Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction February 2024

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF PAVE/X

MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION FEBRUARY 2024

How EVs Impact Maintenance

PROTECT WORKERS: BUILDING BETTER

SAFETY STRATEGIES

TIPS

Smart Tech for Construction

› › › www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

February 2024 | Issue 2, Volume 37

COVER STORY 20 Special Report:

A Better Safety Paradigm

Take this as your sign. Safety planning for your jobsite can no longer be an afterthought.

ON THE COVER Rose Paving, LLC with their custom paint job LeeBoy paver. Their safety plans start at the culture level, and involves workers at every level.

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

12 How Mobile Tech Is Changing Construction

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Construction takes place in the field, and construction software continues its evolution to harness the power of mobile applications to increase productivity and safety.

18 Maintenance Tips For Your Mini Excavators These sometimes overlooked maintenance practices can be a big boost to your equipment longevity.

24 EV Maintenance Changes The Game Electric vehicles and machines have begun to transform the heavy equipment industry— and will continue to do so.

Editorial Blacktop Safety: What Happened With Vision Zero?

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Hot Mix The latest news in the industry

10 The Product Lane Select new products and upgrades

16 PAVE/X Pulse A Successful Inaugural Event!

26 Your Business Matters Job Costing: What, Why, and How

30 NAPSA More Power Sweeping Specific Online Classes Launched

31 WSA Prioritizing Safety: A Crucial Imperative for Every Professional

32 Contractor Spotlight The younger generations often get a bad reputation, but thinking that about the Buck Brothers couldn’t be more wrong.

34 Tailgate Talk Risk Management: Safety First

28 The Owner’s Desk How Juggling Expectations Shows Professionalism On The Job: Estimating and project management don’t need to be difficult, but they often can be.

IN EVERY ISSUE 26

Pavement Profit Center

33

Classifieds

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | February 2024 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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WHAT’S ONLINE Applications Open for Pavement Maintenance Top Contractor Awards 2024 Every year we publish a list of the top contractors in the pavement maintenance industry in the field of paving, striping, sealcoating, and pavement repair. Submit your application today for this major recognition!

For more information visit https://pavemg.com/38hamj3q

Why States Should Prioritize Pavement Preservation There’s no denying that many U.S. states simply do not make a priority of preserving their existing paved infrastructure.

For more information visit https://pavemg.com/07y7kii9

Dirt World Summit Focused on Workforce Development Extreme ownership and retaining talent are keys to the personnel shortage solution.

For more information visit https://pavemg.com/75mvqzbp

ADVISORY BOARD Vol. 37, No. 2 February 2024

PAVEMENT

Published and copyrighted 2024 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, PO Box 3605, Northbrook, IL 60065-3605.

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

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | February 2024 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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EDITORIAL

Blacktop Safety: What Happened With Vision Zero?

The government policy initiative is arguably one of the biggest all-time failures in public safety.

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ast year I covered a story about “guerilla stripers” who were taking it upon themselves to paint unmarked crosswalks in parts of their cities where unmarked crosswalks were seeing multiple people injured or killed. Some of these were in school zones and all of them were requested by the community, but the municipal governments ignored or stalled work on them. It’s one of my favorite things I’ve covered, but it brought to my attention something else: the Vision Zero policy.

Put simply, the concept of Vision Zero is that of a world with zero trafBrandon Noel, fic/mobility related deaths. This isn’t just car accidents. This includes things Editor bNoel@iron.markets like pedestrian casualties in crosswalks being struck by vehicles, bike riders 234-600-8983 involved in collisions, and workers who are struck in roadway construction.

While that might sound like an impossibility, there are many nations that aim for this goal, and some have already achieved it for several consecutive years. It requires a Safe Systems approach, and according to the FHWA website, “Applying the Safe System approach involves anticipating human mistakes by designing and managing road infrastructure to keep the risk of a mistake low.”

Hundreds of millions of U.S. Department of Transportation dollars have been spent on projects aimed at this goal in cities across the country, but there’s one huge problem. Despite this financial focus, all the numbers have moved in the wrong direction. It’s a problem of epidemic proportions.

This month’s issue draws attention to jobsite safety, and what I’m trying to point out here is that the dangers our industry is exposed to are inextricably tied to this problem. One informs the other, for example (using the latest confirmed statistics): • 42,915 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2021, a 10.5 percent increase from 2020.

• In 2021, there were an estimated 60,577 pedestrians injured in traffic crashes, an 11 percent increase from 54,771 pedestrians injured in 2020.

• In 2021, more pedestrian fatalities occurred in urban areas (84 percent) than rural areas (16 percent) and 16 percent of the pedestrian fatalities occurred at intersections.

• Roadway construction incidents involving vehicles increased 9.3 percent between 2021 and 2022, leading to a high of 1,369 fatalities (The avg. between 2015-2020 was 794).

• 40 percent of all work zone crashes from 2018 to 2020 occurred on an interstate, urban road or rural setting.

• 9 percent occurred at other locations including roadsides/shoulders, parking lots, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, medians/crossing islands, driveway accesses, shared-use paths/trails, non-traffic way areas.

What does this all mean? Every day you get on that paver, roller, or step onto the blacktop where automobiles are used to operating. Safety needs to be of primary concern. It has to become a greater priority, so that we protect the people of our great industry. From owners, to project managers, and to every person on the crew, it literally has to be, “safety first.”

See you on the road! ■

PAVEMENT EDITORIAL Editor ............................................................................. Brandon Noel bnoel@iron.markets

Contributing Editor .............................................Jessica Lombardo jlombardo@iron.markets

Managing Editor ............................................................... Gigi Wood gwood@iron.markets

Senior Editor, Construction Technology, IRONPROS .................................. Charles Rathmann crathmann@iron.markets

Senior Editor, Equipment & Workwear, IRONPROS .......................................... Michael Cheng mcheng@iron.markets

Junior Editor .............................................................. Merina Shriver mshriver@iron.markets

AUDIENCE Audience Development Manager ........................ Angela Franks PRODUCTION Senior Production Manager ...................................... Cindy Rusch 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

Sales Representative ..................................................... Kris Flitcroft kflitcroft@iron.markets

IRONMARKETS Chief Executive Officer....................................................Ron Spink Chief Financial Officer .......................................... JoAnn Breuchel Chief Revenue Officer ............................................. Amy Schwandt Corporate Director of Sales ................................... Jason DeSarle Brand Director, Construction, OEM & IRONPROS ......................................................Sean Dunphy VP, Audience Development ................................... Ronda Hughes VP, Operations & IT ..................................................... Nick Raether Content Director ....................................................... Marina Mayer Director, Online & Marketing Services ...... Bethany Chambers Director, Demand Generation & Education ............. Jim Bagan Content Director, Marketing Services ...............Jess Lombardo CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS P.O. Box 3605, Northbrook, IL 60065-3605 (877) 201-3915 | Fax: (847)-291-4816 circ.pavement@omeda.com

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 2024 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.

@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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A roundup of recent news, moves and events impacting the pavement maintenance industry For more information visit https://pavemg.com/mz1q1r

IRONMARKETS’ FLITCROFT SELECTED FOR SECOND TERM ON AEM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cat, CRH Sign Agreement for Electric Off-highway Trucks, Charging

I

n its latest move toward improved sustainability and reaching its net-zero goals, Caterpillar has announced a new partnership for off-highway trucks.

According to the company: Caterpillar announced it has signed an electrification strategic agreement with CRH to advance the deployment of Caterpillar’s zero-exhaust emissions solutions.

CRH is the number one aggregates producer in North America and the first company in that industry to sign such an agreement with Caterpillar.

