THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF NATIONAL PAVEMENT EXPO
MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
PAVING
Improve paving results and profits with technology Asphalt applications for sports courts Benefits of using live-bottom trailers Best practices for residential and commercial paving
› › › www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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What’s Inside
August/September 2021
PAVEMENT
FEATURES 16
Asphalt Applications for Sports Courts
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Mix designs, production practices, installation and quality control are all important factors when it comes to sports courts and facilities.
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Benefits of Using Live-Bottom Trailers to Haul Asphalt
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Popularity of these trailers is increasing in many areas due to the benefits this type of equipment can offer.
Material Shortages Have Contractors in Crisis Mode From paint shortages to labor challenges, contractors are faced with turbulent times as the economy is rebounding.
Best Practices for Residential and Commercial Paving Getting back to the basics with tips on how to plan, prepare and execute successful paving jobs.
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10 Must-Have Tools for Striping Contractors Keep your trailers stocked with these essential tools.
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Best Replacement Brushes for Rotary Broom Attachments Here’s how to select wafers, strips and tube brushes according to the job being completed.
ON THE COVER Musselman & Hall Contractors in Kansas City, MO completes a mill and overlay job on the city streets in Avondale, MO.
Vol. 35, No. 6 August/September 2021
Published and copyrighted 2021 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:
www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • August/September 2021
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What’s Inside August/September 2021 DEPARTMENTS 6
Editorial Overcome and Persevere
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Hot Mix The Latest News in the Industry
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Just In Select New Products and Upgrades
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NPE Buzz Must-See at National Pavement Expo
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From the Owner’s Desk Industrial vs. Work of Art Sealcoating
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Your Business Matters Benefits of Hiring Temporary Workers
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Pavement Profit Center
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Your Business Matters Get Digital with Billing to Boost Your Business Cash Flow
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Technology Update Using Technology to Improve Paving Results and Profits
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NAPSA Report
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Recruitment Woes Hit the Sweeping Industry 56
WSA Update Keep Your Company Safe From Potential Purchasers
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PCTC Dispatch Tends in the Post-Pandemic Era
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Contractor Snapshot How Nugent Sealcoating & Paving Uses Drones to Move Business Forward
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Index
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Tailgate Talk 8 “Knows” to Guide New Contractor Leaders.
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Stay Up-to-Date with us on Social Media
August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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Get The Most From Your Crack Sealing Project. Super Shot Melters are reliable, easy to use and available to rent or buy. Optimized with intuitive controls, automated functions, and a heated wand, the Super Shot makes for crack sealing ease and efficiency — no matter what level of user experience. The Super Shot is backed by expert field support, a twoyear warranty — the longest in the industry, and available nationwide through Crafco Supply Centers, Distributors and Crafco Sale Representatives. Whether maintaining parking lots, small roads, or commercial highways, there’s a Crafco Super Shot™ to meet any challenge.
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Editorial
Dormie Roberts, Associate Editor
PAVEMENT Published by AC Business Media.
201 N. Main Street | Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 800.538-5544 • www.ACBusinessMedia.com www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
Overcome and Persevere A TOUGH ECONOMY, the shifting workforce, how to achieve higher profits, motivating employees... these critical issues are affecting many pavement maintenance companies this year. In order to overcome these obstacles, owners and managers need to understand the root cause to transform issues into stepping stones for forward progress. Finding solutions to the most important issues are why owners choose to put in long days and longer weeks. They thrive on building something of their own, often times from the ground up. Ignite Construction Summit was developed specifically for owners in the construction industry, to help these leaders take their businesses to the next level. The two-day educational and networking event will be held Nov. 3-5 at in Las Vegas and will provide ample opportunities to talk with like-minded owners and thought leaders on issues affecting the business including: • How to improve company culture from the ground up, Matt Booth, CSP • Working through your financial checklist in a tough economy, Garry Bartecki, GB Financial Services LLC • A guide to triumphing over company chaos, Dave Crenshaw, Invaluable Inc • CEO tools on how to make it clear, make it happen, make it better, Jim Canfield, CEO Tools • How to build a team to lead your company to the future, Alex Willis, Leadership Surge • Creating and sustaining peak performance, Adam Kreek, KreekSpeak Business Solutions This summit will provide you access to brainstorm ideas with expert speakers and like-minded individuals while providing you tools to ensure your business can thrive. Visit www.IgniteConstructionSummit.com for session descriptions, networking events and to register.
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 Tom Lutzke, Eric Servais, Sean Dunphy, Amy Schwandt, Tadashi Soma, Kris Flitcroft FORCONSTRUCTIONPROS.COM WEBSITE: Editor: Larry Stewart Managing Editor: Kimberly Hegeman CHANGE OF ADDRESS & SUBSCRIPTIONS PO Box 3257, Northbrook, IL 60065-3257, Phone: (877) 201-3915 Fax: 847-291-4816 • circ.pavement@omeda.com
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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 of Digital Operations & IT: Nick Raether Director of Digital Strategy: Joel Franke Group Content Director: Jon Minnick 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 Pacific Sweeping, San Marcos, CA: Lee Miller 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 Roccie’s Asphalt Paving, Stamford, CT: Vincent Engongoro 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
6 August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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Pavement Industry News: Astec Launches Complete Rebrand, Crafco Inc. President Retires, Pavement Awards Open and More
Astec Launches a Jack Moran of Keystone Retires After 30 Years Complete Rebrand In 1989, Jack started as the plant manager for Keystone Plastics and worked his way up Astec Industries, Inc. is launching a new modern look with a rebranding initiative to coincide with its business model. The rebrand includes a new logo, color palette and website. The launch comes while the organization streamlines its internal structure and operations to improve efficiency and drive growth. “We made the decision to unify to make it easier for our dealers and customers to do business with us. By coming together as one organization, we can offer greater customer service and drive innovation,” said Barry Ruffalo, president and CEO of Astec Industries, Inc. “The rebrand enables us to build our strength together under one common name and purpose. We can better leverage our growth as one ASTEC team rather than individual brands.” Carlson Paving, Heatec, RexCon, Roadtec, along with the other companies, will no longer operate as separate subsidiary companies and will all take on the Astec name.
through the company springboarding into a sales role. After more than 30 years of service, Jack Moran retires from Keystone Plastics. Jack Moran has been a well-known fixture in the sweeping industry and has seen the industry change over the years. One thing that remained the same was his service and dedication to not only the company, but the sweeping industry as a whole. “Jack was my mentor, he taught me everything I needed to know in the street sweeping business,” said Michael Nafta, vice president of Keystone. “He opened up the doors and set me on the road to close the doors. That recipe worked very well for a very long time.” Mike Santos is Moran’s replacement as sales manager.
Sakai America has appointed Mr. Toshiyuki Ono to the newly created position of vice president of sales & marketing, relocating from the Sakai Heavy Industries corporate office in Tokyo, Japan. Ono spent his first 5 years in sales, developing the domestic market in Japan. He spent the last 20 years growing international markets in Southeast Asia, China and Oceania. “Ono brings a long history of Sakai machinery sales to us in the Adairsville, GA office.”, states Yasunori Azumi, President of Sakai America. “He has successfully grown market share in his previous assignments, and we are happy to have him with us as we continue our growth here in the US.”
Felling Trailers, Inc. of Sauk Centre, MN acquired the assets of Larson Cable Trailers, Inc. in Huron, SD, a leader in fiber-optic cable handling trailer products. Felling Trailers has retained all of Larson Cable Trailers’ employees and will continue operation in Huron, SD. The company has plans for further investment to add more positions to meet the growing demands of the Larson product line. “We are extremely excited about the addition of Larson Cable Trailers,” said Brenda Jennissen, CEO/President, Felling Trailers. “Rick (Larson) and his team are experts in the field of fiber-optic handling/installation, and their products are truly world-class making this a quintessential addition to Felling Trailers.” Larson Cable Trailers will continue operating as Larson Cable Trailers, Inc. as a separate division of Felling Trailers. With this acquisition, Felling has named original owner/founder Rick Larson as Product Manager for Larson Cable Trailers.
August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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Sakai America Appoints New Position
Felling Trailers Acquires Larson Cable Trailers
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Crafco, Inc. President Retires After 40-years with the company, Don Brooks has retired as of July 2, 2021. During Don’s tenure at Crafco, he served as Controller in 1980, Vice President and General Manager in 1983, Senior Vice-President and General Manager in 1991 and President, in 2011. Under Don’s leadership Crafco has grown to become the leading manufacturer and supplier of pavement preservation products, roofing specialty products and sport surfaces in North America and other parts of the world. “Don’s strategic leadership played a key role in the shaping stages of Crafco early on,” said Gary Johnson, senior vice president and general manager of Crafco. “Over 40 years later, Crafco is recognized around the world for the quality, innovation and value which impact every piece of equipment, pound of material, and service we provide.”
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Pavement Award Nominations Now Open It's time to begin thinking about documenting your best or most-challenging jobs of this year so you can enter them to receive a 2022 Pavement Award. The annual awards provide industry-wide recognition for contractors involved in all aspects of pavement maintenance. Award categories include and entries are open for: • Best Marketing Video • Best of the Web • Good Neighbor (charitable efforts) • Contractor of the Year • Sweeper of the Year • Hall of Fame • The Alan Curtis Industry Service Award • Cutting-Edge Sweeper • Paving: Parking lot • Paving: Non-Parking lot • Seal & Stripe: Large Job • Seal & Stripe: Small Job All entries must be made online at ForConstructionPros.com/PavementAwards before the deadline of November 5.
