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Top 10 Hottest Construction Stories This Week: Winter Diesel Dos and Don’ts

[VIDEO] Why these are the most-read construction stories of the week, including each state DOT’s take from the COVID relief bill, three big prospects for 2021 construction, concrete company admits to antitrust, how calcium improves cold weather pours

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Construction Drone Use Accelerates Toward LiDAR Capabilities

DroneDeploy survey finds demand for aerial laser scanning highest of all industries among contractors; more than half of construction users plan use drones for more than aerial maps

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Biden Announces Plan for Economic Recovery, Promises Infrastructure Next Month

Biden's two-step plan for rescue and recovery in our nation includes presenting his "Build Back Better" plan to Congress in February. The plan includes $2 trillion in spending over four years for infrastructure.

As the construction workforce continues to age, construction managers must prepare for changes and adjustments in our benefit packages, the manner in which we “man our crews” and what responsibilities we place on our workers

Tips for Managing an Aging Construction Workforce

Seven techniques that construction contractors can put into practice when it comes to managing 'seasoned' employees

Most good workers, even those who can slip occasionally, want their performance to be assessed and discussed.

How the Right Performance Review Can Help Employee Retention

Brad Humphrey addresses the why, how and what should be covered when conducting performance reviews

Crew Leaders

Ways to Address the GC Superintendent to Earn Preferred-Contractor Status

Increasing jobsite workloads creates great opportunities for positive, proactive, and polished communication to distinguish your company

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How Skill Training Plays Into Worker Retention

It’s important for contractors to recognize that providing educational opportunities, training classes and personal development for all levels of the workforce can directly impact the retention of workers

The making of an estimator, your estimator, will enable you to move your business further down the road of performance and profitability.

6 Tips to "Making" Your Next Construction Estimator

The making of your estimator will enable you to move your business further down the road of performance and profitability

The role of general manager is a role that is designed to be active and engaging.

The Making of a Leader: The General Manager

The construction general manager must be engaged and active in leading, directing and motivating all the right people and processes to produce a profitable result

Even good people can fall prey to not taking the time to make good decisions, or worse, ignore important and available information that would have led them to a better decision.

7 Tips to Keep Your Construction Company Thinking from Going to the Dogs

How can we shake up our construction workers to be more active in their thinking and to think more clearly, objectively and effectively?

Engagement and participation is not hiring a new worker and then putting him immediately into the work process and expecting unbelievable results right away.

How to Retain Construction Employees Using Engagement and Participation

The earlier and more consistent a contractor is in getting a new worker engaged and participating in the company, the more productive and motivated that worker will be

Foremen will need to be more hands-on with new hires, invest more time to make sure employees understand their work assignments, and look for more ways to train and coach their people.

The Making of a Leader: Construction Foreman

Vision (1-2 weeks), state of their crew, and proper equipment and tool management will point any construction foremen in the right direction

It is in the spirit of Christmas that I would like to encourage you in yet one last customer service tip, let’s call it, Customer Service “Plus.”

Holiday Cheers for Customer Service “Plus”

Give all of your customers this year a special gift — an incentive really — to do more work with you next year

If you have never developed a business plan then consider this winter season to do so. If you have a business plan, consider revising it, updating it, strengthening it to be more realistic and more useful for this next business season.

Winter is a Great Time for Contractors to Develop a Business Plan

Effective business planning is more than simply putting some goals out there and then making a mad scramble to reach the goals

A construction estimator must have an understanding of numbers: both the numbers of measurement (i.e. quantities) and numbers of value (i.e. dollars).

What to Look for in a Construction Estimator

Without a doubt, future estimators will be more “techie” than ever and need to be well versed on many of the software options available

In this economic time it is sure tempting even for the most honorable of contractors to consider offering their own “trick.” Instead, provide them a 'treat'.

What Can Construction Contractors Learn from 'Trick or Treat?'

Do not "trick" your customers but rather provide a "treat" that the customer can trust in and count on

No matter your construction focus, attending an annual conference is not only a great idea, it can and often does provide you with profit-increasing and production-improvement ideas.

Preparing for Conference Season

The contractor who takes time to study an employee’s strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes and goals and expectations is the contractor who will be much wiser in preparing workers for greater responsibilities and retain workers longer.