The agreement is focused on accelerating the deployment of Caterpillar’s 70 to 100-ton-class battery electric off-highway trucks and charging solutions at a CRH site in North America. Through the agreement, CRH will participate in Caterpillar’s Early Learner program for battery electric off-highway trucks, testing and validating the units in real-world applications. CRH will also provide voice of customer feedback to address safety, performance, operational and compliance requirements for the aggregates industry.

“We are pleased to work with CRH, as our first aggregates industry customer, to expand our electrification solutions beyond mining. When it comes to sustainability, the quarry and aggregates industry requires diverse solutions. Our collaboration with CRH is an exciting opportunity to learn together and gain valuable insights into how our products can best support CRH’s long-term objectives to decarbonize its operations,” said Resource Industries Group President Denise Johnson.

The collaboration supports CRH’s climate-related objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by utilizing more sustainable equipment.

CRH has set a target to deliver a 30% reduction in absolute carbon emissions by 2030 (from a 2021 base year) and an ambition to be a net-zero business by 2050.

Scott Parson, president, CRH Americas Materials Solutions said, “At CRH, we recognize that collaboration and innovation are critical to delivering our industry-leading decarbonization targets and achieving our ambition of net-zero by 2050. Through this partnership with Caterpillar, we will advance the use of sustainable equipment in our operations and build on our shared commitment to a low-carbon future.”

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The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced its 2024 officers and directors elected to the AEM Board of Directors and Agriculture and Construction Equipment Sector Boards during its annual business meeting. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Industry veteran Kris Flitcroft, sales representative, IRONMARKETS, was selected as a director for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) board of directors for a second year.

AEM’s officers and directors provide strategic direction and guidance for AEM initiatives that help members and the industry succeed. Key action areas include advocacy and public affairs, market information, exhibitions and events, and safety, regulatory and technical issues.

IronMarkets’ Kris Flitcroft

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | February 2024 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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Get fast, relevant product information in the Buyers Guide at ForConstructionPros.com

1

K 770 Concrete Saw

3

Siteworks Machine Guidance Module

5 10

Husqvarna Construction Products

The Husqvarna K 770 is an all-around power cutter. Equipped with a semi-automatic SmartTension system that allows for optimal power transmission, minimum wear and maximum belt life. The K 770 is lightweight with an efficient power-to-weight ratio, reliable starts and low vibrations.

Trimble Construction

Trimble introduced the Trimble Siteworks Machine Guidance Module, extending the capabilities of Trimble Siteworks Software from surveying and layout to support on-machine excavator guidance and operator assistance. With the addition of the new software module, contractors can use the same rugged Site Positioning Systems hardware and software to perform a variety of tasks on the jobsite, including surveying, machine guidance, in-field design and reporting.

Designed specifically for small site and utility contractors, the Siteworks Machine Guidance module gives users the ability to move the system between multiple excavators and jobsites.

3CX and 4CX Platinum Edition JCB

The Platinum Edition models highlight the company’s 70 years of innovation in manufacturing backhoe loaders. A total of 70 limited-edition 70th birthday 3CX PRO and 4CX PRO machines will be manufactured. The Platinum Edition models will have servo excavator controls, Powerslide, air conditioning and bi-directional auxiliary flow hydraulics. The machines will also have limited edition platinum decals and grill badge and platinum-colored wheels. The cab will have an embroidered graphic in the carpet and upgraded seat material with 70th anniversary branding.

2

TB2150R Excavator

4

IceStriker DSB

6

Cooling Products

Takeuchi-US

This 15t model is one of Takeuchi’s largest excavators, second only to the TB2150.

The primary difference between the TB2150R and the TB2150 unit is the TB2150R’s fixed boom arrangement and reduced tail swing design. The TB2150R has an operating weight of 34,215 lbs. (rubber track), a maximum bucket breakout force of 22,256 lbs. and a maximum arm digging force of 13,490 lbs. It is powered by a 114 hp DEUTZ TCD3.6L4 turbocharged engine that delivers 338 ft-lb of torque and features a DOC+SCR diesel exhaust aftertreatment system.

HillTip

Hilltip offers a winter maintenance drop spreader for compact tractors and loaders.

Available in 8- to 18-cu.-ft. capacities, the new IceStriker DSB has a self-loading design and can be mounted on the front or back of vehicles. It is capable of spreading salt, sand and fine gravel for use on a variety of applications, including parking lots, courtyards, walkways and pedestrian paths. The IceStriker DSB comes standard with hydraulic motors and conventional controls. A 12-volt electric drive is optional. Customers can also upgrade to StrikeSmart controls, using either a hard-wired CAN bus controller or Bluetooth-enabled smartphone controls. These automatic controllers feature Hilltip’s HTrack tracking software, which is a two-way GPRS communication system that allows functionality.

Milwaukee Tool Corp.

Milwaukee expands its lineup with a new cooling category, providing solutions to help heat stress concerns on the jobsite. Including a skull cap, sweat bands for both safety helmets and hard hats, a safety helmet liner and two cooling towels, this new category helps users stay cool while working in sunlight or in non-ventilated areas. The new cooling towels and BOLT accessories are quickly activated by running or submerging under water, achieving full absorption in only 30 seconds. When activated, the heat stress solutions wick away moisture and heat for up to four hours of cooling time, providing a natural cooling sensation.

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | February 2024 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE | By Charles Rathmann, Senior Editor, Construction Technology, IRONPROS

How

MOBILE TECH is Changing Construction

Construction takes place in the field, and construction software continues its evolution to harness the power of mobile applications to increase productivity and safety.

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he smartphone has changed construction. Whether a contractor has a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy or issues designated hardware for use in the field, that smart handset or tablet has embedded contextual data streams like geolocation, data capture through photos, bar code scanning and other capabilities that can inject new insights and capabilities into construction software.

MOBILE DEVICE AS IOT DATA COLLECTION Most software for construction will now offer native applications for iOS and Android platforms. A few bootstrapped startups coming up in the space now are finding product market fit on a browser

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interface and then adding mobile applications later. Even if the interface makes good enough use of space on a small device screen to be used on a mobile handset instead of a laptop, these native applications make better use of the underlying handset’s features.

• Bar Code Scanning: Bar codes used in construction may include location-specific QR codes, used by applications ranging from Procore to standalone tracking software from companies like Wasp Barcode Technologies, Panatrack and Asset Panda, primarily used for inventory and assets or tools. Software used to take materials or parts into inventory, consume parts or materials against a project or work order, field service

Panasonic offers products with a two-in-one form factor, so field workers get a laptop in the cab and a tablet for the site.

Panasonic

management software used to record what work has been done on an asset and other situations where avoiding manual entry of data is desirable—all will benefit from barcode scanning.

• Optical Character Recognition (OCR): Beyond barcodes and QR codes, software like an offering from XOI Technologies, can capture asset data from equipment nameplates. This eliminates error and moves manual tasks off the field technician’s plate.

• Photogrammetry: Many field productivity software products like Assignar, Fieldwire, HCSS Heavy Job, InEight Document and Raken will enable workers on site to capture images with their camera phone and addend them to

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project data to document conditions or work completed. Designated photogrammetry solutions will often use drone-mounted cameras or specific 360-degree cameras either affixed to a hardhat or placed at a stationary location.

Digital images captured on a job site can be addended to a BIM or project plan, and can even be used to track progress against the plan. Photogrammetry tools like PIX4Dcatch, Pixpro or Matterport will enable photogrammetry using a smartphone camera.