Entering is easy - brief description of the job and its challenges, including an explanation of why the job/person/ product should be recognized. Upload high resolution photos and then you're done! As we get further into the season, keep the 2022 Pavement Awards in mind.
Note good work and tough challenges, take photos and enter them into the appropriate category. Feel free to enter into multiple categories, but know: entries are limited to one job per company per category.
www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • August/September 2021
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Just In
Get fast, relevant product information in the Buyers Guide at ForConstructionPros.com
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1 Burn-On Tarr Tape Pavemade Tech Tarr Tape is an innovative torchon rubberized asphalt crack repair tape that melts into the asphalt or concrete driveway cracks and creates a permanent bond, waterproofs and preserves the pavement surface. • Permanent repair for asphalt cracks, small potholes, cement joints, leaky roofs, waterproofing, etc. • Torch-on with a weed torch • Traffic ready in 10 minutes • 50-ft long 2-in wide airport grade rubberized crack sealant • Water proofs and prevents future damage ForConstructionPros.com/10909713
2 SP5E Pothole Patcher Bergkamp Inc With the SP5E Pothole Patcher, each repair takes just a few minutes. • Utilizing SPECS (Smart Patching Equipment Control System), units are equipped with a joystick and touchscreen display • The SP5E is truck-mounted and is operated safely from inside the cab by just one operator • Asphalt repairs are handled from the front of the machine; traffic stays safely behind the patcher • An automatic latching system • Lights, arrow boards and camera options ForConstructionPros.com/21389790
3 Prepackaged Mastic Melter Applicator Cimline Pavement Maintenance Group The ME3 was designed to be a way for operators to be able to apply mastic repairs to asphalt roadways and parking lots. • 350-gal tank • Propane heated rear chute keeps material hot and flowing • Insulated tank and firing chamber • 340,000 BTU diesel material tank burner • Overnight heating blanket for early morning startups • Tools included: hand held torch, chute scraper, 10-in by 8-in drag box and 12-in by 6-in flat iron
4 Custom Freezing Gel Pad Insert Chiller Body, LLC This custom freezing gel pad insert invisibly tucks inside most head wear to keep the body cool and help mitigate heat-related health concerns. • “Cool Chill” side provides a soft fabric feel and gentle cooling experience • Sealed, reusable and easy to put in place and remove • Allows for maximum air flow to prolong the cooling experience • Comes in a 2-pack that allows one to be used while the other is re-cooled to enable an allday cooling experience ForConstructionPros.com/21563098
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August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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5 Self-Leveling Highway and Pavement Silicone Sealant Pecora Corp Pecora 300SL Silicone Pavement Sealant is a self-leveling, single component product designed to reduce pavement deterioration by restricting surface water penetration into underlying base and subbase layers. • Primerless adhesion to concrete and asphalt • Ultra-low modulus results in high movement capability and flexibility at extremely low temperature • VOC compliant and not limited in use by federal and regional VOC regulations ForConstructionPros.com/21440204
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ARX Tandem Rollers Ammann America Inc. The ARX 23.1-2 Stage V, ARX 23.1-2C Stage V, ARX 26.1-2 Stage V and ARX 26.1-2C Stage V tandem rollers feature a 24.8hp Kubota D1703-M-DI diesel engine that does not require any after treatment technology. • The units have operating weights from 4,650 to 5,420 lbs., drum widths from 39.4 to 47.2 in. and a 1.57-in. maximum working offset mode • The optional ACEforce intelligent compaction tool further ensures optimal efficiency
7 PavePro Biodegradable Asphalt Solvent Chemtek Inc PavePro is an asphalt cleaner with release agent qualities and can be used on pavers, dumptrucks, tack trucks, patch trucks, shovels, lutes and other paving tools. • 100% biodegradable, EPA and RCRA compliant • Non-flammable • Water emulsifiable • Available in 5-gal, 15-gal, 55-gal, 275-gal or 330-gal tote ForConstructionPros.com/21509006
8 TicketPro Digital Ticketing Solution Command Alkon The TicketPro solution digitizes 100% of material and haul tickets that enter a jobsite • Ticket signer simply selects a project, chooses the material being hauled and snaps a picture of the paper ticket • System can utilize scanner integration or capture tickets directly from a scale printer • Integrates with multiple accounting software solutions to ensure a smooth transition of information into existing AP systems ForConstructionPros.com/21562995
ForConstructionPros.com/21378569
August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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NPE Buzz
Workshops and education sessions will cover a variety of topics led by leaders in the paving industry highlighting critical issues. National Pavement Expo
Must-See at National Pavement Expo FOR THOSE PONDERING a trip to the National Pavement Expo (NPE), scheduled for Feb. 23-25, 2022 at the Convention Center in Charlotte, NC, the full experience involves more than a visit to the expansive show floor. Thanks to a full slate of educational sessions, attendees can find practical new ideas that they can bring home. Attendees who make the trip to NPE routinely report a vibrant show that consistently brings asphalt and concrete vendors together in one place to share best practices for: sealcoating, striping, sweeping, crack repair, pavement repair and snow removal. “It’s a chance to network with other paving professionals, attend industry workshops, and learn new ideas in a range of conference sessions,” says Porscha Brooks, marketing manager, NPE. “In addition to hosting 200+ leading brands from the paving and pavement maintenance industry, NPE delivers more than 55 conference sessions over a four-day span.”
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Topics Addressed at Conference Workshops and education sessions will cover a variety of topics led by leaders in the paving industry highlighting critical issues such as: • Management Skills • Operator Performance and Safety • Risk Management • Leadership Strategies • Asphalt Design • Cracksealing • Paving • Sealcoating Principles • Striping • Sweeping Topics Housing reservations for the 2022 NPE will open in early Fall 2021, and reservations are provided by EventSphere, NPE’s official housing partner. Benefits of booking within the official housing block include: discounted rates for guests, flexible cancellation policies, exclusive promotions and perks, discounted rates on upgrades and more. Prospective attendees may contact
Network with manufacturers on the show floor.
EventSphere at pavement@eventsphere. com with questions. SmartSaver rates offer the absolute lowest (and earliest) rates available for prospective attendees. For those who are making plans to attend the show, as well as add-on events, it makes sense to sign up early. These rates begin early Fall 2021. “It’s true that this last year proved to be an extremely challenging year in the United States and throughout the world,” adds Brooks. “We are actively planning NPE and look forward to getting back to business in 2022. After all, there is still a lot of ground to cover— literally and figuratively.”
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August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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SPECIAL REPORT: PAVING Dormie Roberts, Associate Editor
Asphalt Applications for Sports Courts and Facilities Depending on the sport, each court has its own unique challenges, specifications and client needs associated with it. A more detailed approach to the design is needed to support athletic activities 16
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SPORTS COURTS CAN be the centerpiece of a town, neighborhood or park where sport enthusiasts flock to shoot some hoops or smash a few tennis balls over the net. The court and surface is extremely important to the game and the safety of the players. Depending on the sport, each court has its own unique challenges, specifications and client needs associated with it. Because of the unique nature of these
August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) recommends that an asphalt tennis court is 4-in plus of compacted base material and 1 1/2-in of asphalt lift, followed by a acrylic color surface coating system. T&N Asphalt Services | Facebook
Tennis court work does require additional knowledge and patience to meet the high standards set by your customers, but in the end it has the potential to pay off for your company. T&N Asphalt Services | Facebook
projects, a more detailed approach to their design is needed to support the athletic activities on this pavement.
Mix Designs "The important part of each design, especially in regards to athletic asphalt, is to make sure we have the best ingredients possible and the best quality control to ensure the asphalt performs
as desired," said Tim Murphy, president and owner of Murphy Pavement Technology, Inc. When constructing a court for athletic use, it is imperative to use the correct hot mix asphalt (HMA) one with a lowvolume, fine-graded, virgin material mix design especially in the surface lift. The athletic use asphalt consists of a mixture of dense graded aggregate and specified type and grade of asphalt binder. Proper lift thickness to build the asphalt is a crucial part, and when done correctly, this can mitigate challenges that might arise. The maximum aggregate size should be 1/2-in and
yield a minimum 1 1/2-in lift thickness. Too course of a mix or too large of a maximum aggregate size will cause that stone to work up through the coating or cause breaking. Along with that, choosing a finer gradation will help drive down problems such as permeability into the mat. "Depending on the mixture you design and specify, it might be easier or harder to get the density that is required to have the asphalt perform under its application," said Murphy. "For athletic asphalt, we are going to benefit from finer graded mix with slightly more oil."
www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • August/September 2021
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SPECIAL REPORT: PAVING
For athletic courts specifically, there isn't further densification that happens, unlike roadways or parking lots. Consequently, targeting higher inplace density, no more than 6% air voids, will be beneficial. Increasing the inplace density, improving gradation or fine graded, reduction of maximum particle sizes and increase the asphalt content are all contributing factors to aid the longevity on lower volume surface applications. "Utilizing the correct asphalt mix design, requiring proper production practices, performing process control and ensuring acceptable installation will lead to compliant asphalt that will not cause athletic coatings or the surface to fail prematurely," said Murphy. Selecting the best mix design according to the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) guidelines, utilize softer asphalt, low air voids and quality control will help you successfully complete a complex sports court application.
There is specific information on how to build and the recommended types of materials needed to use provided by the ASBA. They provide a centralized source for information on tennis courts, running tracks, sports field and indoor or outdoor courts and recreation sports facilities. ASBA offers certification programs to help raise professional standards and to improve the practice of court construction. They also offer guidelines and manuals to help set up contractors for success. These guidelines set by the ASBA should be followed to help make the use of asphalt for athletic purposes like tennis and pickleball courts, running tracks, basketball courts and multiuse courts successful.
