Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction August/September 2026

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF PAVE/X

MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2026

Using Paving Tech Effectively And Efficiently

RETHINKING FOG SEALS

WORLD CUP CROSSWALKS: WWW.FORCONSTRUCTIONPROS.COM/PAVEMENT

Artistry And Thermoplastics Come Together

The Complete Crack Sealing Solution.

From preparation to application, Crafco manufactures the equipment and materials crews rely on every day. By engineering each component to work together, Crafco delivers a complete crack sealing system designed for efficiency, consistency, and long-term pavement performance.

Learn more at crafco.com

Contract # 050625-CFC

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

June/July 2026 | ssue 3, Volume 40

COVER STORY 20 Crosswalk Art:

Celebrating The World Cup In Atlanta In less than a month, Big Apple Services turned artistcommissioned designs into 32 preformed thermoplastic crosswalks murals in the heart of the city.

ON THE COVER Big Apple Services worked with Geveko Markings to create artistic murals celebrating the World Cup.

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

14 The Complete Guide to Paving Equipment and Technology for Today’s High-Efficiency Road Crews

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Set up your paving job like an Airstream campsite — connect early, watch fuel usage and travel the miles faster with smart paving tech and real-time data.

16 Rethinking Fog Seals As Strategic Pavement Preservation Over the last decade, fog sealing has changed in ways that haven’t fully caught up with how the industry talks about it.

Editorial On the road again.

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Hot Mix A roundup of the latest news in the industry.

10 The Product Lane The newest pavement maintenance products hitting the market.

12 PAVE/X PULSE Savanna is calling! PAVE/X year four is shaping up to be the best show yet!

30 NAPSA Update

Navigating dificult times

31 Contractor Snapshot From the field to the front office: Building an asphalt company from the ground up.

33 Tailgate Talk 8 steps for contractors to ensure repeat business: The secret to gaining repeat business isn’t selling what you’re “going to do” for the customer but what you have proven that you “can do.”

26 Your Business Matters 5 ways tokeep compact loaders ready when every hour counts.

28 The Owner’s Desk Paying attention to your “intention” while running your business profitably and efficiently.

IN EVERY ISSUE 19

Pavement Profit Center

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Classifieds

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | August/September 2026 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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WHAT’S ONLINE Nominations Open for 2027 Pavement Awards These annual awards provide industry-wide recognition for contractors involved in all aspects of the pavement maintenance industry.

For more information visit https://pavemg.com/PVMAwards27

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The FOD Issue The effects of diamond grinding on airfield pavements.

For more information visit https://pavemg.com/avmesk9t

Report Claims Construction Costs Expected to Climb Through Second Half of 2026 Data center demand, labor shortages, trade policy and material costs are increasing pressure on project budgets and contractor capacity.

For more information visit https://pavemg.com/307k69o1

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ADVISORY BOARD Vol. 40, No. 6, Aug/Sep 2026

PAVEMENT

Published and copyrighted 2026 by IRONMARKETS. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.

Agua Trucks Inc .................................................................... Wickenburg, AZ, Scott Duscher Asphalt Contractors Inc., Union Grove, WI ............................................... Robert Kordus Asphalt Restoration Technology Systems, Orlando, FL ........................ Connie Lorenz Brahney Paving, Hillsborough, NJ .............................................................. Steven Brahney Eosso Brothers Paving; Hazlet, NJ ...................................................................... Tom Eosso Maul Paving/Concrete/Sealcoating, PLainfield, IL ........................................ Chris Maul

Subscription policy: Individual subscriptions are available without charge in the U.S. only to pavement maintenance contractors, producers and government employees involved in paving or pavement maintenance; dealers, and distributors of pavement maintenance equipment or materials; and others with similar business activities. Complete the subscription form at www.forconstructionpros.com or use your company letterhead giving all the information requested. Publisher reserves the right to reject nonqualified subscribers. One year subscriptions for nonqualified individuals: $35.00 U.S.A., $60.00 Canada and Mexico, and $85.00 all other countries (payable in U.S. funds, drawn on U.S. bank). Single copies available (prepaid only) $10.00 each (U.S., Canada & Mexico), $15.00 each (International). Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction (ISSN 1098-5875), is published eight times per year: January, February, March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/ November, December by IRONMARKETS, 201 N. Main St. Ste 350, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Periodicals postage paid at Fort Atkinson, WI and additional entry offices.

POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Pavement Pavement, 201 N. Main St. Ste. 350, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Printed in the USA.

Parking Lot Maintenance, Lake St. Louis, MO .......................................... Todd Bruening

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION is proudly supported by these associations:

Flat Nickel Management .................................................................................. Michael Nawa

Petra Paving, Hampstead, NH ...................................................................... Chris Tammany Pioneer Paving, Albuquerque, NM................................................................... Don Rooney Roberts Traffic, Hollywood, FL ....................................................................... Lisa Birchfield Show Striping Inc. (SSI), Wisconsin Dells, WI ...................................... Amber Showalter

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T&N Asphalt Services, Salt Lake City, UT ........................................................ Nick Howell Young Sealcoating Inc, Lynchburg, VA .............................................................Steve Young The Paving Lady............................................................................................... Mauro Comuzzi

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JMP Excelsior Services ............................................................................... Jim Panzenhagen Sweeping Industry Veteran ..................................................................................Gabe Vitale Wis-Coat Asphalt Maintenance .......................................................................Marvin Joles Clear Choice Sealing ......................................................................................Warren Johnson Jacketta Sweeping Services .........................................................................Debbie Jacketta Royal Pavement Solutions ............................................................................. Kenneth Roy III

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ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES: Pavement Coatings Technology Council ....................... Brian Riggs, Executive Director

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LE PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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ILLT LT BBUUI BUILT UILT FO BBIG IG IG FORRBBI FOR JOB JO OOBS BSS JOBS The Th The he Le L LeeBoy ee eB Bo oy 86 oy 8 8680 68 80 0 As A Asphalt sph pha hallt lt Pa P Paver av ver ve equipped quipped with LB7 Heavy vy Du Duty ty equ eq uiip pp pe ed d wi w itth h th tthe he e LB L B7 7 He H ea av vy D utty Screed creed brings highway-inspired Scr Sc re ee ed d br b riin ng gs hi gs h ig ghw gh wa ay y-iin ynsp ns piirre ed d performance erformance commercial paving per pe rffo form rma an nc ce e to to co c om mm me errc rciia all pa p av viin ng g contractors who demand more contractors co on nttr tra acto ac ctto orrs s wh w ho o de d em ma and an d mo m ore or e from every machine. f rom fr ro om m ev e very ve ry ma m ac ch hiin ne e..

WHERE POWER MEETS PRECISION. From exceptional screed stability and superior mat quality to responsive controls and high-production capability, the 8680 is designed to keep crews efficient and jobs profitable.

When performance matters, contractors turn to LeeBoy.

LEARN MORE AT WWW.LEEBOY.COM

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EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL Editor-In-Chief ........................................................... Brandon Noel bnoel@iron.markets

Content Director, Marketing Services ...........Jessica Lombardo jlombardo@iron.markets

Managing Editor ......................................................Allyson Sherrier asherrier@iron.markets

AUDIENCE Audience Development Director ......................... Angela Franks PRODUCTION

I’ll See You On The Road

Senior Production Manager ...................................... Cindy Rusch

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Sales Representative ..................................................... Kris Flitcroft

Let’s talk about it.

Brandon Noel, have a confession to make. Four years ago, when I started as your Editor-In-Chief editor, I didn’t know anything. I’m not just talking about asphalt bNoel@iron.markets 234-600-8983 or pavement. I didn’t know how to be a “professional” editor either.

I was a published author and I had been the editor for a poetry and art magazine, far from the sort of rigor and rules of being a “B2B” editor in a corporate work environment. Because of this, since day one, I have been on a mission.

My first mission was to learn everything I could about the asphalt industry, about pavement maintenance, about mix design, rolling, paving, aggregates, QC, etc. The more I learned, the more areas of the job there seemed to be, and quickly I discovered that being in the field was the only real way to properly educate myself. So, I got out into the field as much as possible, and that, my friends, was where I fell in love with the industry.

My second mission was as visible as it was glamorous: learning how to be a professional editor. This journey wasn’t posted online as content, funny videos, or podcasts – this played almost entirely behind the scenes as my boss (The great Marina Mayer) helped me through all of the growing pains. I hustled as much as I could, and only one time did I have to scrap an article because it wasn’t up to muster. Only the closest of readers might have noticed my growth in this regard through the quality of my articles over the last four years. For me, when I look back at my earlier pieces, it’s kind of shocking.

But I had a third mission, an unspoken one. I secretly wanted to see if I could get away with being able to bring into my work here some of my own personal passions. Creativity.

Community. Labor rights. Safety. Sustainability. Policy and public infrastructure. Not small items, to be sure. I had a suspicion, one that has proved accurate, that the asphalt industry touches everyone in this country. It connects us all, though most never notice. I wanted people to notice what you all do, and what it means.