• Video Collaboration: Field service management tools like XOI Technologies, Blitzz and Streem use video to enable collaboration between workers in the field, experts in the back office or even the contractor’s customers. in some cases, this can be done without the customer executing a download on their end.

• Mixed Reality: Particularly in mission-critical mechanical contracting, augmented reality (AR) is finding a foothold, enabling personnel on site to view design data overlayed on reality. Construction AR software vendors extend their solution with designated headsets designed for this purpose, but some, including products from Trimble and vGIS, extend these tools to deliver mixed reality to smartphones. Software equipped with this capability, including Trimble Connect AR, will enable users to use the built-in camera to view design elements and other data context of the physical world on the screen.

• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): Some construction software mobile apps will leverage Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) capture and expose data from unpowered assets. BLE beacons can be attached to everything from Hilti hand tools to construction equipment attachments and other unpowered assets. An example is the TennaBLE Beacon Steel Puck which provide geolocation through the Tenna Mobile Field apps for iOS and Android.

MOBILE DEVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION— FROM HANDSETS TO LAPTOPS TO WEARABLES Software may have eaten the world, to paraphrase investor Marc Andreessen, but ruggedized devices that facilitate mobile computing for contractors are important pieces of silverware, at least in demanding site environments. Apart from resistance to physical damage from impacts, dust and vibration, these devices may give contractors other solid reasons to go beyond either a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) approaches where employees rely on their personal devices or company-owned consumer-grade devices.

Other end point devices may not replace traditional handsets or computers, but rather extend communication in the field as internet-of-things (IoT) devices.

ARE ALL CONSTRUCTION APPS CREATED EQUAL? To be clear, these apps are not standalone products. Mobile apps for business setting will use mobile applications as a secondary or sometimes a primary interface for a software-as-a-service (SaaS) product sold by subscription. Most fully-featured construction software will offer one or more apps for functions that need to be performed away from a laptop, preventive maintenance, like filing expenses, entering worker time, reporting productivity, forms for inspection or customer sign-off on work. In some cases, bootstrapped construction SaaS startups will establish product-market fit with just a web interface. In the paving software segment, two examples include PavementSoft and Pittbos. Pittbos is making moves to add a mobile app, and PavementSoft may not be far behind as they ramp up their business.

But once a construction software product includes a mobile app, contractors will want to come to understand some essentials about it.

• What features or functions does the app deliver? This is often a narrower subset of functionality offered in a web interface due in part to the real estate on the screen and the fact that the mobile app may be used by workers on site or perhaps supervisors while management will rely on the web interface. Products designed specifically

for smaller contractors or sole proprietorships like Jobber or Service Titan may support a broader spectrum of business functions on mobile devices than those aimed at the enterprise, in part because owner-operators work from the field. There may be more than one mobile app associated with a software product, each for different defined roles or use cases.

• How does the app respond to interruptions in GPS-enabled service? Most modern asset native applications can management work offline, archiving software transactions until a applications connection is re-established. like Tenna make • Does the application mobile work update itself automatically? orders functional Some apps, due to the not just in a shop technologies they were environment, built with or the settings but in the field. the vendor uses when they Tenna provision them to app marketplaces, will push updates to mobile devices without end-user involvement. This can ensure everything from the latest security patches to new functionality are available in real time.

• How many of the functions of the handset can the app leverage, and how gracefully? Native apps will often

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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

make better use of handset features— IFS Cloud in October of 2022 even added app support for lidar distance measurement, for devices that are suitably equipped.

• Equipment management software and time clock software both may leverage geolocation data from the mobile device, enabling features like geofencing and geographic context for transactions like clocking in and out, arriving on a site or photo updates in field notes.

THE CLOUD AND MOBILE While mobile apps used in business are generally really user interfaces for solutions located in the cloud, the fact that many powerful and venerable construction business software products are being run on-premise or in a managed services environment means mobile becomes an interesting way to extend the lifecycle of these products.

Construction enterprise resource planning (ERP) software vendors in particular are extending these mature solutions either with their own apps, or increasingly relying on partners or independent software vendors (ISVs) to create not just native mobile apps but broader enterprise applications. This makes it easier to interact with the system of record from more places, cutting time lag out of business processes.

One example will be AvidXchange, tacks accounts payables automation onto Sage construction solutions including Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate and Sage 100 Contractor with a web interface that may be the sole tool used by accounts payables people. AvidXchange pulls in invoices from suppliers, uses OCR technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to extract information and routes it to users across different device types for review and approval. In settings like this, the mobile app can keep processes moving that otherwise would be delayed until an approver or reviewer was back in the office.

“We have to follow ERP adoption patterns,” AvidXchange Vice President

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RUGGED DEVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION SAFETY WEARABLES One of the best ways to increase productivity is to increase safety, and wearable devices ranging from smart boots from SolePower to fatigue-monitoring headware by by SmartCap are aimed directly at monitoring and improving worker safety. Many other enterprise applications extend operational systems by tracking worker location to manage safety by harnessing geolocation data from employees to inform safety practices. A prime example is Eyrus, which extends its workforce management and safety software with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) trackers. These devices communicate with BLE readers on site, supporting not just time and attendance functions but advanced approaches to zone management for safety, project management and safety.

Safety tech vendor 36Zero, meanwhile extends its software for construction, utilities and mining companies with wearables including the wrist-worn Budy360. The device enables two-way communication, so management can send urgent alerts to workers. The Budy360 also tracks heart rate and location, supporting emergency response.

RUGGED CONSTRUCTION SMARTPHONES There are multiple players in ruggedized smartphones as well, including Caterpillar with its licensed Cat Phone smartphone line. Beneath the more robust build, contractors can look to these devices for features they won’t find on their consumer handsets including satellite connectivity, thermal imaging and laser distance measurement.

Case in point, the Kyocera DuraForce PRO 3, in July of 2023 became the latest in a line of ruggedized devices, adding a new reinforces structure and a screen designed for outdoor viewing and use with gloved fingers. The product has long included two-way radio functionality for push-to-talk with team members and a scan gun sled for scanning QR codes, 1D/2D barcodes.

“Our typical end-user is any contractor who works in harsh environments, outdoor construction sites, indoor building sites that are dusty, muddy, concrete floors, and in inclement weather conditions rain, snow, heat,” Kyocera Senior Manager of Product Planning Curtis Wick said. This, according to Wick, includes those doing commercial and residential, concrete, ready mix producers, general contractors and even architects.

of Construction Sales Jim Campbell said in a 2022 IRONPROS debriefing.

“Sage 300 CRE, formerly Timberline and Sage 100 Contractor, formerly Masterbuilder—are on-premise, older technology. The migration path for those two products is going to be towards the Intacct Construction edition. For Sage, that is the stated migration path over time. We want to follow in step with that. We did Sage 300 CRE first—there are several

thousand customers on that software and we have several hundred on our platform. Our TimberScan Titanium is a SaaS-based product. We still read the Sage data, pulling it up into our server in the background including all the data like cost codes. Invoice approval can be done on mobile, so payment and release of funds can proceed.” ■

For more information visit https://pavemg.com/e6dfes

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | February 2024 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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By Brandon Noel, Editor

PAVE/X Hosts Successful Inaugural Industry Event The first ever PAVE/X, The Pavement Experience, was host to over 1,500 paving and pavement maintenance professionals for industry education, live equipment demonstrations and a sold-out tradeshow floor.

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RONMARKETS has successfully launched PAVE/X, The Pavement Experience, with the event concluding earlier this month in San Antonio.

Attendees from all over the United States traveled to Texas to see live outdoor demonstrations, learn about the latest equipment for their businesses on a sold-out tradeshow floor, and learn from industry experts during 60+ hours of educational conference programming.

