Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction March/April 2022

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF NATIONAL PAVEMENT EXPO

MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION MARCH/APRIL 2022

How to Satisfy Today's

WORKERS

TOP CONTRACTOR SURVEY Deadline April 22

PROPER CLEANING IMPROVES

SEALCOATING PERFORMANCE www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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BUILT TO WORK,

SuperSweep Clears More Debris with Industry Leading Specs With the ability to deliver over 33,000 CFM to a 12’ 10” sweep path, Vacall’s SuperSweep, built by Gradall, out works the competition on the largest road milling and bridge resurfacing jobs. An aluminum tank holds up to 600-gallons of water to help with dust control before vacuuming the material into the 13- or 16-yard debris tank. Work smarter and harder with a machine built to do more in a single pass.

See the SuperSweep in Action

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

March/April 2022 | Issue 3, Volume 36

WHAT’S INSIDE

ON THE COVER Liquid Road Surface Treatment on a neighborhood in Noblesville, IN. The contractor on site for the job was Sipes Asphalt from Indianapolis, Indiana.

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

14 Parking Lot Cleaning Tools to Improve Sealcoating Performance

06 Editorial

A closer look into blowers and how the equipment can help improve productivity, and the longevity of your sealcoat applications.

Spring into the Busy Season

08 Hot Mix The Latest News in the Industry

10 The Product Lane Select New Products and Upgrades

12 NPE Buzz National Pavement Expo Meets Again!

20 Technology Update

s

Regulations to Know Before Starting a Drone Program

28 Your Business Matters 41 Top Contractor Survey Inclusion in the list can provide a great marketing tool for your company and there are three easy ways to apply. The application is open for the Pavement’s 2022 Top Contractor List, deadline April 22.

How Construction can Attract Workers to a Growing Industry

33 Owners Desk Satisfying Today’s Workers

34 WSA Update Vendor Procurement Systems Bane or Boon?

34 NAPSA Update NAPSA Develops a Spanish Training Program

35 PCTC Dispatch More Sealcoating Answers.

36 Contractor Snapshot Employee Dedication Runs Deep at Royal Pavement Solutions

42 Tailgate Talk Overcoming Rising Costs Through Lowering Mistakes

31 On the Job Gear Up: Essential Tools for Sealcoating

IN EVERY ISSUE 24

Pavement Profit Center

37

Classifieds

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | March/April 2022 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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WHAT’S ONLINE Hops & Highways - How to Apply for Asphalt Plant Permits & Compliance There is a lot that’s involved with the purchase of an asphalt plant, but perhaps the most difficult and overwhelming part is obtaining the proper permits to be able to operate and staying in compliance.

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Search: 22056649

3 Trends Pavement Contractors Should Watch in 2022 From inflation to combating the labor shortage, here are three key trends contractors should keep an eye on this year.

Search: 22005788

4 Factors that Influence Asphalt Sealer, Paint Dry and Cure Times Understanding humidity, temperature, sunlight and wind will help you decide when - or whether - to start your sealcoating or striping job.

Search: 10289184

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Stay Up-to-Date with us on Social Media

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Vol. 36, No. 3 March/April 2022

Published and copyrighted 2022 by AC Business Media. 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.

PAVEMENT

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 AC Business Media, 201 N. Main St., Fifth Floor, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Periodicals postage paid at Fort Atkinson, WI and additional entry offices.

POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Pavement, PO Box 3605, Northbrook, IL 60065-3605. Printed in the USA. PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION is proudly supported by these associations:

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | March/April 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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EDITORIAL asphalt-auto-automotive/Pexels

PAVEMENT

EX

Published by AC Business Media.

201 N. Main Street | Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 800.538-5544 • www.ACBusinessMedia.com www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

Spring into the

Busy Season Plan accordingly for spring weather and the start of the busy season

T

here are many factors you can control as a business owner.

Dormie Roberts, You can decide what services Associate Editor droberts@ACBusinessMedia.com you offer, you can control your company culture, you can control processes and procedures. However there are some external factors, like the weather, that you can't control.

Rain, snow, extreme temperatures, windspeeds and weather conditions are outside of your controllable business factors and contractors need to take it day by day when planning jobs knowing that favorable conditions can change quickly.

According to the meteorologist from The Old Farmer's Almanac, we are expecting to see warmer-than-normal temperatures across the U.S. for the spring of 2022.

• Rainfall will be above normal in parts of the south including Georgia, southern Florida and southern Texas as well as parts of the Midwest • More rain than normal is projected in the western United States, Arizona westward into southern California and in parts of the Pacific Northwest • Elsewhere, rain is predicted to be at near normal levels While you may have contingency plans in place to deal with outside influences, sometimes the best thing you can do is improvise. Weather is out of our control, Mother Nature can have a strong force. But the way you prepare your crews, communicate and update your schedule accordingly can all be factors in your control to help manage the start of the busy season. ■

Editorial Office: Dormie Roberts, 201 N. Main Street, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 800-538-5544 ext 1299 droberts@ACBusinessMedia.com PUBLICATION STAFF: Publisher: Amy Schwandt Editor-In-Chief: Jessica Lombardo Associate Editor: Dormie Roberts Art Director: April Van Etten Ad Production Manager: Cindy Rusch Audience Development Manager: Angela Franks ADVERTISING SALES: (800) 538-5544 Sean Dunphy, Amy Schwandt, Tadashi Soma, Kris Flitcroft FORCONSTRUCTIONPROS.COM WEBSITE: Editor-in-Chief: Wayne Grayson Editor: Larry Stewart CHANGE OF ADDRESS & SUBSCRIPTIONS PO Box 3257, Northbrook, IL 60065-3257, Phone: (877) 201-3915 Fax: 847-291-4816 • circ.pavement@omeda.com REPRINTS Tadashi Soma at (800) 538-5544 ext. 1267 tsoma@ACBusinessMedia.com LIST RENTAL Bart Piccirillo, Sr. Account Manager, Data Axle Phone: (518) 339 4511, E-mail: bart.piccirillo@infogroup.com AC BUSINESS MEDIA INC.: Chief Executive Officer: Ron Spink Chief Financial Officer: JoAnn Breuchel Chief Digital Officer: Kris Heineman Chief Revenue Officer: Amy Schwandt VP Audience Development: Ronda Hughes Director, Demand Generation & Education: Jim Bagan Vice President, Operations: Nick Raether Content Director: Marina Mayer ADVISORY BOARD: 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 Parking Lot Maintenance, Lake St. Louis, MO: Todd Bruening Petra Paving, Hampstead, NH: Chris Tammany Pioneer Paving, Albuquerque, NM: Don Rooney Robert Liles Parking Lot Service, Tyler, TX: Robert Liles Roberts Traffic, Hollywood, FL: Lisa Birchfield Show Striping Inc. (SSI), Wisconsin Dells, WI: Amber Showalter T&N Asphalt Services, Salt Lake City, UT: Nick Howell The Rabine Group, Schaumburg, IL: Gary Rabine Young Sealcoating Inc, Lynchburg, VA: Steve Young ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES: Pavement Coatings Technology Council: Brian Riggs, Executive Director

