Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction Oct/Nov 2022

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF NATIONAL PAVEMENT EXPO

MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022

How To Win New, Repeat Business

Getting Ready for

SNOW SEASON SPECIAL REPORT:

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF MODERN STREET SWEEPING PAVING THE WAY To An Automated Future ›››

Check out a bonus issue of SnowPro here ›› TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT ATTACHMENT P. 17 THE INS AND OUTS OF DE-ICERS

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THE SCOOP ON SNOW

› › › www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

THE SCOOP ON SNOW: CREWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY WEIGH IN ON THE INDUSTRY. An AC Business Media Supplement

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

October/November 2022 | Issue 4, Volume 35

WHAT’S INSIDE

ON THE COVER The “Broom Badger” by Elgin. A compact and highly maneuverable street sweeper, is the latest in the innovative lineup from one of the world’s leading manufacturers.

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

14 Paving The Way: An Automated Future

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How can the paving and road maintenance world adapt to the inevitable automation paradigm?

What can we learn from similar changes in other sectors of industry? The fully automated job site might be closer on the horizon than you think.

18 Street Sweeping:

The First Line of Defense Against Stormwater Pollution

The crucial job of Effectively integrating street sweepers into busy city-life is crucial to the fight against contaminants and “dead zones” in the local water supply.

Editorial The Ignite Construction Summit

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Hot Mix The latest news in the industry

10 The Product Lane Select new products and upgrades

12 NPE BUZZ Parties, Networking, Knowledge, And Equipment.

24 Contractor’s Choice Are you ready for snow season?

36 On The Job 9 Steps to Improving Air Sweeper Performance.

40 Owner’s Desk How Equipment Maintenance Saves You Money

42 Professional Development How to Win New, Repeat Business as a Contractor

43 WSA The Increasingly Complex Job of Contract Sweeping

44 Contractor’s Spotlight Joliet Asphalt Never Takes the Easy Way Out

50 Tailgate Talk Recruiting From The New “Pools of Candidates”

38 Your Business Matters Best Practices: Hiring During A Labor Shortage.

IN EVERY ISSUE 32

Pavement Profit Center

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Classifieds

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | October/November 2022 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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WHAT’S ONLINE Driveway Maintenance Guide A reference tool to help homeowners understand their driveway needs and the possible solutions, but can also be used by contractors as an educational selling tool for their customers as well.

For more information visit http://asphalt.com/umu5ux

How Can We Improve Pavement Longevity?

Asset owners have more pavements to maintain than money to do so which is why the industry needs to continually deploy proper preservation techniques to protect these investments

For more information visit http://asphalt.com/uchq3i

VIDEO: Industry Leading Training for Construction Professionals The Wirtgen America Center for Training & Technology features the education and training the construction industry needs.

For more information visit http://asphalt.com/rr01e9

ADVISORY BOARD Vol. 35, No. 4 October/November 2022

PAVEMENT

Published and copyrighted 2022 by AC Business Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.

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:

Agua Trucks Inc .................................................................... Wickenburg, AZ, Scott Duscher Asphalt Contractors Inc., Union Grove, WI............................................... Robert Kordus

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Asphalt Restoration Technology Systems, Orlando, FL ........................ Connie Lorenz Brahney Paving, Hillsborough, NJ .............................................................. Steven Brahney Eosso Brothers Paving; Hazlet, NJ ...................................................................... Tom Eosso Maul Paving/Concrete/Sealcoating, PLainfield, IL........................................ Chris Maul Parking Lot Maintenance, Lake St. Louis, MO .......................................... Todd Bruening Petra Paving, Hampstead, NH ...................................................................... Chris Tammany Pioneer Paving, Albuquerque, NM................................................................... Don Rooney Roberts Traffic, Hollywood, FL....................................................................... Lisa Birchfield

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Show Striping Inc. (SSI), Wisconsin Dells, WI ...................................... Amber Showalter T&N Asphalt Services, Salt Lake City, UT........................................................ Nick Howell Young Sealcoating Inc, Lynchburg, VA.............................................................Steve Young The Paving Lady............................................................................................... Mauro Comuzzi JMP Excelsior Services ............................................................................... Jim Panzenhagen Sweeping Industry Veteran..................................................................................Gabe Vitale Flat Nickel Management .................................................................................. Michael Nawa Wis-Coat Asphalt Maintenance .......................................................................Marvin Joles Clear Choice Sealing ......................................................................................Warren Johnson Jacketta Sweeping Services .........................................................................Debbie Jacketta ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES: Pavement Coatings Technology Council....................... Brian Riggs, Executive Director

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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Sealant Performance You Can Trust.

At Crafco, we pride ourselves on the quality of our sealants. Designed to work in all climates, standing up to the unforgiving elements from brutal winters to the extreme temperatures of desert climates.

Crafco sealants are made to deliver long-lasting protection, durability, and reliability, and all our sealants go through rigorous testing to deliver the best performance for your crack sealing job. And in a comprehensive study, our sealants demonstrated the longest service life in the industry. Performance, reliability, versatility, and value. Its why customers trust Crafco.

Visit crafco.com/sales to find out more.

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EDITORIAL

Premier Educational Event Announced for Paving & Pavement Maintenance Professionals

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he construction business landscape is tough right now. Owners and managers of paving and pavement Jessica Lombardo, maintenance companies are not only tasked with the labor Contributing Editor jLombardo@ACBusinessMedia.com issues faced by the entire country, but also supply chain shortages, 920.542.1247 regulatory changes, technology shifts and more.

With all of these challenges, construction business owners need to stay up-to-date in order to stay ahead, and we have designed the IGNITE Construction Summit specifically for that purpose. Our team has over 25 years of experience in this great industry, and we are fortunate to have learned from contractors across the country what knowledge helps them succeed.

Asphalt Contractor and Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction magazines have opened registration for the IGNITE Construction Summit, an in-person event to bring together pavement maintenance and asphalt paving business owners, as well as high-level managers dedicated to “lighting a fire” within their company.

The event is scheduled for December 7-9, 2022 at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, FL, kicking off with an opening industry roundtable to discuss the current state of the asphalt paving and pavement maintenance industries. Including what trends and challenges they should be on the lookout for in the months ahead.

Day two brings to the stage a keynote address from Andrew Davis, bestselling author and well-known speaker, to discuss how to lead through change and adversity, teaching companies how to grow their businesses, transform their cities, and leave their legacy.

Attendees will take part in four sessions with industry experts across the asphalt and pavement maintenance fields. Sessions will be dedicated to solving the critical issues contractors face right now with national association representatives. From winning more work to overcoming supply chain obstacles, regulatory issues and hiring struggles, each panel brings a wealth of ideas and perspective to empower attendees.

IGNITE also features a Keynote Panel from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. The panel will deep dive into their exclusive State of the Industry and What Lies Ahead report including valuable insight from leading manufacturers on what is coming down the road for the purchase of equipment and services.

The program will close with a session on technology and innovation that will leave contractors feeling ready to go back to their companies, embracing changes to fuel their growth.

We are extremely excited to bring this unprecedented level of thought leadership to IGNITE attendees. Education in the pavement industry is so important at every stage of business growth and these panelists will provide actionable insight that owners and managers can take back to their companies for immediate impact.

Register and plan to join us in December at www.IgniteConstructionSummit.com ■

PAVEMENT EDITORIAL Editor ............................................................................. Brandon Noel bnoel@acbusinessmedia.com

Contributing Editor .............................................Jessica Lombardo jlombardo@acbusinessmedia.com

Managing Editor ............................................................... Gigi Wood gwood@acbusinessmedia.com

Technology Editor.............................................. Charles Rathmann crathmann@acbusinessmedia.com AUDIENCE Audience Development Manager ........................ Angela Franks PRODUCTION Senior Production Manger ........................................ Cindy Rusch crusch@acbusinessmedia.com

Art Director ............................................................... April Van Etten ADVERTISING/SALES Publisher...................................................................... Amy Schwandt aschwandt@acbusinessmedia.com

Brand Director ..............................................................Sean Dunphy sdunphy@acbusinessmedia.com

Sales Associate ............................................................ Tadashi Soma tsoma@acbusinessmedia.com

Sales Associate .............................................................. Kris Flitcroft kflitcroft@acbusinessmedia.com

AC BUSINESS MEDIA Chief Executive Officer....................................................Ron Spink Chief Financial Officer .......................................... JoAnn Breuchel Chief Revenue Officer ............................................. Amy Schwandt Chief Digital Officer ................................................. Kris Heineman Brand Director, Supply Chain & Green Industry .. Jason Desarle Brand Director, Construction ..................................Sean Dunphy VP, Audience Development ................................... Ronda Hughes VP, Operations & IT ..................................................... Nick Raether Content Director ....................................................... Marina Mayer GM, Online & Marketing Services ............... Bethany Chambers Content Director, Marketing Services ...............Jess Lombardo Director, Demand Generation & Education ............. Jim Bagan Director, Enterprise Sales .................................... Kay Ross-Baker CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS P.O. Box 3605, Northbrook, IL 60065-3605 (877) 201-3915 | Fax: (847)-291-4816 circ.pavement@omeda.com

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

REPRINT SERVICES Tadashi Soma (800) 538-5544 ext. 1267 | tsoma@ACBusinessMedia.com Published and copyrighted 2022 by AC Business Media.

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

@PAVEMENTMAGAZINE @PAVEMENTMAGAZINE @PAVEMENTMAGAZINE @PAVEMENTMAINTENANCE

Published by AC BUSINESS MEDIA 201 N. Main Street, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 (800) 538-5544 • www.ACBusinessMedia.com

WWW.FORCONSTRUCTIONPROS.COM/PAVEMENT

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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WOMEN OF ASPHALT APPOINTS BETH DUFFUS

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omen of Asphalt (WofA) is excited and proud to announce the appointment of Beth Duffus to its Board of Trustees. Beth has paved her career as an experienced Project Manager with over 15 years’ experience at Granite Construction Company (Granite).

On behalf of the entire WofA Board of Trustees, we warmly welcome Ms. Duffus and look forward to her contribution,” said Sheila Barkevich, WofA Board President. “Her experience in managing paving projects is sure to be a major asset to our organization as we continue to grow.”

Volunteering as President for the first two years, Beth forged the direction of and championed the continued growth of GROW to the success it is today. She is still actively involved in GROW as Past President. In addition to her involvement with GROW, Beth is also actively engaged with Granite’s outreach efforts, including at the Boys and Girls Club and local elementary schools, to promote a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

In 2020, Beth was selected as one of twenty Women to Watch in 2020 by Women of Asphalt – a testament of her leadership within the asphalt industry, affecting positive change, serving as a mentor, and giving back to her community. She has demonstrated that women, like herself, can be successful in a male-dominated industry.

“I’m honored, and I’m grateful to the Board for the opportunity to help lead this organization of dedicated and talented professionals,” said Duffus. “I am looking forward to inspiring our future leaders and empowering my industry peers.”

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SHELL’S BITUMEN CARBONSINK USED IN FRANCE FOR FIRST TIME TO HELP DECARBONISE CONSTRUCTION Shell Bitumen CarbonSink, Shell’s new bio-component binder that locks carbon within roads instead of releasing it back into the atmosphere, has been used in France for the first time.

Karp-Kneip Constructions led the project, where 20 tonnes of Shell Bitumen CarbonSink was used in the construction of a car park at Brumath Enrobés’s asphalt production plant in Bas-Rhin, Alsace. The asphalt for this project was laid by civil construction company, Trabet.

Shell Bitumen CarbonSink contains a new biocomponent binder that locks carbon into asphalt and bitumen, turning the road into a technical carbon sink. The high level of asphalt recycling around the world ensures carbon remains locked in the binder, even when it is recycled and re-used in the manufacture of new asphalts or other civil engineering applications.

“The decarbonisation of the construction industry is a challenge that will require effort from each part of the value chain, and this project is a great example of that type of cross-sector collaboration,” said Ana Alvernhe, General Manager for Europe, Shell Construction and Road. “At Shell, we want to use our experience in the energy industry to deliver innovations that can support our customers’ net-zero ambitions – so it is fantastic to see Shell Bitumen CarbonSink used for the first time in France, helping to drive the decarbonisation of construction in another important market.”

The technical carbon sink created by Shell Bitumen CarbonSink locks in up to 250kg of CO2 equivalent into each tonne of bitumen and by up to 13kg of CO2 equivalent.1, 2 in each tonne of asphalt. This means up to six tonnes of CO2 equivalent can be locked in per kilometre of road.3 Shell Bitumen CarbonSink, which has already been deployed in the UK by Aggregate Industries for its SuperLow-Carbon asphalt, is being launched in multiple markets to be used at scale across the global road network.

Contractor Awards Nominations Now Open It’s that time of year again submit your best or most-challenging jobs so you can enter them to receive a 2023 Pavement Award. Presented by Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction, the annual awards provide industry-wide recognition for contractors involved in all aspects of pavement maintenance.

For the tenth year in a row, we will recognize contractors and their crews for their 2022 efforts, and entries are open for: • Seal & Stripe: Small Job • Seal & Stripe: Large Job • Paving: Non-Parking Lot

• Paving: Parking Lot • Good Neighbor Award (charitable efforts) • Best Marketing Video • Best of the Web All entries must be made online at ForConstructionPros.com/ PavementAwards - and entering is easy.

All that’s required is a brief description of the job and its challenges, including an explanation of why the job should be recognized. Then upload two highresolution photos and you’re done!

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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

Photo provided by Trimble Industries

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EAGLE CRUSHER CO. NAMES NEW PRESIDENT

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Trimble Acquires B2W Software

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rimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) announced today it has acquired privately-held B2W Software, a leading provider of estimating and operations solutions for the heavy civil construction industry. Financial terms were not disclosed.

With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and other infrastructure legislation across the globe, construction organizations are fast tracking the digitization of their processes and operations. As infrastructure projects become increasingly complex, data-driven insights and analytics will be imperative to improve productivity, increase efficiency and drive sustainability.

“Seamlessly connected workflows are key to unlocking the true potential of an organization’s data,” said Elwyn McLachlan, vice president of Trimble’s Civil Solutions Division. “With the acquisition of B2W, Trimble will be able to provide an unparalleled end-to-end digital experience—connecting the digital to the physical— for heavy civil and infrastructure contractors.” The addition of B2W’s comprehensive suite of pre-construction and operations capabilities will expand Trimble’s already extensive civil infrastructure portfolio and Trimble Construction One, a purposebuilt connected construction management platform. B2W’s integrated suite of applications includes estimating, scheduling, field tracking, equipment maintenance, data capture and business intelligence. By combining these capabilities with Trimble’s rich field data, project management, finance and human capital management solutions, civil contractors will be able to bridge the gap between office and field in new ways, promoting transparency, efficiency and ultimately profitability. “B2W has helped thousands of heavy civil contractors increase their bid accuracy and operational efficiency,” said Paul McKeon, B2W founder and CEO. “And now with Trimble, we can realize the next chapter of our story. By linking the planned with the executed, we will provide civil contractors with a truly connected construction experience, unlocking valuable new insights for our customers across their entire operation.”