Tips for Asphalt Production • • • • • •
Utilize a low volume mix design Maximum particle size of 1/2-in or less Crushed coarse and fine particles No aggregates that can rust like iron pyrite or steel slag Minimum of 45% sand portion in surface course mixture Reduce target voids
Crack Mitigation If proper density levels are not met, cracking will occur. Once the crack starts, moisture goes in and gets trapped with nowhere to go. Quality control needs to be managed on the project utilizing nuclear or non-nuclear
density gauges to ensure proper compaction and density is met. Pay attention to not only the mat, but all of the paving seams as well. Since there isn't additional compaction happening on these courts, a vibratory roller is necessary Sports courts can be the centerpiece of a town, neighborhood or park where sport enthusiasts flock to shoot some hoops. Paramount Asphalt & Sealcoating | Facebbok
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August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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> ErgoBasic operating system www.voegele.info
Wirtgen America, Inc. · 6030 Dana Way · Antioch, TN 37013 · Telephone: 615-501-0600
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SPECIAL REPORT: PAVING
Left: This is an example of stone cracking due to inadequate lift thickness in asphalt mix design. Right: Low density can cause these types of hairline cracks to the mat. If it isn't fixed, these cracks will show through the surface coating causing court failure.
EX
to achieve maximum compaction. According to the ASBA Asphalt Guidelines 'at least one vibratory roller shall be required for each project'. Most failures happen because of a lack of compaction to the asphalt lift. Hard asphalt, high dust, low in-place density, variable volumetrics
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322FC PECORA 322FC IS A TWO-PART, COLD-APPLIED SELF-LEVELING, FAST-CURING, ULTRA-LOW MODULUS, 100% SILICONE MATERIAL DESIGNED FOR THE SEALING OF CONCRETE PAVEMENT JOINTS THAT EXPERIENCE THERMAL MOVEMENT.
PECORA TRAFFIC SEALANT PRODUCT ADVANTAGES n
are some causes of premature cracking that usually start in the mat under the surface coating. To mitigate these risks, ensure your crew is taking into consideration proper quality control measures. Understanding the mix design is equally important and should be conveyed to the asphalt plant manager, straying away from recycled asphalt pavements (RAP), iron pyrite and steel slag in surface lifts. Another way to mitigate cracking before it happens is to make sure the base materials and surface list are adequate depth. The ASBA recommends that an asphalt tennis court is 4-in plus of compacted base material and 1 1/2-in of asphalt lift, followed by a acrylic color surface coating system. In freeze and thaw climates, the compacted base should be 6-in plus and the asphalt lift should be 3-in plus before applying the color surface coating system. Proper application, thickness, surface treatment and supporting materials will maximize the useful lifespan of these materials supporting the court. "We can't have any failures, because anything happening below is just as expensive as the surface coating," Murphy concluded.
Reduces pavement deterioration by restricting surface water penetration into underlying base and sub layers n High movement capability | n VOC compliant | n Primerless adhesion to concrete and asphalt
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August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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SPECIAL REPORT: PAVING
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Caterpillar offers the follow steps to set up your paver and screed before each job to improve machine performance and hit targets: • Heat screed • Set tow points • Set paving width • Set crown height • Set extender height • Set extender slope • Set screen and remove slack • Null the screed • Position end gates • Set auger height • Position feeder sensors • In low idle, fill auger chamber • Adjust feeder controls • Set accessory functions • Pull of starting reference
Utilizing technology such as grade control equipment or string/paint lines can optimize success. Also, remember other key factors such as:
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• Fewest number of tie-ins • Truck entrance and exit • Pave your way out • Keep your roller busy
The Screed is the Money Maker Hall described the paver as two machines, "the front part with the engine is the workhorse and the screed is the money maker." The screed is crucial for both the quality and density
of an asphalt mat. With this in mind, equipment owners need to make sure their screed is properly maintained in order to ensure the quality of the pavement. Check and adjust flight screws, extensions and crown. "Zero out" electric screws, set up and check automatic grade controls, set end gates to meet job requirements and always spray the screed before lighting burners.
24 August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT PROVEN QUALITY DECADES OF EXPERIENCE
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
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It is important to end the day the way it started, with a maintenance routine. Proper cleaning and maintenance will prolong the life of your equipment and reduce downtime or wasted labor wages. • Remove excess asphalt from the paver • Clean and spray components like auger and conveyor chains • Run conveyors and spray with release agent • Add fuel at night • Grease necessary parts All manufacturers have preventive maintenance guidelines, so reference that for any questions that may arise. "This is the life of your machine and the livelihood of your company," added Hall.
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The Finishing Touches
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"Remember that the screed needs time to react to the change in angle," said Hall. "When you adjust the screed give yourself five tow arms to see the change, don't be a willmill Johnny. Let that screed work for you."
DECADES OF EXPERIENCE EXCELLENCE IN SEALCOATING INTEGRITY & SUPPORT
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When working on a commercial lot, paving around obstacles such as islands and catch basins are normal. Attention to detail is important to deliver the results customers expect.
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www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • August/September 2021
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SPECIAL REPORT: PAVING Jessica Lombardo, Editor-In-Chief
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Benefits of Using LIVE-BOTTOM TRAILERS to Haul Asphalt These trailers can increase safety, decrease unloading times and improve operations for paving contractors LIVE-BOTTOM TRAILERS are not new to the asphalt hauling industry. In fact, these V-shaped units have been used to transport asphalt and other materials for years. But their popularity is increasing in many areas due to the benefits they can offer. A typical live-bottom trailer has a conveyor belt on the bottom of the tub that pushes the material out of the back of the trailer at a controlled pace. Unlike the conventional dump trailer, the tub does not have to be raised to deposit the materials. "Live-bottom trailers are different than a dump trailer in that they unload through a conveyor system in the bottom of the trailer," Larry McGee, president of Pegasus Trailers, says. "Not
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raising the bed to unload material has many advantages for both trailer drivers and paving contractors, including increased productivity, a better quality mat and the biggest advantage is safety."
Productivity Enhancer When it comes to profitability of asphalt paving jobs, every minute saved matters. Live-bottom trailers can help the paving train be more productive by allowing crews to lay more material faster, get the job done quicker and move on to another project. "Conventional end and side dump trailers require that the load bin/box be hydraulically hoisted upwards or sideways at an angle so the material can slide out. The unloading speed
is somewhat unpredictable and is typically uncontrollable," notes Richard Minotti, district sales manager, Trail King. "Live-bottom trailers remain horizontal during the unloading process. The flow of material is always predictable and controllable." This allows for steady loading, which results in more efficient removal of material from the truck.
August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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Live-bottom trailers remain horizontal during the unloading process. The flow of material is always predictable and controllable.
"That's a big advantage, being able to unload faster," adds Brian Horner, Etnyre Trailers. "Let's say you have a paving crew and you have 15 dump trucks that are running to that paver. You could get by with probably 12 belt trailers instead of 15 trucks and get the same capacity in a day." For this reason, many drivers of livebottom trailers get better hourly rates than typical dump drivers. Having predictable control over the materials also means that the paving contractor can better plan for putting material down and potentially have less stoppages to wait for a dump trailer to raise and unload. "With a live-bottom, you can turn the conveyor on at the same speed that the paver is feeding and you can unload your load without a stop," McGee points out. "That makes the whole paving train cover more ground in a day because you're not waiting for a body to go up and down." The other benefit is being able to maneuver the trailer in tighter areas since there is no dump to get in the way. "You never have to body up and down to go under bridges or wires," McGee
Maintenance Matters Live-bottom trailers do require a bit of additional maintenance than traditional dump beds, but not nearly enough to deter use. “You need to make sure you’re checking that the flashing is where it needs to be and always make sure your belt and your chains are tensioned correctly,” says Brian Horner, Etnyre Trailers. “Make sure you keep them tight.” Loading unreliable mixes or damaging materials could damage the conveyor so be aware of that, as well. “These trailers also do not typically lend themselves to excavation and extraction of product. Sticky clay could cause problematic unloading, and a rough unpredictable product mix could damage the conveyor belt (i.e. tree stumps, concrete with rebar, etc.),” Trail King’s Richard Minotti says.
comments. "As soon as the [trailer] backs into the paver, it can go under anything without stopping. If you're working in town, that makes a big difference. Your productivity is so much higher with a live-bottom." These trailers are also suited for wind-up work or smaller jobs, as you can meter out just a little bit of mix at a time and move the trailer to another location to unload more mix. "A lot of guys will have to use a skid loader to fill in some corners or something on smaller jobs," Horner notes. "With a live-bottom, you can meter out just a little bit below a skid loader bucket, close the doors, let him
do his thing and come back. You're not dumping a big pile somewhere and making a mess that you have to clean up. So, it makes it very good for that wind-up work."
Better Results Because the load of hot mix is continually moving through a live-bottom trailer via a conveyor belt, and not being unloaded in lumps, aggregate and heat segregation are dramatically reduced, which improves mat quality. "The whole load moves back and then dumps out the bottom. It's never tumbling in there, so there's less segregation of your asphalt," Horner
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SPECIAL REPORT: PAVING
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says. "Really, that whole load, in a half a revolution of that belt, empties the trailer. The belt is not just sitting in there spinning. It's moving slow and just moves that whole big mass out to the back of the trailer and dumps it into your paver." Stopping the paver to wait for mix inevitably creates a small bump in the mat. This can usually be avoided with live-bottom trailers. "With live-bottoms, you don't get the surge in the paver when the trailer backs into the paver, which bumps the screed," McGee says. "You can trickle mix into the paver at the same rate that the paver is trickling it back to get in front of the screed. That helps with mat quality, too." "Another benefit that is inherent to live-bottom trailers is that they have better thermal retention properties than conventional end dumps," Minotti says. "They keep hot mix product (asphalt) hotter longer."
