Construction Equipment Guide • 18th December 2020

As Vaccine Arrives, Keep Track of Risk Management : CEG

As construction contractors work through the coronavirus pandemic, many are keeping an eye on the pandemic's effect on their risk management policies. The basic question: What will COVID's impact be on insurance? Get ahead of the curve now to avoid a hitch in commercial coverage next year. The North American Excavation Shoring Association (NAXSA) notes that while historical losses led to current insurance price increases and reduced limits, a potential industry correction due to COVID-19 may be

Construction Equipment Guide • 19th November 2020

Working With a Heavy Hauler to Transport Your Crane to the Job Site

When crane manufacturers promote the features and benefits of a new crane model, "easy transport" is always on the list. With road weight and traffic laws set by local and state transportation departments, crane owners need to know they can get the machine to the job site in the safest, most efficient way possible. Ease of transport is critical to the bottom line. Obtaining city and state law permits to transport cranes and heavy equipment should be high on the crane owner's list when it comes

Construction Equipment Guide • 18th November 2020

Lucy Perry on LinkedIn: Protecting Your Business With Pre-Construction Site Analysis

Property damage claims against construction contractors, prompted by construction operations, are common. One of the biggest generators of property claims for structures near construction sites is vibration damage. But contractors can protect themselves by making pre- and post-construction surveys a regular practice when work is planned.

Construction Equipment Guide • 22nd October 2020

Tips to Save Money When Fueling Job Sites

Your business could benefit in a range of operational savings, including your fuel budget, if you can upgrade to newer-model machinery and trucks. One lifecycle analysis has shown tremendous per-truck savings just by upgrading to a 2021 model. The Fleet Advantage Truck Lifecycle Data Index compares operating costs of older-model Class-8 trucks to 2021 model year replacements. The analysis shows that fleet operators can realize a first-year per-truck savings of $16,856 when upgrading from a 2016

Construction Equipment Guide • 28th September 2020

Industry Hopes for Quick Action on FAST Act Extension

The transportation construction industry anticipates the one-year extension of the FAST Act surface transportation authorization, which is set to expire at the end of September. Passage of the extension looks likely after Congress reached a tentative agreement on Sept. 18. Finalization, expected soon, will be a relief to a coalition of 88 construction and transportation organizations who urged Congress to pass legislation for President Trump's signature. "The undersigned 88 organizations urge y

Construction Equipment Guide • 22nd September 2020

Lessen COVID Impact on Jobs

The coronavirus is a fact of life on the construction job site this year, and contractors have been forced to change the way they complete projects as a result. It is an ongoing challenge as the industry conditions itself to new approaches to work and personal safety. But best practices and ingenuity have advanced safety and efficiency on the construction job site. Beyond social distancing, sanitizing and personal protection equipment (PPE), contractors and site owners are adopting site safety

Construction Equipment Guide • 7th September 2020

ABC Technique Proves to Be as Easy as 1-2-3

Modular, prefabricated bridge designs have proven to be a critical component of accelerated bridge construction (ABC). The FHWA favors the ABC bridge construction technique especially in the design of highway bridges that feature varied spans, skew angles and construction materials. Prefab's contributions to the ABC process has earned it a place at the state and city transportation levels, as well. Research has shown that ABC techniques expedite construction of bridges through shortened project

Construction Equipment Guide • 7th September 2020

Renewed Interest in Energy Buoys Outlook

As American Wind Week 2020 kicked off with a tribute to the wind industry workforce the week of Aug. 9, the outlook for the renewable energy sector as a whole is strong. A multitude of both wind and solar projects as well as retooling plans launched this summer across the country have buoyed the heavy machinery industry, creating both temporary and ongoing construction jobs. Total construction starts increased 6 percent in June, according to the Dodge Index, marking the second consecutive month

Construction Equipment Guide • 7th September 2020

Keeping Up-to-Date on Heavy-Duty Clean Air Regs

Got heavy-duty trucks? Federal and state environmental agencies have your assets on their radars. Critical policy programs such as the Cleaner Trucks Initiative, and California's Heavy-Duty Low NOx Omnibus rule and the Advanced Clean Trucks Initiative are affecting the trucking side of the heavy construction industry despite the COVID-19 pandemic. This spring, the EPA set September 2020 as the date it would issue the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the Cleaner Trucks Initiative (CTI), created

Construction Equipment Guide • 16th July 2020

Industry Lauds Easing Hours of Service Regs

Touting its revised Hours of Service (HOS) regulations as providing drivers more flexibility, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a final rule in May. It's designed to ease HOS rule compliance and takes effect Sept. 29, 2020. While safety advocates have concerns, trucking industry groups applaud the new rules. The rules will provide America's truckers "greater flexibility to keep America moving," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "The Department of