Objectively, I don’t know how successful I’ve been in any of these aims—that is something only others can speak to—but along the way I have been fundamentally changed by my experiences these past four years. So, it is with a heavy hear that I tell you that my time as your Editorin-Chief is coming to a close. That’s the bad news. The good news is that I won’t be far away.

Where I go next is to the contractor side of our industry, and really, where my heart has always been: With those who are doing the work.

Thank you all for embracing me, teaching me, and making me feel like one of your own.

SCAN TO READ MORE I’ll see you on the road.■

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crusch@iron.markets

Art Director ............................................................... April Van Etten ADVERTISING/SALES Brand Director ........................................................... Amy Schwandt aschwandt@iron.markets

Brand Manager ..................................................... Megan Perleberg mperleberg@iron.markets

Sales Representative .................................................... Sean Dunphy sdunphy@iron.markets kflitcroft@iron.markets

IRONMARKETS Chief Executive Officer.................................................. Ron Spink Chief Revenue Officer ............................................Amy Schwandt VP, Finance .......................................................................Greta Teter VP, Operations & IT ....................................................Nick Raether Brand Director, Construction, OEM & IRONPROS .....................................................Sean Dunphy Brand Director, Supply Chain ....................................Brian Hines Director, Content ......................................................Marina Mayer Director, Event Content & Programming........ Jess Lombardo Director, Lead Generation Operations ................. Bailey Acton CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS

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201 N. Main St. Ste. 350, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 afranks@iron.markets

LIST RENTAL Sr. Account Manager ....................................Bart Piccirillo | Data Axle (518) 339 4511 | bart.piccirillo@infogroup.com

REPRINT SERVICES Brand Manager ..................................................... Megan Perleberg mperleberg@iron.markets | (800) 538-5544 Published and copyrighted 2026 by IRONMARKETS. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.

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@PAVEMENTMAGAZINE @PAVEMENTMAGAZINE @PAVEMENTMAGAZINE @PAVEMENTMAINTENANCE

Published by IRONMARKETS 201 N. Main St. Ste 350, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 (800) 538-5544 • IRON.MARKETS.COM

WWW.FORCONSTRUCTIONPROS.COM/PAVEMENT

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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A roundup of recent news, moves and events impacting the pavement maintenance industry

Dynapac Announces Partnership with Dynamic Equipment Group to Expand Compaction Equipment Sales and Support Across Central and South Florida

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ynapac North America announced its partnership with Dynamic Equipment Group as the authorized dealer for Dynapac’s full line of compaction equipment across a significant territory in Florida. Dynamic Equipment Group’s coverage spans from Gainesville to the Florida Keys, supported by eight branch locations strategically positioned to serve every major market in between.

Through this partnership, Dynamic Equipment Group will provide equipment sales and rental, service, parts, and technical support for Dynapac’s complete portfolio of soil and asphalt compaction equipment, ensuring customers throughout the region have access to industry-leading solutions and dedicated local support.

“We are excited to welcome Dynamic Equipment Group as our dedicated compaction dealer in this important Florida market,” said Matt Nelson, Dynapac North America. “Our teams have worked hand-in-hand throughout this transition to ensure the smoothest possible experience for Dynapac customers. Dynamic Equipment Group brings the local expertise, commitment, customer focus, and rental experience needed to support a market that relies heavily on rental solutions for contractors of all sizes across the Sunshine State.

We are confident this partnership will strengthen our ability to serve Dynapac end-users throughout the region.”

Dynamic Equipment Group shares Dynapac’s commitment to customer support and long-term partnerships with contractors throughout the territory.

“We share Matt’s enthusiasm for this partnership and our mutual focus on delivering exceptional customer support,” said Scott McGuigan, Dynamic Equipment Group President. “We are proud to bring Dynapac’s full compaction product offering to contractors throughout Florida, supporting both legacy Dynapac earthmoving and asphalt customers while introducing new users to the brand. With nearly 100 years of compaction excellence, innovative technologies, and a reputation for performance and reliability, Dynapac is uniquely positioned to help contractors succeed. We look forward to continuing to grow the Dynapac brand while supporting our customers with industry-leading equipment, service, and expertise.”

Dynapac’s compaction portfolio includes a comprehensive range of soil compactors, asphalt rollers, pneumatic tire rollers, walk behind compactors and advanced compaction technologies designed to maximize productivity, efficiency, and jobsite performance. Together, Dynapac North America and Dynamic Equipment Group remain committed to delivering best-in-class equipment solutions, responsive service, and unmatched customer support throughout the Florida market.

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK BEDS REBRANDS AS HILLTIP PREMIUM TRUCK BEDS Industrial Truck Beds, has officially rebranded as Hilltip Premium Truck Beds, reflecting its expanded lineup of commercial truck bed products and alignment with the broader Hilltip equipment portfolio.

The Indiana-based manufacturer, which is headquartered in Finland, was acquired by Hilltip in 2022. The company produces hook-lift and interchangeable truck beds, along with dump beds, flatbeds and custom truck body solutions. Manufacturing will continue at the company’s Fort Wayne facility, where Hilltip also produces snowplows, spreaders, de-icing sprayers and other road maintenance equipment.

The company said the rebranding aligns its truck bed products with the Hilltip brand while continuing to serve commercial fleet and equipment customers.

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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BOMAG Names Stone Equipment Co., Inc. New Dealer For Alabama And Florida’s Panhandle Region BOMAG Americas and Stone Equipment Co., Inc. are partnering to bring BOMAG’s equipment to contractors in Alabama and the Panhandle market area of Florida. Strengthening BOMAG America’s representation in the region, Stone Equipment’s team of specialists now offers its customers more reasons to trust the dealer with sales, rental, service and parts support for BOMAG’s broad asphalt, soil, landfill and light compaction equipment offering.

“Stone Equipment is building its business the right way. The dealer has experienced equipment specialists offering a deep understanding of what the customer needs and a hungry sales staff willing to do what it takes to help contractors be successful,” said Derec Yakel, Midwest territory manager, dealer channel for BOMAG Americas. “Not trying to be all things to all people, the company partners with the right OEMs who offer high-quality, long-lasting equipment. We are excited to leverage that focused customer attention for the BOMAG line.”

Formed in 2010, Stone Equipment focuses on developing deep, long-lasting relationships with its customers operating in the construction, road building, environmental, aggregate and demolition market segments. The dealer provides customers with top-of-the-line equipment and supportive customer service throughout the equipment purchase and rental process. For the BOMAG territory, it provides local support from four locations in Alabama, including its Montgomery headquarters, Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile.

“BOMAG was the final piece of the puzzle for our product line. Along with our existing lines, we now have a full complement of equipment that includes landfill compactors for our environmental business plus a broad range of light, asphalt and soil equipment for our construction customers,” offered Doug Stone, CEO of Stone Equipment Co., Inc. “What we do, we do well.

We are happy to focus on specific customer segments to offer unmatched knowledge and support for the equipment. We’re excited about the opportunity to represent the BOMAG line, which is known for high-quality, innovative equipment designs. This is a ‘high-five’ moment for us.”

For Stone Equipment’s asphalt customers, BOMAG’s solutions include asphalt distributors, cold planers, versatile recyclers/stabilizers, commercial and highway-class pavers, and more than 40 heavy tandem and pneumatic tire rollers. For construction projects, BOMAG offers more than 30 Performance and Smart Line smooth and padfoot single drum rollers plus high-speed soil compactors and a full range of light equipment.

BOMAG’s purpose-built landfill compactor line for Stone Equipment’s environmental customers features an exclusive wheel design that delivers superior compaction results. Exclusive BOMAG technologies like BOMAP, ECONOMIZER, TERRAMETER, TANGO and ASPHALT MANAGER help contractors improve their jobsite efficiency and productivity.

VERDE AND ERGON FORGE COMMERCIAL COLLABORATION TO BUILD ROADS OF THE FUTURE WITH ENGINEERED BIOCHAR Verde Resources Inc., an emerging leader in sustainable infrastructure products and technologies, today announced that its primary U.S. operating subsidiary, Verde Renewables Inc. (“Verde Renewables”), has entered into an additional commercialization and collaboration agreement with Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc. (“Ergon”), the largest supplier of asphalt and pavement preservation products in the United States.

The new agreement builds upon the existing collaboration between Verde and Ergon which began October 2025.

This new commercial agreement is designed to advance the relationship toward commercial execution, beginning with test projects utilizing Ergon’s cold paving applications that incorporate Verde’s engineered biochar technology. Under this arrangement, Verde will be a preferred vendor of engineered biochar for use with Ergon’s emulsion products in such cold paving applications.

In addition, Verde and Ergon hope to expand into other applications across the road construction industry and other sustainable building materials.

Under the agreement, Verde and Ergon intend to pursue commercial projects during the remainder of 2026 and going forward during the term of the agreement.

This collaboration has the potential to extend far beyond a single product and establish a global blueprint for integrating engineered biochar into mainstream infrastructure and building materials. By delivering solutions that reduce carbon intensity, support carbon removal, and improve material performance, Verde and Ergon believe they can help advance the next generation of sustainable infrastructure technologies while pursuing new commercial opportunities across major road construction markets in the U.S. and beyond.

