[NEWS TRACKER VIDEO] Highlights from CONEXPO 2020

Despite the challenges brought on by the evolving coronavirus pandemic, there were still plenty of high points from CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020; plus more construction industry news on the March 19, 2020, edition of Construction News Tracker.

March 19, 2020

Construction News Tracker is presented by Caterpillar and produced by ForConstructionPros.com.

CONEXPO 2020 is now history, and the expansive exposition is being deemed a success despite major challenges brought about by coronavirus, or COVID19. ForConstructionPros Editor Larry Stewart has a look into what the show accomplished.

In other construction related news, the nation added 273,000 jobs in the month of February far surpassing what analysts had predicted. It's the second time in a row the economy churned out a blockbuster number of jobs despite the early advent of the coronavirus outbreak. The jobless rate has now ticked down to 3.5%, and the construction sector aided by a unusual stretch of warm weather nationwide picked up 42,000 jobs.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao met with House lawmakers at the end of February and told them President Trump's legislative vision for the national highway system is being finalized. The Secretary met with a combined session of House members from the transportation, housing and urban development and appropriations committees.

Committee members are scrambling to reauthorize the 2015 FAST Act highway bill that expires September 30th. The key item under discussion is a clear pathway to ensuring long term funding for highway systems. The White House has yet to signal a clear plan forward.

In closing, we are judged by what we finish, not by what we start.

This is Construction News Tracker looking over the industry that makes the world a better place, presented by Caterpillar and produced by ForConstructionPros.com.

Automation and electrification introductions at Conexpo 2020

[VIDEO] Cat Shows Hands-Free Command for Compaction Autonomy at Conexpo 2020

[VIDEO] How Built Robotics Autonomous Robots Help Construction

[VIDEO] Built Robotics Autonomous Crane Technology

[VIDEO] Komatsu Intelligent Machine Control 2.0 Automates Bulk Earthmoving

BOMAG Exhibits ROBOMAG Fully Autonomous Tandem Roller at CONEXPO 2020

Epiroc Showcases Surface Drilling Automation at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020

[VIDEO] SkyMul Automates Rebar Tying with Drones

[VIDEO] B&R Automation Breaks into Mobile Automation Market for Construction Vehicles

[VIDEO] Doosan's Concept-X Showcases Autonomous Worksite of the Future

[PODCAST] John Deere Experts Talk Machine Automation

[VIDEO] Cat Remote Control Lets One Operator Run Many Machines from Anywhere

[VIDEO] Caterpillar's D5 and D7 Dozers Feature Newest Technologies and Updates

[VIDEO] John Deere Integrates Grade Control System into 333 Compact Track Loader

[VIDEO] Trimble Launches Trimble Earthworks 2.0

[VIDEO] Komatsu Upgrades Smart Construction Solutions for Entire Construction Jobsite

[VIDEO] Zaxis 350LC Excavator Features Integrated Grade Control

[VIDEO] JLG Self-leveling Eliminates the Need for Repeated Repositioning of Equipment

[PODCAST] Adam Woods Highlights Technology Advancements for LBX Equipment

[VIDEO] How Connectivity is Improving Efficiency in Construction

[VIDEO] Cal/Amp Provides Connectivity Solutions for Remote Equipment

[VIDEO] Three Benefits of CASE's 580 EV All Electric Backhoe

[VIDEO] Hyundai Breaks Into Electric Excavator Market with R18E

[VIDEO] Takeuchi TB220E Fully Electric Excavator

[VIDEO] Bobcat Brings Next Big Thing with First All-electric Skid-steer Loader

[VIDEO] Kato Debuts 17VXV Battery-powered Mini Excavator

[VIDEO] Avant Launches Full Electric Battery Powered Articulated Loader

[VIDEO] Gehl Demos Electric 165E Skid Steer

Follow us on social media at Twitter using #constructionnews, YouTube and Facebook as the streaming Web never ends.

View previous Construction News Tracker videos on ForConstructionPros.com.