Eagle Crusher Co., Inc. is announcing that Mike Tinkey has been promoted to President of the company, effective immediately. Tinkey previously served as CFO since joining Eagle Crusher in 2002. Susanne Cobey, who previously served as president, will remain as CEO of the company.

Previously Tinkey served as CEO, Holbrook & Manter, Inc.; CFO, Ohio Industries, Inc.; and accounting and audit manager, Ciuni & Panichi, Inc. In naming Tinkey president, Cobey stated, “I have been with Eagle Crusher Co. for nearly 48 years, 32 as president and CEO. I have worked closely with Mike for the past 20 years. As someone who shares a similar company vision, truly understands the industry, and exemplifies a leadership style that recognizes the value of the entire Eagle Crusher team of employees to accomplish goals, I can think of no better person to see Eagle Crusher through its continual growth and take the company to the next level. Already handling many of the responsibilities that the role of president entails, Mike is well positioned for his new role.”

Of his new position, Tinkey stated, “We have an exceptionally talented team at Eagle Crusher, focused on the continued expansion of our product line to provide the best customer solutions in the industry. I look forward to working closely with Susanne and our entire team to usher in Eagle Crusher’s next chapter of growth and success.”

For more information visit http://asphalt.com/xn24bs

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | October/November 2022 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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

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Rosco NV55 Self Propelled Broom

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VT LeeBoy

Bobcat L65 and L85 Compact Wheel Loaders Bobcat Co.

The multi-functional joystick control lever combined with fingertip controls provide precision movement during operation while the standard configuration features wrap-around windows that give the operator remarkable visibility while residing in the comfortable fullyenclosed cab.

• Requiring only one person, the quick-change core system permits the replacement of a brush in minutes limiting downtime • 74 hp Hatz Diesel Engine w/Rotary Pre-Cleaner • 6,900 lbs weight without water • 7-ft. 6-in. Diameter heavy-duty frame with quick change poly-tube brush • Two-Speed hydrostatic drive with shift on the move functionality

The 55-hp L65 and 68-hp L85 offer 9,944- and 11,164-lb. operating weights with rated operating capacities ranging from 3,133 to 3,759 lbs. and 3,974 to 4,786 lbs., respectively.

• Redesigned 2.4L, turbocharged, Tier 4 engine and electronic hydrostatic transmission (E-HST) • Include articulated steering, two-speed travel, advanced attachment control mode, bucket level indicator, differential lock, Bob-Tach System and more • Z-bar linkage design provides enhanced bucket breakout force while keeping loads parallel with the ground for minimal spillage • Roomy cab offers low noise levels, intuitive controls, a 5-in. display with Jog Shuttle and comfortable seat with adjustable, seat-mounted joystick

www.ForConstructionPros.com/21120243

www.ForConstructionPros.com/21759816

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Kaeser Mobilair M59PE Portable Compressor Kaeser Compressors Inc.

Available in two models that can deliver 135 to 165 scfm with a pressure range of 150 to 200 psig or 165 to 195 scfm with a pressure range of 100 to 150 psig.

• Hatz Tier 4 Final diesel engine • Anti-frost Control automatically adjusts operating temperature based on ambient conditions • Sigma Control Smart with easy to use menu display allows user to adjust settings and monitor fuel consumption, fluid levels and operating conditions • Wide-opening, scratch- and dent-resistant, molded polymer gullwing doors • Optional tool lubricator www.ForConstructionPros.com/22043435

4 N.I. Wilson Model X2 300 Self-Propelled Sealcoating Machine N.I. Wilson Mfg. Co.

A dual rear wheel drive unit powered by a 24-hp Honda engine.

• 8-ft. hydraulic angle squeegee • 4-in. material valve • Large capacity stainless steel water tank • Reversible agitation • 2-in. side dump valve • Hydraulic oil cooler www.ForConstructionPros.com/21771937

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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Read more at: http://asphalt.com/uoj9nq

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Mi-T-M Inverter Generators

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Mi-T-M Corporation

Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform for Soil Compactors Trimble

These inverter generators range from 2,000 to 8,000 watts and come with a carbon monoxide (CO) detector and auto shutdown if CO levels become unsafe.

• 2,000- and 2,500-watt models feature GFCI-protected receptacles, lightweight frames and are designed for easy hand carrying • 3,500-watt model comes with an open frame design for easy accessibility and portability • 4,000- and 8,000-watt versions include recoil and electric start with a sealed battery, handles and wheels for portability and digital displays with LED lighting • Compact, powerful and quiet units suited for charging tools and powering sensitive equipment

Horizontal Steering Control functionality on the Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform for Soil Compactors provides an automatic steering control solution for soil compactors. Horizontal Steering Control automatically steers a soil compactor using a 3D model or compaction pass line, helping to improve compaction productivity and quality for operators of all skill levels by precisely controlling overlap between passes. Auto steering helps reduce operator fatigue while minimizing over- and under-compaction, providing a more consistent sub surface for a higher quality, longer lasting finished product. Compatibility with all soil compactor makes and models enables contractors with mixed fleets to achieve a faster return on investment. www.ForConstructionPros.com/22056666

www.ForConstructionPros.com/22056663

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Attentive Automated Site Measurements Attentive

An automated property measurement tool for paving maintenance professionals.

This AI-based tool will allow paving professionals to obtain automated site measurements for asphalt area, crack length, parking stall striping length and more.

This tool can be used by both commercial and residential paving and snow contractors.

“Working with paving companies, what we often hear is a lot of time is wasted on traveling to the site and manually measuring areas for paving job estimates. Our tool will help sales teams cut down on time-consuming manual tasks like measuring sites for services like parking lot sealcoating, line striping, sweeping even crack sealing, etc.,” said Shiva Dhawan, co-founder and CEO of Attentive.

The company brings years of experience to this product. It has a similar product for landscaping and snow industries, which was launched in April last year. www.ForConstructionPros.com/22340303

8 RedMax EBZ8560 RedMax

Passing a 4,000-hour durability test, this backpack blower is designed for lawn maintenance professionals. The RedMax EBZ8560 generates 15 percent more blowing force than its predecessor (the EBZ8550). This backpack blower is equipped the RedMax Strato-Charged 2-stroke engine, which features high engine compression. Paired with the high-flow volute, the EBZ8560 produces 1,000 CFM of air volume at speeds of 220 MPH at the nozzle. The product features cushioned straps and a ventilated back pad to reduce fatigue. Whether it’s lawn clippings, leaves or other heavy debris, the EBZ8560 helps operators clear large areas. The RedMax EBZ8560 backpack blower is available at local dealerships. www.ForConstructionPros.com/22353346

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | October/November 2022 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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NPE BUZZ |

BY PORSCHA BROOKS

NPE BUZZ: 4 Pillars of the Expo

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ducational Advisory Board (EAB) members for the National Pavement Expo (NPE) and Conference completed their work this summer, pouring over proposals and selecting compelling educational topics and knowledgeable speakers. It’s all part of the run-up to the event which is scheduled for Jan. 25-27, 2023 in Charlotte, N.C. For EAB member Todd Eichholz, owner and CEO of A&A Paving, Roselle, Ill., the process of choosing educational sessions became a bit easier, thanks to a slight shift in submission rules. “We used to put out a call for speakers and everybody would submit classes they wanted to teach,” Eichholz explains. “This year, we gave guidance on the types of classes that we wanted.

These are the topics that we believe can really help contractors move to the next level of their business. We then picked the best of that class and really determined the best speakers and the best content.”

The show brings together vendors and contractors who make their living from asphalt and concrete paving, sealcoating, striping, sweeping, crack repair, pavement repair and snow removal. Early Bird registration rates are in effect for NPE through Oct. 28, 2022. After that, Advance Rates will be

on offer until Nov. 31. Ultimately, the cost of registration amounts to a wise investment that can have tangible effects on your business.

“Since I started attending NPE, I've grown my business five times the size it used to be, because I’ve made relationships with other owners and contractors throughout the whole country,” Eichholz says. “These are people I can call and I'm texting every single day asking, ‘How did you do this?

What worked for you?’ I'm learning from people who have much larger companies and I'm always trying to help those who are still in the early stages — because I've already made the mistakes.

The relationships I've formed at NPE, coupled with what I’ve learned from speakers and equipment manufacturers, is why my company is five times the size it was when I first started attending.”

The potent combination of structured educational sessions, show floor interaction, and networking events are all in place and a great way to start the kind of relationships that can help any business. NPE recently announced that a networking party at the Nascar Hall of Fame has been confirmed for Thursday, Jan. 26 from 6-9 p.m. More details will be revealed at nationalpavementexpo.com.

Eichholz has a message for contractors who’ve never made the trip to NPE, or those who have not been back for a few years; Now is the time to gather inspiration, knowledge and contacts. “Pavement maintenance will always happen,” he says. “We're a very important industry and there will always be the need for work. Contractors must learn how to adapt and evolve so they can stay relevant and profitable. That's why you need to come to NPE. If you can't adapt and evolve, you're going to be left in the dust.”

While the billions spent on infrastructure don’t necessarily filter down to the NPE audience, there’s a silver lining that bodes well. “When there's not a lot of infrastructure and road work, the bigger companies start playing in our sandbox,” Eichholz says. “They'll tend to take work very cheaply just to keep busy. If they are busy, there's less competition for our type of work. We want to keep those infrastructure types doing what they're best at, and leave the work that we're the best at to us. The Infrastructure Act will keep them busy.” ■

For more information visit http://asphalt.com/ u2s0gw

From NPE official Facebook page

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE |

BY BRANDON NOEL, EDITOR Provided by Trimble Industries

PAVING THE WAY:

An Automated Future “The Future is Already Here, it’s Just Not Very Evenly Distributed.”

-William Gibson, American author

How will the paving and road maintenance world adapt to a new automation paradigm?

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he specter of robotics casts as large a shadow as it ever has. It's a concept that dates as far back as the early futurist visions of 1960s America, and, even earlier in fiction.

The idea of articulated, intelligent machines doing the work previously exclusive to manual, human labor is nothing new. However, many significant advances have been made in the realm of artificial intelligence, as well as other strides in general computational power and robotics in the last decade.

These technological leaps suggest that the automated future may be poised to make the transition from fiction and frequent political talking point, to a broadly tangible reality.

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THE FUTURE IS ALREADY HERE The first question that immediately comes to people's minds, when the subject of automation comes up, is: When? But that could be interpreted as the wrong question to ask at this point in history, because the very real answer to it is, “now,” or even, “yesterday.” So much of our lives, daily interactions, and facets of industry are already heavily automated.

Automation takes so many different forms, though, so it is able to often go unnoticed when something that used to be done by a living, breathing person is sublimated by either an intelligent algorithm, advanced mechanical process, or something else on that spectrum.

Other times, the automation around us is camouflaged by a human worker visibly participating alongside a robot on an assembly line, in the operator’s cab, or even in a fast-food kitchen. What's even harder to see are the ways that a single laborer's efforts are now exponentially more efficient due to the discreetly automated systems around them, and how with their assistance, one person can now do the work of several.

In an article about the impact of automation by Harry J. Holzer (Senior fellow of economics studies at

EXTRA CREDIT: THE PRODUCTIVITY PAY GAP There’s an often cited reality when discussing the stagnation of wages for “unskilled” labor versus the skyrocketing levels of efficiency and productivity that labor produces.

According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) “Productivity measures how much total economy wide income is generated (i.e., for workers, business owners, landlords, and everybody else together) in an average hour of work. As productivity grows and each hour of work generates more income over time, it creates the potential for improving living standards across the board.”

However, since the 1970s certain policy decisions and trends in the U.S. delinked wages and productivity. This includes, but is not limited to, anti-union activities by employers being tolerated, decreases in tax rates for the richest Americans, the unraveling of antitrust laws, and the deregulation of the trucking and airline sectors.

What this amounts to is shocking.

From the end of the 1970s to 2020, net worker productivity rose a staggering 61.8% while the hourly wages for workers only increased by 17.5%, adjusted for inflation.

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Georgetown University), published by the Brookings Institution in January 2022, the author tries to offer a balanced perspective, "On one hand, automation often creates as many jobs as it destroys over time. Workers who can work with machines are more productive than those without them; this reduces both the costs and prices of goods and services...On the other hand, there are workers who lose out, particularly those directly displaced by the machines and those who must now compete with them."

Previous sectors of the economy have already gone through waves of automation, experiencing both situations described by Holzer. Some tasks were eliminated, but others were created to work alongside the machines. When considering how this might play out in the pavement and road maintenance industry, though a similar pattern might eventually emerge, for now it appears that the majority role automation will play is in partnering and enhancing the work that laborers are currently doing almost entirely manually.

This cooperative “semi-automation”, and the accompanying labor paradigm it creates, really forces the conversation into a point of delineation. What do we mean by autonomy? What does it look like now? What will it look like in the near future? What will it mean for the job site of tomorrow? There aren’t answeres for all these questions, yet, but the industry is daily looking for them.

NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED Devin Laubhan is the Paving Product Manager at Trimble, who's technology and products are directly involved with the development and deployment of autonomous solutions for construction companies, amongst many other data driven tools. When asked about the current state of automation in the industry, he replied, "I like to use the term semi-autonomous. In my mind, the word 'autonomy' specifically relates to removing a person from the cab or

the operator platform of a machine, it then solely functions based on commands inputs into that machine.

In the world of paving we have been somewhat semi-autonomous for years now."

But what about "full" autonomy?

Is that on the table any time soon?

Laubhan said, "Yes. We are working on fully autonomous machine solutions, and have started, specifically, with soil compaction."

In other fields, they’ve had options for a long time, "Since 2013, we've had a solution for our concrete pavers to be able to steer and control their elevation according to 3D designs created with Trimble Business Center software.

“This is executed without operator intervention, though a human is still responsible for moving it forward and stopping, that’s a part of the process we don’t control automatically."

It is clear that the autonomous "revolution" isn't on the way, its here, in fact, it's been here for some time already. The distinguishing factor about it, however, is its pace and distribution. Rather than an explosive revolution, where an entire industry is flipped upside down all at once, like when digital downloads and torrenting caused a rapid change in the music and entertainment world; this transformation is much more gradual.

