Tag: business: Page 54

Business

Contractors from across U.S. swarm North Dakota for bounty of road work

The North Dakota Department of Transportation has more than $1 billion in projects slated for this year. But it’s not at all worried about finding enough contractors to carry that work out. That’s because the DOT has a listing of 255 contractors from 28 states across the U.S. prequalified to bid before the busy roadbuilding […]

March 12, 2014

Business

In first meeting with press, new Volvo president Weissburg highlights innovation, discusses recent transactions

In his first comments to the press after taking the reins as president of Volvo Construction Equipment on January 1, Martin Weissburg noted his unhappiness with the company’s current financial status but highlighted forward thinking and discussed two of the company’s recent transactions. “While we’re not pleased with our recent financial results, we’re focusing on […]

March 5, 2014

Construction Equipment

Caterpillar CEO talks up prospects of highway bill, says U.S. has a lot to learn about public-private partnerships

What are the prospects for the federal government passing a multi-year highway bill soon? Doug Oberhelman, Caterpillar chairman and chief executive officer, says he was extremely encouraged by President Barack Obama’s recent proposal for a $302-billion, multi-year highway bill. “We have been pushing hard for that at Caterpillar and our customers have been pushing us […]

March 4, 2014

Business

Homebuilding propels U.S. construction spending 0.1% in January despite nonresidential losses

Construction spending in the U.S. again rose slightly in January, according to preliminary data released by the Commerce Department today. Spending rose a small 0.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $943.1 billion from the revised December figure of $941.9 billion. Last month, the Commerce Department reported a preliminary figure of $930.4 billion for […]

March 2, 2014

Business

Contractors skeptical of Tier 4 resale value, say lack of consistent work will continue driving equipment rentals

Skepticism around Tier 4 equipment and a continued lack of consistent work will contribute to continued momentum in the rental market, based on data collected by a Wells Fargo Equipment Finance survey in January. Nearly 30 percent of contractors surveyed said they feel Tier 4 equipment will have a worse resale value than previous generations. […]

February 27, 2014

Business

U.S.-made construction equipment exports fall 25% in 2013, Canada the top destination

Following three straight years of growth, exports of construction equipment made in the U.S. fell 25 percent year-over-year in 2013. A total of $20 billion worth of equipment was shipped from the U.S. to global markets, according to analysis of Commerce Department data by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Exports to all global regions saw […]

February 25, 2014

Construction Equipment

How Ritchie Bros. set online records and sold $166 million worth of heavy equipment at its Orlando auction

“The Big One” has once again lived up to its name for Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. During its huge annual auction in Orlando, Florida last week—the largest equipment auction in the world—Ritchie Bros. sold more than $166 million worth of heavy equipment. To give you an idea of how big this event is to the company, […]

February 24, 2014

Business

Ohio Gov. Kasich expands vocational education to middle schools

Previewing what he would discuss as part of his State of the State address Monday night, Ohio Gov. John Kasich said he has done away with a state rule that restricted vocational education to only students in the ninth through 12th grades. According to a report from the Columbus Dispatch, Kasich said vocational education has […]

February 23, 2014

Workforce

Milwaukee County dedicates $400,000 to construction, trades training

Using money from real estate sales, Milwaukee County recently provided a lot of help in the funding of a training program for construction work and other trades. According to a report from the Milwaukee Business Journal, the county recently received a large check from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Real Estate Foundation for its purchase of […]

February 20, 2014

Business

FMI nonresidential construction index reaches highest score to date

FMI’s first quarter Nonresidential Construction Index came in at 64.9 points, showing a 7.5 point increase from the fourth quarter 2013 index, as well as a 6.8 point increase from the first quarter of last year. It’s also the highest NRCI score to date. Industry consultant FMI says nearly half of panelists in the index […]

February 20, 2014

Business

Much improved 4Q and stronger 2013 sales push Terex to “a good year”

Releasing fourth quarter and full year results today, Terex said it had net sales of $7.1 billion during 2013, up 1.4 percent from 2012. Fourth quarter sales were up 12-½ percent in 2013 over the previous year to $1.8 billion, and tracking closely with third quarter net sales of $1.810.6 billion. Income from 2013 continuing […]

February 19, 2014

Business

Why the numbers are important: Moneyball’s Billy Beane addresses the equipment, construction industries

One definite perk of a free press pass is the exposure I get to high-priced talk. Filling a podium is not cheap; just check out a speaker’s bureau website to get a taste of what even B Level speakers command. I didn’t have real expectations pro or con when I heard that Billy Beane, general […]

February 13, 2014