“We had high hopes this event would be a success since it was built from years of experience and with the pride and passion my co-founder of the show, Amy Schwandt, and I have for this great industry,” Jessica Lombardo, PAVE/X co-founder, said. “The result of our efforts, and the efforts of our great team, far exceeded all of our expectations. The three days were packed with great content and events and you could feel the energy and excitement for the future of our industry from everyone who attended.”

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The inaugural PAVE/X event in San Antonio saw over 1,500 industry attendees and featured exhibits from more than 70 manufacturers. A highlight was the nine-pluse hours of live outdoor equipment demonstrations.

“These outdoor demos were something we knew contractors were looking for from an event and buying experience,” Lombardo said. “PAVE/X was thrilled to bring a fast-paced demonstration showcase for attendees to watch equipment at work and ask questions to help ease the decision making process for them from the experts that know the equipment best.”

PAVE/X featured outdoor demos from: • Astec • BOMAG • Cementech • Cimline • Crafco • Dynapac • Elgin • Etnyre

• Graco • KM • LeeBoy • Odra • Schwarze • SMITH • Weiler • Wirtgen

A PACKED 3-DAY EVENT Throughout the course of the three days, attendees also had plenty to see inside on the tradeshow floor.

The event started off with the Pavement Award Ceremony where the event celebrates the hard work and dedication of paving and pavement maintenance professionals with awards in 10 categories.

Attendees could also visit the Innovation Theatre to hear presentations on the latest the industry has to offer.

“The Innovation Theatre was a great way for our manufacturer partners to

showcase their equipment and technology in a unique way,” said Amy Schwandt, PAVE/X co-founder. “Attendees were able to not only hear about the great innovations available for their equipment and businesses, but also get their questions answered from the experts.”

And innovations were evident from the over 70 manufacturer partners that were on hand to showcase what they had to offer to help attendees gain a competitive edge in their business.

“We were absolutely thrilled to bring a sold out tradeshow floor to attendees of the inaugural PAVE/X,” Schwandt said. “This is confirmation that the paving and pavement maintenance industries are thriving and we are so excited to build upon year one’s success in 2025.”

PAVE/X ‘25 | CHATTANOOGA, TENN. “We will take what we learned in 2024, along with attendee feedback, and apply that to the PAVE/X 2025,” Lombardo said. “We have a great space reserved and have plans to expand the tradeshow floor and demonstration experience in the demo lot we have close to the convention center in the parking lot of Naked River Brewing. Attendees will love the city of Chattanooga and we can’t wait to keep the momentum for 2024 going into 2025.”

Registration for PAVE/X 2025 will open in June at www.pavexshow.com. ■

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

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | February 2024 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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CONTRACTOR’S CHOICE

Maintenance Tips For Your

MINI EXCAVATORS

These sometimes overlooked maintenance practices can be a big boost to your equipment longevity.

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roper maintenance of your mini excavator is the best way to protect and maximize the life

cycle of your investment. The appeal of quickly starting the machine and getting the job done can cause daily maintenance and inspection to be overlooked or skipped altogether. Establishing a maintenance routine will minimize repairs and downtime in the field while keeping your machine running at peak performance. Here are a few commonly missed maintenance items to be mindful of to keep your mini excavator in the best shape possible.

Checking your manual will give you helpful tips, including an idea of how often items like bearings and dead pins should be greased on your machine.

Provided by Yanmar CE NA

READ THE MACHINE MANUAL The operation and maintenance manual is filled with information that can help prevent missing simple, but crucial maintenance requirements. The manual

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outlines key maintenance and inspection steps that can be used to create a daily checklist. It also includes recommended service intervals for critical machine components. These can be used to generate a schedule for extended maintenance and service between jobs.

ENGAGE IN PROPER GREASING PRACTICES Even though many people understand the importance of routinely greasing the machine, this task can still be skipped or incorrectly completed. Over time grease zerks can be plugged with dirt or debris that prevents grease from getting to key wear surfaces. Or the full application process isn’t properly completed. For example, not rotating the upper structure of the machine when applying grease to the swing bearing. It is important to be sure the grease is getting to the surfaces where it is needed during the application. Your manual will provide helpful tips and outline the grease locations and proper processes for completing this critical task.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE WATER SEPARATOR Temperature and humidity changes in your environment can cause condensation and water to build up in your fuel tank. The water separator is located downstream from the fuel tank and does exactly what the name says. Making sure to drain the water separator prior to starting the machine each day will keep your fuel injection system from ingesting the water that may be in the fuel and prevent unnecessary engine damage.

A damaged injection system can cost thousands of dollars to repair, so it’s important to be familiar with this step to save time and money in the long run.

time and need to be replaced. Improper track tension accelerates this wear and can cause undue stress to other undercarriage components. Regular track tension inspection will extend the life of tracks, rollers, sprockets and guides, which will help maximize the value of your investment by reducing any costly part replacements related to your undercarriage.

OTHER GENERAL INSPECTION ITEMS As you’re doing your machine walk around and completing your daily maintenance tasks, it is useful to inspect other key components for excessive wear or damage. Review hydraulic hoses and connection points for any leaks and loose fittings. Check the boom, stick and curl cylinder pins for any excessive wear or play in the pins. Running the machine through all hydraulic functions while listening for any unfamiliar noise or vibrations just after the initial warmup can also help identify any potential issues. Catching any of these items early, before they become a larger problem, will save you unwanted downtime and service expenses.

CONTACT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER In addition to tasks you can complete yourself, some things may be more easily noticed or completed by the service department at your equipment’s authorized dealer. Take your machine in regularly for tune-ups and the peace of mind that you are extending your machine’s longevity.

A little extra work now goes a long way to keeping your mini excavator running smoothly. Familiarizing yourself with each of these points will help maintain a high-performing machine that maximizes ROI. And, if there are any tasks you can’t complete yourself, an authorized dealer will help ensure machine longevity. ■ Zac Evans, is product manager, excavators and carriers, Yanmar Compact Equipment North America.

For more information visit https://pavemg.com/fdbyom Routine, simple maintenance minimizes repair downtimes in the field and keeps your machine running at peak performance.

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PROPER TRACK TENSION Tracks are a key part of any mini excavator; and they will generally wear over

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SPECIAL REPORT | By Brandon Noel, Editor Photos provided by AWP Safety

A BETTER SAFETY

PARADIGM Take this as your sign. Safety planning for your jobsites can no longer be an afterthought.

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here are so many details involved in running your asphalt business, and on any given day, if one of those details gets away from you it could mean the loss of production, a customer, cost overruns, or even damage expensive equipment. All of those outcomes pale in comparison, however, to what can happen when jobsite safety isn’t prioritized and someone on your crew is injured, or worse.

Proper training, awareness, and planning all go into ensuring the safety of your crews is protected. Protected from what, though? In every work zone there are individual, equipment, and external safety factors. There will always be unexpected and uncontrollable elements at play, of course, but if you take the necessary steps, you can reduce the chances of permanent or serious harm. Additionally, it’s important to

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note that avoiding such scenarios also means avoiding negative liabilities and financial risks to your business, as well.

The statistics on work zone safety have been trending in the wrong direction when motor vehicles are involved, and since the end of 2020, it’s gotten worse. By the very nature of what our industry does, we work everyday in the primary environment of cars. The safety measures you take are meant to protect your people, your employees, but they are designed to communicate to drivers. The problem is that many of today’s drivers are distracted, not paying attention to signage, lights, or flaggers.