Our robot overlord's takeover has rolled out piecemeal, in a segregated development. As each phase unfolds, a paradigm shift in one sector of the workforce acts as a leapfrog for the next. The general feelings amongst experts is fairly obvious. Everyone is sitting on a ticking clock. The question then becomes: where is the paving and road maintenance industry at in this revolution?

Laubhan offered this, as way of explanation, "Generally, dirt sites can be very easily contained. We can set up avoidance zones or boundaries and make sure that equipment only works and travels within those boundaries.

The thing that really separates the

paving world from earthmoving is that we are generally working in areas of live traffic, with a lot of people around.

When we’re up against buildings and homes and traffic, there’s a safety element that we have to really focus on before we can adapt autonomous solutions to asphalt equipment, specifically."

For the time being, at least for Trimble, fully automated asphalt paving isn’t on the table, but it is likely only a matter of time. “There’s quite a bit that that has the potential for growth in the paving world,” according to Laubhan, however, Trimble’s focus is on connecting entire jobsites, rather than automating individual pieces of equipment.

“The goal of autonomy is to increase the efficiency of any job site, whether it’s earthmoving, or paving, or a building construction site – or something else.

Every contractor wants to complete projects faster, cheaper, safer and greener.

We want them to have more control and a better overall understanding of their operations, so they see where they can improve, where they may be lacking, and where they can use this information to make better decisions.”

DEVELOPMENT VS. ADOPTION THRESHOLD The creation of a new or future generation of automated road building or road maintenance machines is only one aspect of their eventual rise. As has been written about here already, the technology for this reality already exists, but putting it all together into a platform, like say a street-sweeper for example, and selling it on the market is an entirely different situation. The market is already in the middle of a major change, towards electrification, and that alone,

Provided by Trimble Industries

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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

in some ways, makes the question of autonomy both closer at hand (since newer vehicles are arriving much smarter than previous generations), as well as, remaining an open question mark.

When asked about the future of development and autonomy, Tim Letts, product manager for the Elgin Sweeper Company, said about this scenario, "Right now we've been focusing our efforts and our resources on other more immediate needs, like electrification, because in our minds, that's more of a pressing customer need and want than the autonomy."

However, it’s still in the pipeline.

"It is something the industry is going to. [We are] definitely on the road to autonomy, and we'll get there because our products kind of lead into that, even if it is baby steps towards it."

But as billions of federal dollars pour into the economy, hastening the electrification of industrial fleets, might that impact those customer wants and needs?

Letts continued, "They're not exactly in parallel development. But they're kind of going along together hand-in-hand.

The amount that you can control with an electric vehicle to begin with, it's vastly superior compared to a diesel truck. For an autonomous vehicle to be the standard..." Letts paused, seeming to consider unspoken factors, "I don't know if that might ever be the standard in our lifetime, to be quite honest."

But there are options for "early adopters" that could divert some of the burden of capital investment. Trimble's Laubhan explains an alternative, "We don't necessarily need brand new machines, older machines can definitely be retrofitted with autonomous technologies." But this option has its own limitations Laubhan says, "It comes down to indication systems versus automatic systems. On older machines, we can install indication systems where we tell the operator, 'Here's where you need to guide your excavator bucket to be, to dig out this trench at this slope', but we don't actually perform any of the automatics for the operator."

However, retrofitting newer machines, made within the last eight years, yields greater improvements. "They come from the factory a lot smarter than they used to. They have integrations for our external machine control systems.

They have electronic control modules connected to the cloud," Laubhan said.

"We're able to provide a little bit more for those. The operator just has to sit in the cab and pull the stick and the excavator bucket will actually follow a design slope that is built into it. So, the operator doesn't need to control three independent movements of the boom, they just need to control one: pull it back and push it forward."

Provided by Trimble Industries

The threshold for adopting autonomous vehicles has other hurdles too, not just related to costs. Letts pointed out, "When you throw in another level of software [like artificial intelligence], it's going to be a hurdle, and regulations might have to come before we can really gain some traction."

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) only a single state has yet to make autonomous vehicles (AV) legally deployable (Oklahoma) though there are varying degrees of licensure, certification and insurance requirements that can range from $2 million to $5 million in liability coverage. Twelve states are open to AV testing, and three states permit only commercial use vehicles. To Tim Lett's point, there is a lot of grey area out there in the world of AVs, and a lot of ground work legislation still needs to be hammered out before the market can really know what will be most viable.

END OF LINE Sometimes it can feel like our modern world is full of technological marvels, and then we take a look around and wonder where the jet-packs and the flying cars are? While some thing have taken huge leaps forward, like communication technologies, others haven't taken as big of steps as was expected by popular thought. But where do those expectations come from?

Often times they enter the social and collective consciousness through media, entertainment, and science fiction.

As a way of extrapolating from those shared notions about the future, the question still remains about the timeline to a future of fully automatic machines.

Fifty years? One-hundred years? Trimble's team wouldn't answer specifically, but would speak to the idea itself.

"I do think that is where the industry is headed. Now, how long it takes us to get there, that's another question.

But I do believe that fully autonomous machines will definitely be a part of our future," Laubhan said. "There are quite a few technological leaps that [still] need to happen. But those innovations are happening quite frequently nowadays, because there are so many talented, intelligent people who are who are working on it. I think it is achievable."

For now, what appears to be a consensus among experts is: no matter how many tasks machines are able to take over responsibility for, the human element will not be fully eliminated.

It is much more likely that the human laborer will be shifted around, taking on different types of tasks, wether as operators, maintenance, or support staff.

The resulting world will look different, just like it does already compared to the 1980's or 1990's. Our smart devices are integrated into the fabric of our lives, even our ways of thinking. It is possible to see a future where the prevalence of artificial intelligence and automated machines are so commonplace, that we barely notice it at all. ■

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SPECIAL REPORT: STREET SWEEPING

BY RANGER KIDWELL-ROSS, ROGER C. SUTHERLAND

THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST 18

STORMW POLLUT

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Adobe Stock/ irontrybex

Effectively integrating street sweepers into busy city-life is crucial to the fight against contaminants

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MWATER UTION

utrient pollution can create dead zones — areas in water with little or no oxygen — where aquatic life cannot survive.

Also known as hypoxia, these areas are caused by algae blooms that consume oxygen as it dies and decomposes.

According to the EPA, “Over 166 dead zones have been documented nationwide, affecting water bodies like the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is the largest in the United States, measured to be 5,840 square miles in 2013.” 1 Two of the largest contributors to hypoxia occur when total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) are allowed to enter waterways.

Much of the TN and TP entering water bodies stems from impervious surfaces, primarily to pavement-based stormwater runoff.

As some readers of Pavement magazine may be aware, a variety of Best Management Practices (BMPs) are currently being used in an attempt to mitigate such runoff. With the fiscal challenges posed by the pandemic, many U.S. communities find their organizations strapped for financial resources. That makes it more important than ever to operate all such programs as cost-effectively as possible.

Although street sweeping is listed as one of the available BMPs for stormwater pollution mitigation, due to lack of information on the relative costeffectiveness of current sweepers to remove TN and TP — as well as sweeping’s cost-effectiveness in removing particulate matter (PM) in general — many, if not most, professionals tasked with stormwater runoff

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SPECIAL REPORT: STREET SWEEPING

Adobe Stock/batuhan toker

pollution removal do not currently utilize sweepers at the frequency indicated by now-available data.

Historically, when budgets are tight, many municipalities have reduced their street sweeping programs or put them on the chopping block. However, in communities that have a commitment to cleaning up their urban waterways in the most cost-effective way possible, the latest studies show that street sweeping frequencies should be increased, especially in communities that are currently sweeping less frequently than a minimum of monthly.

Thanks to the University of Florida, in conjunction with the Florida Stormwater Association and 14 MS4s (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems) throughout Florida, we now have statistically-determinant proof from that state that an effective street sweeping program provides the most cost-effective first line of defense against stormwater pollution. Over a 12-year study period from 2007 to 2019, sweeping was shown to be by far the singular BMP a community can implement to obtain the lowest cost per pound removal of three key materials: TP, TN and PM. The study, estimated to have cost well over $2 million to conduct, showed street sweeping to be, compared to the next cheapest practice, an average of 5.4 times less expensive for TN removal;

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5.6 times less expensive for TP removal; and 6.4 times less expensive for PM removal. For all three pollutants the next cheapest practice was the periodic cleaning of sediment-trapping catch basins. 2 The exhaustive study found, as an example, the median cost of removing a pound of phosphorus via street sweeping was $257 — compared to a removal cost of $1,656/lb via catch basin cleaning, $7,450 for a baffled hydrodynamic separator, $9,210 for a screened hydrodynamic separator and $32,600 for wet basin sedimentation followed by granular media filtration.

That means street sweeping was up to 127 times more costeffective than the other various end-of-the-pipe treatment practices currently being employed.

The study results are statistically defensible at a 95% confidence level (CL) when combining all 14 MS4s for PM, TN and TP. The study showed conclusively the vital importance of street particulate recovery — and that the more PM a MS4 recovers, the more the pollutants are reduced in stormwater.

A 2021 presentation in conjunction with Minnesota Cities Stormwater Coalition (MCSC) and the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance (NMSA) also documented an astonishing cost-effectiveness for phosphorus removal via street sweeping:

Minnesota study results found that at certain times of the year, sweeping removes P for under $100/lb total cost!

Randy Neprash, on staff at MCSC and vice-chair of NMSA, says, “[that] makes street sweeping one of the most costeffective, as well as just plain effective, stormwater BMPs available.”3 He also emphasizes that cities with significant tree canopy cover, or ones that are increasing tree cover, should enhance their street sweeping programs.

As a direct result of the data collected, the State of Minnesota is enacting a system of credits — based directly on the amount of debris collected by street sweepers — back to its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permittees. Neprash also recommends “MS4 cities around the U.S. should work with their respective states to recognize the work that has been done by the State of Minnesota with the goal of having them enact a similar crediting system. As has long been advocated by the authors of this article, Neprash further suggests that city sweeping programs become part of their stormwater program so as to be eligible to use stormwater utility funds and other funding sources for buying and operating street sweepers.

Especially in the current tough financial times, the comparitvely costly end-of-the-pipe pollution removal practices are what should be examined for potential cuts, provided cuts are warranted. One caveat when discussing cuts to those practices is that we are referring to various publicly-funded, retrofit projects that include end-of-the-pipe treatment practices, including low impact development (LID) or green infrastructure (GI) retrofit practices. The data from both Minnesota and Florida show conclusively that, measured on unit cost basis of dollars per pound of pollutant removed, end-of-pipe retrofit practices are orders of magnitude more expensive.

That said, projects mandated by regulations and/or funded privately should be continued since their elimination will not result in any financial savings for community budgets.

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SPECIAL REPORT: STREET SWEEPING

Additionally, a range of actions are available to increase the amount of PM being captured by street sweeping programs, thus further improving the effectiveness of a street sweeping program’s ability to remove pollutants from stormwater. As examples, typical value-added measures include proper selection of the type of sweeper being used on particular routes (e.g., mechanical broom, regenerative air, vacuum); the forward operating speed of the sweeper, upkeep and repair and, of course, the frequency of cleaning.

However, to maximize contaminated material captured, modeling studies have repeatedly shown mandatory vehicle removal during sweeping to be by far the most important single practice because it can increase PM and other pollutant pickup by 30% to 60% (depending on parking density) without a significant increase in program cost. In fact, parking fines collected from violators will greatly offset or even pay for the cost of implementing and operating any such vehicle removal program.

The authors recognize that implementing and maintaining a mandatory car removal program can be a challenging task, one viewed by many in their communities as controversial and, so, politically difficult. When a program of this type is being considered, citizens often raise concerns about being reminded when to move their cars, being notified of last minute changes in the sweeping schedule, when to move their cars back to the curb and, assurances that they won’t get a ticket if they move their cars back after the sweeper goes by, but before the posted no parking timeframe expires.

Perhaps, the greatest news on vehicle removal we can share with you is that emergent technologies have new, positive answers to the above. Mobile-based technologies are now available that can effectively address these types of concerns in a resident-friendly manner.

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Such technologies can be used initially to identify where, specifically throughout a community, parked vehicles pose the biggest problem for efficient sweeper pickup. Once this information is known, the pollutant removal increase that a vehicle removal program provides a community can be determined for each street sweeping route or, more specifically, for each street segment where parking significantly interferes with street sweeping effectiveness.

Adobe Stock/ 446438853

Today’s technology can also, when implemented, remind residents of scheduled sweeping events and any lastminute changes to those plans. Cities large and small have begun offering email notifications based upon their street sweeping schedule. The city of Los Angeles has developed a Street Sweeping Near Me app that currently offers email message sweeping schedule reminders. New Haven, Conn., calls its sweeping alert system, New Haven Alerts. Even relatively tiny Uwchlan Township, Penn., offers a Notify Me(reg) app that does the same.

A more widespread app called SpotAngels automatically remembers someone’s parking location using the vehicle's Bluetooth. It then sends a notification when it's time to move the

car for street cleaning or any other street parking rule.

Emerging technologies may now be developed to allow a resident to see where the sweepers are in real time, as well as where they are going, along with an estimated time of arrival (ETA) at their residence. Technology can also be utilized to ensure only those who failed to move their vehicles prior to the sweeper going by are ticketed. Plus, the ticketing can now be done in a more cost-effective way that also ensures that those ticketed have proof their vehicles actually blocked the sweeper from doing its job.

As a result of these two exhaustive pollutant abatement studies in Florida and Minnesota, along with the emergent game-changing technologies, each and every urbanized community in America can make 2022 the year when the effectiveness of their efforts to remove contaminants from their stormwater can take a huge step forward.

An effective, well-run street sweeping program — one that includes mandatory vehicle removal during sweeping where warranted — is clearly the first line of defense in the abatement of pavementbased stormwater pollution. America’s sweeping and stormwater professionals now have proof positive that street sweeping should always be included as the first element when designing a designated treatment train. ■

For more information visit http://asphalt.com/ zn0398 REFERENCES

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1. According to the latest data available; see: https://www. epa.gov/nutrientpollution/ effects-environment 2. https://www.worldsweeper. com/Street/Studies/ UFloridaSansaloneInterview12.19. html 3. https://www.worldsweeper. com/Street/Studies/ NeprashMinnesota5.21.html

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CONTRACTOR’S CHOICE |

BY JESSICA LOMBARDO

Are You Ready for the

SNOW SEASON? From making sure you have the right equipment in your fleet to maintaining the assets you already own, seasonal contractors need to be ready for when their snow removal customers need them

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reparation for plowing snow properly begins long before that first flake falls. Equipment, materials, storage, handling, mobilization and staffing planning, route mapping and a host of other details all need to be prepped before you can have a successful snow removal season. Prevent surprises and costly downtime this winter by doing everything possible to inspect and repair equipment now.