Dsc00805 Edited

The Top 25 Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction Products 2024

After a few years hiatus, the Top 25 Pavement Maintenance Products is back and will be better than ever!

Deere3

Deere, Purdy Search for Chief Tractor Officer

To apply, candidates must submit a short-form video with their pitch for the position, showing the creativity, humor, and passion they’d bring to the job.

White Cap has also acquired Crimson Steel Supply, LLC (Crimson Steel), a distributor and fabricator of engineered steel rebar and structural steel products serving non-residential and infrastructure end markets.

White Cap Expands Reach in Oklahoma, Oregon

White Cap has acquired Bend Construction - a supplier of struts, fasteners, anchors, and concrete accessories and products - and Crimson Steel - a distributor and fabricator of engineered steel rebar and structural steel products.

Cnl Image 2

Construction News: Infrastructure Bill Update

Construction headline tracker includes the proposed infrastructure bill has stalled, builder sentiment is rising, home building prices are up, the nation is short 5 million single-family homes, Deere's new electric backhoe and more.

Cnt 09022021

Construction News: Dodge Forecasts 7% Starts Growth through End of 2021

Construction headline tracker includes: materials costs outstrip bid prices; 30 years after levying the tax, LA starts a new road; largest public project ever in RI enters final phase; US craftsmen hand-hew new truss for Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral

Cnt 08192021

Construction News Tracker: $1.2T Infrastructure Bill Starts Road Through the House

Details of infrastructure bill's $550B in new spending, Senate also passed a budget resolution to clear the way for a $3.5T spending package, Dodge measures commercial construction gains across 17 major metro areas in the first half of 2021, more

Cnt 08052021

Construction News Tracker: Infrastructure Spending Makes Its Way in the Senate

The U.S. Senate has agreed to take up a bipartisan infrastructure bill, home building exceeded June forecasts but permits fell steeply, Fed measures constrained supply's impact on GDP, Dodge construction starts slump, New Jersey plans off-shore wind farms

Cnt 07222021

Construction News Tracker: $3.5 Trillion is the Number for New Infrastructure

Construction news is dominated by infrastructure-funding struggles; first construction momentum drop in six months; falling lumber prices; rising portion of civil contractors report growing backlogs but 65% say skills shortage is already delaying projects

Cnt 07082021

Construction News: President and Senators Agree on Infrastructure-Bill Scope as Construction Spending Slows

News Tracker includes House of Representatives passing a $715 transpo and water bill, what lead to May’s decline in construction spending, status of Miami condo-tower collapse, lumber prices’ June plunge, an optimistic construction forecast into 2022

06022021 Cnt

Construction News Tracker: Will 25% Spending Cut Woo Republicans to Biden Infrastructure Plan?

Administration cuts total by $550B, icing spend on manufacturing, small business, supply chains and R&D, Senate committees take up reauthorization of FAST Act, industry employers kick back at COVID 19 compliance, housing starts plunge

Cnt 05202021

Construction News: No Construction Job Growth in an April that Delivered Only a Quarter of Economists’ Forecasts

Institutional building rebound lifts Dodge Construction Index in April, panic over the global lumber shortage pushed July futures for 2x4s to $1,481, a crack shut down the Desoto Bridge carrying I-40 across the Mississippi River

Cnt 05062021

Construction News: How to Build 500,000 Electric Vehicle Charge Stations?

GM to build second, $2.3B battery plant, Dodge construction starts up 2.3% in March, particle-board prices up 64.9% and lumber prices up 83.4% over 12 months, how to locate lead water pipes to replace them?

Cnt Thumb

Construction News Tracker: Is the FAST Act Dead?

The FAST Act is dead, according to Republican members of Congress as efforts to renew funding for the bill are underway.

