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Traffic Control Tips from M.A.S. Markers

M.A.S. Markers' "flintmobile" is a 1971 Camero that they stripped down, shortened the frame, added a Cimline concrete saw at the front end, and retained the V8 engine to propel it from one hole to the next. It worked well enough that in 1988 they built their second unit, adding a dust vacuum so the hole was clean when the unit pulled along to the next cut.

Above and below: Eight specially designed "dune buggies" are used to replace reflectors in existing markers. The dune buggies have a Volkswagen diesel engine, a Volkswagen automatic transmission, and disc brakes. The gear shift and steering are in the middle of the unit so operators can switch to work from either the left side or the right side depending on whether he's working on an interstate or on a two-lane road. With these buggies M.A.S. can replace up to 2400 reflectors a day.

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By Allan Heydorn
Editor

The May issue of Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction looks at some diversification options for pavement marking contractors, including raised marker installation specialists, M.A.S. Markers, Lebanon, IN, owned by Michele Johnson; husband Steve is operations manager and runs the crews.

Steve Johnson started working at James Drew in 1985, the first year the company entered the marker business, and he started as a foreman of a crew installing markers. By 1990 James Drew had three crews installing pavement markers and several crews replacing reflectors in existing markers.

In 1997 James Drew Corp. decided it wanted out of the marker installation business and offered Steve Johnson a chance to buy that part of the company. He wasn't interested but Michele took a closer look at the operation and she thought it was a business she'd like to take a crack at running. So she acquired that part of the company, and with Steve as operations manager they were installing and replacing markers right from the start.

When Michele acquired the marker installation business from James Drew Corp. in 1997, she decided not to make cuts in equipment or staff to inflate the bottom line. Instead, she took a long-term view, investing in the operation, improving existing equipment and buying new equipment.

"When she bought Drew Corp. out she had enough capacity equipment-wise for two marker installation crews and two reflector replacement crews," Steve Johnson says. "Today we have the capacity for four marker installation crews and four reflector crews."

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