Site Prep

The History and Future of Construction Equipment

One of my favorite things in life is to relax in the evening after a hard day of work by lying on the couch with my young daughter and watching one of her favorite television shows on Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel.

by Ron Kubitz | February 2, 2012 | Comments (1)

Top 10 Trends for Equipment Acquisition

by Karen M. Scally | January 10, 2012 | Comments (0)

Construction Industry Gets No Respect

I’m going to start off this blog with the immortal words of Rodney Dangerfield: “When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them.”

by Ron Kubitz | January 9, 2012 | Comments (4)

Construction Trivia, Holiday Edition

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all outside the job trailer, not a creature was stirring, not even an excavator. The big yellow vehicles were parked in the mud with care, in hopes that the operators would soon return there …

by Ron Kubitz | December 14, 2011 | Comments (5)

Oh, Joy! Funny Winter Construction Videos

As the song goes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

by Alexis Brumm | December 13, 2011 | Comments (0)

Give Thanks to the Construction Worker for Lessons Learned

The air is getting crisper, and decorations are starting to go up. As the calendar fades deeper into November, most of us are getting into the holiday mood, and it is in this spirit of Thanksgiving that we need to be thankful for all that we have.

by Ron Kubitz | November 21, 2011 | Comments (4)

Tax Repeal is in Senate’s Hands

Construction industry associations say they are hopeful that what they describe as a job-crushing measure will be eliminated after House representatives voted overwhelmingly to repeal the federal contractor 3 percent withholding tax on Oct. 27.

by Karen M. Scally | November 7, 2011 | Comments (0)

Gear Up for Old Man Winter

It is the last full week of October as I write this, and already the weather forecast for this weekend is mentioning that dreaded “S” word … SNOW! Working outside during the winter—as many construction employees do—can be a dirty and bone-chilling job, but in our industry it comes with the territory.

by Ron Kubitz | October 28, 2011 | Comments (5)

Bill Would Help Fund Equipment Upgrades to Reduce Emissions

On Oct. 6, Reps. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) and Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.) introduced a bipartisan bill designed to help contractors upgrade equipment to meet diesel emissions standards in the most-polluted areas of the country.

by Karen M. Scally | October 12, 2011 | Comments (3)

Never Give Up!

As a corporate recruiter for a large contractor, I come across rejection and defeatist attitudes on a daily basis.

by Ron Kubitz | October 11, 2011 | Comments (6)

Introducing … Site Prep Top 5!

Here at Site Prep, it is our goal to find the best ways to bring industry information to you, our readers. If you’re a regular reader of our website, you know that every day, we’re posting news items and just-introduced products to our website.

by Karen M. Scally | September 14, 2011 | Comments (0)

Construction Jeopardy!

Don’t let the title of this blog fool you— it is not about what you think! This piece is not about the state of the construction industry (I’ve already touched on that issue), but it is about one of my favorite television viewing pleasures, the syndicated television game/quiz show “Jeopardy!”

by Ron Kubitz | September 7, 2011 | Comments (7)

I Am Great … My Competitors Are Not

Yesterday while driving back from an industry-related convention, I had hours of free time to ponder the complexities of the business environment that we are currently facing. After spending two long ten-hour days on my feet (and butt) manning the exhibit booth for my company, it dawned on me that we in the construction world are very stuck on ourselves. 

by Ron Kubitz | August 16, 2011 | Comments (6)

One Man’s Way to Find Harmony on the Jobsite

Have you seen that YouTube video of the singing construction worker in New York? (If you haven’t, you can scroll down to find a link to the video below.)

by Karen M. Scally | August 10, 2011 | Comments (1)

How to Beat the Heat on the Jobsite

There is nothing like a beautiful, sunny summer day to get the juices flowing and set the tone for a positive and productive day ahead. Construction workers, however, often have a different view of these summer days, as they spend them working physically demanding jobs that can be made more difficult by excessive heat.

by Ron Kubitz | July 25, 2011 | Comments (3)

Money to Burn

Last week, I attended a “neighborhood fireworks show” with my family to celebrate the Fourth of July. I say that with quotation marks, because this was nothing like your typical neighborhood show.

by Karen M. Scally | July 12, 2011 | Comments (2)

A Tribute to Construction’s ‘Road Warriors’

I spent much of last week in the middle of nowhere in Tennessee—this is no slight on the beautiful state of Tennessee—with one of our superintendents recruiting for a large construction project that we are starting up.

by Ron Kubitz | July 6, 2011 | Comments (6)

Summer Fun Videos for Construction Pros

It’s officially summertime! The days consist of fun in the sun, hitting the beach, barbecues, baseball and … oh yeah … work, for those in the construction business.

by Alexis Brumm | June 28, 2011 | Comments (0)

Dirty Jobs’ Mike Rowe Offers Help to the Trades; Finding and Filling Jobs in Your Market, Part 2

In my last blog, I introduced a partnership BNP Media forged with BirdDog Jobs, a career center specializing in the skilled trades. Today, we’re pleased to announce another partnership.

by Tim Fausch | June 21, 2011 | Comments (8)

Perfect Father’s Day Gift Ideas for the Construction Pro

Father’s Day is quickly approaching, and I am besieged daily by inquiries from the wife and kids as to what I would like to receive for this most sacred of holidays.

by Ron Kubitz | June 14, 2011 | Comments (6)

Are You Running on Empty?

