Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction October/November 2023

December 6-8, 2023

DUAL ACTION

SECURE YOUR SPOTS AT BOTH EVENTS AT HTTPS://PAVEMG.COM/EVENTS

THESE EVENTS ARE DIFFERENT, BUT PAIRED TOGETHER SUPPLY THE KNOWLEDGE, RESOURCES AND CONNECTIONS TO SUCCEED IN 2024 AND BEYOND. PAVE/X, the new paving and pavement maintenance trade show, will bring the HEAT with 60+ hours of educational sessions, a fast-paced demonstration showcase, and ample networking opportunities. While, the IGNITE Construction Summit conference pairs well with the large tradeshow by providing business owners and high-level managers an intimate opportunity to discuss the future of the industry and how leaders in the industry are succeeding - and how you can too!

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement

January 30 - February 1, 2024

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas

Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater, Florida

December 6-8, 2023

Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater, Florida

LIGHT A FIRE WITH IGNITE

EDUCATION.

We’ve tailored our two-day curriculum specifically to advancing your construction business in this increasingly competitive market. Business owners and high-level executives will have the opportunity to identify areas within their company that need immediate change and obtain the tools they need to succeed.

NEXT-LEVEL NETWORKING.

The exclusive, intimate event allows business owners and high-level managers the opportunity to discuss the current struggles and opportunities present within the industry, leading to actionable insight and long-term connections.

January 30 - February 1, 2024

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas

THE PAVE/X DIFFERENCE EDUCATE.

The PAVE/X difference begins with a robust educational program, featuring five tracks: Paving, Striping, Sweeping, Sealcoating & Business Management.

DEMONSTRATE.

Seeing equipment in action is incredibly important in any equipment buying decision and PAVE/X is thrilled to bring a fast-paced demonstration showcase for attendees.

CONNECT.

Over the three day event, there will be an incredible amount of opportunities for next-level networking that will create and strengthen the relationships that are vital to the success of business owners.

28 Critical Care: Hospital Maintenance Phasing

Most commercial parking lot maintenance is completed in phases and, if you’re lucky, scheduled during slow or nonbusiness hours. For a hospital with the only ER in the county, the standard mill-and-fill is a bit more complicated.

38 Contractor’s Snapshot

Modern work culture sometimes promotes the idea of a side-hustle as something everyone should have, but for the team behind National Pavement Partners the goal is building a lasting business, and it’s been that way from the beginning.

42 Tailgate Talk

In this second article in a series of four, we will explore the importance for construction leaders to influence their field production leaders and crews. In today’s effort we look at the significance of being objective in our influencing.

ON THE COVER A photo taken at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center, and the Advanced Asphalt Paving’s LeeBoy 8530.

[VIDEO] Hops & Highways: Mark Estrada Talks Tips for Striping Success

From technology to liability, there is a lot striping contractors can learn to grow their business. At PAVE/X, Mark Estrada will share his 20+ years of hard-earned industry knowledge with attendees in two sessions spanning all facets of the industry.

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

Want to Break Into the Municipal Market? Consider Owning a Hot Box

This one piece of equipment can help you leverage more business, using mostly your existing expertise and resources.

For more information visit https://pavemg.com/9pqu4m

Top 5 Dangers of Working With Heavy Equipment

The construction industry accounts for a large number of yearly work-related fatalities. There are ways to prevent this by following protocol and knowing the heavy equipment you are working with.

For more information visit

https://pavemg.com/q7pdt3

ADVISORY BOARD

Agua Trucks Inc

PAVEMENT

from the publisher. Subscription policy: Individual subscriptions are available without charge in the U.S.

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. Ste 350, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Periodicals postage paid at Fort Atkinson, WI and additional entry offices.

POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Pavement, PO Box 3605, Northbrook, IL 60065-3605. Printed in the USA.

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION is proudly supported by these associations:

Wickenburg, AZ, Scott Duscher

Asphalt Contractors Inc., Union Grove, WI Robert Kordus

Asphalt Restoration Technology Systems, Orlando, FL Connie Lorenz

Brahney Paving, Hillsborough, NJ Steven Brahney

Eosso Brothers Paving; Hazlet, NJ Tom Eosso

Maul Paving/Concrete/Sealcoating, PLainfield, IL Chris Maul

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

Petra Paving, Hampstead, NH ...................................................................... Chris Tammany

Pioneer Paving, Albuquerque, NM................................................................... Don Rooney

Roberts Traffic, Hollywood, FL ........................................................................Lisa Birchfield

Show Striping Inc. (SSI), Wisconsin Dells, WI Amber Showalter

T&N Asphalt Services, Salt Lake City, UT Nick Howell

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

Wis-Coat Asphalt Maintenance

Clear Choice Sealing

Jacketta Sweeping Services

Royal Pavement Solutions .............................................................................

ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES:

Michael Nawa

Marvin Joles

Warren Johnson

Debbie Jacketta

Kenneth Roy III

Pavement Coatings Technology Council Brian Riggs, Executive Director

Hearing What You Have To Say

Some of you have already reached out to me through calls or emails — my door is always open.

Last month’s cover story featured a large maintenance project at the Philadelphia Sports Complex. I traveled to the city (my first time there, loved it, would totally live in Philly some day), and spent just shy of three days out on the site. Not only was I there trying to find the story, but, also, learning as many new things as I could. A hands-on approach in this business is important to me. After publishing the story, however, I got some feedback about it, and it brought up a point I think is worth addressing.

Brandon Noel, Editor bNoel@ACBusinessMedia.com 234-600-8983

In that story, I did not name the sub-contracted company that handled parts of the work. The subcontractor is seen clearly in a few of the pictures that I took on location, their badging and logos on some of the equipment, and you can go back to that issue and see them for yourself. There’s no attempt to obfuscate the fact.

Since my goal as editor is to be clear, in retrospect, I could have been more precise in my language, and specified which parts of the job were completed by the primary contractor and which were managed by the primary contractor. That being said, depending on the story and the situation, I may not always list all the subcontractors who work on a given job in future articles. It’s safe to assume that a large majority of jobs have some portion of sub-contracted work involved.

The best part about getting that reader feedback was it made me consider something else. You might have seen a post on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn (if you follow us on social media), calling for “Pavement Pitches” and story ideas. The most valuable time I’ve spent in this role has been engaging with contractors, operators, and laborers out on jobsites. That’s where my best ideas have come from. Sadly, the reality is that you can’t always be traveling jobsite to jobsite, month after month.

However, another way for me to make those connections is if you reach out to me. I want your story ideas. I don’t care if you think they are good, bad, crazy, boring, or that nobody else would want to hear it. I want to hear your ideas. The catch is that I’m not going to just take them, but rather, return the favor. I might even help you tell the story, and get your name printed right here in the magazine. I’m an editor, that’s what I do!

There is more expertise and knowledge about this industry inside of the minds of those who do it, no matter how much I try to play catch-up. You can send me your rants, raves, and any kind of topic that you don’t think is talked about enough in our industry. Let me know what matters to you. By sending me your #PavementPitches you’ll be helping me make this magazine better, and, ideally, connecting with others in the industry like you.

Send your email to bNoel@acbusinessmedia.com with the subject line “Pavement Pitches” and lets get a conversation going.