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PREP THE PLOW Your plow is the heart of your snow removal operation and you need to be sure everything that has to do with this piece of equipment is ready to go when the snow flies.

Some of the common areas that are covered during a pre-season plow inspection include: • Changing the hydraulic fluid • Greasing the vertical pin (on v-plows) and other important wear points • Clean, inspect and grease all electrical connections • Check all nuts and bolts for tightness

• Check the plow cylinders, hoses and pump for leaks • Tighten the trip and return springs • Inspect all welds in plow structure and vehicle mount • Inspect and re-torque all fasteners on the vehicle mount • Inspect the lights and properly adjust and align the plow lights • Make sure all plow functions work properly You should also make sure the truck is ready to operate. Check your vehicle’s tire pressure, engine belts for cracks and tightness, hoses for leaks and

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“Assess your fleet in the offmonths and plan for any new machines and attachments that need to be purchased”

vehicle fluid levels including the engine oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, battery, radiator coolant and windshield washer fluid. Examine the battery terminals for corrosion and make sure the connections are tight. Ensure the vehicle windshield wipers and defrosters are in good shape and working properly.

Check the vehicle headlights, brake

lights and turn signals to be sure they are in good working order, and see if your strobe light is working if you have one. Also, look under the vehicle for obvious signs of leaking fluid.

NOTE: You should never run out of fuel, so make sure your fuel tank is full before going out to plow.

ADD-ON ATTACHMENTS Everyone knows it is important to assess your fleet in the off-months and plan for any new machines and attachments that need to be purchased for the upcoming season. In addition to your plow, there are other pieces of equipment to consider adding to your fleet for snow removal.

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CONTRACTOR’S CHOICE

HOW CWLS CAN MAKE SNOW DAYS EASIER As we prepare for another winter of snow removal, some of you may be tuning up your skid steers or compact track loaders. But have you ever considered a compact wheel loader (CWL) for this job?

CWLs offer a higher vantage point and impressive versatility you may not even know you need until you try them. They are operator-friendly for all skill levels and maneuver better when it comes to lifting and dumping snow into a truck.

Tracks were developed for skid steers and CTLs to reduce ground disturbance or give better flotation in soft ground conditions, but wheels typically cause fewer issues on asphalt and concrete. Plus, tracks can be quite costly to replace and take more technical assistance to change or fix than tires do.

Some people call their CWL a Swiss Army knife because of all the jobs it can accomplish. Because its wide array of features can be overwhelming, I suggest working with your local dealer to determine what options are right for you.

This might include snow pushers, buckets, heated mirrors and even a sand or salt spreader on the back. You’ll want the best lighting possible since snow removal is often done in the dark, so keep this in mind when choosing machine options.

It’s a good idea to get a hydraulic quick coupler to make switching attachments even easier. This will allow you to use a snow pusher to pile the snow in one area and then quickly switch attachments to load a truck safely with a properly sized bucket. If you’re

1. BROOMS Most brooms are capable of clearing snow up to 2 inches cleanly and down to the pavement, and can be used as soon as snow hits the ground. Brooms are designed to clear a typical sidewalk,

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pushing snow then it’s probably cold, so you’ll appreciate limiting the time it takes to switch attachments.

Look for a CWL that gives you the ability to select full differential locks for the front and the rear, giving all tires additional power if needed. When this lock is released, the machine will have better control in less-thanperfect road conditions like snow and ice.

This should go without saying, but make sure to operate at a speed that will keep you in control. Snow can hide obstacles that can cause damage to your machine or injure the operator. Snow tires can boost safety, and the importance of regular maintenance checks can’t be understated.

A recent development in CWLs that may work well in certain regions is a battery electric model. This greatly reduces noise, which can be an advantage for those nighttime and early morning snow removal jobs. Fully electric machines also eliminate the need for fuel and other engine-related supplies. Be sure to talk with your dealer or OEM about using a battery-powered machine in cold weather, but remember there are special considerations for using diesel fuel in the cold too.

Whether you love or dread the snow, we can all agree that having the right equipment to handle it makes all the difference. If a compact wheel loader could be that solution for you, talk to your equipment partner now before the first flakes fly.

Darren Ashton is a product manager for compact equipment at Volvo Construction Equipment

which is 52 inches wide. The width of tires running the unit must fit within that footprint to avoid driving over and compacting unremoved snow, or disrupting lawn on either side of the pavement.

This makes them an ideal tool for zerotolerance contractors who maintain busy, high-pedestrian properties. These kinds of customers—hospitals and retail establishments, for example—have the highest expectations of preventing slip and falls.

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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CONTRACTOR’S CHOICE Adobe Stock/bankrx

“Smaller blades work well on sidewalks and residential driveways, while large blades can be outfitted on a wheel loader for larger parking lots or roads.”

2. BLADES Simple pushing blades are a staple in the snow removal industry, come in all shapes and sizes, and fit almost any machine or application. Smaller blades work well on sidewalks and residential driveways, while large blades can be outfitted on a wheel loader for larger parking lots or roads.

3. REAR POWER TAKE-OFF SNOW BLOWERS There are two common types of rear power take-off (PTO) snow blowers, each operating on a slightly different method for snow removal. Rear-facing snow blowers are similar to common walk-behind snow blowers and are typically used for residential driveways.

When used on a tractor and combined with a front blade, the operator can push snow, windrow or back-drag, then also use the rear-facing snow blower to move the snow pile with the same machine.

Inverted or drag-style snow blowers operate feature an auger that faces

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the tractor, the operator backs into a driveway, about 12 inches from the garage, for instance, then blows snow as the tractor drives away. The process, intended for professional use, is especially effective for contractors with very densely populated accounts or several within a neighborhood, as the operator can travel to and from each property on a tractor vs. needing to transport a unit with a truck or trailer.

4. HYDRAULIC WING PUSHERS The hydraulic wing pusher can operate in three unique ways, making it one of the most versatile and popular options for snow management, and appropriate for both commercial properties and residential driveways. The unit acts as a straight blade when wings face out, a containment plow when wings face forward or a back-drag plow when wings face back. An operator can windrow large areas, contain plow into piles, or back-drag from close areas, entryways, parking stalls or residential driveways.

5. BOX PUSHERS Box pushers push snow while also containing the snow. Especially effective are box pushers with floating cutting edges. Rather than one long section of cutting edge, these small spring-loaded sections break up the pusher’s cutting edge into smaller sections that adjust to changes in terrain. This accommodating design results in better scraping down the pavement for cleaner results faster, and requiring fewer resources like salt and sand. These pushers are ideal for contractors servicing large commercial properties.

STOCKPILE SNOW ESSENTIALS Having the right fleet of equipment and attachments ready to go is not enough.

It is equally important to plan ahead for the parts and service needs that will arise in season. Cold weather is rough on equipment. The equipment itself works hard. It is not a matter of “if” it will need parts, it is a matter of “when.”

Have as many back ups and spares on hand as possible. Murphy’s Law goes

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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CONTRACTOR’S CHOICE

into hyper-drive when the temps head south of zero. Plan for fittings and hoses to leak or break, linkages to freeze, oil to congeal, fuel lines to ice up, salt and sand to freeze, metal to freeze and splinter, and in general for things to become hard to manage.

Downtime often comes at the most inopportune time, say, 2 a.m. or on Christmas Eve. When downtime can be solved with a simple part replacement or fluid fill, equipping the team to take care of it on their own is the fastest way to get back up and running. Contractors who plan ahead to be as self-sufficient as possible tend to maximize uptime and remain most profitable.

CREW CHECK-IN Without your crew, your equipment means nothing. Make sure they are ready for the snow season, as well. It's important that your drivers know how to operate the equipment properly and safely. Make sure your employees know how to drive safely in snow, whether

they are plowing a parking lot or driving to the site. Plow operators should also be familiar with their routes in dry weather, making note of problem areas.

Safety is key with the trucks too.

Make sure you have your truck set up right in terms of safety, with flashing lights, strobe lights, etc.

Check your first aid kits and spill clean-up kits, speedy dry, absorbent blankets, road flares, etc. Anything your crew may need should be ready to go.

Mother Nature will not reschedule her plans because you aren't prepared.

Do everything you can now to be ready to serve your customers when the snow comes down. And when the season ends, clean, repair and service your plows and spreaders before storing them to set yourself up for success for next year. ■

For more information visit http://asphalt.com/ nw5x9q

THE RIGHT COVERAGE Even the safest operators with properly set up equipment get into accidents in the snow so make sure you have the insurance in case of an accident.

What types of coverage should you consider?

• Bodily injury and property damage liability. Covers your legal liability for an accident in which there is damage or injury to someone else.

• Collision and comprehensive. Helps cover the costs of repairs and replacement if vehicles are damaged in an accident or stolen – regardless of who is at fault.

• Uninsured motorists bodily injury and property damage. This covers medical treatment and damage to your vehicle caused by someone without insurance.

• Equipment coverage. Helps cover costs of repairing or replacing damaged equipment.

R P A C A

D

R

“Clean, repair and service your plows and spreaders before storing them to set yourself up for success for next year.”

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PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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ON THE JOB |

BY JESSICA LOMBARDO Wirtgen America

Equipment Maintenance

MATTERS

Equipment must be properly maintained and operated to ensure peak performance on the jobsite.

T

he familiar saying always goes "if you don't schedule time for maintenance, your equipment will schedule it for you."

Fixing equipment after it goes down unexpectedly will always be more expensive, and more intrusive to your workflow, than preventive or planned maintenance. The cost of repairs is only part of the story though, and it may not even be the most significant part.

Here are three threats to construction

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profitability if equipment goes down on the jobsite.

1

COLLATERAL DAMAGE Picture this. It's a beautiful summer day. Your crew is dialed in after working together all spring, the paver is running smoothly with the roller right behind it, the plant is pumping out the most homogenous mix you have ever seen and you have a line of three dumps waiting to feed that paver the mix to meet your deadline by end of day. The way this is going, you might even make it home for dinner.

But wait! Suddenly, the auger on the paver stops pushing mix through the machine to the screed, halting your entire operation. Meanwhile, you have

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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mix cooling, an asphalt plant full of material and a crew without the equipment they need to get the work done and re-open the road.

Disruptions to production on the jobsite like this, idle operators and rental costs incurred to make up for the equipment that is down unexpectedly is all seen as costly collateral damage, which in this case may have been prevented by a properly greased auger bearing.

2

UNPLANNED DOWNTIME On top of this collateral damage, your crew now either doesn't have equipment to complete the work you have on the books, or has to take the time to learn how to operate a rented piece of equipment, slowing productivity. For this reason alone, downtime must be built into this equation to allow for scheduled maintenance and for moving equipment.

The threat to profitability comes from this unplanned downtime, which is defined as the additional hours lost to unexpected or emergency repairs.

Construction equipment maintenance experts generally concur that unplanned downtime rates in the range

of 20%–30% are not uncommon in the industry and failure to keep up with preventive maintenance is a leading cause.

3

DISRUPTIVE COSTS The third threat to profitability on jobsites, when it comes to equipment breakdowns, is the cost related to disruptions on jobsites when equipment must be pulled out of production unexpectedly. While a machine might not breakdown entirely on site, it can impact production and labor schedules, which costs your company money.

This can be harder to pinpoint, but the impact on production schedules and crews can be substantial.

Unplanned downtime where your company is being forced to rent equipment

to fulfill your booked work can cost thousands annually.

How to prevent all of this?

Preventative and planned equipment maintenance, of course. There is now telematics software on most equipment to help automate the preventive maintenance process, making it more proactive. Also, inspect every machine this off-season and make sure you repair or replace any component that is in questionable condition to make it through the 2022 season.

Be diligent with equipment maintenance or pay the price. When paving begins, there's no time for downtime. ■

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YOUR BUSINESS MATTERS |

BY JESSICA LOMBARDO

How Your Company Can Stay Active on Social Media

Simply having a presence online isn’t enough to retain, and obtain, new customers

S

ocial media has changed the way we live. From news stories to shopping suggestions, we are influenced by what we see online every day. As a business owner offering a service, you should leverage social media to attract and retain new customers.

Many contractors don’t know where to start with social media platforms and definitely don’t think they have the time to add one more thing on their plate, but there are many ways to harness the power of social media and extend the reach of your business.

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Just because you spent the few minutes creating a Facebook/LinkedIn/Instagram/TikTok page for your company, does not mean you are done. We know contractors are busy, but it’s important to actively engage with your accounts.

IDEAS TO STAY ACTIVE: • Take photos of every project, before, during and after.

• Talk about yourself and your business.

Why you got started and why you love what you do.

• Share tricks of the trade — yes your primary followers will be customers but they want to know you are an expert in your industry.

• Adding to the above, share some howto videos of the work you’re doing. As an industry, we want to make sure we’re

•

•

•

•

building the best reputation we can for our businesses and our customers. Show everyone how it’s done!

Document a day in the field. This is a great way to engage followers and build trust.

Celebrate your accomplishments!

Did your company win an award?

Share it! Did you hold an Employee Appreciation Day? Let the world know. Don’t be afraid to say how great you are.

Get involved. Does your company sponsor a local soccer team? Did you donate your time/services to a charity?

Let your community know that you are an active participant in your area.

Ask customers for testimonials and share them. Customers are usually more than willing to review your

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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company after a job well done. Don’t be afraid to ask for, and then share, that five-star review to help spread the word about your company's work.

• Stuck for content ideas? Share some industry news or insights about the business. It’s always good to mix up your posts so sharing articles about what you do and why you do it (like the importance of sealcoating) will help your customers understand why they need to hire you.

MORE TIPS FOR SUCCESS: • Pick one or two social media platforms to engage on. Trying to post across multiple pages, multiple times a week, will undoubtedly lead to burn out.

• Choose one person to champion social media and ensure posts are

being made regularly. This can be your office staff or someone in the field who likes to do it. Just don’t let your pages go dark!

• Rely on your crew members to take photos and share with this point person. Your crew should be proud of the work they do and want to show it!

• Speaking of sharing, make sure your employees, their families and friends, are all following and engaging with your page. Don’t forget to ask customers to follow you as well!

• Always respond to comments and reviews. One downside of social media is that everyone can share their opinion - good or bad. If you experience a negative comment or review, address it publicly and then follow-up with the customer privately.

• Link your website to your social pages and vice versa — this builds credibility!

• Make sure you are using proper spelling and grammar in all your posts. Nothing ruins a good reputation than a misspelled word.