Though the official start of summer is still a couple weeks away, the telltale signs of the season are already here where I live in Metro Detroit—the temperature is getting hotter (it’s 91 degrees as I write this), the days are growing longer … and prices at the pump are climbing higher.

by Karen M. Scally | June 8, 2011 | Comments (0)

Finding and Filling Jobs in Your Market, Part 1

For the last two years, more than 13+ million U.S. workers have been unemployed, many for very long stretches.

by Tim Fausch | June 1, 2011 | Comments (0)

Three Business Insights Gained While Running Through Hershey

This week I attended the last National Association Oil Heating Service Managers Show in Hershey, PA. Actually, it’s not the last show for this fine organization, but it will be the last show by that exact name.

by Tim Fausch | May 26, 2011 | Comments (0)

How to Offset the High Price of Doing Business

I read with great interest yesterday that construction materials prices rose 1.4 percent in April and are now 7.1 percent higher than at this same time last year, according to the May 12, 2011, DOL Producer Price Index.

by Ron Kubitz | May 17, 2011 | Comments (4)

What to Do When Disaster Strikes

Over the past 18 months, our world has been rocked by a series of devastating natural disasters: the earthquake in Haiti, the tsunami in Japan and recently, the tornadoes that swept through the South here in the U.S.

by Karen M. Scally | May 11, 2011 | Comments (0)

Be Decisive in an Indecisive Economy

A headline from an article that was widely circulated last week read “AGC Reports Construction Employment Boost, Gains May Not Last.” Another headline from last week said “Construction Industry Five Year Headache Appears Over.”

by Ron Kubitz | May 5, 2011 | Comments (2)

EGR vs. SCR: Making Sense of Interim Tier 4 Myths

January 2011 marked the start of Interim Tier 4 (IT4)/Stage III B for diesel engines 174 horsepower and above, the fourth stage of the emissions regulation for off-road equipment, set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for North America.

by Joe Mastanduno | April 26, 2011 | Comments (0)

The Future of Our Industry Looks Bright

I recently spent four hours out in the miserable cold and rain, and I could not be happier!

by Ron Kubitz | April 18, 2011 | Comments (7)

Machine Control’s Growing Role

Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time combing through the results of the 2011 Machine Control Report, conducted by Clear Seas Research in partnership with Site Prep, as I was putting together the magazine’s May/June issue.

by Karen M. Scally | April 13, 2011 | Comments (0)

Truest Grit

Construction and maintenance pros, do you have what it takes to takes to excel today? I'm not talking about aggressive cost cutting or crazy-efficient management techniques. Chances are you are already doing those things.

by Tim Fausch | April 12, 2011 | Comments (2)

Want to Run a Profitable, Growing Company? Don’t Miss this Free Webinar

Al Levi could have packed it in, gone to Arizona, and led the good life. After all, he sold his contracting company back when the economy was still vibrant.

by Tim Fausch | April 1, 2011 | Comments (2)

The State of the Construction Union

I just received this bit of breaking news that flashed upon my e-mail screen, as well as on most of the major news outlets: the unemployment rate fell to a two-year low figure of 8.8 percent in March, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, capping the strongest two months of hiring since before the recession began.

by Ron Kubitz | April 1, 2011 | Comments (6)

Providing Eye Candy for Your Customers

Last week I spent a couple days at the Coverings Show in Las Vegas. Usually, I’m very focused at trade shows on meeting readers or advertisers and talking about their specific interests.

by Tim Fausch | March 24, 2011 | Comments (1)

The Hottest Thing at CONEXPO

It’s only the second day here at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011, and let me tell you, I am whipped!

by Karen M. Scally | March 23, 2011 | Comments (0)

Six Reasons Why Construction Companies Should Use Social Media

As I write this, many of you are preparing to attend CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011. This excellent industry event has a new and improved focus on education this year, with 126 educational sessions covering an expansive array of topics.

by Ron Kubitz | March 16, 2011 | Comments (8)