See you on the road! ■

EDITORIAL Editor Brandon Noel bnoel@acbusinessmedia.com

Contributing Editor Jessica Lombardo jlombardo@acbusinessmedia.com

Managing Editor Gigi Wood gwood@acbusinessmedia.com

Senior Editor, Construction Technology, IRONPROS Charles Rathmann crathmann@acbusinessmedia.com

Senior Editor, Equipment & Workwear, IRONPROS Michael Cheng mcheng@acbusinessmedia.com

AUDIENCE

Audience Development Manager Angela Franks

PRODUCTION

Senior Production Manger Cindy Rusch crusch@acbusinessmedia.com

Art Director April Van Etten

ADVERTISING/SALES

Brand Director .......................................................... Amy Schwandt aschwandt@acbusinessmedia.com

Sales Representative Sean Dunphy sdunphy@acbusinessmedia.com

Sales Representative Kris Flitcroft kflitcroft@acbusinessmedia.com

Sales Representative Tadashi Soma tsoma@acbusinessmedia.com

AC BUSINESS MEDIA

Chief Executive Officer Ron Spink

Chief Financial Officer JoAnn Breuchel

Chief Revenue Officer Amy Schwandt

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

Director, Online & Marketing Services Bethany Chambers

Director, Demand Generation & Education ............. Jim Bagan

Content Director, Marketing Services Jess Lombardo

CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS

P.O. Box 3605, Northbrook, IL 60065-3605 (877) 201-3915 | Fax: (847)-291-4816 circ.pavement@omeda.com

LIST RENTAL

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

REPRINT SERVICES

Sales Representative Tadashi Soma (800) 538-5544 ext. 1267 | tsoma@ACBusinessMedia.com

Published

Strength & Flexibility for Lasting Concrete Repairs

Repair large cracks, cuts and distresses in concrete with TechCrete by Crafco. This long-lasting gray repair material is easy to install, flexible, load-bearing and allows for quick reopening to traffic. Find out how TechCrete can save you time on concrete repairs by visiting Crafco.com.

Volvo CE Appoints New Head of North America Operations

Volvo Construction Equipment announced three major appointments to its executive management team. Most notably, Scott Young, former head of the Volvo CE Uptime Center of Expertise, was named head of sales for North America. Young takes over for Stephen Roy, who was recently named president of Mack Trucks, a position within the Volvo Group Executive Board.

The three appointments consist of:

• Scott Young is appointed head of sales region North America. Most recently Young was head of the Volvo CE Uptime Center of Expertise and has held a number of other roles in strategy, technology and other functions within Volvo CE.

• Mats Sköldberg is appointed head of technology at Volvo CE. Most recently he was head of technology for Volvo CE in China and has held a number of other senior technology roles in recent years.

• Jay Parker is appointed to the newly created role of head of digital and IT. The creation of this new role at the executive management team level reflects the importance of digital in the company’s overall transformation journey.

According to Volvo CE:

All three appointments will support the company’s cultural, sustainable and technological transformation, while demonstrating the expertise and dynamism that is already embedded across all regions of Volvo CE.

Melker Jernberg, head of Volvo CE, said, “Our leadership team will be greatly strengthened with the addition of Scott, Mats and Jay, as they join during a significant time of change for our industry. With their diverse experience –cross-functional understanding and genuine passion, I have no doubt we will continue to lead our company´s sustainable transformation going forward.”

As the new head of Volvo CE Region North America, Young will continue to oversee the strategic direction of one of the largest markets for construction equipment and will be responsible for meeting its customers’ diverse needs. He has assumed the role from Stephen Roy who recently took on a new position within the Volvo Group Executive Board as President of Mack Trucks.

Mats Sköldberg will replace Thomas Bitter as the new head of technology, leading the development and delivery of Volvo CE’s global technology strategy and continuing the company’s journey into electromobility, connectivity and automation. Meanwhile, Bitter will be heading up the recently announced Compact Business Unit.

Jay Parker, already head of digital and IT for Volvo CE since 2020, will also be joining the executive management team. His appointment on the board aims to bring the company’s digital transformation into renewed focus.

In addition to this, Joakim Arndorw has been appointed the new head of Volvo CE Sales Region International. Joakim is currently managing director for Swecon Anläggningsmaskiner, the retail operations for Volvo CE in Sweden. Joakim will be part of Carl Slotte´s, head of sales region Europe´s management team.

BOMAG AMERICAS EXPANDS SOUTHEASTERN EQUIPMENT TERRITORY

BOMAG Americas announced it expanded its dealer agreement with Southeastern Equipment Co., Inc. to now include West Virginia. Southeastern Equipment now provides West Virgina contractors sales, service, and parts support for the full BOMAG product line, spanning from light equipment to landfill compactors, from its new South Charleston, W.Va., as well as Gallipolis and Marietta, Ohio, locations. Partnering with BOMAG since the 1990’s, the full-line equipment dealer now represents BOMAG in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and West Virginia.

The company also offers an online parts ordering portal along with ordering directly from a branch location.

The extensive BOMAG light equipment line leverages decades of compaction experience to include tampers, single direction and reversible plate compactors, multipurpose compactors, and small single and double drum rollers. More than 30 smooth and padfoot drum models comprise the single drum and high-speed soil compactor range, and contractors can choose from more than 40 double drum and pneumatic tire rollers offering exclusive technologies for asphalt compaction. BOMAG’s range of cold planers includes 14 utility and full-lane models, while the versatile recycler/stabilizer line delivers fast and efficient full-depth road reclamation and soil stabilization.

The paver line features a range of models for paving anything from pathways to the mainline. BOMAG’s broad line of purpose-built landfill compactors boasts an exclusive wheel design that delivers superior compaction results. ■

For more information visit https://pavemg.com/2a6kgs

IronCraft Snow Cannon IRONCRAFT

IronCraft Snow Cannon

tractor snow blowers are designed to move heavy, wet snow. Offered in three models, the attachment is compatible with 12- to 50-hp tractors. Operators can use the Snow Cannon for site preparation, commercial snow clearing jobs (driveways, parking lots and pathways) and landscaping. Welded augers with high-tensile strength ribbon flighting, a heavy-duty gearbox and replaceable skid shoes provide durability and reliability. A manual pin-style deflector can be found on the attachment.

Husqvarna

Unveils LFe 60

LAT BatteryPowered Compactor

Husqvarna

Construction

Husqvarna Construction has introduced its first batterypowered compactor, the LFe60 LAT. This new forward plate compactor delivers compaction of soil and asphalt and runs on the Honda eGX battery platform. The LFe60 LAT combines reliable handling, no CO2 direct exhaust emissions during operation and smart capabilities in a single machine. Operators can access several features on the machine such as a push-start button, transport wheels, low-vibrations and a handle that folds for compact transport. The electric motor of the LFe60 LAT compactor also helps minimize downtime.

Yanmar V7/ V7-HW Wheel Loaders

Yanmar CE NA

With a total height less than 2.5 m, a width of 1,850 mm (with bucket) and an overall length of just 5,238 mm, the V7/V7-HW can fit inside a standard container keeping under the 4-m height limit dictated by the EU’s Weights and dimensions’ Directive of 1996. The all-wheel drive V7/V7-HW both have an electronically controlled drivetrain and a top speed of 20 km/h; with 30 km/h max speed available as an option. Unlike other models in the Yanmar CE range, the new V7/V7-HW do away with exterior oscillation and instead feature a joint that combines articulation with oscillation, enabling the height of the machine to be lowered.

DEVELON DX42-7 Mini Excavator DEVELON North America

With 47 net hp and a conventional tail swing configuration, this 4-metric-ton model is designed for navigating tight, congested jobsites and urban areas. Part of the next-generation -7 Series mini excavator lineup, the DX42-7 offers fast cycle times, torque-limiting piston pumps that respond to load demands and a large counterweight for balance and durability. Its maximum digging depth is 11 ft., 5 in. and maximum digging reach (ground) is 18 ft., 3 in. Its maximum loading height is 2 ft., 6 in. and its travel speed is 2.1 – 3.1 mph. The DX42-7 comes equipped with a standard thumb-ready arm, quick-coupler-ready design and lever pattern control.

Bobcat E32e

Doosan Bobcat

The Bobcat E32e is the largest machine in Bobcat’s battery-electric excavator lineup (currently consisting of the E10e, the E19e and the E32e). The E32e comes in at 3.9 tons and has a run time of four hours of continuous operation and can perform up to eight hours with intermittent use. The conventional tail-swing E32e is powered by a 44.5 kWh lithium-ion battery. The battery delivers high-energy density, long service life and requires minimal routine maintenance. Operating weight is 7,861 lbs. with a 21.6 hp motor.