There are already millions of potential customers swarming Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and other social media platforms, and this huge opportunity can be taken advantage of by your business in no time at all. ■

For more information visit http://asphalt.com/34j1lj

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FROM THE OWNER’S DESK

BY NICK HOWELL

How Becoming a Resource Will Improve Your Sales Use your knowledge to help with sales and business prosperity But because we’re all salespeople, we can pretty much assume that we can sell something. A key to your success is what you are selling, and I’m willing to guess that you have a good amount of stashed knowledge in your brain you can use to hone your sales efforts.

pogonici Adobe Photoshop

W

e are all smart in our own ways — after all, starting and running a business is not for the faint of heart by any means. It requires broad knowledge of everything from accounting, taxes and employee management, to understanding pavement and how to fix it.

I’m convinced that we each have our own stash of knowledge. I learn so much, not only from my time in business, but each year at the pavement shows. The question is, how can we use all that knowledge in our business?

KNOWLEDGE AIDS SALES Whether or not you consider yourself a salesperson, if you are in this business, you are a salesperson. Sales skills are required to run a successful asphalt maintenance business, so we are — or need to be — good salespeople.

To start with, a good salesperson will know the service and product so well that selling is an afterthought. This may seem silly, but many contractors don’t have that basic knowledge. That’s right, I can’t tell you how many asphalt guys I speak with that don’t really know what they are repairing, why they are using a certain repair process, or even what their sealer is!

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HOW TO APPLY WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW When approached by new clients, it’s often under a slight guise of potential skepticism. I think this is largely due to the notion there are many bad actors in our industry — contractors who don’t know even the basics of asphalt maintenance and who just want the job for the low bid.

Well, the good thing is, you can set the record straight! You can use your stashed knowledge to educate the customer, positioning yourself as the pavement expert in your market.

One of my first industry experiences was learning about pavement defects from the late, great Alan Curtis. His seminars were filled with boxes of slides of asphalt roads and their defects — appropriately fitting for a “vacationing” asphalt professional. As I learned what caused each defect and how to fix it, I was able to increase my confidence to our customers.

I was providing information that none of my competitors were offering — and that they probably weren’t able to offer. The end result was more jobs and more money.

HOW KNOWLEDGE = SALES The bottom line is, through those first pavement defects seminars I gained better knowledge of what we were selling, and I was able to better explain the

defect and repair options. I was able to convince the customer that we knew what we were doing, and then we delivered. I continue to learn and refine my pavement maintenance skills — and this has always translated into sales.

Being a resource to the client may not be the biggest golden ticket to success, but it is close. Now, clients know they can count on me for an accurate, professional inspection. We’re not just a low bid company that only wants to mop sealer all over without knowing why.

So, if you aren't comfortable with what you do, take the time to learn. You can rely on the industry’s many educational seminars and even equipment manufacturers and material suppliers to start with. The knowledge you gain will help with sales more than you realize, and in-turn will help your business thrive.

Being a resource for the client not only betters the industry and gets you more work, it will help find a use for that stashed-away “useless knowledge.”

It will help define you as your market’s pavement expert. ■

For more information visit http://asphalt.com/bls1km 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.

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT |

©ftfoxfoto – stock.adobe.com

I

How to Win New, Repeat Business as a Contractor

n business, reputation is key, and that’s especially true for professional contractors. In fact, a new survey conducted by Mosaic found that clients rank reputation as the most important factor when it comes to choosing a contractor.

Word of mouth about a company has never been easier to find. So, it’s more important than ever that your reputation is good.

Contractors who effectively deliver on their customers’ needs can earn repeat business, and reap the benefits of five-star reviews and referrals to friends and neighbors.

It goes without saying that clients expect quality work. But there are several other ways that contractors can go above and beyond to make their work and company stand out from the competition.

BE EFFICIENT AND STAY ON SCHEDULE Contractors who deliver high-quality work efficiently and on time are the ones who customers rehire. According to a Mosaic survey, 46% of clients rank “staying on schedule” at the top of their criteria for choosing a contractor.

The need to stay within budget has also become more important in light of increased inflation and supply chain disruptions. The majority of clients surveyed (81%) who’ve experienced supply chain issues say they understand it’s not the contractor’s fault.

What you can control, however, is your approach to project management.

Look for ways to make your business more efficient, and you’ll stand out from the pack. Whether it’s strong communication within your team or with your suppliers, right-sizing your

42

BY KIM MCNEALY

company, or maintaining and upgrading your equipment, there are countless areas of your business that can be streamlined.

LISTEN TO PROJECT NEEDS AND OFFER SOLUTIONS ACCORDINGLY One of the most stressful outcomes for both clients and contractors is when project details are misunderstood.

When what clients expect is not what they get, time, money, materials and reputation are all on the line. Clear communication with your customers is absolutely essential. Forty-three percent of clients surveyed agree that clear communication, listening skills and the ability to offer the right solutions are top of mind when they’re evaluating contractors.

That doesn’t mean you can’t bring your own ideas to the table. Sometimes, the client doesn’t know what they want.

In many cases, your best course is to offer a range of options and then talk out the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Instead of just telling them what to do, it’s better to help them arrive at the decision that’s right for them.

PROVIDE FINANCING OPTIONS The cost of bigger projects can make some clients think twice about whether to go through with them. Alternatively, clients may just go for the contractor who can offer the most affordable way to finance these improvements. In fact, over a third of clients surveyed said having a monthly payment option is essential to being able to take on bigger projects.

There’s no way to avoid passing rising material costs on to your customers, but you can find ways to work with them to ease the sticker

shock. There are a number of thirdparty financing companies that handle the whole process, from credit checks to payments, so you can concentrate on what you do best.

OFFER ENVIRONMENTALLYFRIENDLY OPTIONS As disruptive, erratic weather conditions increase, clients are looking to make their homes more resilient and sustainable. That might mean choosing more eco-friendly materials.

Clients are increasingly seeking out these alternative materials. In fact, 60% of clients surveyed said it was important to them that contractors offer environmentally conscious options.

In addition to reducing environmental impact, clients are also looking for ways to save money.

The demand for environmentally conscious options is only expected to increase. Green certifications are becoming commonplace and function as “organic” labels in product marketing.

So, leading with your environmental credentials might just give your business a boost.

Ultimately, building a strong reputation as a contractor comes down to doing good work at a reasonable cost and in a timely fashion. While that might sound easy on paper, we all know that it can sometimes be harder to accomplish on each and every job.

That’s why it’s important to go to the source: your customers. Listen to what they want — and do your best to give it to them — to win new and repeat business ■

For more information visit http://asphalt. com/3cdusu

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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SWEEPING ASSOCIATIONS AdobeStock_269111067

The Increasingly Complex Job of Contract Sweeping As running a business continues to evolve, the WSA is a valuable resource for its members.

W

hen I began working with power sweeping contractors 35 years ago, parking lot sweeping was straightforward and relatively simple: Equipment choices were limited, most, if not all, work was done directly with the client and environmental concerns were negligible.

There were no websites, email or social media to contend with.

Today, all of the latter exists as part of standard business practices. The rise of third-party vendors, often called aggregators, has brought a new level of complexity to contracts, as well as, performing the work needed. Plus, many

and 15th of each month, and one of these always includes a safety message from an international expert.

In addition, WSA developed a slate of available mentors, which makes a huge difference for a number of our members.

And we have over 250 articles, videos, and audio podcasts available for members on-demand. As the very wise Eleanor Roosevelt is quoted saying, “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.” ■

WSA

by Ranger Kidwell-Ross

of today’s contractors perform a wide variety of exterior maintenance and other services.

Our present economy has brought new challenges, like hiring and retaining employees, challenging supply-chain issues, dealing with rising fuel prices, login/logout requirements, dealing with COVID in the workplace, and the list goes on. The best way to find answers for these diverse issues is to have trusted sources available for consultation, education and investigation.

When I founded the World Sweeping Association a decade ago, I had already assisted sweeping contractors for 25 years. During that time I’d seen plenty of mistakes being made. Using my experience I organized WSA so as to provide the best possible method of assistance to its members. We now send an informative bulletin out on the first

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

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement | October/November 2022 | PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION

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CONTRACTOR SNAPSHOT |

BY BRANDON NOEL

FIGHTING TO EXIST: Joliet Asphalt Never Takes the Easy Way Out Self-determination and stubborn hard work were the starting points for the Joliet Asphalt company, but it was their commitment to meeting their customer’s needs that helped them grow.

W

ay back in 2006, two years before the devastating economic recession that hit in the fall of 2008, Gary Schumal, a superintendent & estimator for a construction company in the Chicagoland area, as well as a professional civil engineer; and Ron Plunk, who owned a landscape company, formed a partnership to be a utilities construction company. That venture would eventually become the Austin-Tyler Construction Co., and include Joliet Asphalt, as well. For one reason or another, the winds of change Provided by Joliet Asphalt

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Provided by Joliet Asphalt

had come, and they felt that it was time to start a new venture and have more direct agency over their careers.

Rick Rahn, the current operations manager for Joliet Asphalt (He joined the company in September of 2011, and just celebrated his eleventh year at the company) said, “The issue for some kind of subcontractors in Illinois is that you end up not having very much leverage,” and so they struck out on their own and formed the Austin-Tyler Construction Company.

However, in the early days as they worked to build up their reputation as a company, the group met some hurdles and resistance. They found it incredibly difficult to find a company that would furnish asphalt to them. Faced with being cutoff from their essential construction resource, they attempted to work with a few suppliers from further away, but the distance made it unfeasible. There was only one choice left for them to make.

"The only way you really can be a full-fledged contractor is to own an asphalt plant. So that's what they decided to go ahead and do," Rahn said. "They purchased an asphalt plant an Aztec 400 ton went up in in June of

2009. Which, if you recall, wasn't the greatest time to be putting up asphalt plants."

These early challenges were just the start, as the company faced more hurdles ahead as they tried to establish themselves in the area. Rahn continued to layout Joliet Asphalt's story, "There was all this workings that we had to get around, trying to get approved. We fought the EPA stuff, we fought the zoning, we fought even once we were actually started, to get the awards for these projects that we bid on. We fought through all that stuff and you know, here we are. So, it's been a fight for us to become who we are." Rahn said it’s important to note that Astec was instrumental in helping them complete the proper permitting.

With such difficult beginnings, one of the big questions for Joliet Asphalt and the entire Austin-Tyler Construction Company, was how they managed to over come them all and, not only survive, but thrive in their area? From Rick Rahn’s perspective, a lot of their success comes from two things. The first is the company’s understanding of how their client’s think about a project and

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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keep clear and open communication with them throughout a job’s process.

The second is their determination and can-do mindset.

Rahn went on in detail, “We have we have a whole group of people that have been in construction for so long and know all the aspects of the job. So, we can help along with tight schedules, and we also keep that line of communication open. It’s important to be able to communicate with the engineers, so that they they know exactly what’s going on. We have a really well rounded group.” But they didn’t stop there.

Looking towards the future, Joliet Asphalt wanted to bring more sustainable asphalt paving solutions to their area, but, for now, it seems that it could be another challenge to face.

“We are providing pavement preservation technology from RePLay,” Rahn

Provided by Joliet Asphalt

said. “This is all based on soybean oil, and it’s a sustainable product. It’s just getting people on board. Down the road maybe it’ll start catching up, but [for now] we are the sole distributor for all of Illinois.”

The Austin-Tyler Construction Co. and Joliet Asphalt was founded by the kinds of people that don’t take “no” for an answer. When faced with all sorts of challenges, they are determined to overcome them, and push forward.

That’s a part of who they are and, surely it will continue to be a central facet of who they are in the years-tocome. ■

For more information visit http://asphalt. com/3cdusu

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TAILGATE

BY BRAD HUMPHREY

TALK

Recruiting From the New “Pools of Candidates”

Adobe Stock/gustavofrazao

As contractors, we must seek out potential workers at a very early age. This can give you the leg up on competitors not yet recruiting from this employee candidate pool.

I

n this edition of how to find workers, we will explore opportunities to recruit from the post-secondary education systems, and participating on local Career and Technical Education (CTE) boards.

The post-secondary education system consists primarily of schools that have educational programs for individuals who are out of high school. In some cases, students may have graduated from high school. In other situations, students may have completed their General

50

Educational Development, also known as the “GED.” In either case, the school is after high school, thus “post-secondary.”

Many of the postsecondary schools are called: • Vocational school • Technology school • Junior college • College or university In the State of Texas, one example of these schools includes a chain of technical schools called TSTC, Texas State Technical College. State colleges and universities may have a technical focus for skill training.

For many of these technically-focused colleges, there is a vast program of skills training in areas such as masonry, electrical, welding, plumbing, HVAC, diesel engine mechanics, carpentry, concrete and sometimes even field engineering. (This is not an exclusive list.)

The thing about students attending such technical colleges and universities, that I’m most optimistic about, is that the students are attending because they want to learn a trade or skill. They attend with the idea of finding a job in that specialized trade area. In many cases, they are open and available

to begin working with a contractor sooner, rather than later.

Let’s address our second “recruitment pool.” If you have a local school district with one or more high schools, you may find that they have a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program available to students. In some districts around the United States, you may find students from grades 9-12 attending.

The CTE has replaced the older shop class that many of us remember.

The new CTE is a vast improvement over any shop class you might have taken when you were in high school.

The opportunity for you is that most high schools need contractors, like you, to serve on their advisory board.

Most CTE advisory boards meet once a month, with members providing helpful industry insights and support for the CTE instructors. The board members can play a major role in securing needed resources for the students, including tools, materials, donations, PPE, etc.

As a CTE board member, you get a first-hand look at the talent coming up during the teen

years of future workers. Depending on your specialty, you may be able to hire students immediately upon their graduation or develop a relationship with a student that encourages their continued learning of a trade by attending a post-secondary technical school.

As contractors, we must seek out the two areas shared in this article. It can give you the leg up on competitors who are not yet recruiting from this employees candidate pool.

Keep fishing for your future workers. ■

For more information visit http://asphalt. com/34j1lj Brad has been assisting contractors for more than thirty-five years and has earned the name, The Contractor’s Best Friend. Heard weekly on Caterpillar and ForConstructionpros.com’s co-sponsored podcast, The Contractor’s Best Friend Podcast, Brad and team continue to share their experience and love for the construction industry. Brad speaks at national and state conferences including the World of Concrete, the National Pavement Exposition, the International Roofing Exposition, Wisconsin’s ABC annual conference, and many more. Author of several books, Brad has also had more than three hundred articles published to date over his career..

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | October/November 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

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TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT ATTACHMENT P. 17 THE INS AND OUTS OF DE-ICERS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

September | 2022

10 COVER S TORY

10. State Of The Snow Industry:

Steady On

Snow professionals from around the country discuss the current state of the industry and dive into their expectations for the coming year and beyond.