Safer Unloading One of the largest reasons the industry is seeing a shift to live-bottom trailers is due to the increased safety these trucks bring to a jobsite. Because they Live-bottom trailers are well-suited for residential areas or where overhead obstructions are an issue as the dump does not need to raise up to empty the material. This improves safety and productivity.
don't lift to empty the material, not only are they ideal for tight situations like under bridges and in residential neighborhoods, it also means there is no risk of the truck rolling over when the dump is raised. "Conventional dump trailers are very unstable during the unloading process and are extremely susceptible to rolling over," says Minotti. "Live-bottom trailers are ultra-stable as their center of gravity is never shifted during the unloading process. They are by far the best, safest choice for worksites." As the number of trucks on site increases, so do the chances of an accident occurring. Many insurance companies are realizing the risk of dump trailers and either refusing to ensure them or charging higher rates. "I've had some customers tell me that their insurance companies didn't want to cover their dump trucks anymore because of roll overs that they had, so they ended up purchasing some live-bottom trailers," McGee states. "We have also seen some dump trucks go into wires and had electricity jump from wires to the box and [electrify] the truck. They could have had a really bad accident and luckily no one died, but I know other companies have had fatalities from electrocution from the dump trucks being up in the wires. So, live-bottoms are a lot safer. No rollovers and no wires."
www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • August/September 2021
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On The Job
Dormie Roberts, Associate Editor
10 Must-Have Tools for Striping Contractors AS A STRIPING contractor during the busy season, you are always on the go. Jobs and projects might pop up, typically scheduled with little to no notice. You're working long days and nights, the last thing you want to do is make an unnecessary trip back to the shop because you forgot to restock a necessary item in your trailer. To stay ahead, and make sure you and your crew are operating at peak performance, here is a list of essential tools to keep in your trailer, so you are mobile within a moments notice. Forgetting a much needed tool or piece of equipment can set your crew back and delay a project deadline. Position your crew for success by keeping the tools they need to do the job in one centralized location in the trailer or truck, and if you run out, restock that product to keep your operation running smoothly. Tool ideas submitted by members of the Pavement Marking Forum and the Line Striping/ Pavement Marking Facebook groups.
Make sure your trailer is stocked with the necessary tools to get the job done. Joshua Baird | Facebook
➊ TOOLBOX EQUIPPED WITH:
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❑
Channel locks
❑
Crescent wrench set
❑
Vice grips
❑
Screwdrivers (phillips and flathead)
❑
Ratchet set and sockets
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Hammer
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Drill with paint stirring attachment
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Duct tape
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Tape measures (24-ft and 100-ft)
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Chalk and chalk box
➋ STRIPING MACHINE, PAINT
❑
Alphabet and number kit in 12-in and 18-in
AND FUEL
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Paint tips
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3 sizes of arrows
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Marking gun
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4-in line stencil
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Throat seal liquid
➍ CAUTION TAPE AND ROPE
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Mesh strainers
➎ EMPTY PAILS
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Cleaning solvent
➏ AIR BLOWER (HANDHELD OR
➌ STENCILS
BACKPACK)
❑
No Parking 12-in and 18-in
➐ STEEL BROOM
❑
Reserved
➑ PRESSURE WASHER
❑
Visitor
➒ GRINDER AND SCARIFIER
❑
Handicap
➓ PAINT SCRAPER
August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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On The Job
Dormie Roberts, Associate Editor
MATERIAL SHORTAGES Have Contractors in Crisis Mode From paint shortages to labor challenges, contractors are faced with turbulent times as the economy is rebounding AMIDST A BUSY summer season, contractors are experiencing another interruption of work — a nationwide resin shortage. Paint is getting harder to come by, not only for commercial usages but also the homeowner who is looking to do home improvement projects. Projects across the country might be put on hold as delays have been made worse due to major disruptions of supply chains and wild weather.
What Happened? It has been an uphill battle for manufactures, especially for paint plants in Texas and Louisiana. Factories had some shifts in production due to the disruptions brought on by the onset of the COVID19 pandemic. Plants ran into staffing issues as production facilities, shipping ports and supply chain logistics all saw a slow down along with staffing shortages if employees were symptomatic. As a result, resins were already in a tight supply. 2020 also saw the busiest hurricane season on record. Twelve named storms made landfall along the coast, two of which reached Category 4 status before making landfall in Texas and Louisiana. Fast forward to February 2021, winter storm Uri came in with a vengeance blanketing the Gulf Coast with snow, ice and freezing temperatures resulting in power outages across the country. Months have passed but the gulf
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states are still recovering from the weather implicated shutdowns. As it sits today, there is more demand than ever for paint as many contractors have used up their stockpiles and continue to complete striping jobs.
Through the Contractor's Eyes With the pent up demand and manufactures trying to rebound after back-to-back challenges, prices for commodities are on the rise, paint being one of the many products. Contractors are seeing these material shortages and price increases first hand across the entire country. Nick Howell owner of T&N Asphalt Services in Utah said his next order from his supplier will be 37% more expensive than his last order. "I have seen increases over the years but nothing to this extent," he said. "That is why I am so passionate about job costing. Truly understanding the labor and material prices to give an effective bid to a client is what they expect. We just have to be transparent about our side of the industry so the customer understands the situation we are facing." As contractors are scouring the market for paint with their suppliers,
industry groups and reaching out to other contractors for advice. Making the situation worse is the growing labor shortage. Throw that into the mix and it makes this year another turbulent one. "As a company, we are trying to strategize the most effective way to
August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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Adobe Stock
bring on more people, then we can open up more space for more jobs." The southern contractors, specifically those in Texas, have been experiencing the shortages since
Estrada added that he and his team are holding meetings to strategically plan next steps for each job and project, reconfiguring everyone's direction and how to look at the situation as a whole. "For our striping teams, it is getting down to using every drop of every bucket," he said. "We are holding workshops on how to consume the paint properly to be efficient with operations because right now it is really tight. You can't afford to have a bucket spill over by accident everyone needs to be cognizant of these things." The pavement marking and striping industry isn't the only place where contractors are seeing shortages or price increases, it is hitting every industry across the board. "I recently installed a sprinkler system, so I went to get hose clamps. There is a lack of clamps because of the steel shortage," said Chad Jung owner of Preferred Striping in Elk River, MN. "It is literally across the board. I can image it is difficult for the consumer because everything we buy is more expensive than it should be."
Moving Forward, Future Outlook
operate, and do what do we do," said Howell. "Do we stay lean and mean with half crew scenarios? We are pretty much booked to the end of the season with our current capabilities however, if we could
the freeze in February. "We started buying early and we are glad we did," said Mark Estrada, vice president of Marathon Solutions Group. "Buying started to really get hectic right around the start of summer, that was when everyone else really got the news. The shortage is hitting everyone now, from top to bottom."
As manufactures continue to recover from these setbacks, contractors will still have to face much adversity with supply issues and labor challenges. Contractors must try to stay ahead of the curve, develop a plan to be proactive and keep an open line of communication between distributors and customers about ordering materials. "I have never seen something like this before," said Jung. "But it's one of those things, like the old saying goes, when one door closes another one opens."
www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • August/September 2021
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From the Owner’s Desk
Nick Howell Photo Credit: T&N Asphalt Services Facebook
Industrial vs. Work of Art Sealcoating Communication with clients about their sealcoating job can clear misconceptions and address problems before they arise. I’M SURE MANY of you have received a compliment or two over the years proclaiming your work as topnotch and that you are an “artist.” I love those compliments, and I genuinely think sometimes we in the asphalt industry pull off miracles with jobs and transform a disaster parking lot into a work of art. But what happens when your customer isn’t happy, maybe for a completely ridiculous reason? Did a leaf fall into the sealer? Did a squeegee drag a small pebble through the sealer? Did you accidentally step on the grass with sealer-covered boots? These and similar scenarios have happened to many of us and lead to my thoughts on this column. The problem is, we are dealing with a very messy product. Our job is to spread oil and paint around, but make it look good -- make it look like art by most clients’ expectations. Customer service and quality work should always be a priority for all of us, but there are
times when those expectations from our clients may be unobtainable. An example that comes to mind is, after sealing a lot and placing the striping (which is always the icing on the cake), those lines may get mucked up as the fresh sealer fully cures out over the next 30 days. That’s right. Most sealcoats, although they can dry in hours, take upwards of 30 days to cure out. During that time, the oil moves, and you (and your clients) will see scuff marks, power steering marks or other imperfections. Also, as we know, the heat makes the situation worse. So, you’ve completed a beautiful job, but maybe the stripes have become not as sharp as they were -- so your client may take issue with your entire project. Another example might be that little bit of overspray on their grass, or your employee absentmindedly setting a wet squeegee or brush on the lawn. Although most of us consciously try to prevent things like that, they still can happen, thus ruining our perfect work of art. It has become clear that there is a balance between an “industrial maintenance job” and the “work of art” that some clients -- mostly homeowners -- have come to expect. This balance needs to be communicated to the client – in addition, of course, to taking precautions to prevent potential issues on our end.
How Do You Fix This? We have found that by having a simple conversation with the client before starting the job solves many problems.