VOTLEQ SKY 1000 Electric Mini Skid Steer Loader

VOLTEQ Equipment

The VOTLEQ SKY 1000 Electric Mini Skid Steer Loader can be used for material handling, transfer or lifting on construction sites. Equipped with rubber tracks, the SKY 1000 is powered by a 14.34 kW lithium-ion battery. The mini skid steer loader features a breakout force of 1,798 lbs. and a lifting force of 2,473 lbs. It can travel at a continuous speed of 2.8 mph forward and 2.5 mph reverse. Made in the U.S.A., this machine is compatible with more than 15 attachments, including both hydraulic and electric solutions, for added versatility. Operators can access several telematics capabilities, including GSM, GPS, speedometer and inclinometer.

BY JESSICA LOMBARDO, Contributing Editor, Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction

PAVE/X Education Explosion

The education at PAVE/X: The Pavement Experience is intentionally crafted to help business owners at all levels achieve their goals. Take a look at just some of the sessions we’re excited to be bringing to San Antonio, Jan. 30-Feb. 1 2024 and get yourself registered to attend at www. pavexshow.com.

PAVING: Identifying, Preventing and Solving Mat Problems by Wayne Jones, Asphalt Institute

• Discuss best practices for repairing an asphalt pavement

• Provide tips on how to “up-sell” operations to solve long-term problems for customers and

• Cover applications of the right treatment at the right time to increase the overall service life of a pavement Making the Grade: A Quality Paving Job Starts with Site Prep, Kyle Ascione, Integrity Earth & Asphalt, LLC

• What details need to be coordinated to maximize base prep, including ideal equipment and technology

• The terms and conditions to look for within contract to protect yourself and your resources, and

• How to achieve great results with minimal resources.

STRIPING:

The intricacies of a striping business can be tough to learn but we have the best in the business at PAVE/X.

Advanced Parking Lot Striping: Auto Layout & How to Improve Your Striping Operation by Jim Panzenhagen, JMP Excelsior

• The benefits and best practices of auto layout machines

• How using this equipment can help accelerate your growth, plus

• Tricks and tips for using the auto layout for parking lot striping

A Hands-On Approach to Learning Striping Technologies by Chad Jung, Superior Striping

He will take the classroom outside to give contractors real experience on:

• The latest technologies to help striping contractors succeed

• How to efficiently stripe any job, easy or difficult, using today’s technology

• How to calibrate an auto layup machine, align the laser properly and how to use auto layout properly, plus

• What you need to know about the training and financial investment to make the technology successful

SEALCOATING & PRESERVATION:

Elevating the Image of the Pavement Maintenance Industry by Steve Brahney, Fix Asphalt

• Take advantage of the opportunity to educate customers on the “dollar and sense” value of doing pavement maintenance properly

• Elevate the image of pavement maintenance in their service area while also demonstrating value to your clients

• Create a strong initial presentation for new prospects and how to follow a process once you close the deal and continue to work for the client, and

• Become a contractor that is committed to continued education, who establishes best practices for materials application, helps their

clients, has alliances with friendly competitors and deliver the best projects, service and customer experience out there

Increase Your Profitability by

Using Infrared by Zach Young, Pothole Heroes

• The types of jobs and repairs that can be completed successfully using infrared technology

• Specific infrared field techniques and approaches to help make infrared pavement repair efficient, successful and profitable

• How adding infrared can extend your season and enhance your profitability

How to Level Up Your Sealcoating Business: Tips for Larger Commercial Sealcoating Jobs by Nick Howell, T&N Asphalt

• How to market to property managers and owners of these larger centers

• Best practices for estimating larger jobs and the equipment you need to complete them

• Tips for negotiating with your suppliers for better pricing

• The benefits of partnering and subcontracting with other contractors

• Typical insurance requirements

• Scheduling to please the owner

This is just a small, non-exhaustive sample of all the education available, including a whole track dedicated to Business Management, as well as an entire sweeping track through our partnership with NAPSA . To see a full list, and register today, use the QR code below or go to PaveXShow.com

For more information visit http://asphalt.com/kk3fi1

RAISING THE STANDARD

By Charles Rathmann, Senior Editor, Construction Technology,

Paving-Specific Construction Business Software

Asphalt pavement contractors can be small mom-andpop shops or multi-location enterprises. While the larger contractors may have resources to stitch together multiple construction software products to address the unique way value flows through the business, smaller players may struggle.

Paving is a difficult process to address because many construction management software tools focus on projects with multiple subcontractors, phases and dependencies, while asphalt paving is more of a process. That process may include origination of the

project from estimating, material ticketing, job ticketing, capturing production and securing revenue at close-out.

Things may be getting easier as entrepreneurial software companies with deep roots in the business launch software products optimized for both large and small contractors. These products may be strong in a specific part of the pavement workflow, but can encompass the entire quote-to-cash value stream, becoming almost like an enterprise resource planning (ERP) for the paving sector.

PAVEMENTSOFT

As of our last briefing, one of these solutions is bringing customers on in smaller numbers through a waiting list system. PavementSoft is a paving industry-specific ERP application from a company that actually shares ownership and personnel with a national paving contractor—Manassas, Va.based Brothers Paving and Concrete. Shawn Boyce serves as secretary of PavementSoft and chief revenue officer for Brothers.

“We have designed and built out PavementSoft really to meet our own needs,” Boyce said. “That is what we use to run our field, for our crews and sales--everything runs through PavementSoft.”

PavementSoft can be considered ERP because it gives contractors a single, digital workflow for the full value lifecycle from lead, to bid, to project, and crew management, to invoicing— from quote to cash. The supports more accurate estimating by exposing actuals. It also delivers control and the ability to modify invoices before they go out. There are integrations with both Quickbooks Desktop and Quickbooks Online. An integration with Netsuite is coming, according to Boyce.

Emerging software products from Pittbos and PavementSoft are aimed at the unique workflow of asphalt contractors help to bid, win, and complete more work.

Pittbos starts with takeoff and extends all the way through to invoicing. Pittbos

BUILDING AMERICA ONE ROAD AT A TIME

PITTBOS FOR TAKEOFF TO INVOICE

We first debriefed Pittbos CEO Mark Peach in April of 2023. Peach has been ramping up the company since 2020 after long experience in heavy construction materials. At that time, Pittbos was delivering a broad spectrum of functionality to 100 customers, including contractors and materials suppliers. By our second call in July 0f 2023, the customer count had increased to 150 with only two churning off the software.

Pittbos Contractor will handle the takeoff-to-quote-to cash processes of pavers while Pittbos Supplier streamlines plant management and the revenue lifecycle for materials businesses. The company early on took a high-touch approach to customer success, which was important as they built the two products around the needs of and incorporating feedback from the market.

“Our product is getting pretty mature on the contractor side, but our followup and feedback are praised by customers,” Peach said.

The focus on both contractors and materials suppliers delivers strategic advantages in growing the customer footprint—something that should make cagey paving executives more confident in the startup.

“We are working on some strategic partnerships with well-established players in the construction software industry,” Peach said. “With my network, asphalt manufacturing companies have

been referring us to contractors. And now we have our first materials provider on the supplier product.”

“This materials provider called me and said it was refreshing to sit with us because you are not trying to offload the software to us,” Peach said. “You have done what we do, and have experienced our pain points.”

ASPHALT CONTRACTOR BUSINESS SOFTWARE

Contractors on Pittbos get a single system to contain:

• Take-offs

• Estimate worksheets and library

• Proposal generation

• CRM tools to Text & Email Customers

• Sales Reporting

• Document Management

• Backlog Management

• Invoicing

“The software tracks the leads—as the phone rings, it creates a project, knows status of the lead and whether an estimate and proposal are started, not started and sent,” Peach said. “We also give customers the ability to write notes internally. They can do takeoffs and use our document storage where each project gets its own folder of documents and pictures. The software creates proposals by using a library of actual costs, labor, equipment, crew cost, mobilization costs and materials costs. All goes into templated bid items. This means our customers can build bit items once and fly through estimates very accurately, boiling each into a proposal they can send digitally.”

Tracking communications and statuses around proposals can be handled in Pittbos, and customers can rely on the software as a customer relationship management system with scheduled follow-ups and notes on each discussion.