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | March/April 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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For the latest Pavement Maintenance and Reconstruction news, bookmark ForConstructionPros.com/ Pavement-Maintenance

SealMaster Opens New Location

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he SealMaster Franchise System has announced a new location in Tulsa, OK at 2702 North Sheridan Road. This is in addition to the store located in Oklahoma City at 1628 Kelham Ave. Each location provides both SealMaster and GemSeal products.

The SealMaster franchise, owned by Dustin Brasier, serves the entire state of Oklahoma.

BERGKAMP INC. ANNOUNCES PERSONNEL CHANGES Bergkamp Inc., announced the retirement of Rex Eberly as director of its customer care department, effective December 31, 2021. With Eberly’s retirement, Bergkamp has promoted Bob Rhodes, formerly the company’s product manager for new and existing product Bob Rhodes development, into the customer care manager position.

“Rex Eberly served us well as director for our Customer Care team and in several other positions,” said Scott Bergkamp, president. “We are grateful for his dedication, loyalty and hard work — and especially his ability to tackle new challenges with success. He was a pleasure to work with, and we wish him well in retirement. Customer Care is our most important customer-facing department, and we have the utmost confidence in Bob Rhodes’ ability to lead this team.”

ll t e tools and materials you need for your ne t sealcoatin o .

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Rosco NB25 Three Wheel Broom Rosco - A LeeBoy Company

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Etnyre Crack Sealer 250/400 Gallon Etnyre International

The speed of the heating and circulation systems on the ECS250/400 results in less crew idle time, higher production and lower cost per shift on every crack sealing job.

• Operator console is centrally located and monitors operating status, material temperature, engine controls and custom set points • Two 21 in. x 36 in. loading doors • Closed loop, flow controlled, hot oil system that is on a closed loop • 45-60 minutes heating time to circulate • Flush-free system ForConstructionPros.com/21808894

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Caterpillar Utility Compactors Caterpillar Cat

Caterpillar expands its 2to 5-ton product offering by introducing 10 new tandem and combination utility compactors that can take on a range of soil and asphalt applications.

• CB2.5, CB2.7, CC2.7, CC 2.9, CB4.0, CC4.0 and CB4.4 feature a Cat C1.7T Tier 4 Final engine, advanced hydraulics, power management software and auto idle shutdown feature • CB2.5 GC, CB2.7 GC and CC2.7 offer simplified maintenance and a 24.6-hp C1.7T Tier 4 Final engine that requires no aftertreatment • Compaction widths from 39 to 54 in. and large drum diameters with thick drum shells for added durability • Low/high vibration frequencies and auto vibration control • Optional compaction measurement value (CMV) displays measured material stiffness to the operator ForConstructionPros.com/21551370

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STIHL BR 700 X Backpack Blower Stihl Inc.

The STIHL BR 700 X backpack blower (64.8 cc) is one of the most powerful blowers in the STIHL range, delivering 34 newtons of blowing force.

• Fixed-length tube is a half-pound lighter than the STIHL BR 700 backpack blower • Features a more flexible pleated connecting hose, reducing fatigue and increasing the speed of cleanups by up to 20%*** • Designed for tough tasks like heavy debris cleanup and yearround use with its low-emission, fuel-efficient engine and low cost of operation • Optimal power-to-weight ratio makes it comfortable to use during big jobs that take more time • A simplified starting procedure and semi-automatic choke offers smooth, easy starts with a reduced chance of flooding • One-touch top switch allows the user to turn off the engine with the simple press of a button • Control handle adjusts without the need of tools to the operator’s most comfortable position • Two blower tube lengths allow the user to quickly adjust the length for a variety of user heights and cleanup applications • Standard comfort elements include an adjustable support harness, rubberized handle grips, anti-vibration system, xtrawide straps and backpack pad ***As compared to STIHL BR 700 backpack blower.

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | March/April 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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keeps your pavement looking like new.

Crafco’s Action Pave pavement sealers are formulated to preserve your most valuable surfaces by delivering maximum protection against harmful elements while providing a rich, new black color to the pavement. Action Pave goes through extensive testing throughout the manufacturing process to ensure you get the highest quality and most consistent pavement sealer available.

To find sealer near you, visit crafco.com/sealer

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2/24/22 8:18 AM

NPE BUZZ

NPE

Meets Again

Manufacturers and contractors of all stripes convened in the Tar Heel state

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wo years after the last in-person version of the National Pavement Expo and Conference (NPE), exhibitors and attendees finally got a chance to meet again at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC. Manufacturers and contractors of all stripes convened in the Tar Heel state to cement new and old relationships, view the latest equipment and learn about business-related best practices.

“We were really happy with the activation this year,” says Morgan Wilson, group show director for NPE. “Our Preview Night on Wednesday really got people warmed up and ready to go to the Expo the following day.

We employed two different giveaways for attendees who visited designated exhibitors, we had a truck on display at our tailgate lounge, and educational sessions were excellent.”

This year marked Wilson’s first as group show director for NPE. With more than five years at NPE parent company Emerald, and a decade of experience before that working as an industrial supply distributor, Wilson brought a fresh eye to a venerable show. With NPE 2022 in the books, surveys will now be reviewed and plans made for the 2023 show—also scheduled for Charlotte.

For now, Wilson is pleased with

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the recently-completed show and believes NPE will continue to build momentum. “As trade shows in general make a strong return, we saw strong numbers at NPE 2022, and I’m confident we’ll get back to our preCOVID attendance levels,” he says.

“If you're new to the industry, or have been around for a while but have not made the trip, the 2023 show will be an event that you are not going to want to miss—from the education to the networking to the show floor.

“We'll be back in Charlotte again for 2023, and the earlier that exhibitors commit, the more time they will have to be successful with the event— particularly when it comes to booth location,” Wilson continues. “For attendees, they should be on the lookout for SmartSaver rates, which are always a fantastic deal.”