We explain that we are spreading sealer on their asphalt and that during the curing process, several things can happen that may cause differences in the appearance of the sealer. We created a “What to Expect” sheet that we leave with each client. We talk about curing vs. drying, water stains, power steering burn marks, etc. That simple effort at communication, combined with our training and our precautions, has eliminated any issues questioning our “artistic” ability. In addition to educating the client, we have also taken steps internally to prevent issues, such as using spray shields and tar paper to create crisp, sharp edges. Some contractors doing residential work will use brushes to leave a textured look. We also realize that we are not perfect, and if we make a mistake, we fix it and fix it promptly. No matter what way you do it, having clear communication with the client on what you are doing, combined with your quality control, should resolve any issues and hopefully, bring out your inner Picasso!
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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Your Business Matters
Dormie Roberts, Associate Editor
Benefits of Hiring Temporary Workers with the Help from
Adobe Photoshop | momius
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August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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As the labor pool continues to get younger, the use of digital hiring techniques becomes more important than ever THE INDUSTRY HAS recognized labor shortages for some time. Contractors continue to try a variety of often outside-the-box approaches to bring in quality workers to add to or replace members of their crews. Employee turnover during the season could delay project completion or worse, hinder company growth. Fluctuations in employees can make hiring temporary labor a viable option, especially during the busy season. “Supplementing your workforce with temporary workers can help improve productivity and provide instant access to potential talent with specialized skills you may not have access to otherwise,” says Mitch Catino, chief operating officer of GigSmart. “It can also help you save money during your slower times by maintaining staffing flexibility and reducing overhead.” Temporary, or gig workers, are hired differently than the employees you personally recruit. These workers are recruited for your company by staffing agencies or through websites and apps. No matter the mode of hire, temporary employees have benefits that may help you continue to move the needle on job completion.
www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • August/September 2021
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Your Business Matters
Increase Productivity When employees use their bodies and mental expertise to complete quality jobs, they can understandably become exhausted and unmotivated, but this doesn’t have to be the case. “By supplementing your crew with flexible labor, you can offer a more ‘hands-on deck’ approach to get projects done to completion on time or even ahead of schedule,” says Catino. “With an agile crew, you can take on new projects, expand your business operations, save more money, beat deadlines and better satisfy the job requirements.” Temporary workers can offer the support a company needs on either a short-term or long-term basis. Bring in these types of workers when someone calls in or if a crew member needs to be off due to an emergency. In most cases, when you hire temp workers, you can expect the workers to perform several different functions for you and offer advantages in terms of operations, depending on their knowledge base. Utilizing temporary labor gives a company a way to leverage specialized workers for short-term work. Instead of sourcing the expertise or specialized equipment required to complete the job, save overhead by requiring what is needed as a pre-requisite for your next temp hire.
Mobile Apps and Platforms Posting your job opening in multiple places will increase your candidate pool and there are many platforms and mobile apps businesses can utilize to hire qualified talent. However, not every platform specializes in construction, thus you may receive applicants that are not suited to the job you’re hiring for. “GigSmart was founded to connect anyone who was looking for labor to those looking for work,” says Catino. “We want to create a solution that connected employers with available workers across a variety of skills and industries. We wanted to reduce the friction around making this connection, connecting employers with the largest pool of available workers.”
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photos, videos and other content. Use captions to highlight your benefits and career opportunities. Current employees may share your company employment opportunities with their friends, family members and neighbors looking for work. Be mindful of your pool of applicants and how they are browsing job listings. Just because you, as an owner or hiring manager, use a laptop or desktop computer everyday doesn’t necessarily mean candidates are browsing the same way. They use mobile-technology apps and platforms to do research, especially the younger generations. Deliver your “now hiring” messaging across multiple platforms to create a larger pool of applicants.
Are Temporary Workers Right for Your Company?
GigSmart created an app called Get Workers where companies looking to hire can create an account, add details about the business, post temporary shift or full and part time positions from which qualified local workers can apply and then review and select vetted applicants to get the work done. “Get Workers gives you the ability to set the hourly pay rate, choose which skills you need to hire for, review the applicants and hire, manage and pay them all within the app,” says Catino. “We give you more control over your hiring process while making it easy and affordable for you, the employer.” Social media can also be an effective way to get the word out about your demand for workers and to engage with prospective employees. Business owners can use these platforms to provide potential employees a look inside your company by using engaging
When it comes to deciding if hiring temporary workers is right for your company, weigh out the positives and negatives. In some cases, gigbased hiring can remove much of the recruitment costs, time and human resources processes. If a temporary worker doesn’t fit well with your crew, you aren’t obligated to hire them back. On the other hand, temp workers may not be as motivated or engaged as full-time employees because they are completing a task, not serving as part of a broader company mission. Company size also plays a factor in the decision. If you are a smaller company, where many people wear multiple hats in order to fill customer needs, gig workers might be for you. Being able to hire depending on niche projects can instill confidence in the oversight coming from the foreman on the job. Catino added, “when searching for temporary labor, it is important to be clear about the expectations for the job, select an appropriate pay rate, make sure adequate training is provided and treat them the same as you would a fulltime employee to maximize your hiring success.”
August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • August/September 2021
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Your Business Matters Garry Bartecki
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with Billing to Boost Cash Flow Follow these tips to speed collections and improve the liquidity of your business IF I EMAILED all of you to guess at the “3 Magic Words” that matter most to your business, what would they be? I assure you would come up with
hundreds or maybe thousands, and most would be applicable to some part of the business process in terms of proper procedures, follow-up, sales tips, closing techniques and even training ideas that speed up expected results. So, before we go on, stop for a second and write down your 3 Magic Words. You can find mine at the very end of this column. In the meantime, let’s talk about making money – not margins, cost reductions or
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accounting profits, but real money. This is the money you can find in your bank account free to use as required to run the business and fund debt service. The question is, how does the money wind up in your account and what can you do to speed up the process, thus improving your liquidity while laying off borrowing from your operating line of credit?
Keep Track of Cash Balance To keep track of your cash balance, the entire management team has to know what the daily balance is along with notes about major sums coming into or leaving the account in the next week. This report should show up on your computer every morning containing all transactions through the prior day. Today’s activity goes on the next day’s report. The report I use includes my book cash balance; the bank’s balance for the same day; any significant
August/September 2021 • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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cash receipt from today that will appear on tomorrow’s report; note payments due within the next week; payroll due dates with an estimated amount; and special items such as income taxes or proceeds from out of the ordinary transactions such as equipment sales. Believe me, this report will help keep you and your team ahead of the game, especially in your business when you have a number of jobs running.
Back Up the Billings Obviously, the more efficient your processes are for cash-in and cash-out, the faster you will process the billing and collection process and speed deposits into the bank account. The key to increasing the bank balance is billing work as quickly as possible and having: • All the backup material on hand to support various line items • All change orders properly approved and supported • Required waivers attached • All labor charges properly accounted for In short, you want your work-inprocess billed quickly with proper support. This will accelerate the approval process without numerous questions from the customer or contractor, which can delay the collection process. Once an invoice is sent, the collection process starts. What you don’t want is to have the person receiving the invoice calling your office asking to speak to "someone in accounting." You will be better off if the invoice contains a name and contact info so when a call is received, the person on your end is familiar with the customer’s file and has access to the support docs for the invoice. Remember, the payment process will not start until the invoice is approved. If problems take a week to resolve because the person on your end is unprepared to respond, this in turn may extend payment for another week. Do this enough and your cash balance takes a significant hit.
Go Digital Want to speed up collections substantially? Then take it digital. Following this vein, say you mail an invoice on June 1 and it gets to the customer on June 6. The customer then mails a check on July 7 and you receive it on July 11; that check has to clear, which takes another couple of days. So, a June 1 invoice date could mean a 45-day cycle by the time the check clears on July 15. Now, let’s look at what happens if you send invoices digitally, and ask to receive payments electronically. Plus, you use a payroll service targeted to contractors that enables employees or supervisors to review daily time and verify which project it’s getting charged to and for what type of work; many of these services can provide data needed for union reporting, as well. By implementing these steps, you can gain four days getting the invoice into customers’ systems and another four days on the collection side compared to having a check mailed. Plus, the payroll service can help gain days by providing data ready for review. So, let’s assume the payroll service saves time and allows sending the digital invoice on May 25, which arrives to the customer that same day. The customer then transmits payment on June 25, and you receive the funds directly into your account that day. In other words, it’s a 30-day cycle from invoice to payment. You receive the cash 33% sooner. (I know we can argue about the collection process in the construction industry. Be that as it may, you will find many construction companies adopting these procedures via their software and payroll systems.) Now imagine the impact speeding up collections will have on your interest costs. Less working capital loans mean
lower interest charges and a bank more interested in working with you if you have a problem. Those of you still mailing invoices or lacking systems to help prepare invoices and manage the collection process should spend a little time with what we covered this month. If implemented, it will increase your bank balance. So, what are the “3 Magic Words” for your business? I’m interested in what you guessed my magic words might be, as well. You'll find the answer below.*
Garry Bartecki is the managing member of GB Financial Services LLP and a consultant to the Independent Equipment Dealers Association. He can be reached at (708) 347-9109 or gbartecki@comcast.net.