PITTBOS SOFTWARE FOR MATERIALS SUPPLIERS

Peach said his goal is to digitize both sides of the asphalt equation, materials providers from the plant to the materials ticket and contractors from the estimate to the invoice.

“We can serve anybody that owns an asphalt plant,” Peach said.

Asphalt contractors were the first priority for Pittbos, but with the contractor functionality finding product-market fit, the team is now focusing more on materials providers.

“The software captures the constituent parts of the plants and builds out each plant’s location and materials lists consumed including liquid asphalt, crushed aggregate—plus fixed costs, utilization, labor, equipment and maintenance cost,” Peach said. “For each individual plant, we create the mixes you sell at that plant so we can get an accurate mix cost based on all the factors at that plant.”

The software can then set retail prices for each mix and to deliver freight onboard (FOB) sales quotes, even making available a portal where customers can access their quotes and pricing.

“Customers can request future project pricing from their portal,” Peach said. “We have integrations for their ticketing software in Pittbos so as the orders are fulfilled, the tickets get pushed into Pittbos and into their accounting software for accounts payable. At the plant when these orders are fulfilled, we push those accounts receivable events into their accounting software.”

PITTBOS TECH STACK

Pittbos is a multi-tenant software-as-aservice (SaaS) product provisioned on Amazon Web Services (WAS). It is one of a few emerging construction software products built on Go, a programming language from Google. While Pittbos goes from quote to cash, an application programming interface (API) enables integration with financial software where the general ledger and overall Pittbos

-­

MOST-MANEUVERABLE

The NON-CDL A4 Storm is uniquely positioned to excel at construction site cleanup where space is limited.

HIGHEST-DUMP

The high-dump AS Twister allows off-loading into the tallest containers and dump trucks.

ILARGEST-CAPACITY

The large capacity A9 Monsoon allows more time sweeping and less time driving to landfills.

company financials live. There is a standard integration with Quickbooks Online. Pittbos also offers an integrated a customer service portal and integration with Stripe to accept payments.

“If a client wanted us to push into another software product, we certainly could do that,” Peach said. “We have cost codes and individual customer ID numbers that can index against another system.”

Bootstrapped startups like Pittbos and Pavesmart may address core functionality first, and Pittbos has done an admirable job of addressing core needs and building a customer base. Because these companies can only get so far out in front of revenue with research and development, things like mobile apps can come out later. PavementSoft lacks one, and by the time of our second call with Pittbos in July of 2023, they were making investments that will

extend the product onto native apps for Android and iOS.

“We just hired a head of product engineering, and this had been a big goal—to get a quality engineer to look after the whole tech side,” Peach said from the cab of his truck as he onboarded a large multi-location pavement company. “We had been using offshore coders and a product manager in the states. Our new hire has had his own startup, sold that, was available and his involvement is already paying huge dividends. I have an eye for designing product but don’t know the technical side at all.”

While web interfaces from PavementSoft and Pittbos may be responsive enough to work on a smaller screen size, native apps will provide a more performant experience with greater usability.

“We want to create a native app so you can download it and use the software

in locations where you might not have internet access,” Peach said. “When it synchs back up to the internet, it can be represented in the database. This means that even if you are in the middle of Maine, you can still get an estimate out.”

PAVING SOFTWARE PRICING AND MARKET

Pittbos charges $200 per month per user for a full license to complete any processes or transactions in the system. Limited users, for those in clerical or operations roles, are $50 per month. Pricing gets to be negotiable as the number of full users increases, likely kicking in around 10 or 12 full users.

Products like Pittbos and Pavementsoft can go substantially down market, but currently PavementSoft was still picking and choosing customers from a waiting list.

According to Peach, Pittbos will be a fit for contractors with as little as $3 million in annual revenue, with $50 million being the sweet spot where contractors can maximize value.

“We look at our competition as being pen and paper,” Peach said. “Above that $50 million line, you see big heavy highway contractors bidding airports and infrastructure. Other players like B2W and HCSS are well established for that work for these contractors, and it is hard to displace them. We are trying to provide software for people who don’t have it. We do this by distilling it down to an easier platform to use. As you look at the smallest contractors, guys are going to homeowners, getting a check and getting a quote in their mailbox. Those owner-operators have been doing it a long time, and it is very hard for them to change.”

There will be an internal cost for

adopting any of these technologies, and contractors in particular may want to time their purchase to ensure they have capacity to assault a shallow learning curve. Contractors in regions where seasonality should look at adoption between September and May, depending on their climate and typical workload. This will enable them to build up there bid item libraries in a product like Pittbos so they are not focused on that when the rush hits.

A FUTURE FOR PAVING SOFTWARE

Peach said the company will grow its footprint among asphalt paving contractors and materials suppliers, and then branch out to aligned industries.

“Tight now, our total attainable market is 100,000 asphalt-related contractors and 4,000 asphalt plants,”

Peach said. “We think we can spin this off into concrete finishers, any hardscape type contractors, utility contractors and site others.”

But there is more innovation coming, even for asphalt contractors.

“Our next steps on the product will be building a calendar view schedule, so our customers can put projects into the calendar and from that can order materials and drag and drop them around calendar. When an invoice is created for that day’s production, we will also provide tools to make it create a comparison to the estimate itself. Over time, we would like to incorporate more job costing systems. People have asked for trucking integration. As time goes on, we will have more and more of those API integrations.” ■

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

Dual rotating water jet heads with nearly-infinite positioning options further boost productivity, and are easy to access for belt changes & other routine maintenance.

When the productivity of your project is on the line, count on the StarJet SRV-7. See a video demo, and all the advantages of water jet stripe removal, at NLBCORP.COM/STARJET

When it comes to removing road markings, the StarJet® SRV-7 puts it all on the line. The water and debris tanks are aligned on the chassis centerline, stabilizing axle loads as volumes rise and fall. That means a smoother ride, less wear and fewer stops for maintenance.

STRIPE REMOVAL RIGHT DOWN THE LINE.

Highlights From the Public Works Expo 2023

The 2023 Public Works Expo

(PWX) was held Aug. 27-30 in downtown San Diego, Calif., and featured hundreds of products and offerings from a wide variety of manufacturers and software vendors, as well as daily educational sessions with experts from across the country. This was my first time attending PWX, and I walked away with a new perspective of the pavement maintenance industry.

THE BIG SWEEPER PARTY

Without a doubt, sweeping plays a large part in the road and parking-lot maintenance world. We include updates from its two biggest associations in every issue, and NAPSA signed early on as a partner for the PAVE/X show (Jan. 30-Feb., 2024). However, despite attending CONEXPO/CON-AGG this year, as well as NPE in Charlotte, N.C., where there were seemingly more sweepers than any other type of pavement maintenance machines; PWX 2023 felt like the place where sweepers were center stage.

Machines of every shape and size were on display, from large mechanical sweepers meant for heavy debris pickup on roadways, to smaller sized minisweepers designed to manage bike lanes, walking paths, and other types of nonvehicle specified paved areas.

A public works employee from Florida said, “It’s a big deal right now. They play a more important role than people realize.” We spoke briefly about hurricane Idalia, which was approaching his home state during our

time at the show. “This is a critical time, before a storm like this, to try and do everything you can to prepare your infrastructure.”

His sentiment was echoed by Nick Bruhn, project manager at Schwarze. “Just from a general day-to-day, sweepers keep catch basins and things clean,” He said. “Everything from the little tiny microscopic particles on the road from tire wear and things like that, but, also, dust, sand, and all the way up to big litter, construction or accident debris. It keeps them out of our stormwater system, which means we’re not putting pollutants into the waterways, but we’re also keeping them clean so that they can be functional when a natural disaster does hit.”

ELECTRIFYING SHIFTS IN THE MARKET

The biggest change from other trade shows this year, when it comes to sweepers, is that the market has gone all-in on electrification. You can read my coverage of NPE here and see that there was only one electric sweeper there. The eSwingo 200, the first fully electric compact sweeper from Aebi Schmidt. Then at CONEXPO, Elgin had its electric Broom Bear on display. I caught back up with Darryl Beard, the associate project manager for Elgin, and asked what the response has been in the

PWX 2023 is the placeto-be for the municipal pavement maintenance side of the industry.

