Contractor's Best Friend Archives

November 28, 2011

Contractor's Best Friend - 2-18-2013 - Being a Consultant Salesperson, Part 2

Contractor's Best Friend -12-11-2013 - Being a Consultant Salesperson, Part 1

Contractor's Best Friend -12-04-2013 - Repositioning Price Objections

Contractor's Best Friend -11-27-2013 - How to Face Equipment Challengers Head On

Contractor's Best Friend -11-20-2013 - 100...Really?

Contractor's Best Friend -11-13-2013 - The "ACTS of Leadership

Contractor's Best Friend -11-06-2013 - Drive "Non-Value-Added"Efforts from your company

Contractor's Best Friend -10-30-2013 - You Might be a Commodity Contractor If...

Contractor's Best Friend -10-23-2013 - Lead Your Carp to "Take the Bait"

Contractor's Best Friend -10-16-2013 - Get Fence Sitters Off the Fence

Contractor's Best Friend -10-09-2013 - Let Your Thoroughbred Workers Run

Contractor's Best friend -10-02-2013 - Leading Thoroughbred, Fence-Sitter & Carp Workers

Contractor's Best Friend -09-25-2013 - Star Concept: How to Increase Crew Power

Contractor's Best Friend -09-18-2013 - A Risk Management Conversation, Part 2

Contractor's Best Friend -09-11-2013 - A Risk Management Conversation, Part 1

Contractor's Best Friend -09-04-2013 - Signs of Poor Project Leadership, Part 2

Contractor's Best Friend -08-28-2013 - Can Contractors Bring America Back?

Contractor's Best Friend -08-21-2013 - Signs of Poor Project Leadership, Part 1

Contractor's Best Friend -08-14-2013 - Virtual Leadership: How to Lead When You're Not There

Contractor's Best Friend -08-07-2013 - Fixing Waste #8: People Utilization

Contractor's Best Friend -07-31-2013 - Fixing Waste #7: Defects

Contractor's Best Friend -07-24-2013 - Fixing Waste #6: Inventory

Contractor's Best Friend -07-17-2013 - Fixing Waste #5: Reducing Over-Processing

Contractor's Best Friend -07-10-2013 - Fixing Waste #4: Reducing Transportation Waste

Contractor's Best Friend -07-03-2013 - Reconstructing..Washington, D.C.?

Contractor's Best Friend -06-26-2013 - Fixing Waste #3: Reduce Waste by Reducing Motion

Contractor's Best Friend -06-19-2013 - Fixing Waste #2: Solving the Waiting Game

Contractor's Best Friend -06-12-2013 - Fixing Waste #1: Overproduction

Contractor's Best Friend -06-05-2013 - Lean Construction: What Is Lean?

Contractor's Best Friend -05-29-2013 - How to Clear Your Construction Hurdles

Contractor's Best Friend -05-22-2013 - Perfect Pre-Construction Meeting Agenda

Contractor's Best Friend -05-15-2013 - Why to Conduct Pre-Construction Meetings

Contractor's Best Friend -05-08-2013 - Ring Your Cowbell

Contractor's Best Friend -05-01-2103 - 10 Steps to Fast-tracking Leaders

Contractor's Best Friend -04-24-2013 - Coordinating with Other Contractors

Contractor's Best Friend -04-17-2013 - Get Field Leaders on the Same Page

Contractor's Best Friend -04-10-2013 - New Revenue from Old Customers

Contractor's Best Friend -04-03-2013 - Lessons Learned from a Frustrated Contractor... Customer

Contractor's Best Friend -03-27-2013 - Making of a Leader: Construction Spouse

Contractor's Best Friend -03-20-2013 - Risk management: Avoiding Safety Sinkholes

Contractor's Best Friend -03-13-2013 - Tested Interview Questions

Contractor's Best Friend -03-06-2013 - How to Win the Hiring War

Contractor's Best Friend -02-27-2013 - Six Financial Reports

Contractor's Best Friend -02-20-2013 - How to become a Strategic Thinker

Contractor's Best Friend - 02-13-2013 - Risk Management: Safety First

Contractor's Best Friend - 02-06-2013 - Championship Leading

Contractor's Best Friend - 01-30-2013 - When You Must Discipline

Contractor's Best Friend - 01-23-2013 - How and Why to Implement Standard Operating Procedures

Contractor's Best Friend - 01-16-2013 - Getting Customers to Invite You to the Table

Contractor's Best Friend - 01-09-2013 - Making Construction Leader:Construction Owner

Contractor's Best Friend - 01-02-2013 - Training Now... Or Else!