04062021 Cnt

Construction News Tracker: Biden’s $2.3T Infrastructure Bills Make Their Way to Congress

Administration splits infrastructure program into two bills, housing construction tumbles 10.3% in harsh February, volatile materials costs could dampen construction's 2021 rebound, spending is up in 9 of 16 nonresidential construction sectors

03152021 Cnt

Construction News Tracker: PRO Act Passage Draws Anti-Union Rhetoric from Associations

Construction lost 61,000 jobs in February in the first US employment decline since April, 12-month non-building construction starts in January were 15% below the previous year’s, Nevada governor considers World of Concrete’s request for a June show

Cnt 03042021

Construction News Tracker: Arctic Blast from Texas to Maine Drives Fuel Prices Skyward

All construction material prices increased during January for the first time since 2018, NAHB measured a 14.5% increase in new home construction permits in 2020, PCA forecasts 2021 regional cement consumption to be led by a 3% increase in the South

Cnt 02182021

Construction News Tracker: Residential Spree Leads 2020 Construction Spending Higher than 2019

Just three of the nation's Top 20 metro areas gained in 2020 commercial building starts, Buttigieg DOT expected to bring innovative transport spending and equity, NJ invites bids on $1.8B replacement of a key rail crossing of Hackensack River

Cnt 02022021

Construction News Tracker: Biden Executive Orders Halt Keystone XL and Border-Wall Construction

IHS Markit measures first across-the-board construction cost increases since mid-2018, home construction hits 14-year high in December, FHWA apportions $9.8B in COVID-19 relief funds to DOTs, and more construction news

Cnt 01212021

Construction News Tracker: Biden Unveils $1.9B Coronavirus Relief Plan

Chao resignation clears top of US DOT for Pete Buttigieg, Biden picks Boston mayor and ex-construction-union leader Marty Walsh for Labor secretary, unemployment claims exceed 1M for the first time since July in first week of January

Cnt 01072021

Construction News Tracker: $900B COVID Relief Bill Rejuvenates PPP Loan Program

AGC and AASHTO applaud Biden choice of Pete Buttigieg to lead US DOT, planning of nonresidential construction projects is declining, construction employment lags pre-pandemic levels in 35 states, EEOC OKs asking job candidates for COVID vaccine history

Cnt 12152020

Construction News Tracker: NY/NJ Port Authority Proposes $1.2B Capital Budget Cut

Flat October nonresidential construction spending breaks 4-month string of declines, depressed construction employment hits every state, Purple Line Partners proceed in Maryland without Fluor

12032020 Cnt

Construction News Tracker: Housing Starts Surprise Forecasters with 6.4% Jump in October

News headlines include Dodge’s forecast of 4% starts increase in 2021, voters approved the most transportation-improvement initiatives in 20 years, horrific crash melts steel and asphalt of I-75 bridge over the Ohio River

11122020 Cnt

[NEWS TRACKER] 75% of AGC Members Report Cancelled or Delayed Future Construction Projects

Caterpillar’s revenue fell 23%; U.S. construction forecast to drop 2% to the end of 2020 and 3% next year; materials, equipment and subcontractor labor prices fell for the 8th straight month

Cnt 238 Thumb

[NEWS TRACKER] September Construction Starts Drop Negates August Gains

Total construction starts dropped 18% in September and brought the starts to below June and July levels; plus more construction industry news in the October 29, 2020, edition of Construction News Tracker.

Cnt 237 Thumb

[NEWS TRACKER] Economists Not Optimistic for Nonresidential Construction Outlook

ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu says trajectory of nonresidential construction spending does not appear bright and AGC says demand will likely stagnate without new federal infusion.

Cnt Thumb 236

[NEWS TRACKER] House Passes Continuing Resolution to Fund FAST Act through 2021

Reauthorization plan would commit to FAST Act adding $13.6 billion to the Highway Trust Fund from general funding; plus more construction industry news on the October 1, 2020, edition of Construction News Tracker.

Cnt 235 Thumb

[NEWS TRACKER] What Will Happen With the Highway Trust Fund?

Eighty-eight construction oriented trade groups have signed a joint letter to Congress urging a one-year extension of the FAST Act; plus more on the September 17, 2020, edition of Construction News Tracker.