KM International’s PWX booth, featuring their asphalt recycler and asphalt hotbox trailer.

Brandon Noel

YOUR PARTNER ON THE ROAD AHEAD

What does that mean? It means that we are determined to support you in your journey towards greater profitability, safety and environmental stewardship. It means that we will help you forge new paths, shape key trends and offer new solutions to support you on that journey. And it means we will be with you for every step of that journey through application consultancy, personalized trainings; across numerous geographic territories and around the clock.

Tell us where you’re going and we will help you get there.

months since I interviewed him in Las Vegas.

“Things are going really good, the response has been very positive,” Beard said. “We’ve already had some orders come in for both Los Angeles County and LAX (Los Angeles International Airport).” When asked if he thinks there has been a larger move towards electrification across the industry since the last PWX conference. “Oh most definitely,” he replied. “It’s driven by the demand, really, and the industry is responding.”

In addition to Elgin and Schmidt’s electric sweepers, I also saw a hybrid version of the Nighthawk Raptor, as well as several others from a wide range of companies. But the EVs weren’t just showing up as sweepers. Vovlo was on the show floor with their “carbon free zone”, something that is becoming somewhat of a trademark of their booth displays. Just as they did at the 2023 Celebration of Construction at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., all the machines were non-traditionally fueled versions, including their Beam field charging system that creates an overhead shade for workers and machines while they can charge using nothing but solar power.

THE ASPHALT INDUSTRY REPRESENTED

While there weren’t any true-blue pavers on display, it didn’t mean that the topic of asphalt-pavements and repair wasn’t a significant one. The primary discussions, however, were mostly about pothole repair and regular road maintenance, as well as some sessions on multimodal traffic engineering, asset resiliency strategies, and a very well attended session on implementing AI tools for pavement maintenance surveying.

During a session on repairing potholes in cold and wet conditions, there was a live demonstration of a product called “Aquaphalt” which you might

already be familiar with, but to see it in action was pretty attention-grabbing. While the material does cost almost three times what a bag of traditional cold patch goes for, it boasts some fairly impressive credentials. The water-activated substance can be set down in subzero temperatures, compacted with a vibration plate or a hand tamper, and is a drivable surface almost immediately.

The presentation showed multiple real-world case studies at varying depths, but is best utilized in lifts of 2 inches in depth. It bonds to concrete or existing asphalt, contains no petroleum or VOCs, and fully cures in-place within 24 hours. When I posted a picture of the product to the Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction social media accounts, it quickly received

multiple comments from contractors who use it.

Connie Lorenz, president of Asphalt Restoration Technology Systems, said, “This is by far one of my favorite cold patch mixes.”

The Electra 2.0 electric sweeper by Tenax. Ideal solution for pedestrian zones, bike lanes, and small areas.

IS “SUSTAINABILITY” STILL A BUZZWORD?

Sometimes the topic of sustainability is thrown around so frequently and in so many different contexts that it almost loses its meaning. If you ask five different people what it means, you’ll likely get five different answers. While walking out of a session on “Improving The Resilience of Asphalt Pavements” conducted by Brandon Milar, director of technical services at the California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA), I asked another attendee what it means to them.

Since they are a city works employee, they asked not to be named, so we will call them Chuck. “It’s a lot like the word ‘natural’ on a box of cereal,” Chuck said. “I know it’s an important topic, but everything you see coming out markets itself as sustainable, and at some point you start to wonder: sustainable compared to what? Sustainable for who?”

• Maximize Hardness and Protection

• Modify Assets

• Accept Asset Failure & Plan Accordingly

• Abandon Assets

It was a sobering presentation, especially as it concerned the last option, where the frequency of climate-related

damage to infrastructure assets reaches a point that repairing and/or replacing those assets (roads) is no longer an economicly feasible option. Some of the examples Milar presented were of coastal areas, like those in the state of Florida, where 2 feet of sea-level rise could have devastating impacts.

Those were valuable questions to consider after that particular session, which highlighted four ways that municipalities can adapt asphalt pavements to severe environmental events such as flooding, fires, extreme temperatures, landslides, earthquakes, and other disasters:

The Hybrid Nighthawk Raptor on the PWX23 showroom floor.

While many contractors in the maintenance industry may not have to weigh these types of issues when it comes to commercial asset management, the basic principles apply either way.

Property managers in the private sector have to factor in the benefits of maintenance, repairs, and replacement, against the long-term possibilities of asset failure. A contractor’s ability to

explain resilience as a value-added concept to a property manager, and taking an overall pavement resilient design approach, could prove beneficial.

Milar said during his presentation, “Not all sustainable solutions are resilient in design, but all resilient designs should be sustainable.”

For those contractors who are involved with the public sector or are interested in the possibility, one of the biggest takeaways from PWX was that city officials are looking for solutions that can do both things well. Additionally, city management officials are keen to build strong relationships with businesses within the community itself. Those partnerships are important to them, and might be worth exploring, if you haven’t already. ■

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

Brandon Noel

DON’T TRIP!

How to Add Trip Hazard Repair to Your Service Offerings

Knowing how to identify and repair these dangers on sidewalks and concrete can keep your customers ADA compliant, while also helping to ensure you remain their first call for all their pavement maintenance needs.

Contractors in the pavement maintenance space wear many hats. They can diagnose pavement defects, address curb and gutter

issues, sweep parking lots and even let their customers know if their lot needs new striping work done. For this reason, many contractors are considered a onestop-shop for their customers, completing many different types of work so their client doesn’t have to call different service providers to take care of their property.

This service range also includes diagnosing potentially dangerous areas in need of repair around a parking lot or property, from potholes to trip hazards.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) a trip hazard is any vertical change on a surface over 1/4-inch. We see this all the time on uneven concrete surfaces due to freezethaw cycles or surfaces that have been disrupted from tree roots. These large

cracks, breaks, or buckled areas of pavement can lead to serious injury and possibly make property owners liable in a personal injury or premises liability lawsuit.

Knowing how to talk to your customers about these repairs can not only help you gain their trust, but also lead to another stream of business.

HOW TO REMOVE TRIP HAZARDS

Fortunately for contractors, repairing and smoothing these hazards is less time-consuming and difficult than you may think.

A concrete scarifier (a.k.a. planer) is used to grind down the high side of a trip hazard until it is level with the

Knowing how to talk to your customers about these repairs can lead to another stream of business.

opposing sidewalk or surface area again. The machine has a depth crank that can be adjusted up and down. The operator will continue to make multiple passes until the desired levelness is achieved. The resulting surface from the scarifier is also textured and slip-resistant.

For most pavement maintenance contractors starting with this service, you may consider renting a concrete scarifier trip hazard repair package. This includes a scarifier, vacuum and generator for around $400 for one day. You will want to ensure your grinding application includes a vacuum to keep your workers and the public from exposure to harmful airborne concrete dust.

Each 4-ft. sidewalk repair section only takes about 15-20 minutes to complete and depending on the area you live in, you could complete between 15-20 trip hazard repairs in a day to make renting this package very-cost effective and profitable for your business.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR TRIP HAZARDS

If you’re a contractor looking for areas of business in need of trip hazard repair, any local business may be in need. If you have a good relationship and concrete grinder, you can easily increase your revenue stream by offering trip hazard removal at these businesses:

• Local daycares

• Shopping centers

• Campus locations

• Sporting venues

• Golf courses

• Schools

• Grocery stores and other businesses

• Residential homes/driveways

• Parks and recreational facilities

• Healthcare institutions

• Hotels and convention centers

Adding this piece of equipment to your fleet can also be a great way to ensure you’re able to service your customers as there will inevitably always be trip hazards to address. Grinding them to ensure ADA compliance is a much more economical way to repair the concrete than a complete removal of the hazard which can cost upwards of $10,000. Save your customers time and money while also adding value to your business.