Dan Moore, account executive for NPE, also made his first trip to the show, and the overall vibe was unmistakable. “We're human, and it was obvious that people value that face-to-face interaction and contact,” he says. “When you have to call or e-mail down the road, that personal interaction provides a reference point, and it helps to refresh your memory and build those crucial networks.”

From a purely business standpoint, to say nothing of the human toll, COVID was an obvious negative for the event industry. Many in-person live events were canceled and the 2021 NPE went virtual. While acknowledging that last

year’s virtual show went well and benefitted the industry, Wilson reveals that he never believed that live events were going away for good.

“There is value in virtual, but it can't beat face-to-face time,” he says. “That's my personal opinion. There is a personal touch that is missing with virtual.

Shaking someone's hand and looking him or her in the eye is the best way to start that business relationship and even an enduring friendship.”

As someone who worked at a paving company in his younger days, Moore was able to see the contributions of the industry up close. “This industry is going to continue to boom and continue to grow,” Moore says. “Morgan and I are going to work hard to grow the show and reach out to additional paving companies that can benefit from this event.

I see a lot of growth potential.”

“The infrastructure bill that was recently passed might not directly affect NPE because we're a little more focused on the residential side vs the government contracts, but it may well affect us indirectly,” Wilson adds. “Infrastructure in general is not going anywhere and asphalt, paving and maintenance is an essential business. That's why the industry remained relatively stable throughout COVID, and it’s part of the reason we are optimistic about the future of the industry and NPE.” ■

For more information on industry events, visit ForConstructionPros. com/events.

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | March/April 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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SPECIAL REPORT: PARKING LOT CLEANING DORMIE ROBERTS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Parking Lot Cleaning Tools to Improve

EFFICIENCY

A closer look into blowers and how they can improve productivity & performance

O

ne of the most important steps before sealcoating, striping or any preventative pavement maintenance is cleaning the asphalt.

Clearing the edges, cracks, removing oil

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stains and removing loose debris with a mechanical sweeping machine or blower will help sealcoat adhere properly to the pavement. Investing the time and effort to thoroughly clean the pavement will set any maintenance job up for success.

For large parking lots, it is unproductive to use a broom to clean the entire surface. Instead, contractors should invest in blowers, either walk behind or ride on, to improve crew performance and complete more jobs efficiently.

MATCH THE MACHINE TO THE JOB Parking lots are designed in all shapes and sizes. Contractors should have a strong understanding of the type of lot they work on to determine the right blower and site preparation equipment.

“It is really determined by the job,” said Carmelo Grenier, senior account manager for Billy Goat. “If it's a big area, then a stand-on blower is the

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | March/April 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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A stand-on blower will provide the most airflow, have the best maneuverability and one operator can do the job of several workers with backpacks.

Billy Goat

“For instance, if the work area is crowded with obstacles and has wide open areas, the contractor will need to have a mix of equipment available,” said Martin Dain, product manager, Little Wonder. “They may elect to use powerful handheld or backpack blowers to work around the obstacles and a walk behind to address the wide-open areas in an efficient manner. In many cases the walk-behind will handle the bulk of the work.”

Backpack A backpack style blower allows the operator to aim the nozzle directly at the cracks to blow out all dust, dirt and debris. When choosing a backpack blower, look at the performance of the machine, how it will fit your needs and operator comfort. These blowers are a great finishing tool for larger jobs and can be used for smaller jobs like residential work, or hard to reach areas that bigger machines can’t get to.

Y

Walk-Behind

best solution. A stand-on blower will provide the most airflow, have the best maneuverability and one operator can do the job of several workers with backpacks. However, if it's a smaller property, then a walk behind blower does a great job, especially in smaller, hard to reach locations.”

If there are vehicle bollards, islands, large straightaways or hard to reach areas, a mix of equipment could be the plan of action for the crew.

Walk-behind or wheeled blowers are effective tools for gathering debris on wide stretches of ground of larger jobs like parking lots. Some models have hand-control features that can change the blowing direction without skipping a beat. These blowers can range from 2,000 CFM to 8,000 CFM air volume along with push or self-propelled options.

“In areas where there is a large volume of leaf or pine needle debris and the ultimate goal is to remove the debris from the area and not just relocate it, then the combination of a walk-behind blower and a vacuum work well,” said Dain. “When considering purchasing equipment, the number of crews and property sizes will have a significant impact on buying decisions.”

Stand-On

IN THE FIELD HSC Pavement Maintenance of Indianapolis, IN, added a Billy Goat® Hurricane™ Z3000 to their fleet and it has proved to be beneficial for their crews.

From pricing jobs to the time it takes to complete them, the blower helped Jim Sandlin, operations manager, and his crews tackle 30,000 sq. ft. to 750,000 sq. ft. projects at a faster and more efficient pace.

Sandlin reports that when pricing a job, their number-one cost is labor and that additionally, finding help is one of the toughest things a company has to do in today’s environment. The machine has offered a solution to this two-fold challenge.

“The time it takes to clean a parking lot is cut down by a third with the Hurricane Z3000 because the unit does the work of at least two people and will even eliminate one person,” says Sandlin. “Not only has the machine helped cut down the time of a job, but it also helps employees to be less physically exhausted and have more energy to complete other tasks.”

These machines are primarily used for large commercial applications to remove debris with airflow up to 8,000 CFM in

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | March/April 2022 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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SPECIAL REPORT: PARKING LOT CLEANING

Stand-on blowers makes for quick cleanups and less fatigue.

Billy Goat

Backpack blowers shift the weight of the engine onto your back, distributing it more evenly for operator comfort.

STIHL

some models. Forward and reverse directions are controlled by the operator with intuitive hand controls.

“The efficiency and power of a stand-on, (for example with 3,500 to 7,500 CFM) not only makes for quicker work of cleanups, but is far less fatiguing than the time consuming, low productivity of backpack or other blower options,” said Grenier. “Zero-turn models allow for quick maneuvering and versatile bi- or tri- air discharge options afford operators ease of transitioning from left or right blowing.”

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Another consideration is the power of the blower or CFM (cubic feet per minute), the volume of air being moved by the machine. A higher CFM is better for a parking lot application because it will allow the machine to cover a wider area over a shorter period of time, increasing productivity, with less labor.

Contractors should also factor in scheduling for jobs and equipment for each crew to utilize.

“Having more than one blower in a fleet improves efficiency because it allows the contractor to either deploy crews to multiple work sites or it can reduce time on one site allowing them to tackle more paying projects in a day,” said Dain. “When considering having multiple machines in the fleet, it also means less wear and tear on the operator since the work gets shared across more operators.”

