Tag: construction: Page 195

Workforce

Freeing trapped raccoon costs carpenter his job in San Francisco

“I’m going to do what is necessary for this raccoon.” According to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle, those were among carpenter Todd Sutton’s last words while still employed by RFJ Meiswinkel Co., and he has no regrets. Sutton was recently fired by the company after he freed a raccoon that had been causing trouble at the […]

March 12, 2015

Technology

A team of robotic cranes, or “Crabots,” will help Google build its new HQ

Not content to simply redefine the definition of “office space” in general, Google also plans to create a new category of construction equipment in the building of its recently-announced corporate headquarters update. The updated campus will be defined by giant see-through canopies that, like greenhouses, house green spaces and offices that can be easily be moved around and […]

March 11, 2015

Business

Contractor optimism reaches historic high in annual construction industry forecast

The last time contractors were this optimistic, the economy tanked and went into the longest and deepest recession since the Great Depression. That was ten years ago. Today’s optimism is reported in the recently released Wells Fargo Construction Industry Forecast 2015. Of course this time, as economists like to say, it’s different. The last recession […]

March 9, 2015

Roadbuilding

FHWA approves New Mexico DOT’s use of past work quality in awarding construction bids

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has approved the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s (NMDOT) plan for a prequalification system using the past performance of a contractor, along with a bid, for awarding a road or bridge construction contract. In other words, the lowest bid won’t necessarily be the deciding factor; quality of work will be a […]

March 9, 2015

Construction Equipment

New York’s Lawrence Merle, owner of Genesee Construction, named 2015 Contractor of the Year

In an awards banquet Saturday night at Wynn Las Vegas, Lawrence Merle of Genesee Construction Service was named Equipment World‘s Contractor of the Year for 2015. Genesee Construction in Dansville, New York, is an $11 to $13 million company that serves as a general contractor and specializes in site prep work. Each year, the Contractor of the […]

March 8, 2015

Roadbuilding

Atlas Copco debuts modular CP2700 pneumatic roller

Atlas Copco’s Dynapac CP2700 pneumatic roller emphasizes one of the company’s newest core strategies: modular design to improve servicing and minimize how much training an operator needs between similar machines. The machine, which works in sealing applications and asphalt finishing in addition to soil compaction, was on display at the company’s dealer event March 4 […]

March 5, 2015

Workforce

Construction adds 29,000 jobs in February

U.S construction firms added 29,000 workers to their payrolls in February, extending the industry’s streak of employment gains to 14 months. The industry now employs 6.353 million Americans, according to preliminary data from the Labor Department. The new data also revised the employment figure for January upward from the previously reported 6.314 million, to 6.324 million. The revision […]

March 5, 2015

Roadbuilding

Senate fails to override veto on Keystone XL pipeline construction

President Obama’s veto of the Keystone XL pipeline remains intact after the Senate could not muster enough votes March 4 to override the decision. The president vetoed Senate bill S. 1 in late February. The Senate fell just a few votes shy of the two-thirds majority needed in a 62-37 vote, according to a report […]

March 5, 2015

Business

Succession planning: How one future contractor takes preparation to assume the family business seriously

In the past, second- and third-generation contractors often assumed the helm of the company because it was all they’d known, and what they were expected to do. They had years of experience in the field, but often had limited decision-making skills and little management experience. The focus on succession planning has often been on steps […]

March 4, 2015

Roadbuilding

Seismic tech shift led by Apple, Google and Tesla will rock transportation and the commercial truck market

If you follow me on Twitter you know I tweet out stories I run across that highlight new technology in the automotive industry, in addition to more trucking-specific content. Every now and then someone will say to me, “What’s the deal? Do you want to be an automotive journalist?” Well—I already am an automotive journalist, […]

March 3, 2015

Construction Equipment

REVIEW: 2015 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro fuel economy crashes what is otherwise a pretty great party (PHOTOS)

No. 10 Story in 2015 « No. 11 No. 9 »   [imagebrowser id=205] Toyota’s Tundra has been a staple in the company’s line-up for more than a decade and it only gets better with age. Last year the Texas-built Tundra received a much-needed facelift inside and out. This year the TRD (Toyota Racing Development) […]

March 2, 2015

Workforce

Legislation to recalculate prevailing construction wage passes in West Virginia

While Indiana appears to be on the way to repealing its common construction wage entirely, lawmakers in West Virginia have passed legislation that will recalculate how the wage is set. With a 56-39 vote, West Virginia’s House of Delegates passed Senate Bill 361, according to a report from WTRF TV. The bill will go back to […]

March 1, 2015