The Importance of Trench Safety

In 1978, OSHA mandated the use of a trench protection system for all excavations deeper than 5 feet. These protection systems can include trench shields, shoring or simply sloping trenches or excavations. All of a sudden, “trench safety” became an integral part of the construction industry’s vernacular.

by James McRay | March 1, 2011 | Comments (0)

‘Coalition to Save Our GPS’ to Take on FCC Ruling

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is encouraging members and customer groups to join the newly formed “Coalition to Save Our GPS,” following a Feb. 22 briefing the organization hosted about a recent decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that could impact GPS.

by Karen M. Scally | February 28, 2011 | Comments (0)

FCC Decision Could Impact GPS Users

Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a decision that could have an impact on GPS—and consequentially, on machine control users and others who use GPS.

by Karen M. Scally | February 16, 2011 | Comments (0)

Winning the Race: Expo Generates New Optimism

The last two years remind me of running in the San Diego Marathon. It was a brutally hot event. At the starting line, race organizers distributed salt packets and issued dire warnings to slow our pace – or face the consequences.

by Tim Fausch | February 14, 2011 | Comments (0)

Builders Show Spotlights Innovative Products

The International Builders Show (IBS) always delivers panache. Building product manufacturers use the industry’s biggest stage to unveil their latest and greatest designs, often with the excessive exuberance needed to stand out among the sea of products on display.

by Tim Fausch | January 28, 2011 | Comments (2)

2011 Building Forecast: Sustainable with a Chance of Profits

Canvassing the International Builders Show (IBS) usually is like drinking water from a fire hose. Fortunately, this year’s version was easier to ingest.

by Tim Fausch | January 21, 2011 | Comments (0)

Building Pros Help a Hero, Turn a House into a Home

At first, I did not notice the all-access design of the NextGen Experience house. But then I spotted Waldemar Alameda, a 39-year-old father of two. He was using a walker to navigate the crowded house.

by Tim Fausch | January 17, 2011 | Comments (0)

Water Quality Takes Center Stage

Blame it on the recession. Concerns over water quality seem to drop from the public’s radar for much of 2009 and 2010.  

by Tim Fausch | January 7, 2011 | Comments (0)

Aliens Among Us: A Tribute to Engineers

I’ve been thinking a lot about engineers lately and concluded they must be alien beings. For reasons I do not understand, God sent these advanced life forms to earth to keep people like me from mass chaos. There must be an engineering angel whose job is to keep us from self-destruction.

by Tim Fausch | December 23, 2010 | Comments (0)

Could Health Care Costs Derail a 2011 Construction Comeback?

I’ve been feeling pretty good about 2011. There are several signs the economy is rebounding. Many construction-related firms throughout the supply chain have indicated they are gradually climbing out of their respective holes.

by Tim Fausch | December 1, 2010 | Comments (3)

'I Make America' Campaign Aims to Create Manufacturing Jobs

An astonishing 5.5 million manufacturing jobs have been wiped off the board nationwide during this economic recession. That’s roughly equivalent to the number of people living in Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming COMBINED.

by Dennis Slater | November 11, 2010 | Comments (0)

Sharing the American Dream with Illegal Immigrants

Whenever pro-amnesty groups would claim we need illegal immigrants to do the work U.S. citizens do not want to do, my blood would boil.

by Tim Fausch | November 3, 2010 | Comments (16)

Vote for Someone on Tuesday; Submit Your Company’s Story

In the last two weeks, I’ve traveled to Las Vegas twice for construction trade shows. While there, I had to turn off the TV in my hotel room to escape the tidal wave of negative political ads.

by Tim Fausch | October 29, 2010 | Comments (0)

Moving On...It’s Time to Share Your Story

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting really ticked off by the overreaction to every shift in the economy, especially those that relate to the A/E/C and maintenance fields.

by Tim Fausch | October 4, 2010 | Comments (4)

Is Obama's infrastructure plan too late?

On Monday, Sept. 6, President Barack Obama announced a new infrastructure plan during a Labor Day rally in Milwaukee.

by Karen M. Scally | September 8, 2010 | Comments (0)

Floods of Opportunity for Construction Pros

Last week I drove to Nashville for the birth of my first grandchild. While there I visited an area next to the Cumberland River, which flooded on May 2, killing 30 people and causing at $1 billion in damage

by Tim Fausch | August 13, 2010 | Comments (3)

The Best Way to Stay Safe on the Jobsite

There are a staggering number of people seriously injured on the job each day—totaling more than 4.6 million workers annually according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Given that number, it’s easy for everyone to agree that keeping workers safe and reducing workplace injuries are important. But there are different schools of thought on how exactly to achieve that. 

by Christie Mendola | July 30, 2010 | Comments (0)

