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By Carol Brzozowski The benefit of construction and demolition (C&D) reduction and reuse is that “you can literally make something from nothing,” notes Travis Lint, large equipment sales manager for Bandit Industries. “Waste material that might otherwise end up in a landfill or be disposed of at a cost can be processed into material that can then be sold for a profit,” he adds. “Just about every kind of construction or excavation site can use a horizontal grinder.” Not only has C&D reduction and...... continue reading
From: Grading and Excavation Contractor Topics: Business Management, C&D, Grinders
Written by Carol Brzozowski “We are definitely in a changing insurance market, however short-lived it might be”— Aon Risk Solutions 2012 Construction Industry Report The biggest challenge for the construction industry in terms of insurance and bonding is truly understanding what is needed and the consistency of what’s available in the marketplace. So says Seth Hausman, senior vice president and head of operations in construction practice for Zurich Insurance. “Owners and organizations they’re...... continue reading
From: Grading and Excavation Contractor Topics: Business Management, Legal, Management
Written by John Trotti Here we are nearly six years into a recession every bit as intractable as the one endured by our forebears 80 years ago, most of us lacking a clear vision of what the future holds in store. I’ve come to the conclusion that whatever has gotten us to where we are today will continue to sustain us, and that one day soon we will awaken with the sense that the worst is truly behind us…a vision shared by my merry band of New Age seers. As in past years, I rely on the wisdom of such...... continue reading
From: Grading and Excavation Contractor Topics: Business Management, Environment, Regulations
Written by Nate Heying If you are like many heavy contractors, you hate the insurance renewal process and you rely on your agent (most likely a close friend) to get you the best rates while hopefully providing loss control services to drive down claims resulting in lower insurance costs. Yet you continue to deal with yearly issues at renewal time when insurance carriers tell you that your rates are increasing not because of your claim history but because of your risk sensitive industry. As a succes...... continue reading
From: Grading and Excavation Contractor Topics: Business Management, Management, Operations
Written by Daniel C. Brown The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently cited Carter Construction Co. Inc., of Loveland, OH, with four safety violations, including two willful ones. Carter is charged with exposing workers to excavation hazards while installing an underground storm sewer pipe in a 20-foot-deep trench in Montgomery, OH. OSHA’s June 2012 inspection was conducted under the agency’s National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation. Proposed penalties total $68,...... continue reading
From: Grading and Excavation Contractor Topics: Business Management, Operations, Safety
Written by Daniel C. Brown The EPA’s Tier 4 Interim regulations for exhaust emissions took effect last January, so construction equipment manufacturers have been busy introducing models of dozers and loaders that meet the new rules. And they have seized the opportunity to upgrade these machines beyond just the engine compartment. New loaders abound, from a wide range of manufacturers, so enjoy your choices. It’s a good time to shop for a new loader or dozer. Just last March, John Deere said i...... continue reading
From: Grading and Excavation Contractor Topics: Business Management, Dozers, Equipment
Written by Daniel C. Brown One of the most critical elements in building a strong, long-lasting roadway is the compaction of the subgrade, sub-base, and base layers. More than one pavement has failed because the base was inadequate and poorly compacted. Typically, embankment or subgrade compaction comes first. The multiple layers increase in strength with proximity to the pavement. One of the most common embankment compaction tools is the double-drum padfoot roller, or “sheeps-foot” roller. One of ...... continue reading
From: Grading and Excavation Contractor Topics: Business Management, Compact, Equipment
Written by Penelope B. Grenoble In the last issue we reported on projections for the construction industry from the perspective of four economic experts. Their prognosis was for a very guarded optimism, but since then the news from Europe and elsewhere suggests things are sliding from bleak to couldn’t-be-much-bleaker. When the economy tanks like this and you’re looking for places to cut, it’s tempting to target “soft” expenses like employee training and development. But don’t do it. We’re in...... continue reading
From: Grading and Excavation Contractor Topics: Business Management, Human Resources, Training
Written by Don Talend Landfill grading, and cross-slope grading in general, poses a unique challenge for automated grade control technology: holding grade by accounting for cross-slope dozer blade angle. A New York contractor who was awarded the contract to cap a landfill on Long Island, NY, recently employed an automated grade-control system that suits cross-slope grading and maximized dirtmoving efficiency on a site that represented anything but an ordinary cut-and-fill project. Capping the...... continue reading
From: Grading and Excavation Contractor Topics: Business Management, Equipment, GPS
Written by Lori Lovely More construction-and-demolition debris is being recycled today than ever before. “Money drives it,” sums up Greg Harla, one of the partners at Pavement Recyclers LLC in Shelton, CT. The general theme seems to be avoiding tipping fees at landfills, which appear to be on the rise, but other contributing factors also influence the trend. “It’s a huge cost factor. They’re charging $15–$20 per ton to bring in materials for recycling, but there’s nowhere to dump it. Real est...... continue reading
From: Grading and Excavation Contractor Topics: Business Management, C&D, Recycling
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