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | March/April 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

© 2022 G

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SPECIAL REPORT: PARKING LOT CLEANING CONTINUED FUTURE OF BLOWERS Across the country, there has been a shift away from gasoline powered equipment and in some states, the sale of equipment powered by small off-road engines will be regulated by 2024 in an effort to reduce emissions.

Some manufactures are exploring

battery or alternative fuel powered equipment.

“The future of the industry could also include features related to alternative power sources,” said Dain. “This emphasis on alternate power is driven by environmental regulations surrounding air and noise

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pollution, supply chain disruption in the combustion engine market, and the desire of users and manufacturers to be more environmentally responsible.

All of these have driven the industry to evaluate power sources like electric, propane and diesel-powered equipment for their fleets.” ■

For more information on sealcoating tips visit ForConstructionPros. com/21118311

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | March/April 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE Drones can help expedite many processes for contractors but you need to be sure you’re operating legally and efficiently.

Propeller Aero

Regulations to Know Before Starting a Drone Program Drone surveying is one of the most effective ways to upgrade your construction workflow, but it’s important to understand a few key laws and processes

S

witching from traditional base and rover surveying to drone surveying is one of the most effective ways to upgrade your construction workflow, setting you and your team up

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to make better, data-driven decisions.

Drones are more efficient, shaving days or weeks off typical surveying time.

Since today’s drones are cheaper and simpler to use, you’ll be able to capture on-site data more effectively without expensive surveying equipment. Drone imaging allows you to collect and analyze data whenever you need it and, with the right processing software and ground control, you can achieve surveygrade accuracy throughout your site.

One of the biggest perceived obstacles to starting a drone program is airspace and flight regulations. These

regulations are actually easy to follow, and by understanding a few key laws and processes, you’ll be collecting survey-grade data with drones in no time.

To that end, this article will cover the following: • What makes something a drone • Registering your drone • Getting licensed to fly • Licensing resources (study guides, where to take the test) • Understanding where you can fly • Airspace restrictions • Special waivers

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Leo Lintang/adobestock.com

COMMERCIAL DRONE REGULATIONS A drone is a type of aircraft, albeit a tiny one. All unmanned autonomous vehicles (UAVs) are regulated by a country’s aviation authority, and rules around how, when and if you can fly differ by country.

Each country and region has different UAV rules and regulations, with Australia and the EU introducing new regulations in 2021. For locations in the Asia Pacific region, refer to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s guidelines.

In the United States, each drone must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the FAADroneZone website (https:// faadronezone.faa.gov), and every commercial drone operator must hold a current FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (https://www.faa.gov/ uas/commercial_operators/). This certificate is for anyone who makes money by flying a drone, including survey teams and photographers, and is meant to ensure that drone pilots have a basic understanding of what other commercial pilots are doing in the surrounding airspace.

The "Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG)" test to obtain the certificate is straightforward and involves a multiple-choice test with 60 questions centered around keywords and understanding a sectional chart, a specialized airspace map that doesn’t require GPS to be read. There are free practice tests online (https://bit.ly/3uTCzhX) as well as multiple study guides you can use along the way. To take the actual test, simply establish an FAA tracking number (https://bit.ly/3v0t6Wl) and schedule a test time on the FAA website.

Once you pass, fill out the FAA Form 8710-13, obtain your certificate and renew every two years. (Access the full breakdown on how to become a drone pilot at https://bit.ly/3GVSnDk.) Licensees operate under the FAA’s Part 107 Small Unmanned Aircraft

Rule, which has two major tenets: a drone must be kept within the operator’s visual line-ofsight and below 400 ft. in altitude. These requirements can become difficult to follow when surveying large sites that may have dangerous topography or small spaces that are challenging for surveying teams to navigate.

Luckily, the FAA can grant Part 107 waivers to individual surveyors or surveying teams, allowing them to bypass these requirements. To apply for a Part 107 waiver (https:// bit.ly/3rTwCQj), applicants simply

include a full description of how they use their drone and how the pilot will comply with specific performance-based standards. This waiver unlocks much more freedom in equipment use and is instrumental for larger construction sites.

A key best practice is to always check the rules surrounding the airspace in which you intend to fly (https:// bit.ly/3LEi1Qw), so you can conduct your first flight without issue. Finally, keep in mind that these regulations will differ between countries, so make sure to stay informed on the latest restrictions in your area.

Since today’s drones are cheaper and simpler to use than traditional surveying equipment, you’ll be able to capture onsite data more effectively without exorbitantly expensive surveying equipment.

Propeller Aero

NAVIGATING RESTRICTED AIRSPACE Once you obtain the necessary license and comprehend national regulations, understanding whether the airspace in which you intend to fly is restricted is another important step before

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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE asphalt-auto-automotive/Pexels

beginning a drone program.

Airspace is the portion of the sky that’s controlled by a country above its territory. In the U.S., airspace is divided into six classes, which indicate its use and restrictions. For example, airspace

at or below 2,500 ft. near airports with control towers is Class D and it’s controlled, so you would need authorization before attempting to fly in this area.

Without getting into the many airspace nuances and allowances, make

sure you stay vigilant for the following when assessing your construction site: • If your site is near an airport or helipad • If your site is near a military base • If your site is in an urban environment If you discover the airspace you need to fly in is controlled, you’ll need to gain additional authorization, usually from the airport or military.

If you’re looking to fly near one of 500 participating airports, you can get authorization via the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) program, which will drastically cut down on the time spent waiting for authorization to fly drones in controlled airspace. All you need is to prove you’re operating within Part 107 regulations and flying under a certain height within a square mile of the airport, and you can get authorization immediately. You can

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If you’re using a DJI drone and have obtained a hardware unlock (which will tell the hardware of the drone it’s ok to fly) and airspace authorization waiver such as the LAANC, you can use the DJI Fly Safe portal to streamline the process of requesting to unlock restricted airspace, especially if you often fly in these zones.

Propeller Aero

obtain LAANC authorization through several FAA-partnered companies and apps, like AirMap. Finally, if you’re using a DJI drone and have obtained a hardware unlock (which will tell the hardware of the drone it’s okay to fly) and an airspace authorization waiver such as the LAANC, you can use the DJI Fly Safe portal to streamline the process of requesting to unlock restricted airspace, especially if you often fly in these zones.

TAKING FLIGHT Navigating drone licenses and regulations might seem daunting at first, but the steps to reach your first flight are clearly laid out and the restrictions are straightforward.

With your remote pilot license and a knowledge of the space in which you’ll be flying, you and your team can

confidently take to the skies to obtain survey-grade site data in a fraction of the time. ■ Margaret Farmakis is the vice president of customer solutions for Propeller Aero.