IN E VERY ISSUE 04. EDITOR’S NOTE 05. DIGITAL HITS 06. SNOW SNIPPETS 22. NEW PRODUCTS

FE AT URES

14. PLOW REPORT | THE SCOOP ON LIQUID ANTI-ICERS

What snow professionals need to understand about liquid antiicers and how to use them.

17. EQUIPMENT & TECH | CHOOSING ATTACHMENTS

A few key points of advice to help snow professionals purchase plows and attachments this winter season.

20. SNOW BLOWING | MITIGATING TURF DAMAGE

How to properly clear clients’ driveways and walkways to ensure their lawns remain in good shape when the spring weather arrives.

.

17 2022 | SnowPRO

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LET TER FROM THE EDITOR

EDITOR’S NOTE | By Sarah Webb

A FRESH START A

s we round the corner into fall and head into a new snow season, I’d like to introduce myself and SnowPRO Associate Editor Alexis Mizell—two new faces at SnowPRO magazine.

For those who don’t know me already, my name is Sarah Webb, and I come from a background in B2B publishing, focusing on the green and golf course industries. I have served as the editor of Green Industry Pros and SnowPRO since February 2022 and previously worked as the managing editor for the Landscape Management, Golfdom and Athletic Turf brands.

Over the past several months, I’ve worked to give Green Industry Pros and SnowPRO a fresh start by streamlining and labeling sections and covering pressing topics such as anti-icing techniques (p. 14), the latest product offerings (p. 22) and, of course, the current state of the snow industry (p. 10).

Alexis joined the SnowPRO team in August and will be responsible for writing, editing, managing the awards programs, overseeing social media, managing the websites and more. Additionally, she will eventually take over management of the SnowPRO brand.

Alexis is an awarded U.S. Navy veteran and a communications practitioner with more than six years of experience in media and public relations through copyediting, copywriting, marketing strategy and social media management. She holds a master’s degree in communication from Johns Hopkins University and has produced content in many sectors as a freelancer.

Alexis has already started off with flying colors, and I have no doubt she will help propel the Green Industry Pros and SnowPRO brands forward. You can connect with her via email at amizell@acbusinessmedia.com And please feel free to reach out to me via email at swebb@acbusinessmedia.com or on LinkedIn using the QR code with story ideas, tips, questions and more. I’m looking forward to connecting with you!

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DIGTIAL HITS

THE LATEST ONLINE NEWS YOU CAN USE Want to stay up to date on the latest happenings across the snow industry, but can’t wait for the next print issue of SnowPRO magazine to come out? Be sure to subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter using the QR code, so you can stay informed on what’s going on around the industry.

BE FEATURED

@Memed ÖZASLAN.adobe.stock.com @Chris Titze Imaging.adobe.stock.com

Do you have an interesting story that you’d like to highlight in our magazine? Maybe you’re an industry expert and you’d like to share some of the best practices that can help fellow snow management companies grow their business. Email your ideas to SnowPRO Editor Sarah Webb at swebb@acbusinessmedia.com and Associate Editor Alexis Mizell at amizell@acbusinessmedia. com, and you may be featured in an upcoming episode of our Grass Roots podcast.

STAY SOCIAL To stay up to date on the latest happenings around the snow industry, be sure to follow SnowPRO’s social media channels: @Syifa5610.adobe.stock.com

@snowpromagazine

@SnowProMagazine

@snowpromagazine

SnowPro Magazine

2022 |SnowPRO

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SNOW SNIPPETS

By: Hannah Gooch The SnowPRO team traveled to Milwaukee, Wis., to attend the Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA) 25th Annual Snow and Ice Symposium.

Associate Editor Hannah Gooch sat in on some sessions including the Brrright Ideas to Maximize Your Marketing presentation by Elizabeth Bonadonna of Busy Beaver Lawn and Garden where attendees learned about how to market to potential employees as well as other businesses using unique posts with a humorous touch. One attendee even shared his experience putting an ad for snow removal services in the previews of his local movie theater.

Following the sessions, the SnowPRO team hit the show floor. There, they met up with Steve Horn and Eli Martin of HLA Snow to talk products, patents and plows at their booth in a live video interview. They also stopped by the Nokian Heavy Tyres booth to talk to Cory Trombly and learn about the tires snow professionals swear by. Both video interviews can be found on the SnowPRO social media channels.

Off-camera, we met familiar faces such as Greg Donovan of Kage Innovation as well as new ones such as Abel Cruz of Lawnforce. Products new and old made appearances by the hundreds. One product in

Show You Care with SnowCare

Hannah Gooch, Megan Perleberg and Nikki Lawson took on SIMA in June on behalf of the SnowPRO brand.

particular that stood out was an in-cab dashcam that made an appearance at multiple booths. The dashcams have views of both the cabin and the external surroundings to ensure the safety of all parties when drivers take to the road. The inward-facing dashcam includes a sensor that alerts drivers when they are not following safety precautions, for example, when they use their cellphone while the vehicle is in motion.

If we didn’t see you at this show, we’ll make sure to stop by at the next show or even at this year’s Equip Expo in Louisville, Ky. Until then!

these challenging times.”

SnowCare for Troops is now in its 12th year of service.

Snow removal allows these families to continue to get to work and school safely and on time, maintain their independence and go about daily routines without the added stressor of weather conditions.

“Boss Snowplow continues its support of the SnowCare for Troops program because we have seen firsthand the impact it has on military families,” said Mark Klossner, director of marketing, Boss Snowplow.

“We are grateful for our armed forces and the freedom we have because of their sacrifice. This is one way we can show our support and appreciation.”

A GreenCare for Troops program that offers complimentary lawn care and basic landscape services for families of deployed military personnel was also launched to continue aiding these families year round.

Those interested in registering as a volunteer for the program can visit the Project EverGreen website for more information. @Paul Maguire.stock.adobe.com

Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops program helps military families by offering complimentary snow removal services to alleviate the stress of winter maintenance. Sponsor Boss Snowplow aided in hosting National SnowCare for Troops Awareness Week Jan. 23 through 29 to showcase the volunteer work that gives families of deployed personnel peace of mind throughout the snowy season. Volunteers range from snow removal professionals to individuals and groups using their personal snow removal equipment.

“The need to assist military families serving overseas or on the front lines here at home with snow removal services continues to grow, and SnowCare for Troops will be there,” said Cindy Code, executive director, Project EverGreen. “With the ongoing and generous support of our thousands of volunteers and our program sponsor Boss Snowplow, it’s our mission to continue to grow the program and provide the support that many families need during

ACBM Staff

SIMA, SIMA, SIMA. It’s all we can talk about!

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Find Your Footing at Equip Expo

OPEI

How does a first-time landscape contractor or other attendee find their bearings at Equip Exposition?

The show held, Oct. 18- 21, 2022, boasts a million square feet of exhibit space at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC). Get prepared before departure with these tips: • Reserve your hotel room and make travel plans now. Louisville’s 17,000 hotel rooms book up quickly. Some hotels are on a complimentary shuttle route that will get you to the show quickly.

• Download the official Equip Exposition app, sponsored by Husqvarna. A show this size requires strategy. The app is the best way to plan your schedule.

Navigate and mark the exhibits you want to see and education sessions you want to attend.

• Add education and training to your registration.

Landscapers can explore ways to grow their businesses with sessions.

• In addition to registration kiosks available on-site at the KEC in the South Wing lobby registration area, kiosks are also available at select hotels and the airport.

Scan your registration bar code (bring your email confirmation) and print your badge.

Preregistrants also can pick up their badges in “express” lanes in the South Wing lobby. To register on-site, go to the North Wing Lobby registration area. And there’s free parking so there’s no traffic at the KEC entrance gate.

• Connect with peers at the Welcome Reception: Held at Louisville Slugger Field on Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., the reception features free food and fireworks and a chance to meet your colleagues before the show kicks off the next morning.

• Fuel up on-site at a new coffee shop sponsored

by Ego in the South Wing Lobby C. Adjacent to

the new Equip retail store, it will be open during the show. Freedom Hall is the show’s Food Hall with food trucks and three days of themed buffets (Taste of Kentucky, Southern BBQ, Little Italy). Also visit the Outdoor Food Yard, which offers food trucks and tented spaces to sit and relax.

• Test equipment in the Outdoor Demo Yard.

Newly expanded to 30 acres, the Outdoor Demo Yard offers the opportunity to mow, mulch, cut, drive and check out the latest outdoor power equipment. The expanded UTV Test Track lets licensed drivers over age 16 try the newest models.

• The inaugural Mulligan’s Fun Run/Walk 5K, sponsored by Ariens Co., will benefit the Kentucky Humane Society. Run/walk across the Ohio River on the city’s Big Four pedestrian bridge and in sight of Louisville’s Great Lawn on Wednesday morning, Oct. 19 at 7 a.m.

If you are looking to add a furry family member to your pack, Lucky’s Mutt Madness, sponsored by the TurfMutt Foundation in partnership with the Kentucky Humane Society, brings a bevy of rescue dogs available for adoption to Freedom Hall on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Enjoy the Concert Series at 4th Street LIVE! It will feature American country music singer and multiplatinum icon Trace Adkins at 8 p.m. on Thursday night. Plus, Expo favorite and house band, The Crashers, will take the stage at 8 p.m. on Wednesday night.

• Explore all that Louisville offers with its easyto-navigate streets and 2,500 restaurants and more than 90 attractions, such as Louisville Slugger Field.

• Attend the closing keynote breakfast from National Geographic’s Photo Ark creator Joel Sartore. Add this to your registration for only $15/person and go home inspired, and maybe you’ll be the lucky Ryobi mower winner, awarded to one trade show attendee.

2022 | SnowPRO

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SNOW SNIPPETS

Green Industry Pros and SnowPRO Name Alexis Mizell-Pleasant as Associate Editor

Plowing Through APWA’s 2022 Snow Conference

ACBM Staff

By: Hannah Gooch Like any other industry, it’s all about who you know. I set out to meet the professionals keeping the snow industry plowing smoothly.

A two-hour drive later, I found myself at American Public Works Association’s (APWA) annual Snow Conference in Pittsburgh, Pa. At just over 160 exhibitors, APWA’s Snow Conference is no match for SIMA’s Snow & Ice Symposium in June, but

Canva

ACBM Staff

Green Industry Pros and SnowPRO added Alexis Mizell-Pleasant as associate editor, responsible for writing, editing, managing the awards programs, overseeing social media, managing the websites and more.

Mizell, an awarded U.S. Navy veteran, is a communications practitioner with more than six years of experience in media and public relations through copyediting, copywriting, marketing strategy and social media management. She holds a master’s degree in communication from Johns Hopkins University and has produced content in many sectors as a freelancer.

In her most recent role, Mizell served as marketing and community engagement manager for a South Carolina nonprofit organization, coordinating internal and external communications during a $4 million capital campaign, and has been a published author for publications such as Pearson’s Final Draft writing guide and the Medical University of South Carolina’s news journal.

Mizell resides in Moncks Corner, S.C., with her family.

Learn more at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexismizell-veteranwriter/. She can be reached at amizell@ acbusinessmedia.com.

Calling All Snow Pros Snow. You push, plow, blow, salt and remove it. Why not add writing about it to that list?

At SnowPRO, we are the experts at writing about snow removal experts, but We want to feature snow removal tips and tricks of the trade written by the experts themselves.

That’s why we are asking you, the real snow pros, to become our expert columnists as we continue to cover all things snow.

Tell us how your company became successful, how you run your business operations, what you found worked best over the years or your favorite part of the industry. Tell us what it means to be a snow pro.

If you’re interested in becoming our next expert columnist or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Associate Editor Alexis Mizell at amizell@acbusinessmedia.com or Editor Sarah Webb at swebb@acbusinessmedia.com.

it was an easy introduction into the world of snow and ice removal.

In my time working on SnowPRO’magazine, I have learned the lingo, studied the equipment and gained a professional understanding of the snow industry.

The Snow Conference furthered my snowy education and introduced me to new technology such as Kage’s WingLine Laser Plow Guide that reduces damage for both plow wings and roadside obstacles.

In addition to being introduced to the latest and greatest technology, I also got to see the latest snow and ice removal equipment including (but certainly not limited to) Boss Snowplow’s Snowrator and Western Products’ salt spreader attachment for truck alternatives.

My short day trip to the Snow Conference was well worth the drive. I was able to add some contacts to my snow and ice industry network and get the scoop on the newest and coolest in snow.

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Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops aims to ease the burden on the families of deployed military personnel by providing lawn and landscape services for military families. These complimentary services are provided by professional volunteers for the length of deployment.

“GreenCare for Troops is more than a program that checks a box and takes care of a necessary service.

It has become a transformative experience for both volunteers and recipients,” said Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “Not only do our volunteers provide a valued service that relieves a burden for military families, but they are also sustaining a healthy, safe lawn and yard for kids to play and families to unwind in at the end of a stressful day.”

In its 16 years of operation, GreenCare for Troops has provided an estimated $15 million in donated lawn and landscape services and peace of mind to thousands of military families in need across the country.

“I hold a special place for anyone who leaves their family to go to an unknown land to protect the many freedoms we have here,” said Blaine Pinkerton, VP of

Turf and Ornamental Sales for Nufarm, the title sponsor for GreenCare for Troops.

“National GreenCare for Troops Awareness Week gives us the opportunity to recognize and thank to our military families for their commitment to our country and thank GreenCare for Troops volunteers for their commitment to our military families through lawn and landscape work.”

Staying true to the commitment of aiding military families, Project EverGreen also offers a SnowCare for Troops program that provides complimentary snow and ice removal services for families of deployed military personnel.

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2022 | SnowPRO

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COVER STORY | By Sarah Webb

STATE OF THE SNOW INDUSTRY: STEADY ON Snow professionals discuss the current state of the snow industry and their expectations for the future.

W

hen asked to describe last year’s snow season, many snow professionals chose the same word: steady.

Sure, the snow industry has experienced several roadblocks in recent years—supply chain, COVID and labor issues to name a few—but many professionals are confident about the coming season.

“I think the snow industry is booming,” says Abel Cruz, owner of Lawnforce in Oak Creek, Wis. “When it snows, somebody must clean it, regardless of how the economy is.

This is an industry that’s never going to die because in many regions, people are going to need services. As people keep living in those places and as snow keeps falling down, somebody has to clear it.”

Cruz and other snow industry experts discuss their latest snow season and dive into what they expect for this coming year.

“It was a modest year, but what we are seeing are significant adverse weather events, either drought, flood and stronger hurricanes, storms, tornadoes and snow and ice events,” Kiser says.

Doug McIntosh, president of McIntosh Grounds

The Past Year While many industries were impacted negatively by the pandemic, the snow industry weathered the storm fairly well.