Contractor's Best Friend - 12-19-2012 - It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like ... a Business Plan

Contractor's Best Friend - 12-12-2012 - Holiday Cheers for Customer Service "Plus"

Contractor's Best Friend - 12-05-2012 - Preparing for the Conference Season

Contractor's Best Friend - 11-28-2012 - How to Create Your Company Vision

Contractor's best Friend - 11-21-2012 - Company Vision: Compass or Road Map

Contractor's Best Friend - 11-14-2012 - Build Accountability into Your Company's DNA

Contractor's Best Friend - 11-07-2012 - Webinar Learning... 21st Century Education

Contractor's Best Friend - 11-01-2012 - Trick or...Treat?

Contractor's Best Friend - 10-24-2012 - 8 Tested Techniques to Get Sales Now

Contractor's Best Friend - 10-17-2012 - Making of a Leader, Construction President, Part 2

Contractor's Best Friend - 10-10-2012 - Making of a Leader, Construction President, Part 1

Contractor's Best Friend - 10-03-2012 - 5 Tips to Finish Year Profitably

Contractor's Best Friend - 09-26-2012 - Plan for Emergencies

Contractor's Best Friend - 09-19-2012 - Making of Leader, Construction Vice President

Contractor's Best Friend - 09-12-2012 - Making of a Leader, General Superintendent, Part 2

Contractor's Best Friend - 09-05-2012 - Making of a Leader, General Superintendent, Part 1

Contractor's Best Friend - 08-29-2012 - Laboring for Laborers

Contractor's Best Friend - 08-22-2012 - How to Move Employees to Make Decisions -- On Their Own

Contractor's Best Friend - 08-15-2012 - The Art of Delivering Bad News

Contractor's Best Friend - 08-08-2012 - Business Development for Non-BD People

Contractor's Best Friend - 08-01-2012 - Making of Leader, General manager, Part 2

Contractor's Best Friend - 07-25-2012 - Making of Leader, General Manager, Part 1

Contractor's Best Friend - 07-18-2012 - Speed: 7 Steps to Speed Up the "Personal"

Contractor's Best Friend - 07-11-2012 - Speed: How to Get More Results in Less Time, Part 1

Contractor's Best Friend - 07-03-2012 - Making of Leader: Estimator Part 2

Contractor's Best Friend - 06-27-2012 - Yankee Doodle Contractor

Contractor's Best Friend - 06-20-2012 - Making of Leader: Estimator Part 1

Contractor's Best Friend - 06-13-2102 - 7 Steps to Improve Company Thinking

Contractor's Best Friend - 06-06-2012 - How to Assimilate Employees

Contractor's Best Friend - 05-30-2012 - 10 Steps to Customer Sales

Contractor's Best Friend - 05-23-2012 - Making of a Leader: Superintendent

Contractor's Best Friend - 05-16-2102 - You Need to Train...Now!

Contractor's Best Friend - 05-09-2012 - Looking for Stuff Part 2

Contractor's Best Friend - 05-02-2012 - Looking for Stuff Part 1

Contractor's Best Friend - 04-25-2012 - Strategic Retreats

Contractor's Best Friend - 04-18-2102 - Counseling "De-Railed" Workers

Contractor's Best Friend - 04-11-2012 - Delegation

Contractor's Best Friend - 04-04-2012 - Resolving Conflicts

Contractor's Best Friend - 03-28-2012 - Making of a Leader: Project Manager

Contractor's Best Friend - 03-21-2012 - 6 "Pre-Con" Steps

Contractor's Best Friend - 03-14-2012 - Making an Impact via Internet

Contractor's Best Friend - 03-07-2102 - The Making of a Leader: Construction Foreman

Contractor's Best Friend - 02-29-2012 - The Team Scoreboard

Contractor's Best Friend - 02-22-2012 - More First Impressions

Contractor's Best Friend - 02-15-2012 - 5 Communication Tools

Contractor's Best Friend - 02-08-2012 - 4 Communication Steps

Contractor's Best Friend - 02-01-2012 - First Impressions: Using Equipment to Sell

Contractor's Best Friend - 01-25-2012 - 10 Succession Planning Tips

Contractor's Best Friend - 01-18-2012 - Succession Planning

Contractor's Best Friend - 01-11-2012 - Target the Unemployed

Contractor's Best Friend - 01-04-2012 - 5 Steps to Improving Leadership Skills.

Contractor's Best Friend - 12-21-2011 - Expanding your Company Through Acquisition.

Contractor's Best Friend - 12-14-2011 - Clearing the Path for your Company's Success.

Contractor's Best Friend - 12-07-2011 - First Impressions.

Contractor's Best Friend - 11-30-2011 - 2-Minute Drill.

Components that can improve visibility include rearview cameras, around-view monitor camera systems and sensors.

How to Prepare Equipment for Summer Extremes

From operator health to equipment maintenance, steps can be taken to protect the assets and people on construction sites.

National Skilled Trades Day aims to raise awareness about the benefits of skilled trades jobs in the United States.