For more information on drones, visit ForConstructionPros. com/21295561

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | March/April 2022 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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YOUR BUSINESS MATTERS

How Construction Can Attract Today's Workers and Fill Gaps in a

GROWING I Recruiting a new generation of construction workers requires a new approach. Here are insights to help you recruit today’s more diverse workforce

S

everal years ago, the construction industry was faced with a looming concern: the overwhelming number of workers set to retire over the next decade. A study conducted in 2019 determined that 41% of the construction workforce at the time was expected to retire by 2031.

This concern has shifted from a future thought to today’s reality, as a large portion of retirement-aged workers have begun to leave their jobs.

Simultaneously, the industry is expected to continue to grow in 2022 and beyond, especially following the passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Many new construction jobs are predicted to come from this legislation as the country updates roads, bridges and other vital infrastructure, leaving construction stakeholders scrambling to figure out how to fill the positions that this growing industry demands.

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RECRUITING A NEW GENERATION Targeting the younger generations, especially Millennials and Generation Z, for recruitment is a potential solution. However, recruiting this younger population is not as simple as it may seem.

Millennials and Generation Z are the most ethnically diverse generations in US history and have grown up in the age of the internet and connectivity.

They do not communicate in the same way as Generation X and Baby Boomers – those most often in hiring positions at large general contracting firms.

Methods that have worked for potential employee pipelines in the past are less effective at engaging young people and showing them the merits of a career in construction.

So how can your company adapt?

Unfortunately, there is no cookiecutter, plug-and-play strategy that will automatically churn out new recruits for you. It takes time, investment and internal changes. Consider the following to effectively recruit a younger, more diverse audience: Is your culture conducive to minority success? With minorities making up most of the potential labor pool, it is crucial that construction companies invest in building a culture that can help them flourish. This goes beyond hiring a more diverse population to fill job openings. You need to create

a framework within your culture that is healthy and ready to welcome diverse talent.

By performing internal company assessments, conducting team training and ensuring continuity of values from the top down, you can help foster a space that appeals to this younger demographic. Creating an inclusive culture demands involvement and commitment at every level of your company.

Another strategy to help prepare your company for a more diverse workforce is investing in field leaders who are trained and have the people skills to manage people of different demographics. If your company is not set up to help minorities thrive, recruiting and retaining younger employees will prove difficult.

Have you built relationships with educational institutions? Many secondary and post-secondary schools, such as Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools, offer construction programs with a strong potential pool of workers. As a team, you should be thinking through what your construction company’s presence at these institutions should involve and how to develop a relationship with the institutions’ leaders. Establishing a relationship with the dean of the program for example could develop a key pipeline for you.

Having a presence in schools does not require only in-person engagements.

A hybrid approach including in-person

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | March/April 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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With minorities making up most of the potential labor pool, it is crucial that construction companies invest in building a culture that can help them flourish. @Gorodenkoff – stock.adobe.com

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www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | February/March 2022 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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YOUR BUSINESS MATTERS Sam Edwards/KOTO/adobestock.com

workshops and virtual speaking engagements could be a very effective strategy.

How do you provide value with community involvement? Presence in the community is good; but providing value in your interactions will help progress relationships and build up your pipeline. At schools, is there an opportunity for you to help update their curriculum in construction-related subjects so that students are learning applicable skills? Or maybe you can volunteer to lead a workshop during the school day to harness the curiosity of young minds.

You should also seek out community organizations that are involved with young people, especially if they are engaged with young Hispanic, black and female populations. Offer to speak on career opportunities or provide handson experiences with these organizations.

Since Millennials and Generation Z are more diverse than past generations, finding ways to meet these groups where they are and provide value to them can help you build relationships with potential candidates for future hiring.

How can you engage the community through construction projects? The most visible part of every construction company is jobsites. jobsites provide ample opportunity to interact with people in a physical setting that showcases potential career opportunities.

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Consider hosting site visits, virtual walkthroughs and work-based learning opportunities. Giving young people hands-on applications of skills can open their mind to the real potential that a career in construction could have. Think about how you can create exposure for your company while educating potential workers at your project sites.

Do you have formal internship, mentorship and new hire programs?

You simply cannot fix a problem if you do not understand what caused it. For that reason, you should have metrics set up to test the effectiveness of your internship, mentorship and new hire programs. This will allow you to evaluate the structures in place, the reach of your programs and your standard operating procedures. If the goal is to attract and retain young talent, then how you introduce the construction industry to them is important.

An easy way to analyze your practices is setting up a process for feedback. This will help you align leadership strategies with employee opinions. It also shows that you value the voice of everyone on your team, which is important to younger hires who want to know that they are not just a cog in the machine, but a valued member of the team.

FINAL THOUGHTS Preparing to fill the impending gap in the construction workforce must begin now, as it is already starting to affect many organizations. There is a huge opportunity to hire from the younger generations, but a focus on understanding this unique group and how to best communicate with them is imperative to effectively recruiting them. Additionally, it will take time to implement the significant changes to your company culture and processes needed to attract this demographic.

The key is to be forward-thinking in your strategy, and lead in vulnerability, as the actions you take today are the building blocks for the future of your construction company. By embracing these talented individuals with a welcoming and nurturing environment designed to help them grow professionally – not simply filling empty positions in your workforce – you will see your company thrive in 2022 and beyond. ■ Paul Robinson is the founder of ConstructReach, which has become a partner for many brands and general contractors across the country looking to connect with Millennials and Generation Z.

For more information on workforce development, visit ForConstructionPros. com/21627020.

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | March/April 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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DORMIE ROBERTS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

| ON THE JOB

Using the correct spray tips on your sealcoating system will make a big difference in how the system performs as well as the overall quality of the application and results you get.

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s a sealcoating contractor, you are protecting your clients asphalt pavements with a protective coating to extend the life of the investment. Each day or each job might look a bit different, the scope of work can change in a moments notice. By being proactive in your approach, it will save you time and money eliminating unneeded trips back to the shop to pick up something you forgot.

Set your crew up for success, explain the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and do a thorough walkthrough each day to make sure you truck and trailer is stocked with the essential tools to get the job done.

"We incorporate this into our everyday operations," said Kevin Allford, sealcoating foreman at Pavecon, Ltd. "Every tool has its place and everyone is trained to put things where they go. This eliminates the time waste

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | March/April 2022 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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ON THE JOB CONTINUED As a contractor, you are preserving your clients pavement.

Do the same for yourself and wear protective clothing while spraying.