If you need help getting started, the experts at EDCO have over 60 years of experience in adding value to their customers’ businesses. Contact them today at info@edcoinc.com ■

For more information visit http://asphalt.com/kk3fi1

Each 4-ft. sidewalk repair section only takes about 15-20 minutes to complete.

CRITICAL CARE: Hospital Maintenance Phasing

Hospitals need a lot of parking space, and not just for patients. To safely operate a hospital, it requires hundreds of support staff on-site, at all times of the day and through the night. It never closes. There’s a constant stream of doctors, nurses, aids, custodians, cafeteria, pharmacy, and other office workers. When you’re the only hospital for a whole county, like University Hospitals Portage Medical Center (Ravenna, OH), active parking needs can fluctuate rapidly, hour-by-hour.

UH Portage houses many offices for patient visits, a 24-hour emergency

room, and the county’s only cardiac cath lab that responds to heart attack patients any-time, any-day of the year. Yes, even on Christmas. This location serves as the primary medical facility for the more than 162,000 residents whole live in Portage County. All this adds up to an enormous amount of wear-andtear on the blacktop parking surfaces, as vehicles are constantly coming and going, and the Northeast Ohio seasonal weather changes compound on top if it all.

When a client this busy needs to the inevitable maintenance work done, the most important factor of all is planning.

Most commercial parking lot maintenance is done in phases and, if you’re lucky, scheduled during slow or non-business hours. For a hospital with the only ER in the whole county, the standard mill-and-fill is a bit more complicated.

All photos by Brandon Noel

Additionally, the incorporation of data from the hospital, as it concerns daily capacity patterns, are essential to the phasing plan process. Since nothing can shut-down, shifting the usage zone-byzone, is the only way to get things done in a safe and efficient manner, just as on any commercial jobsite, but with a hospital client, there are many additional factors and concerns.

A LARGE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT

Brian Adams is the director of operations and clinical services at UH Portage, and this project, an investment of $1.2 million, is the first maintenance initiative of this scale during his tenure.

“We’ve been doing a lot of repairs, but we got to the point where repairs were no longer adequate. We really needed to put in a large scale paving project,” Adams said. “As part of the University Hospitals Health System, we work with the folks who oversee Capital Asset Management Program (CAMP) for all of our campuses, which is more than a dozen hospitals and probably a couple hundred health centers and offices all over Northeast Ohio, across nine counties. That’s a lot of property.”

The CAMP has a specific allotment of resources every fiscal year, and they are tasked with prioritizing what projects will receive those funds at what locations across the network.

“People from the CAMP group saw that our parking lot had some pretty serious needs,” he said. “We are the only hospital in the county, so we’re taking care of a lot of people. So we have a lot of people coming into our doors for emergency care, inpatient care, regular doctor’s office visits, imaging, and many other services.”

The cardiac care that people can get at UHPMC also drives extra traffic from neighboring counties, because the next closest hospital that has a cath lab for heart attacks is another half hour drive away in the city of Akron. Unsurprisingly, the hospital’s No. 1 priority is patient safety, and it was determined that the extent of work that needed done in the parking areas was needed in order to avoid any possible falls, trips, or other injuries related to pavement liabilities.

“It does improve the aesthetics of our campus, but it’s definitely a safety issue first-and-foremost,” Adams explained. “It goes beyond even our patients. We are one of the three major hubs for PARTA, which is our county public transportation. So, a couple dozen buses every day go through our campus. This is a point of transfer for many local residents, and their safety is important to us, as well.”

WHO IS GOING TO DO THE WORK?

For a job with such a large budget, and with so many complex factors in-play, selecting the right contractor is vitally important. The hospital is trusting the contractor to do more than just lay good mat. As the phasing process unfolds, proper traffic management, worksite safety, efficiency, as well as interacting and protecting people around the work areas, are all major components in what the hospital has to

Advanced Asphalt Paving’s trusty LeeBoy 8530 is the primary, workhorse paver that they used on the UHPMC jobsite.

consider in a potential contractor. For UHPMC, one contractor in particular met all their needs, and more.

Advanced Asphalt Paving first worked on a project with University Hospitals back in the mid 1990s. Dave Martin bought the company from his father Jeff Martin, who was running things at the time.

“We were called on to a project by the hospital after the original contractor hired for some work had trouble managing the job and keeping the hospital accessible at the same time,” said Ken Lengyel, VP of sales. “We put together the basic protocol for how to approach these large scale paving jobs while meeting their obligations to the public. They awarded us the first few locations after than, and we’ve been doing work for them ever since.”

Part of their strategy involves breaking the work down into phases or zones that can be completed in a 24-hour period. On many jobsites, it’s normal that all the required milling will be completed first, then it’s cleaned and tacked. After that, all the paving work is completed, and lastly, the new striping is completed. When doing work for the hospital, each phase must completed every one of these steps in a single day.

“Our crew is a little heavier than the typical paving crew, that’s part of our sales pitch,” said Martin. “We can take out and put back in a parking lot in one day rather than most companies who have a milling crew that will come out and mill it one day and then they’re paving crew will chase behind and pave

it another day. We don’t have that two day disruption.”

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

For this job, there were 22 individual zones. Starting from a simple Google Maps satellite image, the work is divided up carefully.

“Advanced Asphalt Paving did the survey work and figured out where the most critical areas were,” said Adams. “Then we sat down and discussed the risk areas of shutting down? What can we not shut down at the same time? They understood how much ground they could cover in a day. We had to work through their logistics and then our logistics of safety of the campus and made sure we have access and ease for our patients.”

This accomplishes a couple things simultaneously, not the least of which is that the hospital administration can know exactly which parts of the parking lot will be closed off on which days. They can accurately guide patients to the most accessible entrances, mark alternative paths, and ensure that inbound emergency vehicles are properly notified.

“There are potentially 30-40 different communities and private ambulance services that bring patients here,” Adams explained. “Signage is very important. Advance notice is very important. Real time communication is key to let everyone know which entrance or area is closed at any given time.”

Just such a scenario took place when the hospital’s helipad was needed, on the same evening the crew was doing maintenance on it.

“We were in constant communication with the hospital,” Lengyel said. “One night in particular, we had to shutdown operations for more than an hour when they had a life-flight situation involving a child, and we were working up to the last possible second.”

“There was a young person in critical need of an advanced level of pediatric care,” said Adams. “We knew the helicopter was coming in about 15 minutes. We gave the paving crew a warning. They told us to let them know just before they needed to stop, and so

we gave them a two minute warning. Somehow, they stopped everything and moved it out of the way just as the helicopter arrived. That person to got the care they needed as quickly as possible, because of their coordination.”

“We were still able to complete that section and have it open the next day, despite the loss in work time,” said Martin.

The importance of multi-phase planning on large pavement jobs is always an important part of the work our industry does. However, the difference between the weekend warrior and the true professional, is how thoroughly they utilize tools and strategies in complex working situations. It isn’t always a matter of life-and-death, but, as Dave Martin pointed out, it’s important on every jobsite you step onto.

“All of our project managers and crews are trained to limit disruptions as much as possible,” he said. “Whether it’s a gas station, a shopping center, or a hospital we’re a customer first organization, whether it’s ambulances and helicopters or someone coming in for their morning coffee.” ■

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

Advanced Asphalt Paving completed each phase in a single day, to minimize disrupting access to the hospital for patients.

Create an Accounting Structure to Take Your Business to the Next Level

The first step to setting up a good accounting structure is to determine the different departments, divisions, or locations you may want to track. For example, you may determine you want to track residential work

separately from commercial work. You also may want to track your administrative expenses or sales and marketing costs as separate departments so that you can easily see how much you’re spending in each area. If you have multiple business units or locations – for example an office in Chicago and Madison, Wis., you’ll likely want to separate those out into different divisions so you can ensure each location is performing to the level you want.

