The asphalt shingle recycling industry has experienced a remarkable transformation in Illinois, led by companies like Southwind Recycled Asphalt Shingles (RAS). As the construction industry continues to seek sustainable alternatives for road building materials, the processing and reuse of tear-off asphalt shingles has emerged as a practical solution. This shift mirrors other advances in roofing […]
Construction fleet operators face growing pressure to reduce truck engine idling, driven by both rising fuel costs and tightening emissions regulations. The financial impact is significant: an idling Class 8 truck consumes roughly one gallon of fuel per hour at 1,000 rpm and half a gallon per hour at 650 rpm, according to Christy Nycz
Every construction worker knows the value of breathing clean air on the job site. Yet one of the most persistent threats to lung health comes from a material so common it is often overlooked: crystalline silica. Found in sand, quartz, flint, slate, concrete, and masonry, silica becomes hazardous only when crushed, ground, cut, or drilled.
When Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) needed its main runway resurfaced, the project demanded an approach far different from a standard highway milling job. With three intersecting runways and no parallel landing strip to divert traffic, every night became a race against the dawn. Mark-Lang, a Maryland-based milling contractor, brought in tandem Wirtgen cold
Wheel end failures are among the most preventable yet most costly problems facing construction fleet operators. The National Transportation Safety Board estimates that 750 to 1,050 wheel separations occur annually across the United States. While that is a small fraction of the millions of trucks on the road, even one preventable wheel separation is too
Noise is one of the most overlooked environmental factors in construction, with significant implications for worker safety, community relations, and project sustainability. As the industry pushes toward greener building practices, noise monitoring has emerged as a critical component of responsible site management. Understanding how to measure, manage, and mitigate construction noise is essential for contractors
Construction contractors across every specialty are facing the same harsh reality: costs are rising in nearly every facet of the business. From steel and gasoline to insurance and labor, expenses that are largely outside your control continue to climb. The question is not whether these cost pressures will continue, but how you respond to them.
Any discussion of construction zone safety practices must emphasize the importance of operator training. Training requirements for operators of aerial work platforms are outlined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and equipment manufacturers. The aerial work platform category includes boom lifts, scissor lifts, vertical mast lifts and
Building a successful asphalt paving operation from the ground up requires more than hard work and determination. It demands smart equipment investments, a clear understanding of plant technology, and a willingness to serve customers at every level. Kirk Braun, president of API Construction Corp. in Fort Wayne, Indiana, took an independent path into the asphalt
Periods of economic slowdown are never easy for contractors, but they bring an overlooked opportunity: to step back, assess your team, and make personnel decisions that position your company for long-term success. When project schedules tighten and margins shrink, workforce quality becomes the factor separating thriving contractors from those who merely survive. This article outlines