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Simply supplying the proper tools doesn’t always mean that the job will be done successfully. Some of the projects may require additional skills

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Whether you're just starting out or you're a seasoned veteran, "Having the essential tools, organized, ready to work and have them when you need them is money in the bank," concluded Allford. ■

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | March/April 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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FROM THE OWNER’S DESK NICK HOWELL

CHALLENGES ACCEPTED: Satisfying Today's Workers As an employer, we need to find talent, train them, and keep them happier than ever before

I

never thought I would see a time when so few workers were available, and then when you do manage to hire someone, you wonder if they have a hard time finding food at night. Just kidding…well, not really. Today’s laborer is much different than any I have ever worked with, hired, or trained.

Covid has changed everything as we know it, but I believe today's workers have been evolving for some time; they’re just more prevalent now. As an employer, we need to find talent, train them, and keep them happier than ever before.

This offers two considerable challenges.

Challenge Number 1: Finding people. After spending thousands on recruitment, we still couldn’t fill some positions at our company in 2021, so we re-shaped our operations into something a little smaller. We haven’t given up on hiring, but we needed to move forward. I am optimistic and feel that the workforce will return, but not everyone shares that optimism. I hear of trade school closings and a flat-out lack of desire in just about every profession. I think that most companies can ride out the storm, but it might require re-shaping your operation as we have done.

Challenge Number 2: Keeping the workers you have happy. Today’s workers seem very different from workers of my generation. They simply expect more, and I’m not saying this is a bad thing.

They expect a competitive and living wage and an opportunity for growth. But once that’s covered, what’s left? I have always said that if you don't enjoy your job, you should find one that you do. So, I have worked hard to make that happen for our people. I firmly believe in making

our company a fun and enjoyable place to work, but when is it too much?

Today's worker seems to require a little more effort than when I was younger.

Our thought has been that if we continue to solve challenge #2 and make working at our company enjoyable, it will naturally solve challenge #1 because workers will want to work here. In my book, that starts with a bit of empathy.

I don't ask anyone to do a job that I haven't done or wouldn't do. I think keeping everyone on a level playing field really goes far in your company’s culture.

Being a smaller company, we can't just throw money into higher salaries (we’re more than competitive in our market) or offer the same benefits that a more extensive operation does, but that doesn't mean all or nothing. While we don't provide health or dental insurance, we offer fitness club membership, provide bottled water and ice on the jobs, often buy lunch each day and have a free snack table fully stocked with a selection of snacks and light food.

One of our main efforts involves what we consider worker-friendly scheduling. We don't overbook crews, we understand long days and we won't schedule large projects back to back with the same crew. This helps avoid burnout and lets them know we’re concerned about their welfare as well as their personal time. Again, it's just little things and having and demonstrating an understanding of our workers. I have been told over and over that doing any of that is ridiculous. Maybe so but a little empathy for the hard work our crews do does go a long way.

I know we won't be able to get every

employee we want, and I know we won’t be able to keep every employee we have.

But creating a positive culture and environment that reflects empathy and our appreciation of our workers goes further than you think. In many ways, a good working environment and company culture can mean more than the actual per-hour dollar amount. (We’ve had employees leave and want to return who told us that.)

Creating an environment that people want to join and where people want to stay not only helps recruit new talent, but it flows through to your customer as well.

If your employees are happy, I guarantee your clients will see that, and it will be a positive reflection on your company. ■

If your employees are happy, your clients will see that and it will be a positive reflection on your company.

T&N Asphalt Services, Salt Lake City, UT

For more information on finding workers, visit ForConstructionPros. com/21174568.

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.

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | March/April 2022 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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SWEEPING ASSOCIATIONS

NAPSA

¡ NAPSA Develops a Spanish Training Program, Nosotros Hablaremos Español!

NAPSA announces the Spanish version of their Certified Sweeper Operator Parking Lot course

T

he North American Power Sweeping Association (NAPSA), the driving force behind the professional power sweeping industry, is pleased to share that NAPSA is finalizing a Spanish version of our Certified Sweeper Operator Parking Lot course!

We realized that many of our members have employees with language barriers, so we have embarked upon converting our training, starting with Spanish. We know that this version could be a game changer in the training of sweeper operators which will fill those empty truck seats. We are excited to be in the final phases and hope to launch by March 15, 2022.

SweeperSchool.com is the official online education portal of NAPSA! SweeperSchool is the access point for the professional training programs of the industry and where you will find CSO Parking Lot in Spanish as well as English. As we progress through the year, we plan on translating our CSO Construction, Certified Sweeping Manager and Fleet Fundamentals courses as well. Our long term plan is to release a Certified Sweeping Operator Municipal as well as Certified Sweeping Manager course 201: Disaster Management.

CERTIFIED SWEEPER OPERATOR Sweeper operators are literally where the rubber meets the road. Investing in baseline education for these key individuals allows for not only professional growth, it supports your company’s claim to professional training. This protects your equipment, your employee

and your company by reducing accidents and raising pride in a job well done. Bottom line, what do you think happens to your insurance rates when accidents are reduced or you can stand up in court and say you have been professionally trained?

To Do: Check out www.SweeperSchool.com and www.PowerSweeping.org!

Call NAPSA at 888-757-0130 or email info@powersweeping.org with any questions. ■

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.

Vendor Procurement Systems — Bane or Boon?

WSA

WSA explores vendor procurement systems for sweeping contractors

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O

ne of our WSA members recently brought up what to him, after over three decades in sweeping, represented a new type of business entity he would have to work through in order to retain one of his clients. Since then, there have been other similar situations that have cropped up.

He’s received calls from several ‘Vendor Procurement System companies’ which, although similar to the more than two dozen ‘aggregators’ (also termed ‘third party vendors’) on whom we track reputations for our WSA members, operate distinctly differently, as well. For one, when he works with one of their (mostly) large property manager clients he still does so under

their contract, unlike with aggregators.

Like many aggregators, he is required to use their unique portal system to invoice. In some instances, this is so onerous that he said it’s clear one of the savings to his client is that the VPS operates so as to transfer the client’s current back office costs to him, the sweeping contractor. Oh, and all to date have listed a 90-day payment timeline for payment, no increase in cost-per-sweep is available and at least one wants a pre-payment of $500 for the contractor to be ‘entered into the system.’

The VPS organizations are also much more invasive in terms of the information they want. In addition to a wide variety of company background info, some want details on any and all social media accounts the company has and — perhaps most disquieting

— they plan to use all that to develop a ‘social score’ for the contractor. To his knowledge there will be no way to mitigate/modify that score and so far none are willing to sign an NDA concerning protection of all the info they have on his company.