Construction Equipment Guide • 16th July 2020

Industry Lauds Easing Hours of Service Regs

Touting its revised Hours of Service (HOS) regulations as providing drivers more flexibility, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a final rule in May. It's designed to ease HOS rule compliance and takes effect Sept. 29, 2020. While safety advocates have concerns, trucking industry groups applaud the new rules. The rules will provide America's truckers "greater flexibility to keep America moving," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "The Department of

Construction Equipment Guide • 2nd July 2020

House Bill Boosts Transportation Spending, More

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on the $1.5 trillion Moving Forward Act, a massive funding package meant to regenerate America's transportation infrastructure as it gives a shot in the arm to health care, airports, clean energy, broadband, education, and drinking water. On top of that, it would create millions of jobs while the construction industry plugs along during the COVID-19 pandemic and spring recession. "I'm particularly focused on investing in our roads, bridges, trans

SEAA Connector Magazine • 24th June 2020

Connector magazine - Spring 2020

Expand Engagement to Improve your Employee Pipeline Tips to rejuvenate workforce development in 2020 By Lucy Perry On the cover: Williams Steel Erection Co., Inc. of Manassas, Va., was a SEAA Project of the Year winner for its work on the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project. During the job, their team members worked on the same crews for each structure type that was erected. Read more about it in Connector Fall 2019 issue at seaa.net/connectorarchives

Centered On Safety - Crane Industry Services • 24th June 2020

NEWS

Crane Industry Services, LLC (CIS) in partnership with CM Labs Simulations, expands simulation training for cranes, earthmoving equipment, and maritime and port equipment. CIS designed a new simulation training and demo room located at the CIS Centered on Safety Training Center in the Atlanta area. The showroom features a variety of portable and full-scale models with operator seats and controls. “Simulation training using CM Labs’ Vortex simulators allows CIS the flexibility to scale training

Construction Equipment Guide • 9th June 2020

Hydraulic Fluid Leaks, Poor Ground Conditions Contribute to Crane Outrigger Failure

Hydraulic fluid leakage and poor ground support are two of the most-critical contributors to outrigger failure and crane tip overs. Regular inspections can alleviate leakages; a geotechnical expert can determine ground conditions. (RHTC Inc. photo) The two biggest factors that contribute to crane failures are fluid leakage in the outrigger hydraulic cylinder and ground conditions, or the supporting structure for the outrigger pads. Ensuring that your crane is operating on firm, level and draine

Centered On Safety - Crane Industry Services • 8th June 2020

CIS Helps Clear a Construction Career Path for Returning Military

Crane Industry Services is working with staffing company AEG to help returning members of the military become job-ready in the construction trades as they transition back into the civilian workforce. The Department of Defense program is called SkillBridge. AEG pairs the individuals to partnering employers, while CIS evaluates their military credentials and trains them for a construction career. SkillBridge is an opportunity for separating service members to plan their lives after the military.

Construction Equipment Guide • 8th June 2020

Fast PPP Loan Approvals Helping Contractors

The Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program has been a shot in the arm for construction businesses, and a lifeline for a few. The forgivable loans, made available in two rounds during the month of April, guarantee companies can make payroll, keep their staff working and meet project deadlines. During the first round of the COVID-19 related stimulus loan program released April 3, approximately $450 billion in funds were issued on a first-come, first-served basis and were depl

Construction Equipment Guide • 8th June 2020

Retraining Vs. Recruiting in the Times of COVID

Employing skilled labor is a process: Identifying potential workers, recruiting them and training them. The industry has dedicated resources to attracting junior-high and high-school students for careers in construction. But there are whole groups of adult workers whose career fields have changed or jobs have disappeared. The recruiting focus for some construction contractors is now on retraining people with skills that transfer well to construction work. Displaced workers in fields such as fa

Centered On Safety - Crane Industry Services • 5th June 2020

CIS Now Offers WIOA-Approved Crane & Rigging Certification Program

Crane Industry Services, LLC (CIS), Carrollton, Ga., now offers an introductory crane, rigging, safety and operator certification class that meets Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requirements for financial aid. The program prepares individuals for great career options in the fields of Power Generation, Electric, Water, Gas, Communications, or Commercial Building. The

Construction Equipment Guide • 6th May 2020

ConExpo 2020 Provides the Backdrop for New Crane Intros

Rough-terrain crane buyers are on the hunt for bigger machines, in the 100-ton and 120-ton classes specifically. Crane manufacturers serving the North American market heard their customers loud and clear, and took advantage of ConExpo 2020 to unveil new models. Many of these machines featured new technology that answer customers' demands for easier mobility and operation. In Las Vegas, Link-Belt Cranes, Lexington, Ky., displayed two new models, the 100RT and the 120RT, with features to benefit