For Construction Pros

Impact of Jobs Act is Not Enough

By Becky Schultz - Friday September 16, 2011

A recent post on Constructech.com ( "The Jobs Proposal Will Impact Construction" ) discusses how the American Jobs Act proposed by the Obama Administration could, in fact, serve as a second round of stimulus for the construction industry. Its author comments: "the new jobs plans could address many challenges in the construction industry today such as creating more employment opportunities and providing more funding to state governments." While acknowledging the ongoing debate over the effectiveness of the American Reconstruction and Recovery Act (ARRA), the writer glosses over one of the biggest reasons behind it - it didn't go far enough. The ARRA failed on several levels because funding levels for construction were woefully inadequate...

The Differences Between Today and 2008

By Becky Schultz - Tuesday August 9, 2011

In a very insightful article ("Why This Crisis Differs from the 2008 Version"), Francesco Guerrera, editor of The Wall Street Journal's Money & Investing section, argues that the spectacle in the stock markets resulting from the S&P downgrade is unlikely to send the U.S. back into the financial shock it experienced in 2008. While there are certain similarities, there are also very distinct differences in the conditions surrounding the current economic weakness. As Guerrera points out, the crisis in 2008 stemmed from a financial breakdown from the ground up. "The current predicament," he writes, "by contrast, is a top-down affair. Governments around the world, unable to stimulate their economies and get their houses in order, have...

ARTBA's Ruane: Doing Nothing on Transportation Funding Is Not an Option

By Becky Schultz - Thursday July 7, 2011

Pete Ruane, president and CEO of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, had strong praise today for House T&I Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica, but equally strong criticism of the budget constraints proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). Ruane issued the following statement: "We commend House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) for his leadership in moving this long-overdue process forward. Despite strong political headwinds, he has produced a proposal with much needed reforms that would reduce red tape and bureaucratic hurdles that stand in the way of many important projects critical to our economic vitality. His goal of expediting product delivery and facilitating...

Natural Disasters: Include Compassion in the Bid Process

By Becky Schultz - Wednesday June 1, 2011

It's hard to find positives in the disastrous events that have occurred throughout much of the southern half of the U.S. But let's face it – there is opportunity to be had even in the most devastating circumstances. In "Reconstruction Lifts Economy After Disasters" (May 31, 2011), Michael Cooper of The New York Times notes, "… a new phase is slowly beginning in some hard-hit areas: reconstruction, which past disasters show is typically accompanied by a burst of new, and different, economic activity. There is no silver lining to a funnel cloud, as anyone who survived the tornadoes can attest, but reconstruction can help rebuild local economies as well as neighborhoods." Already, steps are being taken to clear away rubble and lay...

Caterpillar Looks to Capitalize on its Name and Network with New Trucks

By Becky Schultz - Monday March 21, 2011

For months, Caterpillar has been building suspense leading up to its debut in the on/off-highway vocational truck market. Today, it reached a climax as journalists watched the global reveal - replete with heavy curtain, dramatic lighting and a shadowy mist of smoke - of the CT660 set-back front axle heavy truck. Surprisingly, the truck shown didn’t bear Caterpillar’s trademark yellow, but rather a deep red. According to George Taylor, director of the on-highway truck group, the company recognizes that not all customers want a yellow truck – pride of ownership and corporate branding demand that other colors be made available to fleet owners. (Not to worry. Cat yellow is still one of your color options.) The CT660 offers a...