For an overview and more information about this emerging industry concern, go to www.worldsweepingpros. org. ■

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.

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | March/April 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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PAVEMENT COUNCIL

Rewriting the PAH Story The pavement coatings segment must produce a new narrative that explains the products and their potential impact substance obtained by the destructive distillation of coal..’ While some may believe this to be true, the language used within the bill is meant to shape the perception of what our industry is forced to defend.

In Maryland, HB133 was contested for several months, moving from committee to committee without any evidence or data collected within its own state. This not only suggests that PAHs, a substance found in both our natural environment and within many household products, is the same in every environment, across the entire United States, but that local testing isn’t necessary to substantiate claims. These claims will result in both job loss and the proliferation of opinion over science and fact.

WHAT CAN BE DONE? In short, we must begin to produce a new narrative that explains our products and their potential impact in layman’s terms. Too often our opponents rely on questionable and often unsubstantiated science to strike fear into the masses.

This, in turn, leads to selective listening by the audiences that matter and put our industry leaders in the unenviable position of fighting an uphill battle, while maintaining their jobs and companies through incredible times. We must come together as an industry to collect data, to create an informed story, and to help educate our legislators who may not understand our industry or the products we produce and sell. ■

PCTC

O

ver the past few months several conversations have emerged around the proposed dangers of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) to our families, the environment and our communities.

These conversations have included proposed bans at the local, state and in the case of Canada, national level. Unfortunately, and even after a landmark court case (PCTC vs. USGS) set the stage for a new story, opponents continue to drive home a false narrative that is shaping perception.

In New York, the Committee on Environmental Conservation used the following language in a revised bill to further prohibit the use of coal tar based sealer - "Coal tar" means a viscous

For more about PCTC visit www.pavementcouncil.org.

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www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | March/April 2022 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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CONTRACTOR SNAPSHOT |

DORMIE ROBERTS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Employee Dedication Runs Deep at ROYAL PAVEMENT SOLUTIONS The New York contractor contributes the company success to the tenured employees, some of which had even been a part of their family business

K

enny Roy, owner of Royal Pavement Solutions, started in his family’s paving business at a young age, working in the shop, sweeping the floors during summer vacation.

He progressed through the functions of the company, from working in the field to transiting into an estimating position.

However, the family business was sold to a private equity group and eventually went out of business. With his skill set, Roy set out on his mission, creating his own team and opening his own pavement maintenance business, which became a reality in 2019.

“The principle that drives our company is doing whatever makes our customers happy,” said Roy. “Our roots are a sweeping company, the company my grandfather started. With five sweeping trucks, he went out and cleaned trash and parking lots. In time, the company expanded into other services, like the ones we offer today.”

Located in Islip, NY, Royal Pavement Solutions and its 17 employees primary focus on the commercial market offering paving, milling, asphalt maintenance and repair, concrete, building maintenance, sweeping and portering services.

“If we serve our customers appropriately, they don’t have to over

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think about different contractors for different segments of work,” said Roy. “Our goal is to bring them the most amount of value for every phone call that they place with us. Customers know they can rely on our team.”

The principle that drives our company is doing whatever makes our customers happy,

HIRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE Roy contributes the success of the company to his employees. Some of the employees started with his grandfather’s business and Roy handpicked them to join Royal Pavement Solutions when the other business dissolved.

“Our people are one hundred percent our differentiating factor from our competition,” said Roy. “I could not put into words of how proud I am of our team. For example, Donna, our office manager has been with our family for

Kenny Roy, third from the left, and part of his team at Royal Pavement Solutions.

34 years. She has known me my whole life. That type of dedication runs deep within our company.”

As many contractors are facing labor shortage issues or high turnover in a competitive marketplace, one of Royal Pavement Solutions strengths is keeping their current employees.

“We could always use more employees to bid more jobs and help more customers,” said Roy. “However, keeping the people we’ve got has not been a problem for the company, and we pride ourselves on that factor.

“Our entire team truly has a passion for the industry,” concluded Roy. “They are the driving force for success in the business because they are committed to continually achieving high quality work to our customers." ■

To be featured in the Contractor Snapshot, reach out to us, droberts@acbusinessmedia.com

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2022

TOP

CONTRACTOR

TOP CONTRACTOR SURVEY

2022

TOP

CONTRACTOR PAVEMENT 2022 Top Contractor Survey

W

elcome to the Pavement Maintenance &

To determine whether a company qualifies

Reconstruction survey of paving & pave-

for one (or more) of our five lists we will multiply

There are 3 ways to complete and submit this form:

ment maintenance contractors. Our hope with

your total 2021 sales dollars by the percentage

• Online at www.surveymonkey.

this survey is to develop verifiable Top Contractor

of work done in each industry segment. For

com/r/2022TopContractorSurvey

listings in each of five industry segments: Paving,

example, if a contractor reports $1 million in

• Complete a hard copy and fax (920-542-

Sealcoating, Striping, Sweeping and Pavement

2021 sales and generated 40% of those sales

1133) or mail it to: Pavement Maintenance &

Repair. To do that we need to know:

from striping, the number used to determine

Reconstruction, Top Contractor Survey,

• Gross Sales Volume for your fiscal year 2021

qualification for the Striping Top Contractor List

201 N. Main Street, Ste. 5, Fort Atkinson, WI

(regardless of the date that fiscal year ended) • A breakdown by percentage of the type of

would be $400,000 ($1 million x 40%).

Note: No sales figures will be reported or pub-

53538; Attn. Dormie Roberts.

• Complete a hard copy, scan and e-mail to

lished; sales figures will be used only internally for

droberts@ACBusinessMedia.com

determining each list. Also, no contractor will be

Thanks very much for your participation.

(see additional explanation at the end of the

eligible for the list without third-party verification of

We do appreciate it.

survey)

your Fiscal Year 2021 Gross Sales Volume.

work that generated those 2021 sales • Third-party verification of that sales total

Name & Title of Person Completing This Form *First _____________________________ Last _______________________________________

DEADLINE: April 22, 2022

5. * What percentage of your fiscal year 2021 Total Gross Sales is generated by working as a subcontractor for other contractors?

E-mail ____________________________ Phone ____________________________________

6. * Do you self-perform more than 50% of your work? ___Yes

*Company Information Company Name (as you would like it to appear on the magazine) _________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address ________________________________________________________________ City State Zip Code ___________________________________________________________ Phone Number with Area Code ______________________________________________ Website _______________________________________________________________________ Years in Business _____________________________________________________________

7.