“People were investing in homes and doing work themselves in their outdoor spaces, so there were strong sales through COVID,” says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). “I also think (manufacturers) are in a better position relative to product inventory.

There were issues the past year or so with parts, engines and other components, but that’s beginning to sort itself out, so on the inventory side, they’re OK.” Kiser adds that overall, last year’s snow season was “pretty typical” as far as snowfall rates but that snow events tended to be stronger than in the past.

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Maintenance in Milan, Mich., agrees that last year’s snow season was average, but he notes that it’s not the amount of snow that matters, but rather how it falls.

“No two snowfalls are the same. Sixty inches one year versus another year can be totally different based on whether we got a ton of smaller storms or just a few bigger ones,” McIntosh says.

The Challenges While COVID, inflation and supply chain issues may continue to affect the snow industry, labor proves to be the reigning champion of obstacles for snow management companies.

“There has been a shift in individuals’ attitudes and work ethics, and we have had an increase in labor costs even though the skill set hasn’t changed,” says Elizabeth

The unpredictability of each snow season and how each storm will come keeps McIntosh Grounds Maintenance and its crews on their toes.

Max Myers, Busy Beaver Lawn and Garden

Equipment that makes snow professionals more efficient is key in keeping crews happy.

Bonadonna, president of Busy Beaver Lawn & Garden, in West Seneca, N.Y. “We started utilizing hiring software that helped connect us with prospective employees.”

McIntosh says that the unpredictable nature of the snow industry makes the labor issue more challenging.

“It’s not like summer where we can predict everything, what time we’re going to work from and till and so on. You can plan a 10- to 12-hour workday in the summer, but a 10- to 12-hour workday in the winter is huge,” McIntosh says. “Plus, every storm is different, so you might think you’re going to get 1 inch, and you get 3 inches, and the difference between 1 inch to 3 inches is monumental because that leads to the labor question of ‘do we need everybody? Do we just need half the guys? Are we just salting?

Are we going to plow and salt?’ It’s about trying to navigate and control the logistics of the unknown.”

While Busy Beaver Lawn & Garden uses a hiring software to help contend with the labor problem, McIntosh says his answer is simple: Pay employees more and don’t lay anyone off.

“We pay more, and everybody’s paid on time, every time,” McIntosh says. “We’re also a little different in that we keep everybody like our full-time guys busy year round, whether it’s snowing or if they work in the shop. We don’t have guys on unemployment or something like that.”

Cruz has also increased wages to

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COVER STORY

Max Myers, Busy Beaver Lawn and Garden

Many pieces of snow equipment are becoming more ergonomically designed to keep the operator comfortable.

attract labor.

“It has been a struggle. When I started the business in 2013, I used to pay $11 an hour, but now I have to pay over $20 an hour just to get somebody to work,” Cruz says. “I increase my prices about 3 percent every year, so when economies like this hit, it doesn’t affect the company as much.”

In addition to paying more, Lawnforce also fills the labor gap by recruiting young people right out of high school.

“I hire them in the summer and then they come back in the winter,” Cruz says. “Eventually, every time there’s snow, they call me to find out if there’s work.

Even if they can only give me three hours, I take it. At least that’s one property done.”

Other than labor, Bonadonna says lack of equipment and inflation costs have impacted her business.

Busy Beaver Lawn and Garden employees contended with more than 90 inches of snow last winter.

“It’s challenging to get materials with shortages and delays, and we have had to delay jobs and offer some different products and services. Costs have risen by a considerable amount,” Bonadonna says. “We have noticed some customers are passing on our offers due to compensating for the cost of materials and labor. However, there have been opportunities to get higher calibers of talent who are interested in growth opportunities. There has been a mindset shift from valuing dollars per hour to a higher value of growth opportunities.”

Bonadonna adds that it’s relationships and communication that help the company overcome those challenges.

“We find the right clients that are willing to share some of these inflation costs,” Bonadonna says. “We communicate with our clients about these rising costs.

For equipment issues, we continued working with vendors that we know and trust.”

Looking Ahead In addition to stronger weather events, Kiser says snow professionals should be on the lookout for changing regulations and new technology.

For example, in California, small off-road engines such as those found in leaf blowers, lawn mowers and other equipment will need to be zero emission starting in 2024.

“There are some exemptions on portable generators, but it changes their classification for

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emissions compliance,” Kiser says. “The engine manufacturers will deal with that. They will have to make compliant engines, but other than that, I don’t see anything that would be problematic from a regulatory standpoint.”

As far as equipment goes, Kiser says he’s seeing more third-stage units that tout ergonomics and efficiency.

“They have headlights, handwarmers, cupholders, and with the different brushes and attachments, there are more options out there for snow professionals,” Kiser says. “We’ve seen some innovation coming into the mix. At Equip Expo this year, you’re likely to see new innovations in a number of product sectors with batteries, too.”

Finally, Kiser says he expects to see an increase in the intensity of snow events, which could, in turn, be good for the snow business.

“A significant snow will drive sales, and early snow will drive sales,” he says. “In fact, a lot of snow industry manufacturers, they’d love to see snow by Halloween in some parts of the country.”

Tricks of the Trade Expand your Space “We’re growing into our new shop and offices, and that’s been huge for us as far as efficiencies. The guys aren’t on top of each other all winter long in the shop. We’re landscapers, and we plow snow, so we’re ‘outside guys.’ If you’ve got so many guys in the shop at one time, cabin fever starts to set in. We’ve got a basketball court and other games, and that was a huge success for our culture because the happier the crew is, the happier I am.” – Doug McIntosh Don’t Overextend Yourself “I never take more work than I can chew. Every year I get phone calls that start in November, and I have to tell them that I’m full. We don’t take so much so that we struggle. That’s partially what’s been helping me big time in retaining my employees.” – Abel Cruz Grow your Brand Awareness “We’re able to stand out consistently in a sea of sameness by prioritizing brand awareness. We have developed a strong brand awareness in our community, and when others were backing off on marketing and ads, we doubled down. We attracted top level talent and found individuals who are more efficient with their time in the field and office.

Additionally, we leveraged technology and equipment mechanization to increase our communication from field to office and back to the client in a more

streamlined manner.” – Elizabeth Bonadonna Plan Ahead “Plan for delays and plan to buy product or inventory product in advance. We’re seeing longer lead times across the board so future planning seems to be key.

Don’t look for the machine only when you need it. Be mindful of the gasoline marketplace today. Don’t leave fuel in your machines. Run them dry and buy fresh fuel when you get that snow report.” – Kris Kiser

CONNECT WITH US! What are your predictions for the upcoming season? Do you agree with your fellow snow professionals on what they’ve said about the current state of the snow industry? What are some of the challenges you’re currently facing?

What are you most looking forward to about this season? Have you implemented any equipment or technology that’s been instrumental in helping your business achieve success?

We want to know it all. Send your thoughts via email to Editor Sarah Webb at swebb@ acbusinessmedia.com or Associate Editor Alexis Mizell at amizell@acbusinessmedia.com or connect with us on our social media channels below and who knows—you may just be spotlighted!

@snowpromagazine @SnowProMagazine @snowpromagazine SnowPro Magazine

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PLOW REPORT

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT LIQUID ANTI-ICERS Liquid anti-icers are becoming increasingly popular because they can reduce labor time, offer an environmentally friendly option and create safer and more manageable driving conditions.

E

What is a Liquid Anti-Icer?

Liquid agents are called anti-icers instead of de-icers because the material is applied before the snow event.

The liquid then reduces snow and ice buildup on the surface where it was sprayed.

Liquid systems are a popular choice because they can greatly reduce the amount of labor and materials needed to maintain road safety during or after a storm event. It also reduces black ice and sometimes even eliminates the need to send crews during or after a snow event, depending on the severity of the storm.

Pretreatment, the process of applying liquid anti-

Monroe Trucking Equipment

very winter, contractors and operators around the country are faced with securing the equipment and materials needed to clear snow, de-ice and keep their residents and communities safe from the hazards of unsafe roadways.

As regional needs and trends change over the years, new products are created to meet demand.

Liquid anti-icers (distributed before a snow storm) can reduce labor time, offer an eco-friendly option and help create safer and more manageable driving conditions.

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icers, can be done before the snowstorm by either several hours and even days, depending on conditions.

Anti-icing liquid can be made of several different materials.

There are regions across North America experimenting with different types of anti-icers including beetroot, corn and the Wisconsin specialty: cheese brine. Most commonly used, however, is a salt brine—liquid sodium chloride (NaCl).

Different liquid combinations (used with a variety of chloridebased salts) can be used in temperatures ranging from -20 degrees Fahrenheit and higher.

Regional conditions, existing truck equipment and preferences will help determine what solution is right for your community.

Reduce Scatter Rock salt can quickly bounce and scatter across the road, reducing efficiency. Liquid solutions are sprayed and stay in place.

Advantages of Liquid Anti-Icers Precise Applications Liquid sprayer systems can be calibrated to fit the exact area you are maintaining, reducing the risk of over and under application of product.

Less Material Usage Because the anti-icing agent is in a liquid solution, it requires less material to be effective over longer lengths of road, saving long-term material costs.

Save Labor Time Liquid anti-icing is one of the most effective ways to reduce labor (and therefore reduce complications) of snow and ice removal during a storm by preventing bonds from forming before the storm.

Six-Way category blades are the ideal tool for contractors everywhere. Their versatile design provides operators with six different configurations to make the most of their time in the seat.

SB3600V blades are the ideal sidewalk blade for compact tractors and skidsteers, and is available in widths from 54” – 84”. The larger SB4600V series blade makes quick work of small roadways and driveways, and is available in widths from 96” - 108” with a max operating weight of 25,000lbs.

Contact your nearest distributor to find the right SixWay blade for your snow program.

v

Both sides of the SixWay blade can be moved independently to form an angle blade, scoop, or V-Blade to ensure you have the right blade for every condition.

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PLOW REPORT

Not Displaced by Traffic Similarly to reducing scatter, liquid anti-icers aren’t displaced by high traffic or slopes of the roadway.

Highly Effective Liquid solutions can remain effective for hours/days depending on weather conditions.

Environmentally Conscious The reduction of granular material is better for the environment. The amount of material used in spraying is less than using granular material, so it’s more cost effective than granular material

Disadvantages of Liquid Anti-Icers Learning Curve There are logistical hurdles to really mastering the art of liquid anti-icers. There is a dynamic between temperature, timing and the solution created. While liquid options are growing in popularity, and solutions are becoming easier to manage, there will still be time and understanding needed to effectively anti-ice with liquids.

Cannot be Used in Isolation Liquid anti-icers cannot replace plowing and even de-icing after the fact.

Must be Completed in Appropriate Weather Anti-icing is the first in a series of actions to take when tackling a winter storm. Pay attention to the pavement temperature when you’re anti-icing. Certain liquids have more strict requirements than others.

The Right Equipment for the Job Liquid anti-icers are applied using sprayers that come out of a tank that holds the solutions. There are a variety of different options of sprayers that can be used across several lanes. Different solutions will spray at different rates, so have your system calibrated correctly.

Speak with your trusted dealer or upfitter to learn about what solutions are right for your equipment and your community.

Shawn Steinmann Municipal Sales Manager Monroe Trucking Equipment

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EQUIPMENT & TECH

GET EQUIPPED Insight into how to properly equip snow and ice management vehicles.

S

now contractors have quite a few factors to keep in mind when purchasing new snow and ice equipment for their trucks. To find the perfect match, they need to consider the size and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the truck, as well as the type of plow they’re looking to purchase. Here are a few key points of advice to help purchase plows and attachments this season.

Know the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Whether contractors are seasoned veterans or planning on venturing into the snow and ice removal business, they want to make sure to fit the vehicle with the right size equipment. Either extreme is dangerous: If they go too small, the plow may not hold up; too big, and they’ll risk damage to the truck, not to mention the legal ramifications if any accident takes place. Either outcome would be costly, and nobody wants to carry around that kind of regret. This is where the gross vehicle weight rating comes into play.

GVWR is important because different plow styles and types are grouped according to vehicle class rating. Once users figure out what these numbers are, they’ll be able to narrow down their options and make the best purchase for their setup. The GVWR represents the maximum weight that a vehicle’s suspension can support. This includes the weight of fuel, passengers

and the vehicle itself. This rating is typically labeled in the doorframe or under the hood of a truck—as well as in the owner’s manual. The GVWR is the most important factor in fitting snow and ice equipment. In fact, there’s a common saying that “the GVWR can literally make or break a truck.”

Mind the Equipment Capacity It’s almost equally as important to pay attention to current or future equipment specs.

By ignoring the specs, it’s possible for a contractor to exceed his truck’s GVWR even before a grain of salt is placed in the hopper. To avoid causing irreparable damage, contractors should gather these numbers ahead of time, well before they take on any new pieces of equipment.

For example, when it comes to spreaders, it’s a good idea to factor in the number, size and location of the accounts contractors service. A few small accounts will require a drastically different capacity level than that of several large commercial properties.

Also, depending on what options are available for deicing material, contractors will want to consider what method they plan to use for refilling when needed. This will help when deciding which size spreader will be the most cost effective in the long run.

Western Products

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EQUIPMENT & TECH

Choose the Right Plow The last step is to start looking at the different types of plows and what they can do.

Again, it’s important for contractors to be realistic in knowing the accounts they service and what their needs will be for the season. This will help determine how they will be using the plow and which style makes the most sense for the situation. The property types contractors maintain, the vehicles they use and the average snowfall in their area all play a major role in this decision. Here are some popular styles and some of the distinctions between each in what they can and can’t do.

Straight Blade Plows: Simple in design and the most affordable option of the three styles, straight blade plows tend to be the most popular option each year.

Easy to operate: The straightforward design with easy up, down, left and right operation makes a straight

blade the perfect choice for anyone new to plowing.

These types of plows are generally the go-to for plow drivers at every level because of the simple ability to get the job done.

Simple maintenance: Since there are fewer moving parts on a straight blade compared to a winged or v-plow, less can go wrong, meaning fewer repairs and simpler maintenance.

Job specific: Perfect for driveways, small properties and open lots with few obstacles.

Regionality: Best for use in areas receiving two to three snow events each season, ranging from 1 to 6 inches.

V-Plow Often compared to a Swiss Army Knife, v-plows are the most universal, with three modes that give drivers the flexibility needed to easily clear dense properties at a reasonable cost—typically priced between a straight blade and winged plow. If contractors only have one plow, they may want to choose this option.

Versatility: The plow blade is hinged in the middle and uses hydraulic controls to adjust the blade from v-mode to straight mode to scoop mode. This allows the v-plow to push snow, haul snow and stack snow with ease.

Efficiency: A v-plow easily changes from one mode to the other from the comfort of the vehicle cab.