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | August/September 2026 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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Get fast, relevant product information in the Buyers Guide at ForConstructionPros.com PR900 Dual-Tank Distributor Truck

P75 Gravity Fed Paver

LeeBoy

Weiler

Vögele Super 800-5 P

TS160-4 Static Tire Roller

The PR900 is a dual-tank maintenance distributor that offers versatility and precision with its independent front and rear tanks.

Operators benefit from an advanced in-cab controller that gives them the ability to control material application rates and make adjustments to spray widths. Offering a range of optional accessories such as hand spray wands and convenient tool storage, the PR900 is designed for efficient and adaptable performance on various jobsites.

• Application rate of 0.01 – 0.035 gal/sq/yd • Ball float gauge for material • Tank to load through pump or manhole Rear Tank Front Tank • 300 Gallon • 600 Gallon • Rear spray bar • Front spray bar

Wirtgen Group, a John Deere Co.

The SUPER 800-5 P-Tiers tracked paver is the first Mini Class representative of the Dash 5 generation. VÖGELE equipped the small paver with the user-friendly ErgoBasic 5 operating concept. Users have an unrestricted view to the front thanks to the new, double-folding material hopper. This makes maneuvering the machine even easier. With operating widths between 0.5 and 3.5 m (1 ft 7 in - 11 ft 5 in), the SUPER 800-5 P is ideal for narrow jobsites.

Engine: liquid-cooled 4-cylinder diesel engine Type: TCD 2.9 L4 | Equivalent EU Stage 5, US EPA Tier 4f ECO: 73 hp / 1,800 rpm NOM: 74 hp / 2,200 rpm Hopper: 6.4 tons Width: 10’ 2”

New Compact Loader Classic and Pro Categories Bobcat Co.

Bobcat showcased updates to the compact loader lineup during CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, reorganizing the machines into two categories designed to simplify equipment selection and add new technology options.

The lineup is now divided into Classic and Pro models. Classic loaders include compact track loaders such as the T450, T595, T650 and T770, as well as skid-steer loaders including the S70, S450, S590, S650 and S770.

These machines focus on traditional controls and features suited for general construction, landscaping and rental applications. The Pro category includes compact track loaders such as the T64-2, T66-2, T76-2 and T86-2, along with skid-steer loaders including the S64-2, S66-2, S76-2 and S86-2. These machines incorporate additional technology, including four selectable drive modes designed to adjust machine responsiveness for different tasks.

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The P75 is Weiler’s newest gravity-fed paver, designed for contractors who want to efficiently knock out multiple driveways and similar commercial jobs. It offers a rubber track option and a walking floor in the front, adapted from Weiler’s larger material transfer vehicles, which allows asphalt to be continuously moved to the rear without stopping to dump the hopper. This walking floor gives some of the benefits of a conveyor system—smoother, more continuous material flow.

• Screed Weight 2,100 lb 952 kg • Weight 12,600 lb 5715 kg • Main Plate Width 13” 330 mm • Length 9’ 9” 2.97 m • Extension Plate Width 7” 178 mm • Width 98” 2.48 m • Screed Heat Electric - 4 elements • Height 70” 1.78 m • Vibration 1 x 2500 vpm • Truck Clearance 20.75” 557 mm • Max Auger Speed 125 rpm • Auger Diameter 9” 229 mm • Engine Cat® C2.2 Tier 4F/ST V

Sakai America, Inc.

The SAKAI TS160-4 is a versatile 3-tonclass static pneumatic tire roller designed for high-quality finishing on parking lots, driveways, and municipal roads. Its seven-tire configuration features four “superflat” tires in the front and three in the rear to knead asphalt into a uniform, sealed surface with reduced permeability. The compact frame provides operators with excellent 360-degree visibility for precision work right up to the edge of the job site.

Engineered for productivity, the TS160-4 utilizes rear-wheel steering for superior maneuverability in tight urban spaces. The reliable Kubota engine requires no aftertreatment, which simplifies maintenance while ensuring consistent performance. Key features include a comfortable bench seat, intuitive analog controls, and a heavy-duty water system with triple-filtration and allmetal spray bars for reliable daily operation.

New MX Series KIOTI Tractor

KIOTI Tractor expanded its compact construction equipment lineup with the introduction of the MX Series mini excavators, marking the company’s entry into the mini excavator market.

The series includes three models: the MX350 and MX350 extended arm in the 3.5ton class and the MX570 in the 5.7-ton class. Each model comes standard with an angle blade, thumb, auxiliary hydraulics and a mechanical quick coupler.

According to KIOTI, the excavators feature multi-function hydraulic systems designed for precise operation, along with reinforced structures, protected components and load-holding valves to support durability in demanding applications.

The MX350 features a zero-tail swing design for work in confined spaces, while the MX350 extended arm and MX570 utilize reduced-tail swing configurations for maneuverability and stability.

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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Cemen Tech CS2 Volumetric Mixer Cemen Tech Inc.

Next-generation hydraulics and optimized valving accelerate mix cycles for maximum efficiency. Redesigned water tank lowers the center of gravity for smoother handling and better performance. Reduced heat means less wear, longer life, and fewer service interruptions. Fully enclosed admixture compartments safeguard vital components for lasting durability.

• Carry Capacity: 10 Cu yd • Water Tank: 510 gal.

• Cement Bin: 115-140 Cu Ft. • 360° Swivel: Swivel chute makes concrete finishing easier by changing the flow of concrete in any direction.

• ACCU-POUR Touch Screen: Cemen Tech’s proprietary, advanced onetouch control system. Simply select the mix design you need and the system auto adjusts to the correct mix. Pre-load unlimited mix designs so you are always ready for any job.

• Auto-Stow: Ability to put auger at optimum mixing angle, up to a 122° degree swing and can be safely stowed in the upright position which is all controlled by the AP Touch panel.

CPAC Systems Launch 360 Camera System for Street Sweepers Elgin Sweeper Company

Elgin Sweeper and CPAC Systems introduced a new 360 camera system for street sweepers designed to reduce blind spots and improve operator visibility.

The system uses four heated high-definition cameras to create a single adapted view around the machine. It also includes radar support and automatic view transitions designed for low-speed sweeping and lane changes.

Operators can use a 3D view and adjust camera angles through a touchscreen display. The system also changes views automatically when the operator signals a turn or shifts gears, with settings that can be customized.

Radar sensors monitor the rear and both sides of the sweeper and trigger warnings when the system detects obstacles. According to the companies, the system filters out static objects to focus alerts on actual hazards.

Crafco Introduces Tack Tank for Asphalt and Paving Applications

Leica New RTC Laser Scanner Series for Surveying and Construction

Crafco, Inc.

Leica Geosystems, Inc.

Crafco has introduced a new Tack Tank designed for asphalt and paving operations, with models available in 300- and 600-gallon capacities.

The units feature a hydraulically driven pump capable of output up to 35 gallons per minute, allowing crews to handle a range of job sizes and operate even when material remains in the lines. The system also enables reversing the pump to reclaim unused material.

The Tack Tank is equipped with a 250,000-BTU burner and a triple-pass flue design to improve heating efficiency and reduce warm-up time.

The release reflects ongoing equipment updates aimed at improving productivity and material handling on paving jobsites.

GS130 Grader Blade for Skid Steers, CTLs SharpGrade

SharpGrade has introduced the GS130 Precision Grader Blade, designed for high-horsepower skid steers and compact track loaders.

The attachment combines six-way dozer blade functionality with grader-level precision, targeting multiple applications. It’s built to improve accuracy and productivity while allowing contractors to use compact machines in place of larger motor graders. The GS130 features a rigid side-shift and pitch system, along with a design intended to reduce wear and maintenance in demanding environments. Its “Zero Cross Coupling” system is designed to improve grading consistency and reduce reliance on operator input.

Additionally, a removable front chassis allows operators to switch between bulk material movement and precision grading. Folding side wings and a scarifier system for surface preparation are available for add-ons.

Leica Geosystems has launched the new RTC series of terrestrial laser scanners, introducing the RTC300, RTC500 and RTC700 for surveying, construction, infrastructure and industrial applications.

The new series combines features from Leica’s RTC360 and ScanStation P-Series platforms, offering improvements in scanning speed, accuracy and range. The scanners are available in three performance levels, allowing users to upgrade capabilities as project requirements change. This series also offers real-time workflow connectivity. Using Leica Cyclone FIELD 360 and Hexagon GeoCloud, scan data can be streamed from the field to cloud-based projects as it is captured. This allows teams to verify site coverage, reduce rework and begin processing data before fieldwork is complete. The RTC series replaces the Leica RTC360/LT and ScanStation P30, P40 and P50 product lines.

Document Crunch Expands AI Platform to Deliver Project-Level Risk Intelligence Document Crunch

Document Crunch, a Trimble company, has launched an updated AI-powered platform designed to help construction teams identify and manage risk across entire projects rather than individual documents. The platform combines three components aimed at detecting risk, supporting decision-making and improving visibility throughout the project lifecycle. According to the company, its CrunchAI technology analyzes contracts, specifications, addenda and other project documents to identify potential risks and provide source citations. A new agentic AI layer, called Project Assist, can review multiple project documents simultaneously, answer questions, identify scope gaps and help generate documents such as RFIs, notices and submittals. The platform also includes workflow and project management tools.