According to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse:1 “Over the past 10 years, work zone fatalities have increased from 619 in 2012 to 956 in 2021. This equates to nearly three persons per day being killed in work zones in 2021.

Approximately four out of every five work zone fatalities involve a driver or passenger of a vehicle. Meanwhile,

estimated injuries in work zones have also increased, from 31,000 in 2012 to 42,000 in 2021. In 2021, this equates to approximately 112 injuries per day in work zones. (Source: NHTSA FARS, GES, and CRSS)” According to a report by The Center for Construction Research and Training, road maintenance workers died on the job approximately four times more often than the average American worker, and nearly 20 times more than administrative, engineering, or office workers.2 Even parking lot pavers should not take for granted their safety just because they’re off the road.

Near the end of the 2023 season, I saw a post on social media from Royal Pavement Solutions owner Kenny Roy, who described a distracted driver who had plowed right through their cones and tape. The crew was lucky that no one was injured.

Sharing a workspace with drivers is dangerous, whether on roads or parking lots, but there are important steps that can be taken wherever asphalt is paved.

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RECOGNITION AND EMPOWERMENT Whether or not you already have a safety plan in place, taking the time to review your policies and their effectiveness on a regular basis, is just as important as getting one on the books. If you are starting from scratch, know that everyone takes a different approach to it.

“One of the things we talk about the most is situational awareness,” said Justin Baskin, National Safety and Environmental Director for Rose Paving LLC. “You need to know what’s going on around, you so you don’t get yourself hurt. You have to be aware of the hazards and potential hazards around you. Take inventory of what you can see around you. This goes for everyone, top-to-bottom, from the shovel guy to the project manager. Situational awareness is where it starts.”

Baskin included that one of the biggest hurdles to a positive situational awareness is the level and number of distractions. Removing different kinds of distractions, can foster a better environment for workers. Albeit, distractions are a much bigger issue when it comes to external factors, like distracted drivers. To simplify the steps to safety for their employees, Baskin instituted a four-step process he called S.T.A.R. in order to help workers on the job easily remember what to do:

Stop Think Act Review

“When I came here, there wasn’t anybody that was head of safety, so we’ve been focused on developing a safety culture,” said Baskin. “Our mantra has become: stop, think, act, and review. The main thing for me is getting out there and empowering our workers to speak up if they recognize that something isn’t safe.”

The central tenet of Baskin’s methodology is that the people performing the work are the literal frontline of safety, because they are in the thick of it. They are on the site, using the tools, and are the first line of defense when it comes to improving things.

“Part of my job is to create an environment where if someone on site feels unsafe in a situation, they know to go to the project manager, to come to me,” Baskin said. “I want them asking how it can be done more safely, or how they can mitigate the hazards. Then, I want them to act on that, because they’re having a shared experience out there.

What is endangering to one person will endanger the next, and so we want to break that pattern.”

Baskin noted that in this line of work, one of the biggest hurdles to this first step can be a sense of machismo or an anxiety about speaking up when people feel that something isn’t safe.

That definitely can be an issue, and the only way to overcome it is with company culture change.

“Since I came in last year, I’ve noticed my [crews] are paying better attention,” Baskin said.

As an example of a positive scenario Rose Paving has recently seen turn into a new safety practice, they had a crew doing a pavement repair for a U.S. Postal distribution hub. In one particular area, they had a lane of traffic closed off, and the adjoining lane was still open to limited traffic. Despite having cones and signage, some of the crew felt nervous about it, and decided to take action.

While anyone was working with their backs to the open lane of traffic, one spotter was positioned between them to stand watch and keep an eye on how far they were unknowingly backing up while focused on their task. This allowed the guys working on the pavement to stay focused on the job without fear, keeping them safe, and the job on schedule. The

danger was identified in the moment, addressed, and a quick but effective solution put into place immediately.

If all other options on site are exhausted, and things still don’t feel safe to an employee, Baskin said that there is still one final thing he makes sure all Rose employees know. They can call or message him directly, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“They all have my direct number,” Baskin said. “That’s what they have in their back pocket all the time. We want them to know is we have their back.

Also, it’s a major key to the growth of the safety culture at Rose Paving is our assistant safety managers at each location being our safety champions and support from our executive leadership.”

GETTING OUTSIDE SUPPORT Not every company has the available resources to hire a full-time position dedicated solely to jobsite safety management. In many cases, it’s a role being filled by someone who is pulling double-duty or wearing multiple hats. If that sounds familiar, then you are probably aware of how hard it can be to try to: • Create new safety policies and standards • Daily management of multiple jobsites • Execute correct permitting requirements • Implement new safety technologies where needed This can especially be the case when you are in a situation where you’re trying to either overhaul or establish a new company culture of safety.

“Our goal is to ensure every team

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SPECIAL REPORT

member, their safety and well-being every day, in addition we also try to maintain a strong and trusting customer partnership,” said Seth Walpole, vice president of integration and transformation at AWP Safety.

“We want to bring innovative tools to contractors through our fleet monitoring and analytics, where a driver’s habits aren’t just recorded, but predictive software can offer guidance on ways to prevent unsafe situations.”

Additionally, AWP Safety has automated flaggers and signaling trailers that can safely direct the flow of traffic while communicating with each other, and trigger GPS systems to notify drivers using the system that they will encounter construction on the road. The integration of technologies are a great next step for contractors who’ve made improvements to their company culture, but would welcome tools to eliminate further risks.

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One of the biggest hurdles is navigating and filing for the proper permits in a given locality. This can be an even bigger headache if not taken care of.

“Part of what we do is take that off the plate for clients,” said Walpole. “If a contractor brings us in during the planning phase of the process, and we can see where all the needs are going to be, taking care of the permitting is always important.”

You can set a good example for your crews by asking for help in these areas when you need it, just like you want them to speak up and identify areas that they might need help or assistance in making things safer. The important part, however, is that you can’t expect a high degree of safety if you wait until the last minute. Whether that means putting together safety plans internally, or seeking outside expertise through the services AWP Safety provides, the earlier you get started, the better.

“We’ve definitely had clients call the night before,” said Walpole, discussing how contractors can shoot themselves in the foot. “They’ll want to know if we can have flaggers, automated lights, or whatever they need, and we want to be able to get that to them. However, it’s much more difficult to pull that off on short notice, and you don’t want to leave safety to chance.”

It all comes back to taking a proper inventory, and you don’t want to be doing that on-the-fly. While doing your due diligence might take time and resources, in the end, protecting your employees, and ultimately protecting your business, is worth every dime and minute spent. ■

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ON THE JOB

The Future of Electrification is

NOW Electric vehicles and machines have begun to transform the heavy equipment industry—and will continue to do so.

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hile reflecting on the key differences between maintaining electric vehicles in comparison to diesel vehicles, Lars Arnold, product manager, Sustainable Power, Volvo Construction Equipment, says one straightforward, yet primary distinction stands out: electric machines don’t have engines to maintain.

In addition to this critical dissimilarity, electric vehicles and alternative fuel machines provide operators two other vital differences, with regard to their performance in high altitudes and cold temperatures.

“Battery electric construction equipment actually performs much better at higher altitudes, compared to diesel combustion engines,” Arnold stressed. “A naturally aspirated diesel engine will lose 3 percent of power for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain over sea level.” The electric powertrain on electric vehicles is not affected by high altitude.

Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts than diesel vehicles. Hence, they’ll never require the same amount of maintenance, resulting in consistently higher performance.

Alongside their minimal maintenance requirements, electric machines perform well in cold temperatures too, as they’re rated for a range of 14°F to 104°F (-10°C to 40°C). Some have even operated in colder temperatures as well, all the way down to -13° F.

