Contractor's Best Friend | For Construction Pros

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 14: 'Second Chance' New Hires

Many contractors are giving former employees a second chance on the jobsite to help fill workforce gaps.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 13: Maximize the Trade-In Value of Your Equipment

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 12: When It Rains, It's Time to Train

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 11: Jobsite Safety

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 10: Why Implement Compact Technology into My Operations?

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 9: How to Minimize Equipment Costs

R1700 Xe Ces Release

Caterpillar Plans to Expand Electrification and Energy Offerings at CES 2024

Those attending the Consumer Electronics Show 2024 in Las Vegas, NV, will meet the full force of the company's "The Power of Possible" campaign in their almost 9.600 sq ft floor exhibit, running from January 9 - 12.

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The Practical Wearable Construction Technology Contractors Need to Learn About Right Now

Some construction wearable technologies can make construction software available hands-free but most extend dedicated software products for safety and productivity.

The World of Concrete will celebrate its 50th year during the World of Concrete 2024 show.

World of Concrete Celebrates 50 Years

Join us and the whole of the concrete industry as World of Concrete celebrates 50 years!

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 8: Jobsite Security Part 2

As construction industry equipment theft continues to be a problem, the latest technology can help prevent such theft and keep crews safe.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 6: Understanding CO2 Emissions Reduction

The reduction of emissions in the construction industry will be a process. Caterpillar construction expert Jason Hurdis talks about how alternative-power sources will be phased in on the jobsite to meet emissions requirements.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 5: ‘Proactive’ Safety

The importance of safety in the construction industry cannot be overstated. The jobsite safety talk is shifting away from being one of punishment to a discussion for everyone to participate in.

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Influencing Field Production Through Greater Clarity

In this article, the first of a four-part series, we will address how being clear in our communications as field leaders is critical to influence the actual production we want to achieve.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 4: Dozers: Going Back to the A-B-Cs

In this episode of The Contractor’s Best Friend, construction expert Brad Humphrey sits down with Sam Meeker, Caterpillar’s dozer and track loader specialist, to talk about what contractors should consider when buying or leasing heavy equipment.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 2: Can Payload Technology Decrease My Unit Cost of Material Handling?

Each payload cycle is an opportunity to increase profits and decrease costs on the jobsite. Three construction experts talk about how the latest technology can improve uptime when hauling heavy materials.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 33: Equipment Obsolescence

Contractors should keep track of a machine's number of hours to get a better idea of when it might need to be replaced. There's also lots of new technology on the market that may get contractors thinking about an upgrade.

Construction companies, no matter the size, need to establish a budget for equipment maintenance throughout the year to remain profitable.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 32: Estimating Equipment Maintenance Cost

Construction companies, no matter the size, need to establish a budget for equipment maintenance throughout the year to remain profitable.

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8 Steps for Contractors to Ensure Repeat Business

The secret to gaining repeat business isn’t selling what you’re “going to do” for the customer but what you have proven that you “can do.”

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 31: Fuel Efficiency: Fuel Data: Quick Wins to Help Control Fuel Costs

Three heavy equipment experts discuss fuel efficiency and how contractors can be more fuel efficient on the jobsite through the use of data. It's important to measure fuel usage, determine where fuel is being used and create a plan of action.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 30: Transition Non-Construction New Hires to Crafts People

Fewer people are growing up with a farming, mechanical or construction background. It's no small hurdle, but most contractors are dealing with it today: teaching construction skills to young and new workers without construction experience.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 29: Benefits of Aftermarket Safety Solutions

There are several aftermarket safety devices and techniques that can be applied to construction equipment that can greatly enhance the overall safety of the construction jobsite.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 28: Matching Workers to Your Equipment

It's a no brainer -- you want your most experienced equipment operators performing the most complex tasks on the jobsite. What about new workers, though?

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 27: Transition from Traditional Construction Methods to Use of Grade Technology

Long past are the traditional grade stakes that once dotted a construction jobsite. Now, lasers and other technologies can do that job. That's one of many examples of technology changing the landscape of the modern jobsite.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 26: The 4 Most Common Construction Injuries (And How to Prevent Them)

The top four causes of injury on a construction jobsite have remained the same for many years: falls, struck by an object, electrocution and being caught between equipment. Listen for best practices to stay safe on the jobsite.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 25: Protect People on Worksites

There are many equipment upgrades available today that can help enhance the safety of construction workers and operators on the jobsite today. Communication, visibility and planning also come into play to keep everyone on the jobsite safe.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 24: How Your Workforce Influences Your Equipment Purchases

With the ongoing construction workforce labor shortage, it's difficult to find equipment operators. One technique many contractors are using to combat that challenge is by using equipment with improved operator comfort.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 23: Monitoring Equipment Utilization and Managing Availability

Contractors need to have full visibility into the use and availability of heavy equipment on the construction jobsite. Tracking that equipment utilization comes down to telematics and connectivity.

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The Biggest Key to Employee Success

Onboarding newcomers can sometimes feel like an extra expense when time and money are short, but in the long-run, proper support and training result in higher retention rates and employee satisfaction.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 22: Protect Operators in the Cab

There are a number of ways construction contractors can upgrade the safety of their existing fleets. One simple safety upgrade would be adding a seatbelt reminder kit to construction equipment to encourage operators to buckle up on the jobsite.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 21: Top 5 Dealer Resources You Should Use

There are a handful of dealer resources that most construction contractors are not using, they said, including certified dealer operators, who are trained in how to use the equipment and will travel to jobsites to train workers on equipment.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 20: Getting Used to New Equipment

After purchasing a new piece of construction equipment, there are some basic steps contractors should follow. For example, contractors should learn how to use the new technology features and know how to use the machine for its intended applications.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 19: How Do Grade, Payload, and Compact Technologies Benefit My Operation?

In this episode, construction guru Brad Humphrey talks with construction experts from Caterpillar about the latest construction technologies and how tech can improve grading, loading and other operations.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 18: 6 Steps to Reduce Downtime

In this episode, construction guru Brad Humphrey talks with Lonnie Fritz, senior market professional – construction industries and Jason Hurdis, global market professional – quarry & aggregates for Caterpillar.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 17: What Percentage of Budget to Keep Equipment Maintained?

Construction guru Brad Humphrey talks with Caterpillar experts about how much of a construction contractor’s budget should be allocated to equipment maintenance.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 16: When Might It Be Smart to "Buy Up A Step"?

Construction guru Brad Humphrey talks with Caterpillar experts about the size of equipment, features and technology contractors should consider before buying or renting a machine.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 15: Win With Command Technology Part 2

Construction guru Brad Humphrey talks with Caterpillar experts about the specifics of how remote control Cat Command technology is used on the jobsite.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 14: Win With Command Technology Part 1

Cat Command is a group of technologies including remote control, semiautonomous and autonomous machines, which are used in a variety of construction settings today, including mining applications.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 13: How Jobsite Consultations Can Add Up to More Profitability

In this episode, construction guru Brad Humphrey talks with Caterpillar experts about how a second set of eyes can help construction jobsites be more productive and cost efficient.

The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 12: Tips for More Efficient Equipment Management

In this episode, construction guru Brad Humphrey talks with three Caterpillar experts about managing equipment efficiency.