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | August/September 2026 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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By Brandon Noel, Editor-in-Chief

PAVE/X 2027: Savannah Is Calling Every year we learn and improve, and so does the show.

Brandon Noel

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’m looking forward to PAVE/X 2027 more than any other show next year. As it heads to Savannah, Georgia, January 25-27, 2027, the fourth annual trade show is going to be jam packed with live demonstrations and fresh educational sessions for every level of industry professional.

The Savannah Convention Center will hold the trade show floor and more than 60 hours of education across tracks in paving, striping, sweeping,

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sealcoating, technology, safety and business management. But the center of gravity is moving outdoors. The 2027 demonstration arena is the largest the show has built so far, and it is where two of the three days finish.

Tuesday afternoon runs outdoor demos. Wednesday afternoon turns competitive with the Roller Rodeo, the Striping Competition and the Sweeper Drag Races. Seating, a beer garden and food trucks ring the arena. Contractors who want to get in a seat sign a waiver, wear the safety gear and complete a safety course first.

The demonstration arena removes the barriers of a traditional trade show, allowing exhibitors to run equipment, engage directly with customers, and showcase products in action— not just on display. Surrounded by food trucks, cold drinks, and thousands of engaged contractors, PAVE/X creates an atmosphere where attendees stay longer, interact more deeply, and make more informed buying decisions — Amy Schwandt, Chief Revenue Officer, IRONMARKETS The rest of the week is built to keep people together between demos. Sunday, January 24 opens with the Business Bootcamp and an off-site kick-off party.

Monday pairs a full morning of education with the trade show floor, then closes with a networking reception and the Pavement Awards ceremony, both staged on the floor itself. Tuesday and

Wednesday each carve out an hour for roundtables — paving, striping, preservation and business management on Tuesday; sweeping, sealcoating, technology and compaction on Wednesday — before the outdoor programming takes over. Wednesday night ends with the after party.

The year-over-year growth explains the confidence I have in what next year will bring. The inaugural show drew close to 1,700 to San Antonio in 2024.

Chattanooga pushed past 2,500 the following January. New Orleans kept the climb going this February. Savannah is the fourth stop in four years, and the outdoor footprint has expanded at every one.

If you’re a contractor who’s been on the fence about attending, this is the bottom line: the education still carries the show, but the buying decisions increasingly happen outside. If you are evaluating a roller, a striper or a sweeper for next season, 2027 is the year to watch it work before you sign anything.

PAVE/X will have both the live demo areas, and the education will see a major upgrade.

Exhibitors and attendees can already move. The 2027 exhibitor list and floor plan are live, the hotel block is open, and the call for speakers is accepting submissions from anyone with a best practice or a technology worth putting in front of a room.

Visit www.pavexshow.com for registration details. Mark the dates: January 25-27, 2027, Savannah Convention Center. As Schwandt put it, let’s make next year UNFOURGETTABLE. ■

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

The Complete Guide to Paving Equipment and Technology for Today’s High‑Efficiency Road Crews Set up your paving job like an Airstream campsite — connect early, watch fuel usage and travel the miles faster with smart paving tech and real‑time data.

RDO Equipment Co.

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t’s spring, or almost spring, for most of us in the United States. I’m looking at the calendar, attempting to block out the next week when I can take the wife and the Airstream to see more of this country. When I have the week planned, it’s time to schedule “prep time” for the camper and truck. While setting up an Airstream is far less complicated than getting paving equipment ready to roll, connected to its digital platforms, and understanding how each machine’s data can inform operational decisions, I can’t help but notice the similarities as I talk with contractors.

You don’t just pull onto the highway with your home-on-wheels and push play on Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again.” No, it’s actually a multistep, agile process before the always-hardto-schedule travel week, so that trailer won’t wobble as the odometer miles go up.

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Building a data-driven paving train with equipment and technology is the same way: first, inspect the equipment before getting the machine ready to connect, level the machine data collection process, evaluate performance after a few passes and adjust. Then, turn the ignition and start all over again.

“Most contractors today aren’t struggling because they lack demand — they’re struggling because they’re trying to deliver more miles of road with fewer people and tighter schedules,” said Craig Lamarque, vice president of digital products at Wirtgen America. “That’s why digital planning and connected workflows matter just as much as what’s happening on the machine itself.”

Let’s consider steps paving crews can take to follow the now-proven, data-driven playbook for smooth, long-lasting roads.

STEP 1: HITCH THE PAVING TRAIN TO OPERATIONS Before machine control, sensors and fleet software systems, paving crews had to rely on those who had spent years on the road. Now, with today’s equipment and technology solutions, crews can finish the road with fewer do-overs and precise documentation — documentation that can be used at the end of the project during reports to Department of Transportation (DOT) officials.

“When crews connect machines early, they’re not just capturing data for later — they’re creating alignment before the first pass,” Lamarque said.

“Everyone knows what success looks like before steel ever touches the surface.”

Ensure consistent and quality data by connecting your mill, compactor and paver. For mixed fleets, having a centralized system for data collection for planning, monitoring and maintenance helps contractors create “better data” to prevent blind spots in fleet monitoring.

“Paving crews we’ve partnered with say their machine data is at its best when it can be used to influence operational decisions over the course of a project,” said Cody Wagner, paving technology product manager at RDO Equipment Co. “Be it knowing aggregate sizes in mixture, the asphalt binder in mix, what the previous day’s density results are — these are basic data points that could help spot quality issues as they happen.”

STEP 2: TRACK AND STORE DATA FROM EACH MACHINE Built to measure, automate and document, a digital platform can record machine data sets including: • Amount of materials moved • Fuel burn • Material temps • Machine health • Paver output • Production hours • Roller passes • Water usage and more “The value of machine data isn’t how much you collect — it’s how quickly crews can act on it,” Lamarque said. “If something starts drifting off target, you

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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want to know while the paving train is moving, not after the job is over.”

When the paving train is moving, a fleet manager can view machine data dashboards from the office and help fleet managers spot bottlenecks before they happen.

“Paving crews can even lean on remote support teams to consolidate dashboards to monitor each machine’s utilization and fuel usage,” Wagner said.

Some pavers and rollers include integrated setup assistance for a fleet management system and automatic data sharing with the owner so fleet managers and operators can see realtime information. Some asphalt pavers include setup assistance, adjustable material flow and digital documentation tools to help operators achieve mat targets even when schedules are tight.

Some rollers can deliver continuous, real‑time density guidance and automate compaction energy — the quickest route to spec without over‑rolling.

STEP 3: CALCULATE EACH MACHINE’S PRODUCTION In using a digital platform, consider each machine in the paving train’s output. Then use certain applications in the platform to look ahead.

• Milling — Capture depth, output, fuel and tool changes through WPT/ Mill Assist to forecast haul and plant needs accurately.

• Paving — Log speed, layer thickness, screed settings and temperatures — especially helpful for night work or thin lifts.

• Compaction — Map passes and density in real time so the foreman can call the pattern before you burn hours chasing stubborn spots.

“When production planning, machine control and documentation all live in the same platform, it dramatically reduces rework,” Lamarque said.

“Crews spend less time reacting and more time running the plan.”

Plus fleet managers can work with a support team to create 3D models or

schedule parts and service so the require paving machines in the train won’t miss a pass during key production times.

STEP 4: USE THE HUB TO COMPRESS TIMELINES Digital platforms can be used as a project management tool to plan paver crews’ schedules in the upcoming weeks. Here are two ways paving crews can use such a platform: • Machine health — Integrated maintenance plans and alerts, so managers can pre-plan service instead of only acting after a breakdown backs up traffic.

• End‑of‑job reporting — Pull documented production, idle time and emissions to get paid faster and defend your work.

With this info, the fleet manager can adjust the plant’s rate of asphalt production or concrete mix or increase the speed of material delivery machines.

STEP 5: TEST, MEASURE AND MONITOR THE NEXT PASS With machine data unified in one place, a fleet manager can start to benchmark shift-to-shift and operator‑to‑operator: how quickly they reached target density, where temperature control slipped, how many minutes the paver idled and which roller pattern won the night. Together, machine data with machine control solutions like road-scanning systems to deliver real-time info to the digital platform to create a semi-autonomous paving train.

“Semi‑autonomous doesn’t mean hands off,” Lamarque said. “It means operators stay in control while the technology helps guide setup, maintain consistency and document every step of the process.”

Semi‑autonomous paving combines instruments guided by real‑time data and automation: • Some pavers are equipped with automated material feed. Some rollers with smart technologies can automate compaction energy based on continuous density feedback and

location that reduce the likelihood of over or under compaction.

• A digital platform centralizes telematics, job progress, service planning and end‑of‑job reporting for fleets including many colors of iron.

Operators remain in control, but the machines guide setup, maintain consistency and document every step, which is how you keep speed without sacrificing spec.

WHY THIS MATTERS Lamarque explains if the entire crew treats data like another part of the team to help make decisions, their entire paving train will run smoother.

• Fewer surprises — Real‑time visibility across the train cuts reaction time from hours to minutes.

• Less rework — Automated compaction and documented temperatures keep you on spec the first time.