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“Our advice is to store the vehicles inside so that their batteries reach indoor temperatures,” Arnold said.

“Then, when you take them out in the cold, their battery packs—which weigh about 114 pounds each—will take longer to reach whatever the outdoor ambient temperature is, which means operators have more time to use them.”

If the batteries are stored outside, they aren’t likely to be affected or damaged by a light frost. In fact, due to Volvo machines’ designs, the batteries remain protected at all times. And, as a result, the machines simply won’t power up or accept any charging until the batteries warm back up.

Aside from performing effectively and consistently in cold temperatures, electric machines also require less maintenance than diesel models during cold days. According to Arnold, diesel vehicles take longer to warm up to operating temperatures than electric vehicles, andtypically don’t start up very easily, as water tends to freeze up in their water separators.

LOW MAINTENANCE LEADS TO HIGHER FINANCIAL ASSETS In the past, BOMAG Americas, Inc. has been committed to decreasing its operators’ maintenance tasks, as it has introduced features like maintenance-free

Electric construction vehicles have fewer service requirements than traditional machines.

BOMAG

articulation joints on its machines.

With this dedication in mind, the manufacturer has minimized operators’ maintenance requirements even further by offering a new lineup of electric light tandem rollers.

“Operators will no longer need to perform daily maintenance tasks like checking engine oil,” emphasized John Gravatt, product marketing manager.

“Periodic maintenance items, such as cleaning air filters and changing engine oil, along with engine oil filters, will be eliminated, too.”

Therefore, according to Gravatt, operators only have to perform one major component of maintenance now: hydraulic oil changes.

“The bottom line? When compared to internal combustion engine (ICE)-equipped machines, electric light tandem rollers’ maintenance is considerably lower,” he said.

Although their electrical components hardly require any maintenance, their non-electrical components, including hydraulic pumps and hoses, will need consistent maintenance.

“Prior to performing maintenance on

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non-electrical components, technicians must implement the same risk assessment processes that they would for their electrical components,” Arnold stated.

Additionally, contractors prefer to utilize electric machines like BOMAG’s electric light tandem rollers more than traditional machines for one key reason.

Since they have fewer service requirements, the rollers ensure contractors’ machines’ uptime will rise, as they won’t spend nearly as much time or money on maintenance and service as they otherwise would have.

Perhaps, most importantly, electric machines shut off whenever they’re not being used. In doing so, their idle hours won’t accumulate, as is the case with diesel machines and vehicles.

Arnold stressed, “Since electric machines greatly reduce maintenance requirements while enabling their operators to also take on zero-emissions work, owners’ initial investments will be offset quickly.”

He added, “And, since electric machines don’t have any idle time, they’ll accumulate fewer operating hours, which supports resale value.”

In an interview with Rental Magazine, Eric Booth, product marketing manager for compaction at Dynapac, he acknowledged that electric machines are more expensive upfront, but companies can typically find incentives to bring down the price point.

“We’re seeing more and more incentives for companies to use alternative power. In some places, you can get a voucher to make it cheaper to acquire,” Booth says. “In places that don’t have a voucher system, they get a bid incentive, where they get a 15 percent credit on their bid.”

Booth notes that some fear that battery-powered equipment doesn’t provide the same performance as other fuel sources.

“With our rollers, you’re getting the same type of performance metrics that you need—you’re just getting it from a different power source,” Booth says.

OVERCOME THE “NEWNESS” OF ELECTRIC OFFERINGS Operators must bear in mind that the products are new. As Arnold notes, change can be difficult at times.

Furthermore, electric machines require time, aside from when they’re being used, for some electrical training as well.

“Since electrification is an evolution that all heavy equipment owners and operators will eventually experience, they have an opportunity to learn now and continue to do so, ensuring they’re ready for the future,” Arnold said.

Gravatt agrees, adding that the introduction of new technologies like electric vehicles to fleets may lead to discomfort among operators.

This discomfort is particularly due to their freshness, along with changes in components and the ways in which they operate, when compared to traditional diesel vehicles.

“But BOMAG’s electric light tandem rollers give our customers a way to introduce electric vehicles to their fleets with minimal pushback since their hydraulic systems are very similar to their ICE equivalents,” he explained.

To overcome the “newness” of electric vehicles, Arnold advises operators to focus on their lack of complexity above all else. For example, unlike diesel vehicles, electric vehicles only need grease and hydraulic oil. Moreover, they don’t require daily component, filter and fluid examinations.

On the other hand, when it comes to aspects of electric vehicles that are more challenging to manage, in comparison to diesel vehicles, Arnold believes it’s important for operators to realize they can receive training on a consistent basis— often from manufacturers themselves.

Thus, they’ll never have to feel like they’re learning about their electric vehicles’ components completely on their own.

“Electric vehicles’ electrical components are sealed and guarded, so service technicians should be trained on how to

properly disconnect high-voltage power from any parts before they’re removed or replaced,” Arnold said. “Volvo Construction Equipment offers stringent training to certify technicians for electrical and non-electrical components, prior to utilizing its electric vehicles.”

Just as importantly, electric components, such as AC to DC power converters, battery management units, charging plugs, inverters and lithium-ion batteries only require visual and functional inspections. If any of these components happen to stop working, operators will never have to worry about repairing them. Instead, each component can be replaced when necessary.

In addition, whenever diagnostics reveal the need for component removal, qualified technicians should conduct risk assessments, while traction voltage systems should be disconnected and decommissioned. Each of these tasks must be conducted only by individuals who have completed thorough, certified training programs.

“Most training will focus on safety.

Although electrification is a big shift, it’s part of the ever-evolving heavy equipment industry, much like when telematics and in-cab displays became more prominent,” Arnold concluded.

“When technicians consider the complexity of internal combustion engines—along with the differences between diesel and gasoline engines and two- or four-stroke engines, on top of the fact that engines have an average of 2,000 moving parts—electric machines don’t seem so complicated.”

He added, “In fact, when all is said and done, electrification will simplify operators’ daily responsibilities, enabling them to focus more on other tasks, resulting in higher productivity long term.” ■ Chris Lewis is a freelance writer for Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction.

For more information visit https://pavemg.com/mz1q1r

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YOUR BUSINESS MATTERS Adobe Stock/ makibestphoto

JOB COSTING:

What, Why, and How

J

ob costing is an important tool in evaluating your business performance. Without job costing, it’s difficult to understand where you’re making your money. You could be making a significant profit on certain types

of projects and losing money on others.

Job costing is the accounting activity of assigning your revenue and expenses to the specific jobs/projects that they relate to. This allows you to see the profit you’re making on each specific job

Example:

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Job #1

Job #2

Job #3

Total

Revenue

$3000

$5000

$2000

$10000

COGS

$1000

$5500

$500

$7000

Gross Margin

$2000

($500)

$1500

$3000

GM%

66.7%

-10%

75%

30%

instead of only seeing your revenue and costs in total.

For example, your profit and loss statement may show that you have a gross profit of $3,000, made up of $10,000 in revenue less $7,000 in cost of goods sold. This shows that you’re making a 30 percent margin. However, it doesn’t tell you which jobs generated that margin. If you job cost, you would be able to see how that margin was broken down by each job. See the example to the left.

Through reviewing this example, it’s easy to see why you should job cost.

If you’re only looking at your total revenue and cost of goods sold, you might think that a 30 percent margin is good for your business. However, as

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achieve better margins on all.

If you’re not job costing, you’re likely missing key information that could help improve your business’ overall health and profitability. ■

Shauna Huntington is the founder and CEO of Fortiviti.

