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
Sealcoating remains one of the most accessible entry points for pavement maintenance contractors seeking to expand their operations. The market offers a wide range of specialized materials, additives, and equipment designed to improve application quality, accelerate project timelines, and increase profit margins. Understanding how these tools contribute to business growth requires familiarity with both the
The sealcoating industry finds itself at a critical juncture as environmental regulations increasingly target coal tar-based pavement sealers, a development that has prompted widespread discussion among manufacturers, contractors and material suppliers. The debate gained national attention after Austin, Texas, became one of the first major cities to ban coal tar sealers based on studies linking
Growing a pavement cracksealing operation requires more than finding new customers and bidding on larger projects. The equipment you use must scale with the work you take on, and few decisions impact daily productivity and profitability as much as selecting the right melter applicator size. Using a small pour pot setup on highway-scale jobs leaves