*3 Magic Words: "Cash is King"
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Technology Jessica Lombardo, Editor-In-Chief
Technology Use Helps Improve Paving Results and
PROFITS
Builders Asphalt discovers how data captured during paving can help them build better roads AUTOMATIC CONTROLS for construction equipment have emerged over the last decade with the goal of helping contractors do their
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jobs more efficiently. Using technology to better manage equipment usage has been an eye-opening experience for the industry as they adapt to getting more work done even faster with the help of these new processes. 3D paving control is one technology that hasn't exactly gained the momentum in the industry that it should. 3D paving
allows the system to directly reference the design rather than a surface or stringline of the surface. This minimizes material usage, reduces waste and overruns and helps projects finish on time and under budget. Without 3D paving controls, contractors are relying on paint markings or stringlines to reference grade and elevation and
manually changing the screed to match. "A lot of the old school contractors will still go out and spray paint on a road to be paved a depth and a cross slope and then the operator looks at these spray painted instructions on a road and reacts to that on their asphalt paver," notes Davin Laubhan, paving product manager at Trimble. "That's very difficult
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According to Trimble, 3D paving control systems can reduce waste and overruns and help contractors finish on time or ahead of schedule. Trimble
these methods have had their place in the past, but do not give contractors the complete picture, which can lead to the best results. "Through a 3D model, we are dynamically able to to adjust that asphalt paver screed either to a specific elevation or cross slope to match the 3D design," Laubhan says. "By referencing that 3D design, the first and foremost thing
Machine control helps ensure data is collected and whoever needs it has ready access to the information. Trimble
to do and that opens up a lot of room for error." There are also 2D technologies being used that can reference any existing surface via sonic sensors or averaging beams that are put on the side of the paver. All of
that we can do is eliminate stringlines on a jobsite. Stringlines are expensive, they take time and they cost money, not only for the material but the crews. These paving control systems can reduce waste and overruns and help contractors finish on time or ahead of schedule, which hopefully means they are also under budget."
Tech Helps Plan from Start to Finish Asphalt is a perishable material. You only have a short amount of time to put it down before it's no longer usable. If you put it down and it's not done correctly, the costs to remove and replace are devastating to the bottom line. Technology has been developed to help contractors prepare for success during every step of the paving process. "With the Trimble business center software, there is a site takeoff feature that is one of the best ways to estimate these material quantities from the start," Laubhan asserts. "Trimble Business Center is utilized in the back office to create a design that allows us to know what our target elevation is and what our existing surfaces are. The Business Center Software can calculate those material quantities that would be needed for accurate estimating on a daily basis. So, not only does that help on every project, but contractors can place more accurate raw material orders with the asphalt plants." The Business Center can help plan things like the number of trucks required, as well as help you estimate round trip times based on your material quantities so you don't have to stop the paver to wait for trucks. "The technology helps us control our materials from the bottom up," says Sumie Abdishi, general
superintendent at Builders Asphalt, Elk Grove Village, IL. "From not taking too much dirt away from the job to using the correct amount of stone and the correct amount of asphalt to keep our yields in line, it helps a lot. And, you know, there's a reason why the office keeps telling me to use it -- because they're seeing returns."
Evolving from Necessity Builders Asphalt was hired to help reconstruct and expand the Illinois Tollway, which specified 3D controls in the bid. "The Tollway job is what started us on the 3D paving system technology," Abdishi says. "It was either that or we had to set up a stringline, which would have probably cost us more money in the long run." The Tollway required the 3D technology on the machines to ensure specifications were being met and that the project owner had access to the necessary data to ensure the performance of the pavement. "Connecting field to office is a big initiative for Trimble right now," Laubhan says. "What we're trying to do with machine control -- not just paving but machine control in general -- is work harder to connect customers with their data. This includes making sure the data is collected and whoever needs it, whether a project owner or a stakeholder, has access to it. We also want to make sure they're able to seamlessly integrate that data from office to field through the cloud."
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Technology
Like many companies who try out new innovations, Builder's Asphalt was essentially "forced" into using 3D controls. Now, Abdishi says his company wouldn't go back to the way it did things in the past. "What got the ball rolling on the 3D stuff was out of necessity, but as soon as we got it, we loved it," he states. "It gives us peace of mind using it and we know we're
on grade and we don't have to worry about it. Now the goal is to switch all of the grading equipment and all of the grinding equipment that we have over to 3D the best we can." Abdishi says using 3D controls on the earthmoving and grinding equipment is where they foresee the most benefit. "If I had it my way, on any job, I would try to create the base with
Utilizing 3D paving controls can give companies peace of mind by ensuring paving operations are on grade. Trimble
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Through a 3D model, you are able to dynamically adjust the paver screed either to a specific elevation or cross slope to match the 3D design. Trimble
3D and then use the paver to laminate the surface," he comments. "It's more efficient for us and gives us a true design on the base that the paver can just flow over."
Builders Asphalt envisions a use for this technology on almost every job it encounters, not just the big ones. "It seems like we have a need for it everywhere we go," says Abdishi. "We've had a couple of jobs that require variable depth milling. We're using it on a rail yard in the city of Englewood, then we're going to use a motor grader with 3D control in a subdivision and use the paver to laminate over what we've created on the base." "Contractors need to start embracing this technology around the country," Laubhan adds. "Once they figure out that they can actually build better pavement structures by using it, and that it increases the life of the road, this is definitely going to be something that you will see a lot more specifications being written around."
Break Through Barriers to Entry There are often excuses as to why contractors won't be implementing new technology, but the time is now to break past those barriers. "The contractor may look at this, like, wow, this is expensive, because it can be. They also say they don't have the ability to train their people because they're already super busy as it is," Laubhan says. "My answer to that is, you know, life isn't going to slow down. We live in an increasingly connected and digitized world... Technology is the way of the future and contractors who
are adopting this technology now are taking care of their learning curve today before some of this stuff actually starts to be mandated and required on these pavements. "If you don't do this now, you're going to get left behind and you're not going to be able to bid the work that specifies usage of technology," he adds. You don't need to outfit your entire fleet with new technology for it to make a difference to your operations. "Start with one machine," Laubhan advises. "I don't care if it's a paver or a dirt machine, but get some technology on there. Figure out how you can use it to increase your efficiencies, save time and move faster to get your jobs completed. And then once you're comfortable with that, you can move on to the next machine and then the next machine. Then, you can really start to see these efficiency gains as you implement technology across the fleet." Builders Asphalt agrees. "I know it seems scary because those price tags are pretty big when you first start," Abdishi acknowledges. "Start little by little. Get one piece of equipment plumbed and ready to go. Then go back and look at your returns. See how you've increased productivity and also see how you've managed your quantities. I think most people will find that once they go there, they're not going to go back."
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Contractors ’ Choice
Allan Heydorn, Contributing Editor
How to Select the Best Replacement Brushes for Rotary Broom Attachments Here’s how to match wafers, strips and tube brushes to the job REPLACING BROOMS AS they wear out is, with tires, the mostcommon maintenance task contract sweepers handle. Primary replacement options are one-piece tube brooms, flat or convoluted wafers, and strip brooms, and all have their specific applications, reasons for use, and advantages and disadvantages. Interviews with three United Rotary Brush Corp. broom specialists -Harry Vegter, director of engineering; salesman Perry Stenzel; and Tom Staab, contracts & product compliance -- offered insights into which
replacement brooms contractors should consider and why one type might be considered over another. "The different styles of brooms are something not many people give much thought to," Vegter says. "If the sweeper comes with a tube broom they usually replace it with a tube broom and never give much thought to replacing that tube with a different type of broom. Staab says that as a rule, sweepers in the construction market primarily use wafers, while the municipal market uses tubes and strips. "The type of broom is often tied to the machine, tied to the application, and tied to the broom that was initially sold with the machine," Staab says. "Most contractors put on what they take off."
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As a rule, sweepers in the construction market primarily use wafers, while the municipal market uses tubes and strips, says Tom Staab, contracts & product compliance for United Rotary Brush.
But he says contractors should consider other types of replacement brooms because they can offer advantages. "When our salesmen are in the field talking with contractors about their sweeping requirements they can help them decide what style broom works best," Staab says. "We're not just in the business of selling brooms. We want to make them aware of what's available to help them meet their needs."
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Perry Stenzel, salesman for United Rotary Brush says the most common wafer configuration on a broom is to alternate wire wafers with polypropylene wafers. "For general purposes, most contractors use either a combination of poly and wire or all poly."
Wire and Polypropylene Wafers Vegter says the mostcommonly used replacement brooms are wafers, available in both flat and convoluted styles. Flat wafers come with spacers that create a 1-in. space between each wafer on the broom core. Convoluted wavers create their own space due to their convoluted shape. Typically there are 7 convoluted wafers or flat wafers per foot. Wafers are available in either polypropylene or wire bristles (filaments) and are available in diameters to fit a variety of sweeping equipment. Vegter says construction companies, sweeping contractors and paving contractors replace existing brooms with wafers to customize their broom. "They can make dense heavy-duty brooms with smaller or fewer spaces, and they can also mix wire and polypropylene," he says. Stenzel says wafers are common in construction sweeping partly because there are more options of mixing poly and wire. "Polypropylene does more sweeping than wire does," he says. "Wire is the cutting action and poly is the flick." He says the type of broom and bristle often depends on what the contractor is sweeping. Airport runways, for example, require a wire broom to cut the rubber left on the runway from airplane tires. Stenzel says the most common wafer configuration on a broom is to alternate wire wafers with polypropylene wafers. "Sometimes you see two wire and two poly because that will give you more With interchangeable rows of bristle, the strip broom provides efficient sweeping, simple storage and simplified broom changeovers. Supplied by United Rotary Brush Corp.