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you review the jobs in detail, you can see that two of the jobs included have greater than a 60 percent margin, while another actually lost money. If those two jobs that are a higher margin are similar in type, this might tell you that you should focus your effort on those types of jobs. You will also want to dig into the details of Job 2 to see where you went wrong.

Job costing can help you determine the types of work you want to take on.

It can also help you to refine how you price your work. As you review your job performance and profitability, you can see where you’re setting prices well and where you might be missing the mark. If you realize that your labor costs are always coming in higher than you had budgeted for each job, you may determine that you haven’t set your burdened labor rate high enough.

The most important part of jobcosting is to assign all revenue billed and costs incurred to the appropriate project. For every expenditure, note which project the transaction was for.

When you enter that cost into your accounting system, you’ll assign it to that job. As you bill customers, you should make sure that you record the revenue to the specific project as well. All revenue and all costs should be assigned to a project. If you have administrative or overhead expenses, you can assign those to an “Overhead” project. This way, you’ll be able to review all costs and ensure each has been assigned.

After recording all revenue and expenses to each job, you’ll be able to run profitability reports for each job.

This will show you the revenue and costs for each job and the resulting profit. Once you have this information, you should use it to evaluate your business. If it’s clear that you are making better margins on one type of work versus others, consider focusing on getting more of that work. Or, spend some time adjusting your pricing on the other types of jobs so that you can

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www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | February 2024 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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FROM THE OWNER’S DESK

BY NICK HOWELL

How Juggling Expectations Shows Professionalism On

THE JOB Estimating and project management don’t need to be difficult, but they often can be.

At the end of the day, making the customer/check signer happy is key, but maintaining your reputation and managing expectations often goes beyond just that one person.

any of you know that I am huge advocate of job costing and knowing your numbers, which is critical in estimating. But when managing a project and juggling the expectations of your client (or clients) comes into conflict with your estimate – well, let’s just say you could be juggling chain saws instead of oranges.

On a typical commercial project, you might have only one contact, but you might be leaving an impression or dealing with several more “clients” along the way: the owner, manager, and tenant to name a few.

UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY On a recent job of ours, we were initially dealing with a facility manager. This was the gentleman who asked for and received our estimate, who signed the contract, and who ultimately paid the bill.

But during the process the land owner became involved, as did another tenant who was affected by the construction. Obviously, our focus was on our check-signing client, but now that these others were involved, we knew we had to provide a level of service to make sure the landowner and tenant were happy with our work. We wanted to

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keep our reputation strong with all parties, regardless of who was “paying.”

In this case, we were tasked with reconstructing an area of heavy duty asphalt paving. We had to over-excavate old bad base material, re-install new base, then install new, thicker asphalt.

Upon excavation we discovered unexpectedly several old concrete footings from a previous carport. A change order was agreed to, but on excavation what had appeared to be 2 ft. x 2 ft. blocks were actually 4 ft. x 4 ft. – and some were even larger (weighing in excess of 4,000 lbs.).

Clearly the scope changed, and another change order was needed. Our onsite equipment even had a challenge to pull them out, but we made it. The next challenge was disposing of them.

We didn’t want to damage our trucks or

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trailers, but obviously we had to figure something out. In the end, we hired a company that provided concrete washout pans that were capable of handling the heavy loads, so it made it a much easier process (at additional expense).

UNEXPECTED OBSERVERS I tell this story because during this whole process, not only did we have our client, the facility manager on site, but the landowner and the other involved tenant were on site observing, as well.

Although not paying customers, there was certainly an expectation in their minds of what a good contractor should be and how a good contractor would handle such unexpected difficulties. And we wanted to exceed that. Why? Well, you never know who your next check signer will be.

It’s this mentality that I feel has helped us in our growth over the years.

Case in point: the property owner of

this job has already contacted us about another job, and he clearly stated that it was our communication and professionalism on the reconstruction project that made him call us. He recognized that we had taken a large project, complicated by unexpected difficulties, pursued and justified the necessary change orders, all under the watchful eyes and added stress of the owner and neighbor tenant. And it all went smoothly and turned out well.

COMMUNICATING EACH STEP What did we do differently from our normal approach to a job? Not much, but we were clear with all communication, every step of the way, even to those others not directly involved. We let everyone know the construction plans and next steps as we progressed.

It was very simple looking back, but it was simple because that’s our approach on every job we do–and that approach often results in additional work (like the

project we gained from this job).

I’m not saying you need to communicate all your intentions to the world, but communication is key, and once it’s ingrained in your day-today approach to business it’s not only easy, but the information that you can provide to everyone involved, even those not directly involved, will surely increase your professionalism. ■

For more information visit https://pavemg.com/9zys7k Nick Howell, president of T & N Asphalt Services, Salt Lake City, UT, has been a regular presenter at National Pavement Expo since 2008 and a member of the Pavement Advisory Board since 2007. Let him know your thoughts on “From the Owner’s Desk,” and if you have a question or topic you’d like covered – let him know that too! You can reach Nick at nick@tnasphaltservices.com.

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www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | February 2024 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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SWEEPING ASSOCIATIONS

NAPSA

More Power Sweeping Online Classes Launched

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by Nancy Terry ears of blood sweat and tears for dozens of NAPSA members and beta testers have culminated in the release of multiple powerful training tools found at www.SweeperSchool. com These courses included Certified Sweeping Operator (CSO) programs for Parking Lot and Construction sweeping but NAPSA is pleased to share that our CSO for Municipality has launched as well! These operator training programs create a great baseline of training for improved professionalism in your drivers. Upon completion of CSO, the owner will give the driver a verbal test and then certify that they have at least 1,000 hours of incident free sweeper driving. NAPSA will then issue the driver a certificate, hat pin and uniform patch recognizing their effort.

The second training option available

at www.SweeperSchool.com is our Certified Sweeping Manager series. This training track teaches about the Power Sweeping Standard. Managers gain valuable insight to the standard which translates to better management in your operation. In addition to our CSM 101 – The Power Sweeping Standard, we have launched CSM 102 – Emergency Preparedness. Knowing what to do and when to do it will abate a potentially litigious situation and this is the knowledge shared in our CSM 102 course! Graduates receive a certificate of completion for your insurance recordkeeping.

Lastly, we have a series called Fleet Basics – Key Fundamentals. The FB – Key Fundamentals course covers general topics for anyone who isn’t behind the wheel of a power sweeper but may need to speak the lingo or other sweeping/ vehicle operation information, like

portering! It is worth the $20 hands down.

The FB and CSO courses cover important topics such as health issues, safe driving, recordkeeping, customer trash can management, people skills, ethics and more. The CSO courses cover truck specific information such as pre and post trip inspections, parts of a sweeper, lot management, noise and dust, blowers, accident protocol and safe driving….and did we say safe driving?

And more safe driving training! ■

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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Prioritizing Safety: A Crucial Imperative by employees. For vehicle-related incidents, the type and adequacy of training will be subject to analysis. Cell phone records may be subpoenaed to determine distractions during the incident.

Vehicle maintenance practices will also undergo scrutiny, requiring submission of daily vehicle walk-around checklists, including a detailed account of issue resolutions.

We suggest your business should establish a reporting system for ‘close calls,’ integrating them into ongoing training processes. Additionally, scrutinize GPS markers tracking speeding, hard braking and other behaviors so you can confirm your vehicles are being operated safely.

Pavement-related businesses face various challenges in designing effective management techniques to ensure proper training in areas such as lockout/tagout,

lifting procedures, suitable job attire, high-visibility clothing and much more.