• V-mode: Easily break through deep, hardpacked snow • Scoop mode: Increase snow stacking and hauling capacity • Straight mode: Backdrag and windrow in large, open spaces

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Job specific: Parking lots with various obstacles and tight areas or cities where space is limited, and snow professionals need the ability to stack snow high.

Regionality: Ideal for areas that receive more than five storms a year, with at least one event dropping more than a foot of snow.

Winged Plow The most efficient movers of snow, winged plows carry up to 30 percent more snow than a straight blade—but because of their complexities, they can be the most difficult to use.

Versatility: Winged plows with full hydraulic control allow you to independently extend the wings. By windrowing on a left or right angle, snow pros can reduce snow spilloff and extend for a wider pass, directing snow into the moldboard for a cleaner scrape.

Efficiency: With fully expanded wings, this style moves more snow than any other plow type. They are easily switchable from a standard blade size to an extra-wide blade size. By covering more space, snow contractors can reduce the number of passes to get the job done faster.

Job specific: Perfect for large areas that have obstacles and narrow areas, like packed parking lots, outdoor storage areas with aisles and jobs where contractors need to quickly carry a lot of snow.

Regionality: Does best in highly populated and concentrated areas like large commercial or industrial parking lots.

Doug Clark President and CEO Douglas Dynamics

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SNOW BLOWING

REMOVING SNOW WITHOUT DAMAGING TURF Properly clearing clients’ driveways and walkways will also help ensure their lawns remain in good shape when the spring weather arrives.

W

hile many people are still in the fall mindset, it is no secret that winter is right around the corner. Having a game plan on how to deal with a polar vortex or a snow storm will not only help when it comes to clearing clients’ driveway, but it will also help ensure their lawns remain in good shape when the spring weather arrives.

The removal of snow from a property can be a headache, but it is an essential practice to keep your driveway, walkways and sidewalks clear of what could be as high as multiple feet of snow. The challenge is keeping the snow clear without causing damage to clients’ lawns.

The Earlier the Better When it comes to clearing pathways, the sooner you plow, the better. Allowing the snow to sit will make it more difficult to clear as the snow will begin to compact, thus making it more difficult to clear a path on the pathway and driveway. Doing the job sooner will not only make life easier, but it is much safer for the property and landscape as well. A tougher plow increases the force needed for it to clear, which increases the risk of damage being caused to the grass and landscape.

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Invest in a Snow Blower Snow blowers can be a great resource for not only driveways and sidewalks, but for yards overall. A snow blower can be used to clean up those walkways without having a direct impact on yard lines or turf since it avoids touching the grass. It also makes the job a whole lot easier and quicker. Consider investing in one during the off-season to save some serious money.

to be plowed. Mark where the driveway ends and when the lawn begins, as well as where the property line ends and the areas where the client’s yard meets a roadway. This will help you avoid shoveling and snow blowing over clients’ grass and turf, helping avoid damage to property. It can also help notify drivers and snow plows of where not to plow, helping that part of a yard to be preserved.

Buy a Better Shovel

Avoid Using Salt

A high-quality shovel is a must for anyone clearing snow. A bad shovel can make life a lot more difficult, taking even longer to clear a driveway, potentially even leading to damage to the turf and soil. A flimsy scoop and weak overall build can lead to headaches for people dealing with a polar vortex, when the snow itself is already making life miserable. A sturdy shovel will help get the job done but can also ensure the walkways are clear, preventing damage to bordering grass.

While using salt to clear icy pathways can be very helpful, doing it in areas close to your lawn can lead to some serious damage come springtime. The chemicals from the salt draws moisture from the grass, which, in turn, affects the soil and can lead to browning of the grass. That makes the use of salt dangerous to the health of your lawn and can lead to more headaches once the snow melts. Due to the danger of salt, alternatives of salt-sand mixtures have become much more popular to have a clean way of increasing traction in icy conditions.

Stake Out Property Lines A lot of northern parts of the country will experience feet of snow rather than inches, making it hard to know where clients’ yard barriers are. Keeping an eye on snow storms and winter weather and marking down property lines can help you keep track of what needs

Chris Lemcke National Technical Director Weed Man

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NEW PRODUCTS | SNOW & ICE REMOVAL

Fisher Storm Boxx Fisher’s Storm Boxx pusher plows feature patent-pending TRACE Edge Technology to move vertically, oscillate and trip to contour to the plowable surface using independent two foot sections. It also includes: • 3/4-inch cutting edge with carbide inserts • Self-leveling side plates with replaceable shoes keep the terrain-response advanced cutting edge in contact with the plowable surface.

• TRACE Edge sections allow the plow to follow closely over contours and obstacles • Two greasing locations

SnowEx RDV V-Plow Made of high-strength, low-alloy steel, the SnowEx RDV V-plow is specifically designed for half-ton trucks.

The RDV V-plow is available in powder-coated steel or stainless steel and can configure to varying vehicle heights. It also features: • Trip-edge protection • Double-acting cylinders • Automatixx attachment system

Bridgestone Americas VSWAS 23.5R25 V-Steel Snow Wedge All Season Tire

Western Pile Driver with TRACE Edge Technology The Western Pile Driver lineup of pusher plows features three height options and a common carrier attachment system compatible with skid-steers, wheel loaders tractors and backhoe loaders.

• Available in 8-, 10-, 12-, 14- and 16-foot widths • Patent-pending terrain response advanced cutting edge (TRACE) technology can oscillate, move vertically and trip to accommodate contours and obstacles in the plowable surface • Each blade section has a 3/4-inch cutting edge with carbide insert for heavy-duty commercial applications • Self-leveling side plates keep the TRACE edge in contact with the plowing surface

The VSWAS 23.5R25 performs in deep snow with a tread pattern that reduces stone holdings without the need for studs or chains. Highlights include: • Deep siping design for year-round use and advanced capability in snow, gravel and soft sandy conditions • Special tread design with wide grooves and angled lug walls to help minimize stone retention, stone throw or the need for chains • Cut-resistant compound for reduced cutting, chipping and puncturing

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For additional snow-handling products and equipment, visit the Product Guide at GreenIndustryPros.com

GPS Fleet Consulting’s FL Dashcam The FL Dashcam uses video-based safety machine vision and artificial intelligence (AI) technology to look for and identify distracted driving behaviors and alerts drivers of potential risks in real time. Other features are: • Smart alerts to avoid excess driver distractions • Visual alerts on AI-12 LCD screen in addition to audio alerts • Multiple alerts to driver before notice sent to management allows driver to self-correct without consequence • Surfsight data analysis

HLA Snow Basket HLA Snow Baskets are available in widths from 60 inches to 120 inches. With a depth of 39 inches and a height of 31 inches, the snow basket has tall, rounded end plates to provide more capacity compared to standard digging buckets. The heavy-duty grating not only provides better visibility for snow professionals but also allows water to drain from the bucket. Snow baskets are compatible with smooth or serrated bolt-on cutting edges.

Kage WingLine Laser Guide The Kage WingLine Laser Guide is the next step in snow plowing safety. The in-cab maneuverable laser emits a green line on the road parallel to your plow’s edge to keep you from hitting obstacles without taking your eyes off the road ahead.

With safety in mind, the laser mounts inside your cab using a suction cup and can be easily turned on with a smart switch. A refraction tube counteracts any reflection of the laser projection in the windshield. The wire harness connections are IP67 rated, making them resistant to harsh cold and salt.

THE CLEAR ADVANTAGE. Spend less time in the cold switching multiple blades with Brandt’s purpose-built 4-in-1 snow blade: More Versatile

Adjustable side wings rotate 180° for maximum versatility in all conditions.

Safer Operation

Two trippable edge configurations deliver added safety & longevity.

Low Maintenance

Blade hydraulics remain protected with cover plates, reducing repair costs.

brandt.ca | 1-844-328-2538

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NEW PRODUCTS | SNOW & ICE REMOVAL

Hilltip SprayStriker 2600

Attentive Automated Property Measurement Tool Attentive’s automated property measurement tool for landscaping and snow removal professionals will allow paving professionals to obtain automated site measurements for area, length, parking stall striping length and more. This tool can be used by both commercial and residential paving and snow contractors. The tool is designed to help sales teams cut down on time-consuming manual tasks like measuring sites for services like parking lot sealcoating, line striping, sweeping and even crack sealing.

The Hilltip SprayStriker 2600 is a truck-mounted sprayer for de-icing and anti-icing applications. It has a 265-gallon capacity with a polyethylene tank and powder-coated stainless-steel frame. It is equipped with a 6-foot, 7-inch-wide spray bar with 14 nozzles for high coverage, which can be flipped up. Dual 12-volt pumps apply liquid at rates up to 20 gallons per lane mile at a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour. GPS speed control automatically adjusts the flow according to the vehicle speed to consistently achieve the desired rate across the treated area. A color screen controller offers easy adjustment of application rates and other sprayer functions from the cab. The 2600 includes Hilltip’s HTrack tracking software. This system offers two-way GPRS capability. Other standard features of the SprayStriker 2600 include: • A 2-inch camlock inlet for filling the sprayer • An additional rinse tank for cleaning the spray system after each use • A built-in tie-down straps for strapping the unit to the truck • An accessory wire for powering the optional beacon light • A manual spray nozzle with a 40-foot hose reel, adjustable leg stands and solenoids on the end nozzles

Milwaukee Tool WorkWear Line Milwaukee Tool’s new WorkWear line is designed to withstand even the toughest jobsite conditions while still maintaining maximum comfort. The Midweight Pullover Hoodie is a fleece-lined, cotton blend with a forward shoulder design. The hoodie features drop shoulder seams, reinforced pockets, an adjustable hood and rib-knit cuffs and waistband. The Heavy Duty Sherpa-Lined Vest has a canvas outer layer for tear and abrasion resistance. The wearresistant drop shoulder design and reinforced high-wear zones make this a durable vest. The vest also has five tool storage pockets for easy access on the job.

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Rotary Belts Rotary’s 2022 catalog features more than 20 new belts in addition to replacements for all the popular brands of mowers, snow throwers and snow blowers. Heavy-duty belts reinforced with high-strength aramid fiber and two-ply construction are among the thousands of available belts. The belt cover is designed to increase flexibility and withstand severe clutching action, bending, twisting and heavy loads. Rotary belts meet rigid operating standards with resistance to heat, oil and abrasion. Other related items include belt idlers, flat idlers and v-idlers, as well as belt, spindle, idler and transmission pulleys.

Also available are accessories such as a belt measuring tool and adjustable rack that displays up to 80 rows of belts. More than 9,500 different outdoor power equipment parts are listed in Rotary’s 2022 master catalog.

Next Generation Cat 906, 907 and 908 Wheel Loaders The Next Generation Cat 906, 907 and 908 wheel loaders feature a reengineered operator’s station to provide larger wheel loader model comfort on a smaller platform.

Features include: • Cat C2.8 engine with upgraded drive and powertrain • Sealed and pressurized cab • Raised floor pedals and two doors • Larger standard side mirrors and front and rear camera options • Single-piece front and rear windshields • Seat-mounted controls improve operating ergonomics • Multifunction joystick • Premium heated and ventilated seat • In-cab-programmable kickouts with high-definition rotary sensors mounted to the loader arms • Next generation control monitor

Altoz Switch Stand-On Tracked Compact Tool Carrier The all-new Altoz Switch stand-on tracked compact tool carrier provides the benefits of tracks along with the versatility of multiple attachments for multiseason use. Available attachment options include: three mower decks (all-terrain, brush and finish), angle broom, v-blade, straight blade, snow blower and brine de-icing system.

The product includes: • Adjustable coil spring-over gas shock suspension rider platform • Torsion axle width adjusts from 41.5 inches to 51.5 inches for added stability • The 9-inch-wide all-terrain track • 29.5-hp Kawasaki FX 852-cc engine with an integrated electronic throttle and governor control • Kawasaki’s EFI fuel management system continually adjusts power to load • High-performance commercial hydrostatic drive system • Electric dial throttle control, 9-gallon fuel tank, solid-state PTO switch, keyless push-to-start ignition and SmarTrac Pro control come standard • Patented SoftStart clutch control decreases mechanical wear and increases belt life

Hyundai Construction Equipment HL930A Wheel Loader Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas’ new wheel loader is part of Hyundai’s advanced A series lineup. The wheel loader features Cummins Performance Series engines with 10 percent more power and 20 percent more torque than previous comparable models. The model includes: • 130 net hp • Ideal for commercial snow removal contractors • Can be outfitted with plows, snow blowers and other snow removal attachments • Powered by a Cummins B4.5 Performance Series Tier 4 Final/Stage 5 emissions-compliant diesel engine

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It’s

an

HINIKER VERSAPLOW T he Hiniker VersaPlow is efficient, combining the function of a boxstyle containment box and a conventional snowplow into on rugged piece of equipment.

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PUSH SNOW With side panels in the forward positions, the VersaPlow is a high-capacity system that can be used for a wide variety of tasks.

PULL SNOW Roll the side panels rearward to form a superefficient back drag box plow to get close to garage doors and maneuver around parked cars.

WINDROW AND STACK The VersaPlow features full hydraulic angling capabilities for conventional windrow plowing.

This allows you to have all three functions in the palm of your hand. Hydraulically roll the end panels into any position from the cab. You can change the configuration of the Hiniker VersaPlow in seconds without the need to mount or re-mount equipment.

Clear more snow in less time in retail parking lots, apartment complexes, municipal campuses, and industrial areas. Adaptable to any piece of equipment with a standard skid-steer mounting plate, the Hiniker VersaPlow brings a new level of efficiency and convenience to your snow removal operations. If you want to have it all in one system, the VersaPlow is always the way to go.

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SNOW PRO | 2022

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9/16/22 10:13 AM

t

below zero and the wind is blowing.

It’s been snowing for 20 hours.

People are counting on you to put snow in its place.

It’s

Make sure you are

industry's most reliable and rugged equipment.

using the

V-PLOW

STRAIGHT PLOW

C-PLOW

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SPREADERS

Be a #HinikerHero. Visit www.hiniker.com SNOW0922_22-28_NewProducts.indd 27

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LET'S BUILD YOUR IDEAL STRUCTURE

SUPERIOR BUILDING SOLUTIONS FOR OVER

40 YEARS SNOW0922_22-28_NewProducts.indd 28

INDUSTRY-LEADING WARRANTIES ClearSpan structures are built to last decades into the future.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT DESIGNS Save money on a monthly basis and maximize profitability.

EXPERT CONSULTATION Industry experts are on staff to provide invaluable advice.

METAL AND FABRIC BUILDINGS Building solutions for any application in any industry.

www.clearspan.com 1.866.643.1010

9/16/22 10:13 AM