On Thursday, February 2nd, at the 2017 National Pavement Expo, attendees had the opportunity to attend an informational workshop hosted by the North American Power Sweeping Association (NAPSA) on best practices. Conducted in roundtable discussions, the workshop offered attendees multiple options to share their experiences and learn from others on the following topics:
- DOT and DOT regulations
- Adding complementary services
- Alternative fuels
- Managing debris and disposal/recycle
- How to estimate
- Working with third parties
- Finding the right people for the right seat on the bus.
NAPSA volunteers with hands-on experience in the selected topics facilitated each round table discussion. Participants quickly realized that the topics addressed issues that extended beyond the niche industry of power sweeping: these topics affect any company in the broader transportation industry. Business owners and managers could understand how to navigate problematic clauses in contracts, manage their liability, reduce their risk, and hire the right people for long-term employment.
Highlights from the session included the pros and cons of specific complementary services, some of which demonstrated really creative thinking. The best and most profitable choices for diversified services, said Mark Carter of Peloton Sweeping, were those that dovetailed with existing services or did not require purchase of large, expensive equipment. Those services entailed use of existing equipment and personnel with little, if any, additional training.
Participants shared problems, brainstormed solutions, and discussed lessons learned from companies that otherwise would have been professional rivals. The cooperative ambiance proved that businesses in related industries could teach each other and learn from their peers to the betterment of the entire industry. NAPSA’s focus on topics that pertain to all businesses demonstrated the commonality of business operation issues.
Attendees also learned that not every contract is worth pursuing, not every complementary service adds value, not every alternative works out. The experiences and information shared by workshop participants attested to the far-ranging benefits of understanding when to say “yes” and when to say “no.”
About NAPSA
The North American Power Sweeping Association (NAPSA) is a nonprofit association made up of 300-plus contract sweepers, service providers, and sweeping equipment dealers, manufacturers and suppliers. NAPSA is dedicated to providing beneficial support to the membership and enhancing services to the sweeping industry. The members of NAPSA are committed to promoting and educating the power sweeping community while enhancing the environment. For details visit www.powersweeping.org or call 888-757-0130.
