Skid Steers Speed Nighttime Pavement Marking Projects

Located in the San Diego suburb of Chula Vista, Payco Specialties has established itself as a key player in the California infrastructure industry, with some 40 years’ experience. Company president Rebecca Llewellyn has proven a pioneer for women in the male-dominated construction industry.

“She serves on the Caltrans Small Business Council to make sure they understand how a $170 million infrastructure project whittles down to the smallest contractor," says Jeff Llewellyn, Payco's vice president. "It’s important they hear that voice when they are crafting their policies and procedures.”

Payco remains a private, family-owned company with around 20 employees. Its primary focus is on permanent and temporary stripe application and removal, reflective pavement markings, cutting custom stencils, parking lots and airport striping.

“In the late 1970s, no one built custom road striper trucks,” says Llewellyn. “Even today, there are only a few companies committed to building these machines.” Responding to the need to meet specific application requirements, the company began fabricating and customizing equipment in-house.

“We were the first company to install video guidance cameras on our paint trucks to ensure straighter lines,” says Llewellyn. “We even added operator seats 4 in. from the ground, giving reflective pavement marker operators greater access to their work.”

Payco also developed a short, narrow-bodied long line thermoplastic striper truck. The machine is suited to the confines of city streets and had the capacity for high-paced freeway work, paving the way for more job opportunities.

In the Speed of the Night

With roads busy during the day, 95% of local paving and associated resurfacing work for the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) occurs at night to avoid causing traffic congestion. Any delay in production is subject to severe penalties that could throw a project off road.

“On most major CalTrans jobs, in the first minute you are late, they can fine you up to $10,000 and $1,000 for every minute after that,” says Llewellyn. “Being just five minutes late can mean giving up the entire job.”

Responding to the pressure to perform quickly, Llewellyn compared side-by-side specs of skid-steer loaders from different manufacturers, looking for the one with the strongest hydraulic flow and greatest visibility from the cab.

“Volvo skid steers have a very high rate of flow and head speed,” Llewellyn states. “For example, in second gear, we reach around 13 to 14 mph. Compared to the competition, the MC115C has the ability to cut the time taken to remove reflectors from a four-mile freeway closure by half. Plus, we benefit from a fully enclosed cab with air conditioning and heated seats for less than the closest competitor.”

Powered by a 74-hp Volvo Tier 4 Final engine, the MC115C has a hydraulic flow rate of 33 gpm and a 2,600-lb. lifting capacity, making it suitable for multiple applications; for example, digging holes for roadside signs is completed with the use of an auger attachment. The machine is also fitted with forks to load 2,000-lb. pallets of thermoplastic powder, a job previously performed by a compact wheel loader.

Nighttime motorists snaking along the I-5 highway may also have spotted the MC115C skid steer at work. Clipping along the center double line, the machine is used to remove the reflective pavement markers from the asphalt and pop them into the 60-in. bucket. To enhance performance, Payco’s industrialist team developed a proprietary modification that uses a specially-fitted plate welded to the front bucket edge. As a result, the machine removes the reflectors more efficiently at high speeds. Two standard forward and rear lights enable operators to see clearly at night.

In addition to providing good visibility from the cab and easy side-door access, the single arm design of the skid steer is built with high-tensile steel to withstand the shock load of repeatedly popping reflective markers from the pavement. Over the past three years, the machine has racked up almost 2,000 hours.

Satisfied with the skid steer’s performance, durability and versatility, Payco has since added a second MC115C to the fleet to grind off thermoplastic striping from roadways during relining projects.