Please indicate your number of employees at peak season (If employees fulfill more than one function please include them in the category they perform most often): _______ Management _______ Field Supervisors _______ Laborers _______ Office Staff _______ Sales May we contact Your Company by e-mail? ___Yes

___No

1.* What is your company’s Total Gross Sales for your Fiscal Year 2021?

_________________________________________________________________________ (This figure used internally for listing purposes only; it will not be published.) Please round to whole dollar amounts. (Example: 1,548,222; note: when entering online please omit commas.)

2. * What percentage of your fiscal 2021 Total Gross Sales is represented by each of the following areas (must total 100%): ______ Paving ______ Sealcoating ______ Striping ______ Sweeping _____________________ Other (explain)

______ Pavement Repair ______ Concrete ______ Surface Treatments (Micro, Slurry, Chip, Fog, etc.) ______ Hot mix asphalt plant operation

3. * What percentage of your fiscal 2021 Total Gross Sales is generated from work done on each of the following (must total 100%): _______ Highways _______ Driveways _______ Streets/roads _______ Other (explain) _________________ _______ Parking lots 4. * What percentage of your fiscal 2021 Total Gross Sales is generated from each of the following types of customers (answers must total 100%). _______ Commercial/Industrial _______ Municipal (state/local agency) _______ Multi-family residential (apartments/condos/HOAs) _______ Single-family residential _______ Other (explain) _______________________________________________

PVM0322_41_TopContractorSurvey.indd 41

___No

What was your overall company-wide profit margin in FY 2021? (Not for publication; results will be presented for the industry as a whole.) _______ Less than 3% _______ 5%-10% _______ More than 15% _______ 3%-5% _______ 10%-15% 8. How many different customers did you work for in FY 2021? _______ Fewer than 100 _______ 151-200 _______ 301-400 _______ 101-150 _______ 201-300 _______ More than 400 9. How many different jobs did your company complete in FY 2021? _______ Fewer than 100 _______ 151-200 _______ 301-400 _______ 101-150 _______ 201-300 _______ More than 400 10. What is the estimated replacement value of your equipment fleet (including trucks)? _______ Less than $250,000 _______ $1 million - $2 million _______ $250,000 - $500,000 _______ More than $2 million _______ $500,000 - $1 million Signature _____________________________________________________________________ Title (please print) ____________________________________________________________ Date: __________________________________________________________________________

IMPORTANT! SALES VOLUME VERIFICATION

To qualify to have your Top Contractor application considered, third-party verification of your FY 2021 Total Gross Sales is required from your company’s CPA, an independent CPA or your accounting firm, or a copy of the appropriate page from your tax return. Verification must be on the CPA or accounting firm letterhead (no photocopies) and must include a statement to the effect that “I have reviewed the company’s Top Contractor application, and the FY 2021 gross sales response to question Number 1 is accurate to the best of my knowledge.” The letter must be signed and dated and include the person’s name, title and telephone number. No financial information will be revealed; it will be used only internally to determine qualification for each listing. Send verification to:

droberts@ACBusinessMedia.com or Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction 2022 Top Contractor Application 201 N. Main Street, Ste. 5, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 Attn. Dormie Roberts Questions? Dormie Roberts, Associate Editor; Phone: 800-538-5544 ext 1299; droberts@ACBusinessMedia.com

2/24/22 9:02 AM

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Overcoming Rising Costs Through Lowering Mistakes

While we may not be able to control rising costs, we can work in the most costeffective ways

T

he lookout for most contractors is promising in terms of the amount of work that appears to be available to bid. However, overcoming the continued rise in costs for materials, vehicles, equipment and tools is becoming an even larger concern.

While we may not be able to control such rising cost, most of which is greatly influenced by our national and world events, there is one area in which we greatly influence, what we control and that is how we proceed to produce work in the most cost-effective way. After years of studying this reality, most contractors hurt themselves when they do not put on their “full court press” to lower and eliminate their mistakes.

Two brief examples support this last statement. First, it is still amazing that so many contractors either do not have a preventive maintenance program for equipment, vehicles and tools or simply do not execute

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their own program. From the sealcoating world, one daily action that should be executed is to always clean out your hoses and tips. Yet, many sealcoating crews will often finish their day and in a hurry, will fail to complete a daily flushing out of the hoses. Depending on the time of year, the material left behind may not totally harden. Over enough days of the same failure to clean out hoses, the crew will find themselves shut down for hours, maybe days, in cleaning out not only the hoses but perhaps even the lines carrying the material from tank to hoses.

My second example comes from placing concrete. Like ordering asphalt for the paving crew, ordering concrete from the plant is critical as well. However, it’s amazing to see how many crews are stranded at the jobsite because someone didn’t check with the plant the day before to confirm they could get material to the site for a pour. In some parts of the U.S., contractors may have to place their orders more than one day ahead.

When such mistakes are made, it often costs us many hours in waiting.

The two examples provided are easy to see

because most contractors have all experienced them…sometimes multiple times. Yet the cost of such mistakes add to the “rising costs” presented earlier. The difference?

We (contractors) control the two mistakes in the examples provided.

Such mistakes can have a direct negative cost impact of hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

And if we embrace the teachings of Dr. E. Deming, known as the “Quality Guru,” then we actually experience a “3 X 1st Cost.” Briefly, this is how that breaks down: If our COST to sealcoat a parking lot is $10,000, then if we perform it right the first time, we make the profit that was put on top of the cost. However, if our crews make mistakes where we have to replace the first effort, there is another $10,000, since material doesn’t come free, our workers do not work for free. Yet, Deming said there was a third cost. This third cost is known as “Lost Opportunity Cost,” that is, we lost the opportunity to make money on this third cost applying it to a new project of equal value. Therefore, instead of doing the job right the first time and making money, there is a very good likelihood that this

one job cost us $30,000 and we lost our shorts!

In short, this means do things right the first time and you make money; do things twice and it costs you three times the initial cost amount.

Contractors cannot control the price of oil, steel, equipment costs, etc. but we can control all that we are responsible for once the people, materials, equipment and tools are in production.

May we all work harder, and smarter, in lowering our actual cost of production. In the end, it may be all we have that defines our reputation and longevity as a contractor. ■

For more information on controlling costs, visit ForConstructionPros. com/21307861 Known as The Contractor’s Best Friend, Brad Humphrey continues to write and speak in support of the construction industry. His international podcast, sponsored

by A.C. Business Media and Caterpillar, continues to be one of the favorites of suppliers and contractors alike. 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. Visit Brad via several industry groups on Facebook.com.

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | March/April 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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