wire throughout the broom and make construction sweeping face problems for a more aggressive broom," he says. such as clay and mud baked onto the "For general purposes, though, most pavement. "Some of those contractors contractors use either a combination of want a heavy-duty broom," Vegter says. poly and wire or all poly." "They might need wire to break up the debris and the poly for the sweeping." Staab says that depending on how you position the convoluted wafers an Vegter says some contractors want a operator can make a broom more or less more dense broom because they can get dense. He says convoluted wafers "are more hours out of a more dense broom. shipped stacked like Pringles potato chips. "If you make it denser it doesn't wear as They're nested together when shipped quickly, and some people say a denser and you just locate every other wafer broom just works better," he says. This from a 12 o'clock to a 6 o'clock position is not always the case because in other on the wafer core in order to create a applications a lighter broom can flick space between each wafer. Or you can debris much better than a denser broom." make the broom denser by decreasing the A dense broom can be effective for space between the wafers by reducing the certain applications, but to obtain the distance of the two clock positions." best result contractors need to be careful how dense a broom they are using. Wafers offer greater versatility to "You have to have space between the contractors with a variety of sweeping wafers for it to be effective," Staab says. equipment in their fleets. "Strip and "If you don't have that space to get the tube brooms have to be made specific flicking action it won't sweep efficiently. to the length of the broom core on a It depends on the applicaspecific piece of equiption as to how dense you ment," says Stenzel. make it." He says wafers He says that if a also are not sensitive broom is too dense it to makes or models can result in problems of sweeper. "Some for the equipment. municipal machines "Machines are designed have a 10-in. core and Strip brooms can be used on a variety to use a certain weight 36-in. diameter broom. of applications but have become the broom of choice for contractors and density of broom. Tube brooms are built sweeping up pavement millings. With a more dense to a particular width broom the sweeper of sweeper. If you use equipment might not be designed to a tube broom you're stuck with buying a power that broom and might actually specific broom, a 66-in. for Pelican, for wear out sweeper drive components example, or a 60-in. broom for an Eagle. because there's so much more friction" You have to buy separate tube brooms In addition to making brooms denser, for each unit. But if you use wafers you some contractors like to "double up" on can just keep them in stock and replace the broom ends, increasing the density the broom as needed. It saves a lot of on the ends. "This eliminates trailing for storage space and money." those machines that tend to trail," Vegter says. He says conveyor-style sweepers Altering Density with Wafers with rear-mounted brooms often "A wafer broom is really no different experience trailing on tight turns. from a tube broom, but the advan"Some contractors really dense up tage is that with wafers you can alter the ends of the brooms so they don't the density of the broom," Vegter says. trail," Vegter says, adding that some "Some contractors see a lot of success tube brooms also are tight wrapped on by altering the broom to their own denthe ends to obtain the same effect as sity, wider spaces or no spaces." adding wafers to reduce trailing. He says that contractors involved in
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Contractors ’ Choice
This broom is a combination of poly and wire wafers which gives the operator flick action and abrasive power all in one. Supplied by United Rotary Brush Corp.
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Replacement Strip Brooms Unlike wafers, replacement strip brooms are available only with polypropylene bristles. Strip brooms are shipped in pairs (36 pair measuring 48-in. long, for example, to use on a 96-in.-wide broom). "They are shipped in pairs because they are much easier to handle," Stenzel says. "Handling one long 96-in. strip is like handling a wet noodle." With strip brooms a mandrel slides on over the equipment wafer core and the strips slide into slots in the mandrel. Many contractors say strips are easier to replace than wafers or tube brooms, as Stenzel says 18 rows of strips can be replaced in 20 minutes. "When changing tube brooms, you have to remove the entire tube broom from the sweeper," Staab says. "But with strip brooms you just drop the end plate, slide the used strips out and replace them with new strips." Vegter says that while strip brooms can be used on a variety of applications, they have become the broom of choice for contractors sweeping up pavement millings. "Some contractors, especially those who do milling, seem to like strips because they pick up millings very well - there's a pedaling effect," Vegter says. "Because of the spaces in between, the strips seem to flick debris better onto
54
the conveyor. We've had a lot of success with strip brooms with milling sweepers and also with sweepers who do fall sweeping where there are a lot of leaves." Staab says another strip broom advantage is that they tend to load a hopper more evenly than other types of brooms. "The channels that the strips slide into are crescent-shaped, so both ends of each strip section are lower than the center and when the broom rotates the outer edges of the strips sweep the pavement first. As they spin, the debris moves toward the center of the broom before it is transferred on to the sweeper elevator belt," Staab says. "As a tube broom loads a hopper, for example, the tube broom flicks debris onto the elevator and up into the hopper and it usually fills the hopper from one side or the other. This can create an unbalanced hopper which can result in coning of the broom. That doesn't happen with strips because strips move material from the outside edges toward the center of the elevator so the hopper is loaded from the center resulting in a more evenly distributed load." Strip brooms will streak or trail when the unit turns, and strips lack a wire option for more aggressive sweeping, so some contractors consider their use to be limited. "Everybody has their own preferences as to what type of broom they like and what they like to use on a particular job, and a lot of people like strip brooms," Stenzel says.
"The decision on what type of broom to use needs to be based on what you're comfortable with and what operation you're used to. With strip and tube brooms you can adjust the down pressure and it takes a little more finesse to get them to sweep for you the way that you want. If you put too much down pressure on a strip broom, for example, the machine will really bounce and vibrate so you have to adjust it. "A big part is operator preference and what the operator likes and what the customer is comfortable with," Stenzel says. "It can often come down to what they like the best and what works best for them. In the end they all end up sweeping and getting the job done."
Tube Brooms Tube brooms are one-piece brooms available in either all polypropylene or a poly/wire mix. Where wafers are manufactured in a variety of diameters and can fit any sweeper, tube brooms are manufactured for specific models of sweepers and can't be used on other models. Tube brooms are also more difficult to store and ship and are more costly to ship. And where wafers and strip brooms can be replaced in the field, tube brooms are usually changed in the shop. "Our contractor Tube brooms are one piece and are between 89 to 96 in. long and they're heavy," Stenzel says. "An all-poly 8-ft. broom weighs 300 lbs. and a poly/wire weighs 385 lbs., so it's just easier to change them out in the shop." But Staab says replacing tube brooms is quicker than stacking wafers.
Poly wafers will have maximum flick action, while wire wafers will have more abrasive power, and the combo wafer gives you the best of both. Supplied by United Rotary Brush Corp.
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"Once you have the tube broom lined up you just slide it on and you're done," Staab says. "So it is much quicker than loading wafers." Staab says tube brooms and wafer brooms are not as stiff as strip brooms.
"If you put your hand on a tube or wafer broom and push the filament back there is less resistance than doing the same thing with a strip broom because the filaments in a strip broom are packed together in a channel so they are a lot
stiffer, a lot more resistant. So if you need a really aggressive broom that really gets in there and digs you would look at a strip broom."
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NAPSA
WSA
Recruitment Woes Hit the Sweeping Industry
Keeping Your Company 'Safe' From Potential Purchasers
Employee training seems to be adding value and helping with retention
If you receive a call from a private equity firm be sure to protect your business' confidentiality
It seems like everywhere I hear of power sweepers who are struggling to get bodies behind the wheels. It is not only this industry but many industries. Many companies are asking what they can do to attract and retain employees. One way that seems to be adding value and helping with retention is employee training. There is a perception of value when an employer invests in the training of their employees. Training employees to do their job correctly trickles down into pride in their career as well as enhanced professionalism for the company. So where can you find professional training for the power sweeping industry? Years of blood sweat and tears for dozens of NAPSA members and beta testers have culminated in the release of multiple powerful training tools. Certified Sweeping Operator (CSO) programs have come online for Parking Lot and Construction sweeping. Municipality is slated for the future. These operator training programs create a great baseline of training for improved professionalism in your drivers. These can be found at www. SweeperSchool.com. 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. Lastly, there is a course called Fleet Basics. This course covers general topics for anyone who isn’t behind a wheel but may need to speak the lingo. It is worth the $20 hands down. The education found at SweeperSchool is invaluable. NAPSA members receive deep discounts on the training at SweeperSchool. For more information, contact the North American Power Sweeping Association at info@ powersweeping.org or 888-7570130.
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.
by Ranger Kidwell-Ross Because of the apparent success of the private equity company behind the continuing expansion of Sweeping Corporation of America (SCA) — which now boasts being in 40+ markets — larger sweeping contractors have reported numerous contacts from SCA and other private equity (PE) firms. If you receive a call from one and want to find out more, be sure to protect your business’ interests. Before providing a PE or anyone else with confidential information about your company, make sure to have a non-disclosure agreement in place. Also find out if the PE already owns any other sweeping companies. If so, see what you can find out about those previous purchases. Perhaps the most important factor for the PE will be confirming there is an excellent management team in place, since they often will not be involved in day-to-day operations after purchase. Essentially, PE purchasers view your business from a mathematical perspective. They are all about increasing your growth after sale, so to increase your value to them show how your company is positioned for that possibility. In order to maximize the multiple of EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes,
Depreciation and Amortization) you end up receiving, show in as mathematical a manner as possible why your company is a good purchase prospect. PE firms tend to purchase companies that require little initial additional investment. They are also calculating their potential exit strategies as they negotiate any sale. The advantages of selling to a PE firm can be many, including obtaining additional capitalization needed for growth. However, before you open your books to a PE firm or anyone else interested in buying your company, it’s vitally important that you do some research about the best protocol to follow.
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.
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PCTC
PCTC Keeps Close Eye on Trends in the Post-Pandemic Era
For more about PCTC visit www.pavementcouncil.org.