How Responsibility Enhancement Fits Into Employee Retention

Responsibility Enhancement is less about dumping more “stuff” on workers and more about contractors recognizing workers are ready for growth and additional responsibility

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How to Build Greater Patriots for Your Construction Company

It’s easy for a customer or employee to be loyal — even patriotic — about investing in a contractor who tries hard to be professional and a full step above his or her competition

With the great personal drive and determination of so many construction owners and leaders poised to spring into action, I think it is very realistic and possible for our construction industry to bring America back to a country again known for its commitment to excellence, opportunities and achievement.

Can Contractors Bring America Back?

Eight reasons author Brad Humphrey believes the construction industry is the perfect place to resurrect the middle class and a great America

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Lean Construction: Planning to Reduce Transportation Waste

Planning and organization prevent problems that cause inefficiencies and wasted time when mobilizing tools, materials and people on construction projects

Take to heart the potential pitfalls of over-processing within your operation, then begin to apply these four practices. You’ll see an impact in productivity, job clarity and bottom-line performance.

Four Techniques to Help Construction Contractors Prevent Over-processing

Reducing over-processing -- applying more resources than are required, needed or requested -- is a great way for contractors to move towards leaner, more profitable construction

Educating employees on the importance of preventative maintenance is key to avoiding many equipment challenges.

How to Face Construction Equipment Challenges Head On

Planning now will help you and your company navigate future equipment challenges our industry faces going forward

For some construction companies, the need to have a single overseer of the operations is critical, and a general manager could fill that role.

8 Skills of an Effective Construction General Manager

As contractors face a future that includes their own retirement or retirement of senior leaders, the general manager role might be one that, if not already in place, could provide a nice alternative or option

Start recognizing those whom have done well and done you well, and make a big deal out of milestones and goals.

The Importance of Recognizing, and Celebrating, Company Milestones

Start recognizing those whom have done well and done you well, and make a big deal out of milestones and goals

Like any other construction leader, the construction spouse will be challenged to communicate clearly, consistently and carefully.

The Making of a Leader: The Construction Spouse as Business Partner

Like any other construction leader, the Construction Spouse will be challenged to communicate clearly, consistently and carefully

Succession planning is growing on most firms’ employee and leadership “radar” because as an industry, we’re getting older, in larger numbers than ever. A growing number of construction companies are realizing that they might be seeing a significant percentage of their most-experienced and most-knowledgeable workers and leaders exiting...and soon!

Succession Planning: Why Contractors Need to Have a Backup Plan

Contractors must always be prepared for the inevitable such as a key person leaving, retiring or being terminated

It’s never too early to get started on considering who your next generation of leaders and key performers will be.

10 Ways Construction Leaders Can Ease Succession Planning

Ten proven, easy-to-use steps every contractor can use to start or advance the succession planning every company needs to implement

There is a right and wrong way, a better way, to drive greater efficiency, productivity and a lot less “looking for stuff.”

4 Organizing Tips to Prevent 'Looking for Stuff'

Follow these four techniques to reduce the cost associated with having your workers less organized

When you communicate with other contractors remember to first seek to understand where the other contractor is coming from and what he is experiencing. You might not always get all of what you want, but you certainly will gain greater results by applying the suggestions presented in this article.

How to Improve Contractor-to-Contractor Communications

Eight suggestions to help improve your contractor to contractor communication

Contractors who choose to extend positive and proactive communications will be leaders in their industry and surface as a preferred contractor for customers.

What Factors Prohibit Good Contractor-to-Contractor Communications

Contractors who choose to extend positive and proactive communications will be leaders in their industry and surface as a preferred contractor for customers

You need to be prepared for emergencies that truly can be a threat to you and your workers. This is one of the most often overlooked policy efforts by many contractors. Take the initiative and create your emergency response plan now .

How to Plan for an Emergency on the Jobsite

Big or small, jobsite interruptions have an impact on a contractor's bottom line, but here are 10 tips that can help contractors plan for these interruptions

Brad Humphrey offers seven tips to help maximize a strategic retreat's effectiveness and prepare your construction leaders to think strategically.

Why Construction Businesses Need a Strategic Retreat

These seven tips can help maximize a strategic retreat's effectiveness and prepare your leaders to think strategically