Across the construction industry, a quiet shift is reshaping how work gets done. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a long-standing problem: deskless workers who make up roughly 80 percent of the global workforce have been using technology designed for office employees. In construction alone, an estimated 265 million infrastructure engineers, drivers, equipment operators and contractors work […]
Across the construction industry, a quiet shift is reshaping how work gets done. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a long-standing problem: deskless workers who make up roughly 80 percent of the global workforce have been using technology designed for office employees. In construction alone, an estimated 265 million infrastructure engineers, drivers, equipment operators and contractors work
The construction industry stands at the threshold of a significant transformation. Industry 5.0 represents the next phase of industrialization, where humans and machines collaborate to increase production and efficiency across the worksite. Unlike its predecessor Industry 4.0, which focused primarily on automation and data exchange, Industry 5.0 places human capital at the center of technological
The equipment rental industry has seen a decisive shift toward power-focused solutions, with the May 2021 issue of Rental magazine dedicating its annual Power Rental exclusive to battery powered equipment, generator sizing, air compressor care, and engine maintenance. For rental businesses serving building contractors, understanding these power equipment categories is essential to maintaining a competitive
For more than two decades, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has graded America's infrastructure, and the results have been consistently sobering. The 2021 Report Card for America's Infrastructure awarded a C-minus, the highest grade in over 20 years, yet experts warn that this slight improvement masks deep structural deficiencies that threaten economic growth,
Innovation is not a word that has historically defined the construction industry. For decades, contractors have relied on proven methods, repeating the same processes because they delivered predictable results. However, the landscape is shifting. Budget constraints at every level of government, a growing infrastructure backlog, and increasing competition are forcing contractors to rethink their approach.
After showing surprising strength throughout much of the past year, single-family housing construction dropped 18% in April, pushing total construction starts down 2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $853.5 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. Gains in both nonresidential building and nonbuilding starts were not sufficient to offset the single-family decline. For
The construction industry continues to face a persistent shortage of skilled workers, with the Associated Builders and Contractors estimating that hundreds of thousands of additional workers are needed to meet current demand. In response to this critical gap, online educator Penn Foster has launched a comprehensive Construction Trades Career Diploma program designed to prepare students
This week in construction, the industry saw a convergence of major themes that will shape how contractors approach equipment selection, project delivery, and materials handling for years to come. Leading the most-read stories was Caterpillar’s rollout of the Next Gen 980 and 982 medium wheel loaders, machines that promise up to 35 percent fuel savings
Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) has long been a material of interest in road construction, but its application in pavement preservation surface treatments has gained significant momentum. As agencies and contractors seek cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to virgin aggregates, RAP has emerged as a viable option for chip seals, slurry seals, and microsurfacing. Greg Duncan, senior