Nailed and Jailed for DUI

If I don’t change my life-endangering behavior quickly, I will be pulled over, ticketed, fined, and possibly jailed if I repeatedly drive under the influence. 

by Tim Fausch | July 16, 2010 | Comments (7)

Flooring Producer Supports Haiti Rebuilding Using 'Hands-on' Approach

You got to love a charitable program that requires a “hands-on” involvement among the participants.

by Tim Fausch | July 9, 2010 | Comments (1)

GPS Reference Networks Need Regulation

Contractors using GPS rovers or automated machine guidance are making heavy use of GPS reference networks these days, and they are absorbing 3D data from satellites routinely. 

by Harry O. Ward, PE | July 1, 2010 | Comments (2)

Helping Construction Pros Navigate In a Digital World

Not long ago, most professionals belonged to their national, state or local association. Or they belonged to a peer group, civic club, or some organization that exposed them to new ideas, skills, and tools, all while networking with other pros.

by Tim Fausch | June 25, 2010 | Comments (1)

Dirt Talk: Is your jobsite safe?

As the weather gets warmer, work on the jobsite is starting to heat up as well. Sometimes in the rush to get work done, safety precautions can be overlooked—but that could ultimately be very dangerous or very costly.

May 17, 2010 | Comments (0)

Dirt Talk: More Straight Talk about TIN Surfaces & Machine Control

I’ve been saying for years we need new algorithms for 3D model creation, so in this blog I want to continue to open up this discussion. 

by Bill Crumb | April 8, 2010 | Comments (3)

Dirt Talk: Do We Need a New DTM Algorithm?

Does the industry need a wake-up call to improve DTM software? Or do you think the software you use is more than adequate for your needs?

March 11, 2010 | Comments (11)

Dirt Talk: Tax Tips for Contractors

CPA Todd Taggart gives contractors tips to maximize their cash.

by Todd F. Taggart CPA | February 9, 2010 | Comments (0)

Dirt Talk: How to Re-Invest in Your Company

Are you a laggard or a leader when it comes to investing in your company?

by Harry O. Ward | December 21, 2009 | Comments (0)

How to Prevent Equipment Theft: Is It a Silent Night at the Jobsite?

While enjoying the holidays at home with loved ones, is all calm and bright on your jobsite?

by Scott Cornell | December 4, 2009 | Comments (0)

Dirt Talk: Machine Control on West Virginia’s Corridor H

Applying machine control to a highway project in the Appalachian Mountains saves 90% in survey/stakeout costs.

by Harry O. Ward | November 1, 2009 | Comments (1)

Dirt Talk: Start Us Up USA! And support the construction equipment industry

Time is running out for the construction equipment manufacturing industry and you need to get involved in its fight for survival. The recession has indeed been deep for some sectors of the economy, but few, if any, have taken the beating experienced by the construction equipment manufacturing industry.

by Dennis Slater | October 19, 2009 | Comments (0)

Dirt Talk: Congress Must Reauthorize SAFETEA-LU

Guest blogger Mike Bazinet calls for Congress to get serious about funding America’s infrastructure.

by Michael Bazinet | September 14, 2009 | Comments (0)

Dirt Talk: Carbon Caps Don’t Bode Well for Construction

Will the carbon cap-and-trade bill leave the construction industry destitute?

by Michael M. Slusarski , PE | August 10, 2009 | Comments (3)

Dirt Talk: The Move Toward Infrastructure Construction and BIM

Infrastructure projects are going to be our bread and butter for the foreseeable future. If you are looking for growth in the land development market I suggest looking elsewhere, because it isn’t going to be there. The land development pie has shrunk to a fraction of what it was a couple years ago. Let’s face it, how many more Starbucks do we need?

by Harry O. Ward | July 8, 2009 | Comments (0)

Dirt Talk: Can You Trust a Real-Time GPS Network?

Real-time GPS networks are rapidly proliferating, and more contractors are using them for GPS machine control. Do you subscribe to a local network? What has your experience been like?

June 2, 2009 | Comments (4)

Dirt Talk: Is Machine Control Getting Easier?

May 12, 2009 | Comments (0)

Dirt Talk: What's on Your GPS Wish List?

April 8, 2009 | Comments (0)

Dirt Talk: Will Machines Need Operators in the Future?

March 19, 2009 | Comments (1)

Dirt Talk: Will a Stimulus Bill Stimulate Your Business?

These days it seems that all the talk is about the stimulus bill. Will the Senate pass its version? Will the House be swayed to agree with the Senate? But isn't the real question: will the stimulus bill help you and your business?

February 9, 2009 | Comments (3)

Dirt Talk: What Makes You Hesitate to Jump into Machine Control?

January 6, 2009 | Comments (9)