• Higher utilization — Integrated maintenance planning helps you conduct maintenance and repairs during expected downtime instead of after a breakdown.

• Right‑sized fleet — Paver and roller rentals let you surge for deadlines without carrying iron you don’t need in the off‑season.

If you want to finish projects quickly and efficiently, stabilize your digital campsite before pulling the paving train onto the highway. Connect your paving technology — asphalt pavers, intelligent rollers and other machines — into a digital platform. We’re all eager to feel the air stream across our faces as we are building the open run everyone enjoys during the annual summer road trip.

But we’ll be able to make quick, wellinformed decisions, document densities and confidently hand the keys off when we complete these five steps to create a semi-autonomous paving train.■

by Dennis Howard, is senior VP of Roadbuilding and Minerals at RDO Equipment Co.

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | August/September 2026 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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CONTRACTOR’S CHOICE AdobeStock_Tatonka

Rethinking Fog Seals As Strategic Pavement Preservation Over the last decade, fog sealing has changed in ways that haven’t fully caught up with how the industry talks about it.

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ew rejuvenators and polymermodified emulsions are improving performance. At the same time, owners are using fog seals differently – earlier in the pavement life cycle, on repeat intervals, and as part of a broader preservation plan instead of a one-off treatment.

The result is a shift worth paying attention to. Fog seals are moving from a low-end maintenance option to a more deliberate tool for extending pavement life and smoothing out maintenance budgets.

THE OUTDATED PERCEPTION Use of fog seals, along with other asphalt surface sealing concepts, gained momentum after the oil crisis of the

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1970s. Maintaining rather than replacing pavements became a priority as the cost of asphalt used in pavements soared.

Long viewed as a low-cost surface treatment for low-volume pavement, perceived fog seal product limitations have persisted over time even as formulations, applications and pavement preservation philosophies advanced.

The reputation comes, in part, from how fog sealing previously was applied – to structurally failed pavement (not an ideal candidate), under poor weather conditions (overcast or humid day with high moisture takes longer to cure) or without essential traffic control (necessary to keep traffic from driving through the application before it has time to cure).

Financial and industry culture issues may play a role in the perception problem as well. Fog sealing is inexpensive compared to overlays or mill-and-fill work, so it can be dismissed as low-tech or less important, favoring treatments that are more visible, capital-intensive or structurally oriented.

A philosophy shift, from fixing failed pavement cheaply to preserving newer pavement before deterioration accelerates, is gradually overcoming misconceptions about fog sealing performance today.

ABOUT FOG SEALING Like sunscreen, fog sealing should be applied before too much pavement damage has occurred. In fact, to be cost-effective, it should be applied before most project decision makers typically consider its use.

It does not add structure or enhance a pavement’s load-bearing capacity as its function is to prevent the pavement surface from oxidizing – drying up and creating micro cracks which lead to bigger cracks, allowing more water to come into the pavement matrix and break down its components.

The initial black color of fog sealing can fade in as little as six months, but the protective layer of emulsion continues to do its job of keeping the surface moist over a much longer period of time.

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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CONTRACTOR’S CHOICE

Yet, as distributor truck calibration improved, agencies standardized application rates and dilution ratios became more controlled, fog sealing earned a role in preventative maintenance, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reports.

Eventually that organization, and pavement preservation organizations, institutionalized fog sealing’s place in lifecycle asset management, recognizing significant improvements: • Application – calibrated distributor trucks, more strict weather condition requirements, traffic-control standards, friction management practices and use of blotter sand when needed • Material – improved emulsion chemistry, better curing outcomes, compatibility with chip seals and open-graded friction courses • Focus – shoulders, oxidized and raveling-prone surfaces Provided by Terracon

At some point, the sun will win but reports from municipalities and state departments of transportation indicate that fog sealing can extend the life of pavement two to four years, depending on pavement condition and treatment timing.

FOG SEALING EVOLVES As a nearly 100-year-old concept, fog sealing has gone through notable innovations in chemistry, application methods and functional design, evolving from tar sprays and diluted asphalt emulsion to trackless, high-performance and data-driven systems.

By the early 90s, fog sealing had progressed into slow-setting emulsions with applications moving to calibrated distributor-truck operations. The achievable goals became sealing surface voids, retaining aggregate, reducing raveling and improving waterproofing. Still, aspects of its shortcomings continued including inconsistent application rates, longer cure times, tracking onto vehicles and temporary loss of skid resistance.

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A CHEMISTRY-DRIVEN PRESERVATION TREATMENT In the continuum of pavement preservation, rehabilitation and reconstruction, fog sealing lands squarely in the preservation category.

No longer thought of as just a surface-sealing solution, developments in the last 10-15 years have revolutionized fog sealing as an engineered pavement-preservation system focused on oxidation control, binder chemistry restoration and lifecycle extension.

Today, users recognize the difference between conventional and rejuvenating fog seals that are designed to penetrate oxidized binder, restore viscoelastic properties, slow oxidation, improve flexibility and reduce brittle cracking.

While rejuvenating fog seals still use asphalt emulsion technology, they also have agents designed to penetrate aged asphalt binder and restore flexibility and often include polymer modification to improve durability, adhesion and traffic performance, especially on highervolume roads.

With improvements in formulation came higher standards in application discipline with tighter guidelines on nozzle configuration, distributor calibration, pavement temperature, curing conditions and traffic reopening.

The most recent innovations in fog sealing have led to faster-curing, trackless formulations and friction-conscious designs with standard application methods now using GPS-guided distributor calibration, precise spray bars, lane-by-lane traffic staging and friction monitoring.

MEETING ASSET MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) GOALS Some fog seal attributes have not changed since the early days – it can be applied quickly as a lower cost preventative maintenance technique. Coupled with all its modern innovations, this application meets several core asset management objectives: • extending pavement service life • delaying overlays and reconstruction • improving lifecycle cost efficiency • smoothing long-term capital spending • preserving pavement condition indexes • reducing deferred maintenance backlogs For ESG initiatives, compared to reconstruction fog sealing has a relatively small material and carbon footprint because it works with the existing pavement structure instead of replacing it. This requires less asphalt binder, fuel, virgin aggregate, trucking, construction equipment and demolition.

Applied correctly and at the right pavement condition, fog sealing can help delay more expensive overlays and rehabilitation. Applied too heavily or after major distress develops and it can reinforce the old industry complaints about slickness, tracking and short-lived performance. ■ Andrea Blanchette, PE, is a National Manager for Terracon’s Pavement Consulting Services

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | August/September 2026 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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ON THE JOB | By Brandon Noel, Editor-in-Chief

Big Apple Services

CROSSWALK ART: Celebrating The World Cup In Atlanta In less than a month, Big Apple Services turned artist-commissioned designs into 32 preformed thermoplastic crosswalks murals in the heart of the city.

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hen the biggest sporting event on the planet comes to town, everything becomes a potential canvas for the cause, even crosswalks. While soccer in America still plays second-fiddle to the more dominant professional sport leagues, it’s more popular ever domestically, as well as abroad.

Ahead of hosting World Cup matches this summer, the City of Atlanta commissioned artists to design crosswalk murals for the intersections surrounding Centennial Olympic Park, Downtown and the stadium district.

All the city needed was somebody who could take them from a design on paper to a functional piece of city infrastructure. The success of this project

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revolved around an award-winning contractor, recognized at PAVE/X as the Superior Striper of 2026: Big Apple Services “Precision 2000 (P2K), the general contractor reached out to us, and two other contractors as well that do the same type of work,” said Ty Ansley, Salesman and Estimator at Big Apple Services. “But the other two didn’t have the capacity for this type of project with its timeline.”

The first call with P2K and the city came on April 6, and the expectations were ambitious: Sixteen decorative intersections spread across the city, all wrapped before kickoff.

“We told them we’d be realistic, because it didn’t seem feasible in their timeline,” Ansley said. “So we said,

‘Which ones are your priorities?’”

The city pared the list to its eight must-haves, all clustered around Centennial Olympic Park and the stadium, still a large undertaking, and the deadline didn’t move an inch.

“The biggest constraint for us was the time,” Ansley said. “We had our first call about it on April 6, and they wanted us to be done by June 10 at midnight.”

Even that undersells the crunch this put them in. Proofing and material production didn’t begin until April 20, and the purchase order didn’t land until mid-May. “When it was all said and done, after we got the PO, it was a legitimate three weeks running around like a chicken with your head cut off,” said Clint Anderson, Co-CEO at Big Apple Services.

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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The first install went down May 19.

For the material itself, Big Apple turned to its preformed thermoplastic supplier, Geveko Markings. “They’re the leading manufacturer of preform in the world, but also their plant is in Gainesville, Georgia,” Ansley said. “When a crosswalk was done, we just went up and got it or they delivered it the same day.”

P2K’s project team, Nicolas Perea and Cristhian Moreno, handled all communications with City Managers while managing submittal approvals, permitting, safety, and construction sequencing with the City of Atlanta and multiple stakeholders. Coordinating four specialty contractors, P2K kept the project on schedule, allowing Big Apple to focus on field execution ahead of the City’s deadline. “They dealt with Atlanta so we could focus on the installation,” Ansley said.