Quoting legendary football coach Vince Lombardi, “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” In the sweeping and pavement maintenance industry, honing skills that may save lives requires a commitment to “perfect practice.”

Checkout our collection of over 250 articles on power sweeping accessible on WSA’s members only website. ■

WSA

T

by Ranger Kidwell-Ross he importance of safety cannot be overstated and, at WSA, we consider it our top priority. Since 2014, we have provided our members with a monthly safety bulletin, resulting in an accumulation of 112 such bulletins in our archives today.

Accidents have the potential to significantly impact a business. As someone who has served as an expert witness in several sweeper accidents, I’ve witnessed firsthand the consequences of serious wrecks. One such occurrence can be business-crippling, even ending.

Insurance rates also skyrocket.

When you experience a serious accident a thorough investigation will unfold, delving into myriad aspects of your operations. Records related to the frequency of safety training meetings will be scrutinized, including evidence of attendance

WSA contributor Ranger Kidwell-Ross has been providing information to the power sweeping industry since 1988. He is editor of WorldSweeper.com, an information resource for power sweeping, as well as founder and executive director of the World Sweeping Association. For more information about WSA visit www.WorldSweepingPros.org or contact Kidwell-Ross at director@worldsweepingpros.org.

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | February 2024 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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CONTRACTOR SNAPSHOT | by Brandon Noel, Editor

The Next-Next Generation Is NOW Zach Buck running the paver for Buck Brothers

The younger generations often get a bad reputation, but Buck Brothers proves it wrong.

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acob Buck would forgive you if, at first glance, you made an assumption about his position at Buck Brothers Asphalt Paving & Concrete. Despite how young he may appear, this business has been in his blood the whole time. His father, Chad Buck, brought both him and his brother, Zach, up to appreciate the culture of owning a small business.

Early on, they knew the value of a strong work ethic and consistency, because of their dad’s example. Also, he didn’t cut them any slack when they started joining him on the jobsite.

“If you weren’t at the door waiting for him in the morning you’d get left behind,” laughed Zach. He is the older of the two Buck Brothers, in its current iteration, and they have different approaches to their roles.

When I joined them on a jobsite in the 2023 season, they seemed comfortable discussing what their different strengths and preferences are. “I’m mostly in the office, working on the operations side,” said Jacob. “But when we have a bigger job, I want to be out here.”

CAN’T GET MUCH EARLIER Around 13 years old, Jacob started taking a real interest in the work his father did, going with him to job estimates, meetings with customers, observing how the business worked.

“For maybe three or four years I just went around with my dad every day,” Jacob said. “Especially in the summer.”

But even during the school year, it seemed to be all he could think about.

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“When I got into high school, I’d sit in the back of my classes on QuickBooks, matching transactions, paying bills, then answering emails, and entering contact information. That gave me a decent handle on the basics of accounting.”

At the end of high school, Jacob and Zach put their heads together and decided that continuing in the Buck Brothers tradition was the right move for them. For the newest generation of BuckBros, there was a lot of pressure during the transition where they took over the company. Their father was involved in the whole process, and still works alongside them in various important roles, but that didn’t change the fact that the future was now in their hands.

The first big move they made was to hire a controller to manage the office, which freed up Jacob to focus on stripping down the asphalt division and rebuilding it from the ground up.

“We started three years ago, but this is really the first time my sole job has been running the asphalt division, as well as overseeing the others,” Jacob said.

“We have a whole new crew now, and they’re a lot more open minded about trying new things, new techniques, and technology stuff.”

SWINGING FOR THE FENCES Buck Brothers has increasingly become a fixture on social media, at various industry events, speaking on panels,

guesting on industry podcasts, and doing so all while the blacktop goes down. Despite all this, as well as the many years of experience and support their dad provides to them, there are still new frontiers they are pushing into.

Currently, that involved the research and purchase of the company’s first milling machine.

They didn’t take the process lightly.

Even Chad voiced his trepidation while speaking on an expert panel at the IGNITE 2023 conference. From the stage, he told the audience he was sweating the decision, but that his sons were nudging him along.

They believed the opportunity for growth exceeded the initial investment.

Jacob recognized that even just shifting all their subbed milling work internally would justify the decision, but, he also knew it could mean the chance to increase their reach by acting as a subcontractor for others.

“The first thing you have to do is make sure it’s a viable move,” said Jacob.

As it turned out, it cost less to buy the new equipment versus the same amount they would pay to subcontractors over the same period of time.

For 2024 new things await the young entrepreneurs, and their new CAT PM820! ■

For more information visit https://pavemg.com/mz1q1r

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | February 2024 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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TAILGATE

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Risk Management: Safety First Adobe Stock/bigy9950

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SAFETY FIRST Safety must be a top priority everywhere

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The legality and science of risk management is quite well known among most contractors and is growing in need to be embraced, understood, and practiced by all specialty contractors.

prime aspect of “Risk Management” is the effort to limit, reduce, or eliminate any construction effort that would pose a safety risk. It’s more than a list of do’s and don’ts, it’s a culture, it’s part of the DNA fabric of your company about sending their workers home safe and in one piece, consistently.

The legality and science of risk management is well known among most contractors and is growing in need to be embraced, understood, and practiced by all specialty contractors.

Our country is one of the most litigious in the world and, sadly, this certainly has found a home in the construction industry. So, it is wise to take safety seriously, having not only documents that are required but more, have a commitment to see that every worker is educated on, trained on how, and understanding the “Why?” behind doing things right the first time, safely.

Let’s first address safety in your organization.

possible in your company. I know of no contractor that will admit to NOT believe in the importance of safety but once again, it is in the actions and behavior of our most senior of leaders, including the owner, that sells safety.

Consider a few suggestions for what you can do to demonstrate in action and behavior that safety is first: • Personally invest in safety education.

• Lead safety training workshops personally.

• Make safety questions part of your daily discussions with all.

• Personally investigate when there’s been a safety failure.

• Promote safety via signage, posters, proposals, contracts, “grafitti” on company trucks, and more.

RESOURCES Consider all literature, tools, and equipment that should be reviewed, updated, and replaced as needed as it relates to safety. Again, some quick highlights: • Commit a budget amount each year to inspect, replace, and maintain all equipment, vehicles, and

power tools.

• Inventory your hand tools and consider what needs “sharpening,” fixed, and replaced.

• Are your educational materials clear?

• Do you have clear and visible signage on each jobsite?

• Do you have informative “5 S Maps” that indicate where everything is kept on trucks, trailers, your shop, and yard?

• Keep ample supply of barricades, flare tape, emergency kits, safety vests, and other safety tools.

EDUCATE Safety education most certainly includes training workshops and live demonstrations of safe working processes, but it also affects your company in a few other areas. Consider: • The purchase of hats and shirts that have a clear reference to safety.

• Commit seven minutes of stretching for all workers.

• Require part of your “pre-con” for the new project to address every safety “risk.”

• Take a brief “safety debrief” after each

project from the hourly workers involved with job.

• Incorporate one positive safety story a week in meetings or share a learning lesson from another company who may have had a safety problem.

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ACCOUNTABILITY Prevention is the key here, in the form of education, having needed safety resources and safe working equipment and tools can reduce your risk tenfold. We need to clearly communicate about safety and be consistent. ■

For more information visit https://pavemg. com/9zys7k

Known as The Contractor’s Best Friend, Brad Humphrey continues to write and speak in support of the construction industry. His international podcast, sponsored

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As vice president of Pavecon Ltd., a large and growing pavement maintenance contractor, Brad continues to develop, teach, write, and share his 35-plus years of industry knowledge.

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | February 2024 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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