There are challenging trends starting to emerge The post-pandemic era will bring with it many challenges to the skilled and unskilled labor market, with an unusual impact on the construction industry. According to a recent report by McKinsey titled, The Future of Work after COVID-19, the most immediate and lasting impact will be felt by organizations that will grapple with an ongoing remote or hybrid workforce. This presents its own set of challenges for firms with their entire workforce under one roof with employees who perform most tasks via computer or at their desks. However, things aren’t quite as clear within the construction industry where the workforce is often split between inside and field employees and at times divided even further
within the office. In the pavement coatings industry, we are seeing a few challenging trends emerge. As our members continue to keep a close eye on trends within their centers, we’re seeing a few key trends emerge. When asked if they were having difficulty in recruiting new employees, 100% of members polled replied yes. “We’re finding it difficult to fill labor positions and full-time office positions on campus,” replied one PCTC member. “This is forcing us to fight two distinct battles with two very different consequence, both of which have the potential to simultaneously disrupt production, our culture and internal engagement.” Conversely, and perhaps the silver lining in the post-pandemic era, 100% of respondents
stated that retaining current employees was not a challenge. However, there’s no telling how long that will last. “There is an expectation of working from home instead of on site. This may force more automation moving forward for manufacturing and certain aspects of contracting/accounting/sales will undoubtedly begin to look very different.” In the pre-pandemic era, leaders within the pavement coatings industry, like many other related industries, fought their own set of battles. These same leaders will undoubtedly and quickly develop a new set of skills to help them navigate their companies and their teams through a new environment.
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Contractor Snapshot
Dormie Roberts, Associate Editor
Winning More Bids With Drone
TECHNOLOGY How one contractor started using drones on his jobs and how it is moving his business forward. RANDY NUGENT, owner of Nugent Sealcoating & Paving, Minneapolis/St. Paul, is a firm believer in aerial photos for impressive projects. So he has taken a step that he says "provides greater control over the photos, better pictures and at times, has won more bids for the company." “It’s actually gotten me some jobs I probably wouldn’t have gotten otherwise,” said Nugent. “Some people get really excited about aerial views of their parking lots and property.”
How it All Began Nugent started his company in 1991 with a plastic tank attached to his rusty 1984 pickup truck. Today all his work is mostly commercial, but does offer some residential services like driveway sealcoating, seam
filling and garage door apron replacement. Nugent and his crews pride themselves on professional attention, in particular they use the standard MNDOT method to crackseal. "Many of our competitors do not follow this method," said Nugent. "It begins with routing the cracks to a width and depth of approximately 3/4-in. The cracks are then thoroughly cleaned. The cleaned cracks are filled with crack sealer brand Deery 3723, which exceeds all MNDOT requirements of 3405. As a final step, paper is applied as a bond breaker to allow for immediate traffic use, unless sealcoating is to immediately follow." This attention to detail in the finished work propelled Nugent to offer before and after photos for his customers. "I started because I was interested in the picture aspect I could get by flying drones."
Hone in the Drone Skills Self-taught, Nugent started using drones because he was interested in the pictures
he could get by flying over jobsites, getting a bird's eye view perspective. He purchased his first drone in 2013, one Randy Nu gen that he had & Paving t of Nugent Sealc oati is a to attach photos fo firm believer in ae ng ri r impress ive projec al a GoPro ts. camera to because the "The best first generation drone did not advancement, in my opinion, have a built-in camera. He is the ability to do everything would operate it around his through your phone," said house, under trees and wires Nugent. "I can watch through to practice his flying techniques my phone and decide exactly because he knew he would which photos to take. In fact, have to maneuver those types I don't even watch the drone of obstacles. anymore when I fly. There is "Practicing really helped me GPS built in so I know exactly get comfortable with flying" where it is at all times and I said Nugent. "When I first can have it fly back to within started out, I may or may not a few feet of takeoff and land have gotten it stuck in a tree itself." or two. There will be a few For Nugent, he utilizes his crashes along the way but drones on a daily basis for drones are very durable. The photos and videos of jobs to worst thing I have had to do is gain a competition advantage. replace the rotors." "If there is a job that I know Technology advancements there will be a fair amount in the drone sector has grown of competition on, I use the in many aspects. Drone drone to my advantage," said manufacturers are offering Nugent. "Prospective and customizable flight path existing customers love the fact options, enhanced photo and that we will send them aerial video quality, and even collision photos of their property for avoidance. free with a contract. I use it for larger jobs or sites, greater than Randy Nugent uses before and 80,000 square feet, that I know after photos and videos to gain will be great for before and a competitive edge against his after photos." competition.
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Classifieds
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Check out our online video!
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Classifieds
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Classifieds
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Classifieds
Call us for any Used Striping Equipment needs:
770-331-2550
Check out our website at www.usedstripingequipment.com
2004 GMC Grinder/Groover Truck Ready to Work
2006 Freightliner Thermo Longliner
With 4-3000 LB Arrow diesel-fired melters. Unit has been thoroughly checked out and is ready to stripe.
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Energy Absorption Attenuator Trailers $15,750 EA with Arrow Board $12,250 EA without Arrow Board
$197,000
2009 Mack MB Tote Paint Truck
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ASE Thermo Mark Heavy Duty 1500 Striper Like new. Only 74 hours. Price new is $129,780.
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2011 Dickson Road Vac Trailer Ready to Work
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2005 Freightliner Large Capacity Thermo Melter Truck
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2002 Freightliner MB Longline Thermo Striper
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Excellent Condition, 95,000 miles
2001 Volvo MRL 4-3000 LB Melter Thermo Longline Striper
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We buy used equipment and will take trade-ins.
Please call for used parts for most striping equipment and save! www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement • Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction • August/September 2021 63
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Classifieds
SQUEEGEES, SEALCOAT TRAILERS, SEALCOAT SKIDS, HOT TACK SKIDS
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Classifieds
Index Advertiser Index
PAGE
Advertiser Index
PAGE
Astec Inc.
67
NEAL, A Div. of Blastcrete Equipment
7
Bomag Americas
11
Neyra Industries of Ohio
43
Buffalo Turbine LLC
44
Odra Road Sweepers
40
Crafco Inc.
5
Old Dominion Brush Co.
45
Dispensing Technology Corp.
42
Pecora Corp.
20
Dynapac North America
15
Perma-Patch
45
Elgin Sweeper
2
RAE Products & Chemicals Corp.
44
EZ-Liner Industries
42
Schwarze Industries, Inc.
13
IGNITE Construction Summit
59
SealMaster
68
Keystone Plastics
40
Star Inc.
25
KM International
21
Unique Paving Materials
41
Laserline Manufacturing Inc.
45
Weiler Products
35
LeeBoy, Inc.
31
Wirtgen America Inc.
19
MRL Equipment Company
39
N I Wilson Mfg
44
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Tailgate Talk | Brad Humphrey
Trading Expediency for
SAFETY
As contractors, we must protect our workers and we cannot trade expediency of getting jobs done more quickly for the safety hazards that await such trade-offs OVER THE PAST few months of increased scheduling of projects, I’ve witnessed first-hand many poor decisions, many that were even risky decisions, impacted by the need to be fast in completing projects. When too much speed and workers collide, it often ends in a not so positive result. With the huge release of work that has now permeated almost every state in the United States, contractors can’t find enough workers, and time, to complete the amount of work that customers are crying to complete. And when such demands are scheduled, with little room to breath between projects, it is almost a given that field leaders can and will shorten or eliminate some precautions for safety. Let me give you one example that probably fits every reader of this article. The presence and use of what most contractors call the “quickie saw,” has
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become a normal part of most contractor’s equipment and tool resources. Used by both asphalt and concrete contractors, it is the “quickie saw” that allows a crew to quickly trim off an area or to cut a small square footage of concrete that can then be torn out by the skid steer with the appropriate attachment. If this process is performed safely, the use of such a tool is great…doing exactly what it is designed to perform. However, because so many foremen feel hurried to complete their work, a crew worker will quickly be instructed to grab the “quickie saw” and start cutting. However, here is what most foremen often forget to remind their sawcutter to wear…their PPE including: • No watering system (directly or manually applied) to help reduce dust from the cutting effort • Lack of face shield and/or face mask to reduce both any flying debris or dust inhalation • Ear plugs to reduce the decibels put off from the saw • Hard hat to keep any accidental material from
hitting the head (at an accelerated mph) • Gloves that can prevent material debris from scratching or cutting their hands, wrist, etc. • Long-sleeve shirt that can protect any debris from scraping or cutting their arms • Safety glasses which are perhaps THE MOST critical piece of PPE As contractors, we must protect our workers and we cannot trade expediency of getting jobs done more quickly for the safety hazards that await such trade-offs. I’ve seen the invaluable “quickie-saw,” with a guard properly in place, still send material out the rear and bounce off a curb or other item that finds it way into the eyes of a worker not wearing safety glasses. Fortunately, it was nothing more than an irritation for the worker, but accidents are reported every year as to the serious injuries that can occur to those using the saws or those working close by that do not have on the appropriate PPE. Hey contractor and construction leader, unless your foreman is especially disciplined to always ensure
that their workers are safely prepared, it is only normal to think that they might forego all the proper PPE at the moment of having to use the saw. Our role is to influence them to the point where they instinctively choose safety over expediency. Just think about this point, in less than 60-90 seconds the worker can put in place all of the needed PPE to safely operate the saw. Isn’t the safety of our workers, no matter how tight the schedule, more important to our long-term success? Here’s to slowing down the decision-making process just a few seconds to strengthen employee safety.
Brad Humphrey is Vice President of HR & Employee Development for Pavecon, a pavement maintenance leader in the industry. Brad is also known as The Contractor’s Best Friend. You can listen to Brad on the The Contractor’s Best Friend Podcasts, sponsored by Caterpillar and A.C. Business Media. Be sure to sign up for Brad’s workshops at the 2022 National Pavement Expo in Charlotte NC, February 23-25.
T c a c i c
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