PAINTING BY NUMBERS IN THE DARK Once the artists’ renderings were flattened, scaled and matched against Geveko’s library of roughly forty colors, proofs went to the city for sign-off and the material started rolling off the line.

“It’s basically almost like a really complicated paint by numbers,” Ansley said. The designs arrive ready to be water-jet cut into 2-ft. x 3-ft. sheets, pre-assembled at the factory and boxed in the order the crew will need them, each box with a printout showing which numbered pieces it holds and where they land. On the most intricate crosswalks, the piece count ran as high as two hundred thirty-one.

“The numbers are stamped into the preform — they go away when you heat it up,” Ansley said. “That also helps us know when the preform is sufficiently melted.”

Before anybody lit a torch, every piece got laid out, checked and centered in its final location.

“We don’t want to get started heating at the beginning of the crosswalk, get halfway through and be like, ‘Oh

crap, we’re short this,’ or ‘This needs to shift,’” Anderson said. “Everything initially gets completely laid out, and then melted in once it gets the final okay.”

Fusing the material to the asphalt with an infrared heater and high-BTU torches is where the specialists separate themselves.

“One of the most challenging things is one color that’s really easy to burn down butted up right next to a really dark color that’s very difficult to burn down,” Anderson said. “You can’t just get out there and willy-nilly get after it.

You really have to finesse the process.”

Anderson has also learned to plan for the inevitable. “The first handful of decorative projects we did, I always found myself saying, ‘Geez, I wish I had more of this color,’” he said. “So I got with our manufacturer, and they now ship a spares package with every decorative crosswalk.”

The rhythm of installation worked like this: hydro-blast the old thermoplastic off an intersection one night, install the artistic pre-forms the next, resulting in one full intersection per night, inside full closures where the crew owned the whole roadway. H3B Traffic Control did an outstanding job providing Traffic Control Plans for permit approval and keeping our guys safe during installation inside the closures.

“Weather was absolutely insane,” Anderson said. “We did the first two without any weather issues, but after that, it was like every single time we’d go to mobilize, we’d get a crazy torrential downpour. Weather was probably our biggest problem.”

But other surprises still popped up.

Midway through the entire project, the city added a ninth intersection at the iconic corner of Andrew Young International Boulevard and Peachtree Street, and it was the most complicated of them all: four crosswalks joined by a decorated radius.

“It turned out to be the best-looking crosswalk we did,” Ansley said. “They did their homework and got all the

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | August/September 2026 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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ON THE JOB

radiuses correct, plotted the stopbars correctly, which ended up saving us — we had laid out one whole crosswalk, and it turns out we were about seven feet away from where it needed to be.”

It came down to the final morning.

Running a short-handed graveyard crew on June 10, Anderson was finishing the last “do not block” box when the phone rang: Nineteen charter buses were inbound to AmericasMart, held up by his closure. He needed just twenty more minutes. The crew stayed in, got it striped and got off site about fifteen minutes past the promised time, but with all intersections complete.

“It literally went down to the last wire,” Anderson said. “Coordinationwise, it was our single biggest project, easily,” Ansley added. “We did all this in two months.”

THE PRODUCT BEHIND THE PUZZLE None of it happens if the material doesn’t show up — and that story belongs to

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Geveko. The Danish company invented preformed thermoplastic decades ago, and its Gainesville plant — an hour north of Big Apple — threw virtually all 85 of its people at the Atlanta push.

“We take a bunch of raw materials — specific pigments, plastics, resins, polyamides — in a formula that we formulate in our lab,” said James Hunt, Commercial Director, Geveko Markings. “We put it all together in a big kettle, melt it to a liquid form, and extrude that kettle into big sheets of that color. Those sheets get cut with a water jet, and then we interconnect all those shapes like a puzzle.”

Every crosswalk is laid out on the factory floor for fit and color checks before it ships, the same numbered sheets and box-by-box legends Big Apple’s crews worked from at 2 a.m. If adjacent pieces don’t match pigment, the material is rejected and cut again.

Because the designs were commissioned art, Geveko’s design team handled them accordingly. “We typically treat them with a whiteglove approach, because you’re taking something someone’s been working on for sometimes years,” said David Callahan, Design Manager at Geveko Markings. “There’s so much human element: interpreting intent, interpreting color. We give that little bit extra so that in the field you can make adjustments and make it as perfect from paper to pavement as possible.”

To hit the timeline, the kettles, water jets and layout tables ran six and seven days a week from the May 13 kickoff, shipping roughly one intersection every three days at twenty-five to fifty boxes of material per crosswalk. “When the production guys and the design team were sleeping in the U.S., the guys over in Europe would pick up where they left off,” Anderson said. “It really was 24/7 nonstop for them.”

With a local courier running material straight from the plant to the crew, Hunt said, “literally, from production to install could have been ten to twelve hours from start to finish.”

Preform is one of three product lines Geveko makes in Georgia, alongside hot-applied thermoplastic for long-line striping and MMA cold plastic for markings like bike-lane green. The regulatory work, like interstate shields, stop bars, turn arrows pays the bills.

However, decorative is where Hunt sees the market heading. Geveko is analyzing two years of accident statistics at the nine intersections to measure whether the colorful crosswalks change driver behavior.

“Not only is it beautiful, but it actually enhances and makes people safer,” Hunt said. “We say safe roads save lives.”

Some of those intersections have since come back around — four more are approved for Big Apple, P2K and Geveko after the tournament wraps, installation will be in August. In the meantime, the two companies rented out a restaurant, invited every single employee, put the Atlanta match on the TVs and celebrated the summer they put art under the world’s feet. ■

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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5

Ways to Keep Compact Loaders Ready When Every Hour Counts

Keeping a skid steer or compact track loader jobsite-ready doesn’t require anything complicated. It comes down to building a few good habits before small issues become bigger ones.

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eak construction season doesn’t create equipment problems. It exposes them.

The machine worked just fine this spring. But back then, it might have only been running a few hours a day.

Now that construction season is in full swing, it’s expected to run from the time the crew arrives until the last truck leaves the jobsite.

That’s when overlooked maintenance, worn attachments and small mechanical issues start costing real money. A hydraulic hose that should’ve been replaced weeks ago. Worn attachment teeth. A clogged cooling package.

Individually they don’t seem like much.

Together, they can put an entire crew behind schedule.

Keeping a skid steer or compact track loader jobsite-ready doesn’t require anything complicated. It comes down to building a few good habits before small issues become bigger ones.

Here are five practical ways contractors can keep equipment productive through the busiest months of the year.

1. STAY AHEAD OF STUFF When schedules get tight, maintenance is usually the first thing that’s pushed to tomorrow.

A small problem tomorrow has a way of turning into next week’s problem, which turns into a machine in the shop instead of on the job.

Staying jobsite-ready starts with keeping ahead of the little things.

Follow the manufacturer’s

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recommended maintenance schedule and pay attention to the components that work hardest this time of year. Before the machine goes to work, check engine oil, coolant and hydraulic fluid levels.

Replace filters at the recommended intervals, grease the machine, inspect tracks or tires for wear, and look over hydraulic hoses and fittings for leaks or cracks.

These checks take only a few minutes but can prevent hours of downtime.

Don’t overlook the cooling package.

Dust and debris quickly restrict airflow, forcing the machine to work harder. A few minutes cleaning coolers can prevent overheating during peak workloads.

Wear items like cutting edges, attachment teeth, tracks, tires and pins are easy to overlook, but they reduce efficiency, increase fuel consumption and add unnecessary strain to the machine.

A jobsite-ready loader isn’t just serviced on schedule. It’s maintained with tomorrow’s work in mind.

2. START THE DAY STRONG Before the crew starts work, take a few minutes to think through what the machine is expected to accomplish that day and how it fits into the rest of the operation.

Where should the machine start the day? Are materials staged where they’ll be needed? Will the loader be supporting multiple crews or moving between different work areas? Thinking through the work sequence can reduce

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YOUR BUSINESS MATTERS

edges, teeth and other wear components before they begin affecting productivity.

A worn attachment may not stop the job, but it can slow production, increase fuel consumption and put unnecessary strain on the machine.

If a project requires a specialized attachment, make sure it’s available before the crew needs it. Whether it’s owned or rented, having the right work tool on-site keeps the machine productive instead of sitting idle while someone tracks it down.

unnecessary travel around the jobsite and keep operators productive instead of waiting on the next task.

Many compact loaders spend days or even weeks on the same project, making the start of each shift an opportunity to reset. A few minutes spent coordinating the day’s work can help eliminate delays before they happen and keep the machine doing what it was brought there to do: work.

A jobsite-ready loader isn’t just mechanically sound. It’s part of a plan that keeps the entire crew moving.

3. EQUIP THE MACHINE Before work begins, make sure the attachment matches the task – and the machine. Hydraulic flow requirements matter, especially when using specialized work tools like trenchers, augers or brush cutters. An attachment that isn’t properly matched may still operate, but

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it won’t deliver the performance the job demands.

Attachments also deserve the same daily walkaround as the machine itself.