Assuming you have one geographic location, but you do different types of work, your divisions might look like this:

• Commercial

• Residential

• Admin/Overhead

If you do have multiple locations, you may end up with divisions that look like this:

• Chicago: Commercial, Residential

• Madison: Commercial, Residential

• Admin/Overhead

Once you have determined your different divisions, then you need to decide what types of activity you want to track. Do you have different services that you provide? You’ll want to set up a revenue account for each service. In addition to each revenue account, you’ll want to create corresponding Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) accounts. For example, you may have revenue accounts for Asphalt, Concrete, Patching, and Other. If these are the categories you want to track, you may want to then split out your materials costs by the same categories. There is no one way to set up your chart of accounts, but it’s important to set up accounts and break things out in a way that you want to be able to review the activity.

After your Revenue and Cost of Goods Sold accounts are set up, you’ll

Your business’ financial performance is critical to long-term sustainability and success. However, if you don’t have the right structure in place for capturing your financial data, you may not be able to get the information you need.

want to create accounts for each of your operating expenses. This is for expenses that are not directly related to revenue production, such as administrative labor costs, rent, utilities, accounting, marketing, and other overhead costs. You should set these up in the same manner as you did for the Revenue and COGS accounts. Set up an account for each category you want to track. Other than a few expense items that need to be tracked for tax reporting purposes, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing the expenses that you want to track. Set up accounts that allow you to track the spending that you want to see.

One thing to consider as you set up your chart of accounts is that less is more. Do not set up an account for every single vendor or every time you come across a new type of expense. Think about the key areas that you need to review to understand your business, trends, and performance. Those are the accounts you’ll want to set up so that you can review results each month. You don’t want to look through five different pages of a Profit and Loss statement to try and figure out if there is an area you need to be concerned about. As a general rule, if you don’t have at least five-to-10 transactions hit a specific account within a year, you may not need to have that account separated from the others. Try to group vendors and expenses into categories that will help you to understand areas where you can make changes to your activity to impact your results.

Your accounting structure is a key factor in setting up a financially successful business. Simplify. Start with the high-level categories you want to track. You can always add additional divisions and categories as you scale. ■

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

Shauna Huntington is the founder and CEO of Fortiviti and the Small Business Bootcamp.

FROM THE OWNER’S DESK

BY NICK HOWELL

How Your Environmental Footprint Affects Your Pavement Business

Is my “environmental footprint” bigger than I thought?

Okay, I will admit I’m not the savviest person in terms of being environmentally friendly. There’s a lot I just don’t know or don’t understand.

For example:

• I do know that United Airlines tells me how many tons of CO my flight generates. To quote a recent flight search, “A flight’s carbon footprint is measured in kg COe (kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent). We’ve estimated this flight to produce about 511 kg COe per economy seat of carbon emissions.”

• I also know UPS wants to charge me an optional “carbon offset fee” if I so choose.

• I know Apple just announced the new iPhone 15 and said they are not selling leather cases due to their carbon footprint, nor will they be selling leather wristbands for the Apple Watch.

I understand I am a bit ignorant when it comes to this stuff. I know construction and asphalt, but this is new to me and to many of us.

So, how do we deal with this? How can we get a grasp of the environmental impact of our business? Does it have to be a struggle? Without sparking debate on which type or brand of sealer is better, I just simply want to point out how the environmental impact of things we do is affecting us now and what we can do.

Some pavement sealers have been banned by states or local municipalities.

That’s an entirely different debate, but if you find yourself in a market considering a ban, what should you do? Traffic paint, along with sealers and other materials, emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into the air. Low-VOC paints are now required in many areas.

Some suggestions:

• If you learn of possible regulations in your market, be proactive and reach out to educate your local and state representatives.

• Contact your suppliers and ask them to support your efforts. Often, they will provide educational literature and send representatives to local meetings.

• Reach out to industry organizations to gain their support.

• Engage with local media, giving them insight into your business, your contributions to the local economy, and the impact regulations would have on your business.

In my county, traffic paints became regulated several years back, so only lowVOC formula paints are permitted. This was a huge change because suddenly our choice of products and suppliers was cut. Fortunately, you don’t have to fight the fight. Once laws or regulations are passed in your area, you just need to comply. But, too often, some of us continue to fight or continue using prohibited materials.

The best advice I can give, and this is probably the most-important takeaway here, is to prepare early by exploring compliant products. Don’t wait until you are forced. I will add that the lowVOC traffic paint that we now use is some of the best we have ever used in more than 26 years….so not all change

is bad.

I have heard from others that some switches have worked out well and some, not so much. But the time to find out which brands or types of more “environmentally friendly” sealers you prefer is before you are required to use them. And who knows? In the process you might just find a product that performs better than expected!

So, talk with your suppliers, explore options, try new things, make a plan for your business – and do this before you don’t have a choice. By planning you will be prepared and much better equipped to handle change if and when it happens, and as in my case with traffic paint, it might just work out better for you.

Regulatory changes are the future, and as an owner, planning and preparation is your best option – and your responsibility.

By the way, I am still trying to determine my environmental foot size… to be continued when I figure that part out! ■

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

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

PREMIER EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE

DESIGNED FOR PAVING & PAVEMENT

MAINTENANCE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

★ Business owners and high-level executives will have the opportunity to identify areas within their company that need immediate change and obtain the tools they need to succeed.

December 6-8, 2023

LOCATED AT THE SANDPEARL RESORT IN CLEARWATER BEACH, FL

From the producers of:

WWW.IGNITECONSTRUCTIONSUMMIT.COM

NAPSA’s Power Sweeping Standard

Another update on the status of the forthcoming new standard.

by Nancy Terry

The North American Power Sweeping Association (NAPSA) developed the first-ever power sweeping standard in 2018. As per the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) guidelines, the standard is to be reviewed every five years. NAPSA is currently completing this process and has made changes, which better define the sweeping processes.

The purpose of a standard is to set the basis for professional operations, which will keep the customer, sweeper and the public safer. Better education enhances safe operations for everyone involved. The process of writing the standard, or in this case revising it, requires NAPSA to review the document, then submit it for public review to a canvassing body.

After comments are received, they then complete the document and submit it to ANSI for their store.

The reviewing body for the standard is comprised of three areas. These include sweeping contractors, property managers or customers, and people of general interest. NAPSA solicited input from other associations and people related to power sweeping but outside of being a contractor or property managers /property owners. There were 12 canvassees overall with four representatives from the three areas. Each of them had a vote on the information in the standard and the opportunity to respond with comments. Every comment was thoroughly reviewed by the standard writing body. Each canvassee with comments receives a response to any comment submitted.

The whole process is governed by ANSI Essentials requirements for standards developers. As an ANSI standard developer, NAPSA documents and retains the documentation for creating a fair and balanced standard for our industry. If you have more questions, feel free to contact NAPSA at info@powersweeping.org. ■

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

Street Sweeping’s Leading Role in Reducing Stormwater Runoff Pollution

Street sweeping plays a crucial role in mitigating stormwater pollution runoff from pavement into waterways.

by Ranger Kidwell-Ross

One of the key reasons why street sweeping is vital for stormwater management is its ability to prevent the buildup of pollutants on streets and pavements. Roads and urban surfaces accumulate a variety of contaminants, including pesticides, litter, oil and grease, heavy metals, and sediment. When it rains, these pollutants are carried by stormwater into the nearest water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, and streams.

Furthermore, street sweeping helps to reduce the risk of localized flooding during heavy rain events. Accumulated debris and sediment on streets can clog stormwater drains and impede the flow of water, leading to urban flooding. By keeping streets clean, street sweeping ensures that stormwater can efficiently drain away, reducing the likelihood of flooding and the associated property damage.

Street sweeping also contributes to the protection of aquatic ecosystems and the overall water quality. Pollutants carried by stormwater can be harmful to aquatic life and disrupt ecosystems. Regular street sweeping minimizes the introduction of these pollutants, safeguarding the health of fish, plants, and other organisms in our water bodies.

Clean streets enhance the aesthetic appeal of communities, promote public health, and reduce pollution for a more pleasant living environment, while also reducing associated health risks. ■

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.

