in excess of 30% of the business adjusted taxable income (approximate EBITDA). If your average gross revenues for the last three years are less than $25 million, you are exempt from this provision.

TCJA also states entertainment expenses and reimbursed expenses paid to employees are no longer deductible. It’s time to get a better understanding about how entertainment is defined, and how to handle reimbursable employee expenses.

For those with less than $25 million in gross receipts, you now have the option to: ˜˜ use the cash basis method of accounting ˜˜ write off non-incidental materials and supplies that you would normally inventory ˜˜ use completed contract accounting instead of percentage of completion for certain types of work The cash basis option may have merit, but in cases I have reviewed, it may be a one-year benefit. For example, if you have a significant accounts receivable balance, you could eliminate that total receivable balance from your year-end result and reduce taxable income. Of course, you must do the same with your accounts payable, which would reduce expenses that offset the AR benefit. You must do the analysis, but I find unless you are collecting for work well in advance of the cost of doing the work, there may not be much advantage to the switch.

I encourage you to find out where you stand tax-wise using the various options available to you. Making a small mistake with these tax options could result in a large or overstated tax bill. I would also suggest that if your tax person doesn’t sound like the folks on the podcast, you may be working with the wrong person. ET

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Published and copyrighted 2019 by AC Business Media Equipment Today makes every effort to report manufacturers’ product news accurately, but is not responsible for validity of news claims.

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For change of address or subscription information call (847) 559-7598 or fax (847) 291-4816. Equipment Today (USPS 369-290, ISSN 0891-141X) is published monthly by AC Business Media, 201 N. Main Street, 5th Fl., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Periodicals postage paid at Fort Atkinson, WI, and additional entry offices.

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Vol. 55 No. 2 February 2019

To access previous Running the Business columns, as well as additional business management information, visit www.ForConstructionPros.com.

www.ForConstructionPros.com

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