Inspect hydraulic hoses and couplers for wear or leaks, and look over cutting

4. KEEP OPERATORS READY The machine isn’t the only thing working longer hours. The operator is, too. During peak construction season, operators often spend the entire day in the same machine, moving from one task to the next with very little downtime in between. Fatigue builds throughout the day. As it does, productivity slips, cycle

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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times slow and small details get missed.

That’s when mistakes – and machine problems – are more likely.

That’s why operator comfort is about more than convenience. It has a direct impact on productivity.

The less energy operators spend fighting the machine, the more attention they can give to the work. Good visibility helps operators work confidently around trucks, materials and other equipment without constantly repositioning the machine. Intuitive controls reduce the time it takes to switch between tasks or attachments. A comfortable seat and well-designed cab help reduce fatigue so operators can stay focused during long shifts instead of simply getting through them.

Operators are also the first to notice when something changes. Maybe the machine doesn’t sound quite right.

Hydraulic response feels different. A warning light appears. An unusual

vibration shows up that wasn’t there yesterday. Those small changes often provide the first indication that something needs attention before it becomes a larger repair.

5. LET TECHNOLOGY DO SOME OF THE WORK For contractors, the workday doesn’t end when the machine shuts off.

Tracking service intervals, machine hours, fuel use and maintenance across multiple machines can quickly become a full-time job.

That’s where telematics has become one of the most valuable jobsite readiness tools available today.

Modern telematics automatically track machine hours, idle time, fuel use and maintenance intervals, reducing paperwork while helping contractors identify developing problems before they become costly repairs.

The same information also helps dealers schedule service more efficiently, allowing maintenance to be planned around the work instead of reacting to unexpected breakdowns.

A jobsite-ready loader isn’t just prepared for today’s work. It’s supported by systems that help keep it ready for tomorrow’s.

READY FOR TOMORROW Peak construction season will find every weak link. The question is whether it finds it in the shop or on the jobsite.

Contractors who make jobsite readiness part of their daily routine are better positioned to keep machines working, crews productive and projects moving. A little preparation today can prevent a lot of downtime tomorrow. ■

by Lee Tice, senior product manager at JCB North America.

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | August/September 2026 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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FROM THE OWNER’S DESK

Business Owners: Pay Attention To Your “Intention”

Why you need to work with a purpose even in the heart and heat of the season.

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opefully everyone has had a good and successful summer so far. It is hard to believe that in just a few short weeks the calendar will start moving toward fall. For many of us in the pavement maintenance business, that means the finish line is starting to come into sight. We are still busy, still working, and still trying to finish strong, but we can also start to see the end of another season coming.

One phrase that has really stuck with me over the last year or two is “do it with intention.”

I first heard a younger person say it when they were talking about something they were attending. I don’t remember the exact conversation, but they said they were “doing it with intention.” For whatever reason, that stuck with me. Since then, I have found myself using that phrase more and more. And like a lot of things, I started thinking about how it relates back to our asphalt businesses.

Doing something with intention really just means doing it with purpose.

You are not just going through the motions. You thought about it. You planned it. You prepared for it. You are trying to do it the right way.

That sounds simple, but in our industry, I think it’s easy to just go through the motions – especially in the middle of the season. But we can’t afford that.

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AdobeStock/ escapejaja

ESTIMATING WITH “INTENTION” Take estimating for example. When I go look at a parking lot, I want to do that inspection with intention. I want to actually look at the pavement, not just drive through the lot or just measure it and throw out a number. I want to see what is really going on. Is it oxidation? Is it failed asphalt? Is it base failure? Are the cracks something crack sealing can help, or is the pavement already too far gone?

We all know how this business gets.

Sometimes you are way busy. Sometimes your schedule is full. Sometimes you are fat and happy with work, and another estimate feels like just another thing to get done. But if you go look at a job with that mindset, you are not doing yourself or your customer any favors.

If I am rushed or distracted or not sure if we want the job – if I am not doing the estimating with intention -- I might miss something important.

I might miss drainage issues, alligator cracking, oil damage, bad transitions, or areas that need patching before sealcoat.

Then when we get on site to start the work that “simple” job becomes a problem. And it becomes a problem for both

the customer and for the business.

That is where intention comes in.

If I go into that inspection knowing I want to provide the best recommendation I can, then I am already off to a good start. I am giving the customer a better inspection.

They’re getting a more accurate proposal, they have a better idea of their options and potential expenses, and they have an idea of what future maintenance might include and cost.

And from my standpoint I’m able to better schedule that job for my crew, I can develop a plan for it, and I have a better handle on costs (which results in a more accurate profit picture for that job). Basically, I’m setting that job up to be successful from the beginning for me and my customer.

“INTENTION” ON THE JOB The same thing applies once the contract is signed.

Sealcoating with intention means more than just spraying black on the ground. It means completing the job with a purpose: safely routing traffic and pedestrians around the work zone, cleaning the lot properly, watching the edges, protecting sidewalks and

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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buildings, making sure the mix is right, and not leaving a sloppy mess behind.

Crack sealing with intention means cleaning the cracks, applying the material correctly, watching traffic, and not leaving tar all over the place. Striping with intention means straight lines, correct layout, ADA stalls done right, arrows and stencils clean, and leaving the lot looking sharp when you pull out.

None of that is complicated. But it does take effort; it takes intention.

I think sometimes – especially in the heart and heat of the season -- we forget how much those little things matter. A customer might not know every technical detail about asphalt, but they can tell when a contractor cares. They can tell when the crew is organized. They can tell when the job looks clean. They can tell when somebody took pride in the work.

I’ve written many times before in this column about reputation and building your brand. Every estimate, every phone call, every crew, and every finished project contributes to that reputation. When you do those things with intention, you are building more than just another completed job. You are building confidence with your

customer, your employees, yourself, and giving customers the confidence to rehire you (and potential customers the confidence to hire you).

“INTENTION” AT TRADE SHOWS I also think this applies to how we grow as business owners. PAVE/X is a good example. You can go to a trade show and just walk around, look at equipment, shake a few hands, and call it a good show.

Or you can go with intention.

You can go there with a couple of problems you are trying to solve.

Maybe you need a better crack sealing setup. Maybe you are looking at a new sealcoat machine. Maybe you want to improve scheduling, hiring, estimating, or how your crews operate. Maybe you have new hires who need a sealcoating or striping crash course. Maybe you’re thinking of adding sealcoating to your paving operation.

If you intentionally spend some time in advance thinking about what you want to do to improve your business, what you want to take home from the show, you can take those ideas to PAVE/X and get some suggestions – whether from seminars, from exhibitors,

or from other contractors you meet.

Same show, same people, same equipment, but a totally different mindset – an intentional mindset.

That is the point I am trying to make. Doing things with intention does not have to be some big, complicated business theory. It can be as simple as slowing down a little and asking yourself if you are really doing the best you can with what is in front of you.

Estimate with intention. Communicate with intention. Schedule with intention. Perform the work with intention.

And then extend that “intentional” mindset to your crews. Let them know what the goal is before they get to the job. Let them know what matters on that project. Sometimes just having everyone on the same page makes a huge difference.

At the end of the day, intention sharpens your focus. It makes you think a little more. It makes you prepare a little better. And in this business, that little extra level of thought and effort can pay off for years to come. ■ Nick Howell, President of T & N Asphalt Services

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | August/September 2026 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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SWEEPING ASSOCIATIONS

Tough times call for smart investments Advice for everyone.

NAPSA

Nancy Terry, Executive Director

I

n what surely is the most brutal business climate in the “modern era” of power sweeping, getting the most out of association membership is perhaps more crucial than ever.

It is safe to say that now, times are on the tough side. Fuel costs are ridiculous, sustainability is a factor, retail sales are soft, property groups are struggling to make ends meet, and tax revenues to cities, counties, and state DOT’s are softening. Power sweepers are in a squeeze of declining revenues and soaring costs.

The problems are obvious. With fuel leading the way, hourly costs are running out the back door of businesses faster than money can be brought in the front.

There’s nothing you can do about it, and it will likely change from the morning

commute to the afternoon commute.

Obviously the strategy is somewhat different from company-to-company, but in such a climate strength can be found in numbers. Wisdom can be found in the counsel of others. The best source of numbers and counsel for power sweeping contractors is found in the North American Power Sweepers Association. In a time when finding a few hundred spare dollars is tougher than ever, investing that wisely is more important than ever. For current members, accessing to the fullest all of the financial advantages offered by NAPSA membership is also more crucial than ever.

The counsel of other contractors may be the last refuge for those of us in this business. There doesn’t seem to be anyone in Washington or on Wall Street that has the faintest idea what they have

wrought on this economy with energy policies. The political party traditionally more in touch with the concerns of small business over the years is now dominated by politically correct lawyers, big corporate interests, and media types.

It’s a mess...and there is no end in sight anytime soon. So power sweepers are left with a choice more stark than ever, hang together, or hang separately.

For more information about joining NAPSA visit www.NAPSAonline.com or contact the office at 269-383-6993. ■

The North American Power Sweeping Association (NAPSA) is a nonprofit association made up of 200+ contract sweepers, service providers and sweeping equipment dealers, manufacturers and suppliers. NAPSA is dedicated to providing beneficial support to the membership and enhancing services to the sweeping industry. NAPSA is committed to promoting and educating the power sweeping community while enhancing the environment. For more information on NAPSA membership, please visit www.powersweeping.org or call (888) 757-0130.