Building A Business, Not A Side-Hustle

Modern work culture sometimes promotes the idea of a side-hustle as something everyone should have, but for the team behind National Pavement Partners, the goal is building a lasting business. It’s been that way from the beginning.

You would think that with the opportunity to speak with so many pavement maintenance companies, there could only be so many stories about how companies, all in the same industry, got started, or what their approach to the business is. Initially, as I first started as the editor for the magazine, I thought that way, too, and it’s a fair assumption to make. The only problem is that it’s total bupkis.

What separates every story is usually in the granular personal details of how a company came to be, what motivated the founders to jump into the industry, or how they were first introduced to it. While there are always similarities, you’ll never cease to be surprised by the real human nuance behind the paths that people’s lives took to bring them to where they’re at today. Such is the case of National Pavement Partners (NPP).

Not Just A Summer Job

Like many pavement entrepreneurs, Zach Milewski’s (CEO, NPP) grew up in the industry. His parents started a paving business around the time that he was born, Sealco Asphalt, and his dad had previously worked for a company called Thompson Valley Sealcoating, and Sterling Companies, which later

became Martin Marrietta. They grew it into a well-oiled, small, family-owned enterprise and Zach was there working from a very early age.

It wouldn’t come as a big surprise that as he became a teenager, he started working on the jobsites, initially doing striping work. However, this wasn’t just an exercise in learning the work the family business was doing, but learning about the business itself.

“I started striping for my parents when I was 16 years old,” said Milewski. “I worked on their crews doing crack fill, sealcoat, infrared, and got into some paving too.” However, this is where things took an interesting divergence of him. Rather than being content to have their son pick up some pocket money, his parents helped set up a legitimate business, and they would actually sub work out to him.

“They helped me set up a small business at a very young age and helped me get it going. I had a small LLC,” he said. “It was cool! I pulled my friends in on it after school, on the weekends, and during the summer. It was a good time, but it was a grind too. I learned a lot.”

While these early business days helped serve as a real-world business school for Milewski, another all-toocommon phase in his story could have thrown everything off its track.

ANOTHER FAMILIAR TALE

The family company was bought, and then resold to another company based out of Chicago. Not sure what to do next, Milewski decided to go and work for the parent company. That decision turned out to be for the best, when he was exposed to a whole other level of business development.

“I learned business to another degree with with them,” he said. “I had the family business experience before, but this was different somehow, like business-business. I dealt with budgets, marketing, company perception, and how building a brand was important.” After working there for three-and-ahalf years, he decided it was time to strike out on his own and test all the knowledge and skills he had learned.

In 2015, he broke away from the company, and started National Pavement Partners. At the beginning, they were judicious in what offerings they could handle, and what they should subcontract out as they grew.

“We started with infrared repairs. because we knew the margins were really strong,” he said. The company’s reputation and portfolio grew rapidly from there, as they simultaneously subbed out less and less work, doing it themselves. “We got into sealcoating, and then ended up with a mill, and then

we started paving in-house. That led to us adding another mill and then we brought on concrete crews.” The pace of growth was, at times, hard to comprehend. “One year we went from 30 employees to 70 within a week. It was insane.”

A MAJOR PLOT TWIST

During the year 2020, the company hit an inflection point. It’s growth continued to exceed expectations. It was then that Hayden Cortez, CFO of NPP and co-founder of the estimating tool SpotOnSite, who was working for the company in sales, along with a handful of estimators recognized there might be an unconventional and risky opportunity to make the company more efficient, while possibly improving the quality-of-life for others in the industry at the same time.

“We had a good process down, everyone was using iPads, taking pictures, and turning out effective sales presentations,” Cortez said. “The problem was that it took about 45 minutes to-an-hour depending on the size of the property. If we assigned two bids a day per estimator, and there were some days I would send out five, and multiply that by 250 bidding days in a year, that’s a lot of time just creating proposals.”

The solution they came to was to build their own pavement job estimating app: SpotOnSite.

“Going from asphalt construction to tech is a big swing. Originally, it was just going to be for us, as like our trade secret if you will,” said Cortez. “The more we developed it, the more we realized there’s a lot of people across the country that could really benefit from the time savings like we did.”

The addition of being a software company, with its continued platform development demands and issues, has been a challenging one. However, after it’s launch approximately 18 months ago, the app has users in 24 states across the U.S. (as well as two provinces in Canada) and counting. Along with the many unexpected hurdles that come with this new digital territory, something

else occurred they hadn’t expected. As the user base grew, they heard more and more from contractors that were in need of not just estimating help, but other types of help and community concerning their businesses.

Cortez and Milewski decided to venture into another new territory: podcasting.

“We heard a lot of the issues that others also dealt with,” Cortez said. “Labor, jobsite problems, customer issues - you name it. That’s why we started the podcast. We wanted to let people know that they’re not alone.”

With all the seeming success National Pavement Partners had since they incorporated in 2015, the question is: why? With all the resources at their disposal, and the steady stream of business, why invest in software development, build an app, and launch a podcast? The answer appears to be embedded in their name

from the beginning, they see themselves as partners. Not just just to their customers, but within the industry itself.

“Personally, I feel like we wanted to raise industry standards across the board,” said Milewski. “We’re in an industry where the work can be perceived as just a hustle, not a business, but we want to help change that.” ■

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

Influencing Field Production Through Objectivity

The significance of being objective in our influencing.

To be objective is to respect what is expected and realize that compliance must be achieved. To be objective is not necessarily the same as being “fair.” For example, it’s not fair to work long hours, or work Saturdays, or to have one crew work on harder projects than other crews. However, it is objective to know what needs to be completed, when it is to be completed, and to make the right, sometimes tough, decisions.

Consider how your leadership efforts can positively influence your field people, while being objective, when you:

• Know your project details, scope of work, and the clear compliance issues. We never want to direct our production leaders on the wrong efforts to complete a project. That will greatly reduce the amount of influence you will have with your people.

• It is always wise, not just productive, to educate your field leaders first and then, their

“leads” who help them execute the production needs and goals. Making sure that your field leaders truly know the project details, what the clear scope of work represents, and any compliance issue that the company must satisfy.

• Discuss each required action needed to complete the project. Who estimated and initially thought through the execution of the project? That individual, be they the owner, the estimator, or project manager, must sit down with the leaders and walk through each process, looking for those areas that may pose a challenge. Accomplishing this BEFORE the project can win respect and greatly improve the senior leader influencing the field people.

• Debate options that are realistic including: manpower, crew make-up, lay-down areas, labor schedule, required safety preparation, etc. The time to disagree and to argue best steps are before the project starts. Here the senior leader can allow his or her field production “experts” the chance to hammer out what they think is best based on the

project, the resources, etc. for the project.

• Seek understanding and agreement on the final “pre-construction” decisions and map the project plan accordingly. A final agreement must be reasoned. It is always desired to have 100% consensus; when this is not possible, the team must agree that whatever final decisions are made will be supported. Leaders must realize that once a “bill is passed” that all will work to bring the best results.

• Re-engage No. 5 above when field leaders veer off the initial path. Should early agreement be reached, and the production begins but field leaders veer from what was the original pathway, a “time-out” must be called and the leaders must re-engage. This re-engagement will involve the “veering leaders” to explain, with examples, why they have strayed away from what we first agreed to. Perhaps the field leaders have captured something that was not known to the leadership team who developed the initial plan. However, if the reasons to veer do not improve the production

success, the field leaders will back up and reassert to follow the initial plan that was first developed. Being objective in construction is often an easy to challenge experience. Seasoned field veterans, used to doing the same things for 20 years or more will be hard to change their ways. Yet, this is where the influencing leader must step up, provide objectivity in the discussion, presenting information that even the most experienced of “old dogs” can respect and recognize the wisdom.

Here’s to influencing your field leaders through being an objective leader who consistently seeks to be equitable, yet realistically compliant! ■

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

President and founder of Pinnacle Development Group, Brad continues to speak at conferences about the world, working with contractors of all size. His weekly podcast, The Contractor’s Best Friend, is an industry leader and is sponsored by Caterpillar and A.C. Business Media.