Construction Equipment Owner

The lease on my Jetta recently expired and I decided to make a shift in vehicles from my car to a SUV - a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Obviously my gas mileage also made a significant shift and this may not have been the most ideal time to make the leap to a six-cylinder SUV with the ever-increasing prices for fuel. Well, I needed the bigger vehicle to meet my needs of carrying larger loads as I am in the midst of significant remodeling job on my house. So I just have to make peace with the current prices and be more aware of my fuel consumption and take the necessary actions to increase my fuel efficiency.

Though not on the same scale, but contractors are facing a similar situation. You’re not going to shot down your equipment because fuel prices are on the rise, you need to make appropriate adjustments and do what you can to get more out of each drop of fuel. And though it focuses mostly on over-the-road trucks, Volvo Trucks has recently provided some tips for dealing with $4 diesel. Some of the tips are proprietary to Volvo trucks, but others are universal and good ideas to be aware of as you try to extend your time between visits to the pump.

The Boston Globe recently ran an article about research suggesting the pyramids in Egypt included blocks cast from the world’s first concrete. It’s interesting research, since no one knows for sure how the pyramids were built. Portland cement wasn’t invented until the 1800s, but cement as a building material had a long history before that time.

Really, do I need to say any more? Check out this article about a house made of beer cans and concrete. I only wish there were pictures! I found information about another beer can house in Texas — this one with pictures and more of a roadside attraction than an actual living space. Ah, the benefits and contributions of concrete are endless … and nearly as important as the benefits and contributions of beer!

I read an article about the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and its decision to cut an orchestral piece, “State of Siege” by Dror Feiler, because when played at its intended volume the orchestra was producing a sound that exceeded the new European noise-at-work limit. Apparently, noise-reducing ear-muffs were not an option. At first I thought the regulations silly — those standards shouldn’t apply to art, plus it’s a good loud noise, right? But then I thought about the people I know who have damaged hearing — it’s difficult for them to take part in conversations and frustrating to never be able to hear a waiter read off nightly specials at a restaurant because of background chatter. Hearing protection is an important part of work site safety, especially on the construction site. You might think ear plugs and noise-muffling headphones can be uncomfortable, look funny or are just plain annoying, but once your hearing is damaged there no getting it back. Check out the noise and hearing protection webpage at OSHA and make sure you and everyone at your company has their ears covered or plugged.

Brad Humphrey explains the emerging trend of a “changing of the guard” in construction leaders. As the industry loses many of its baby boomers that hold roles such as supervisor, foreman, etc. the knowledge and technical experience is leaving with them. Younger, tech-savvy personnel are now filling these positions and bringing a different work ethic and new set of skills.

 Changing Role of the Construction Leader [7:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (76)

Want to compare your John Deere skid steer to other machines in the industry? Watch skid steer competition videos? Check out www.skidsteersmackdown.com. The site allows you to pick the Deere machine of your choice and watch an entertaining, interactive machine comparison.

As I type this the price of crude oil just topped $117 a barrel, fuel prices are averaging $3.503 cents per gallon, and the Lundberg report says the cost of a gallon of gas has risen 54 cents since January 1. Not good news, especially for contractors who make their living driving from bid to bid and sending crews from job to job.

So if you want to find a way to conserve a little fuel, and keep your fuel costs as low as possible, take a page from UPS, which runs thousands of trucks on the road each day: Turn right.

That’s correct (and right!). UPS says that in 2007 it saved itself 3 million gallons of gas by routing trucks using a technology that emphasizes safety and efficiency — meaning delivery routes are planned as a series of loops with as few left turns as possible. UPS says it’s a safer driving practice because drivers aren’t turning in front of oncoming traffic as often, and it saves fuel because they spend less time idling in left-turn lanes waiting to turn.

The UPS program is complex and computerized, but the basic concept can be used by any driver.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain recently proposed a “gas tax holiday” this summer to give drivers and vacationers a break at the pumps. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) released a statement on why they would oppose such a measure, citing its detrimental effect on the road building/repair industry. Other groups, including AAA, criticized the measure.

In today’s down economy, there are plenty of ideas floating around about ways to bring back a boom time. One article I found particularly interesting ran in the New York Times earlier this week and described a proposed tax break for first-time homebuyers as a way to stimulate the housing market.

Mike Miller, police liaison with LoJack, discusses the recent equipment theft report released by LoJack, gives some tips on how construction business owners can protect their equipment and why construction equipment is a target for thieves.

 Equipment Theft Update [7:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (107)

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama recently spoke at the Building and Constructions Trades’ Annual Legislative Conference where he called for a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank that will invest $60 billion over ten years and generate millions of new jobs.

I’m encouraged to see one of the presidential hopefuls addressing the needs for increased infrastructure spending. Before I or anyone should jump on the Obama bandwagon after this declaration, I would like to see his outline as to how to accomplish this. As it is always easy to say what you intend to do, actions speak much louder than words.

Still I hope this helps shed some more light on what could become a disastrous problem if not addressed. And having the highest levels of government earmark it as a a major issue has to be at least a step in the right direction. Let’s just hope the momentum continues beyond the Building and Constructions Trades‘ conference.

Watch video of speakers from the conference. Speakers included Sen. Claire McCaskill, Sen. Barack Obama, Rep. John Lewis, James Carville, Admiral Skip Bowman and John Sweeney.