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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By Allyson Sherrier, Managing Editor

| CONTRACTOR SNAPSHOT

From The Field To The Front Office Combining field experience, technology and customer-focused service.

A

t 15 years old, Jake Hoefert wasn’t thinking about owning an asphalt company. He was simply trying to earn a paycheck while working for his best friend’s father, doing whatever the crew needed — swinging a shovel, cleaning equipment, brooming parking lots and helping with sealcoating jobs. Like many successful contractors, he started at the bottom, learning the business one task at a time.

“I wasn’t really thinking about owning a company someday or getting to where I am now,” Hoefert said. “I was just trying to learn as much and absorb as much as I could and earn a paycheck as a young and naive kid.”

What kept him coming back wasn’t just the work itself, but the satisfaction of seeing a finished project. Even today, Hoefert enjoys driving past projects years later and knowing he helped build something people rely on every day.

“There’s something special about creating something tangible that you know thousands of people rely on every day.”

That appreciation for the work turned into a career spanning nearly every position in the industry. He worked as a laborer, foreman, estimator, project manager and salesperson before becoming co-founder and president of EcoSurface, an Arizona-based asphalt, concrete and coatings contractor serving commercial customers throughout Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.

Although construction became his passion early on, Hoefert’s career didn’t follow a straight line. After graduating

from college, he left the industry to work in finance in New York City before transitioning into software sales.

But even then, he stayed connected to Jake Hoefert asphalt, using odd weekends to help manage projects.

FROM THE GROUND UP Those experiences ultimately When Hoefert and his partners strengthened his approach to business. launched what would become EcoWorking outside construction exposed Surface, the goal wasn’t to become the him to scalable systems, technology, country’s largest contractor. They just sales strategies and customer service wanted to build the kind of company practices that he believed could improve customers wanted to hire and employees the pavement industry. wanted to work for. The business began “I started realizing there’s a huge with pavement maintenance services opportunity to bring that different before expanding into larger asphalt and mindset into the pavement industry,” concrete projects as customer relationHoefert said. “A lot of contractors are ships grew. excellent builders, but they can’t all Today, EcoSurface self-performs combine that operational excellence asphalt, concrete and pavement maintewith technology, branding and customer nance work throughout the Southwest, experience.” but Hoefert believes the company’s His years in the field also shaped biggest differentiator isn’t necessarily its the leader he is today. Long nights and services.

Arizona’s extreme summer heat gave “What really separates us isn’t neceshim a lasting appreciation for the crews sarily what we do, but how we do it,” he performing the work every day. said. “We really focus heavily on com“The field teaches you lessons you munication with customers, responsivecan’t learn in the classroom,” he said. “I ness, technology and that overall cusrespect and understand what our guys tomer experience. We want customers to are doing daily because it’s what I’ve feel like they’re working with a modern done in the past.” construction company, not just another That experience also taught him that contractor.” customers aren’t simply buying asphalt The early years required him to wear or concrete. nearly every hat imaginable, balancing “It’s just dirt, oil and rock at the end sales, estimating, project management, of the day,” Hoefert said. “But what finances and field operations. Hoefert [customers] are really buying is trust. describes those startup days as “conThey’re trusting you to show up, comtrolled chaos,” but also as the time that municate, solve problems for them and shaped two principles still guiding the deliver on what you promise.” business today.

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | August/September 2026 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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CONTRACTOR SNAPSHOT

“Growth covers up problems temporarily, but systems solve them permanently,” Hoefert said. “Secondly, culture really matters more than strategy. You can have the best business plan in the world, but without the right people around you, it doesn’t really matter.”

As EcoSurface expanded into new markets, those lessons became even

more important. Hoefert said growth only works when people, processes and technology evolve alongside the business. Much of the company’s success has come through repeat customers and long-term relationships.

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another market or even a larger project,” he said. “That trust just compounds over time.”

Technology has transformed the way EcoSurface operates. Hoefert recalls the years of estimating projects on paper and relying heavily on spreadsheets before digital tools became commonplace.

Today, the company uses technology to improve communication, monitor equipment utilization, track project progress and provide customers with better visibility throughout every project. Hoefert credits his software sales background with helping EcoSurface adopt new technology earlier than many contractors.

“I’ve seen firsthand how powerful systems can be when implemented correctly. The contractors that embrace technology won’t replace the fundamentals of the business — they’ll just simply execute much better and faster.”

RETAINING SKILLED WORKERS Like most companies in the industry, EcoSurface competes for skilled labor.

Hoefert believes one of the biggest misconceptions is that employees leave only for higher wages.

“Sometimes that’s true,” he said.

“But more often people leave because they don’t see a future.”

To combat that, EcoSurface emphasizes career development and encourages employees to learn new skills, whether it’s earning a CDL, operating different equipment or moving into estimating and project management.

“I always like telling my story,” Hoefert said. “You’ve got to start somewhere. You can’t just jump from day one in the field to being CEO.” Having worked his way from laborer to business owner, he wants employees to understand that where they begin doesn’t have to define where they finish.

“In this industry, people remember who shows up, who follows through and who does what they say they’re going to do,” Hoefert said.

“Build a strong reputation.” ■

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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TAILGATE

TALK

Stripers Sustainability Leads to Future Success The secret to gaining repeat business isn’t selling what you’re “going to do” for the customer but what you “can do.”

A

s a striping contractor, if you are having trouble getting repeat business with customers there is a good chance that they may be unsatisfied with your crew’s results. The secret to gaining repeat business isn’t selling what you’re “going to do” for the customer but what you have proven that you “can do.” Customers don’t buy bad memories.

GET REPEAT BUSINESS 1. Get it Right…the 1st Time Most customers, including paving or concrete contractors, will not give a striping contractor a second chance; so you better get your first job with the new customer right the first time. It is critical that you clearly understand what your customer’s needs and expectations are and that you have a written plan to address each one!

2. Meet with Customer at Job Completion I’m simply amazed how many contractors who are not even at the job when it is completed. They may be off getting another job started, laying out the next striping job, or selling another new prospect. As the owner, you should do everything possible to be at the job when it is completed. The senior person needs to be at the project

AdobeStock_ajcespedes

to be able to make the first impression and sales effort toward the next project.

3. Don’t Survey…Go Face to Face with the Customer Many contractors still attach a customer satisfaction survey with their final billing statement. This technique has been taught for many years, I ought to know as I’ve shared this same sales tip in many NPEs over the years. Instead, make it a personal visit with the customer, especially the first time you’ve performed a job for them.

Walk the job site and discuss what they like and what they want to be improved, corrected, reworked.

Going this extra step will gain you a personal audience with the customer and award you with future work.

4. Inform the Customer that You Want Their Next Project Think about this: you’ve just completed a project that the customer verbally confirms that they like.

This same customer tells you that

they have another parking lot to stripe. At that moment don’t be shy to tell the customer of your interest in doing their next job. Have some fun with the customer by insisting that you want to extend their positive experience.

5. Maintain Follow-Up “Points of Contact” with Customers This truly takes discipline, but it is more of a scheduling issue than anything else. Set up a process in your scheduling for the year that allows you to be reminded of three to five follow-up contacts with each customer. The future contacts might include seasonal reminders to take care of their striping needs, birthday wishes, congratulations on a child’s graduation, or just dropping a note to say hi. Anytime that your company is working near a past customer, pay them a brief and unexpected visit. If out of sight leads to out of mind, then repeat follow-up will lead to repeat work.

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | August/September 2026 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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TAILGATE TALK

6. “Sell” Warranty on Your Completed Work Selling your customers on allowing you to extend a warranty on your crew’s work will assist the effort to keep the customer leaning your way. You will find that it opens the door to more strategic planning and budgeting on your customer’s part to taking greater care of their pavement needs, including striping.

7. Induce Sustainability Consider that you have little to no marketing costs associated with landing repeat business; you may not even be required to make another formal presentation but just amending the prior contract.

Trust me, most customers do expect something in the form of a discount if they have worked with you

before, and if you have completed more than one job for the same customer in the past I can almost guarantee you that the customer expects some kind of a financial “perk.”

8. Work the Customer for Referrals This effort is all consultant sales! If your customer is happy with your crew’s effort they will most likely be more than happy to give you the names of those in need of striping. Don’t be shy about asking for such names and don’t be shy about following up with your customer periodically over the next year to get additional names. Satisfied customers are never “put out” to help hard-working contractors who are honest, does quality work, and is a pleasure to work to boot.

It has been my experience that many stripers, what I call the “artist” of pavement maintenance, can build up to 40% - 60% of their annual revenues directly tied to repeat business. These same striping contractors never take such repeat business for granted as they expend a lot of energy to ensure that they get repeat work.

As you move to grow your company, don’t take any job lightly.

Don’t avoid uncomfortable situations, especially if your crews have screwed up a job royally. It is often the “2nd shot” out of the rough that gets you and your company back in the middle of the fairway and set up for a great finish! ■ Brad Humphrey, The Contractor’s Best Friend

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | August/September 2026 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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