Ways to Promote, Celebrate National Skilled Trades Day in Schools, Businesses

Skilled trade jobs often offer excellent pay, as well as benefits and healthcare.

The BILT survey found that 89% of executives were concerned that their training programs were inefficient.

Skilled Trade Labor Shortage: Time for Change

BILT released a research report that indicated that over 30% of the respondents said recent hires would resonate best with immersive digital training and yet it currently only makes up 2% of the present training methods.

A Maryland Natural Resources Police officer conducts an overflight assessment of the M/V Dali, a 948-foot Singapore-flagged container ship, and Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Md.

Baltimore Bridge: Supporting Workers’ Families and Addressing Force Majeure Clauses

Authorities announced the discovery of the fifth body of a construction worker in the aftermath of the Baltimore bridge collapse. In light of this tragedy, experts emphasize the importance not only of safety, but for contractors to address force majeure.

Leica Geosystems’ GNSS Machine Control technology offers possibilities to enhance safety for construction workers and pedestrians around busy work sites and to protect existing and newly built infrastructure through automatic height, depth, and slew hydraulic control for excavators.

Navigate Your Possibilities With Aftermarket GPS

Integrating GPS or GNSS technology aftermarket is achievable and can provide many benefits to contractors, workers and machines.

Local jurisdictions are also increasingly launching initiatives to implement low-embodied carbon construction programs.

Carbon Emission Concerns Changing Delivery Requirements for Construction Projects

Construction projects will be different in the future. To remain competitive, contractors are advised to prepare for them now.

The Hyundai HT100V CTL working in a gravel-hauling application.

Compact Track Loaders: Benefits & Challenges

Is a CTL right for your business? Understand the advantages, drawbacks and machine capabilities.

The new lineup of CASE machines includes three new Construction King backhoe loaders, a new 5-tonne class mini excavator and an all-new, full-sized wheel loader.

CASE Releases New Machines and Equipment Upgrades

The new lineup of CASE machines includes three new Construction King backhoe loaders, a new 5-tonne class mini excavator and an all-new, full-sized wheel loader.

How to Choose the Right Concrete Saw for the Job

How to Choose the Right Concrete Saw for the Job

Using an appropriate saw and blade is key to maximizing efficiency and ensuring precise, reliable cuts.

Over the years, fleet owners may have realized that the viscosity of engine oils has been slowly getting lower compared to the 15w40 (or straight 50s) used around 40 years ago.

Getting the Viscosity Right – The Fleet Owner’s Guide

Understanding and assigning the correct viscosity to your equipment is just one step on your journey toward achieving greater efficiency and reliability for your fleet.

Under the leadership of Andringa, Vermeer introduced the first HDD for testing in 1991.

Vermeer's Andringa Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Andringa’s journey began in the late 1980s when she expanded on the vision of the founder of Vermeer, Gary Vermeer, who aimed to install utilities underground without disturbing the surface.

Oftentimes, project success depends on tooling choice.

How Different Blades Impacts Floor Scraper Performance

Selecting the right tool for the job is key — making the wrong choice could extend project timelines and boost costs significantly. Don’t let incorrect blades hold your surface preparation back.

Pending tax changes that will become law for 2023 and 2024 may give many contractors the opportunity to amend their 2023 tax returns and receive additional benefits that could reduce 2024 estimated tax payments.

How Potential Tax Changes May Impact Your Construction Biz

Pending tax changes may put cash in your pocket.

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How Technology Can Change The Future of Skilled Trades

Those who embrace technology will gain a competitive advantage, allowing for data-driven decision making, enhanced productivity, more efficient workflows and better customer relationships.

Tips on Using Admixtures in Concrete for Hot Weather

The Heat is On: Hot Tips for Successful Hot Weather Concreting

How to effectively use concrete admixtures to increase the quality of concrete during the summer months.

HVO can be used interchangeably with petroleum diesel.

Mack Trucks Uses Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil as Fuel

HVO is produced from lipid sources, such as waste vegetable oils and tallow, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The need to transport skilled workers to remote locations not only incurs additional costs but also poses logistical challenges for contractors.

Personal Vehicle Programs Shuttle Workers to Remote Sites

One solution to address the challenge of mobilizing skilled workers to remote jobsites is the implementation of vehicle reimbursement programs.

A diagnostic tool provides comprehensive technical information for every make and model of construction equipment.

Diagnostic Tools Upgrade Preventive Maintenance

Equipment care can help revolutionize the construction industry.

For general contractors especially, the foreseeable future will focus on the digitization of processes and workflows, which will propel firms to increase their use of collaboration and management software.

The 4 Cs of Successful Construction Projects

The 4Cs are a roadmap for how to approach communal work, while IT and project information management are the avenues by which this work is coordinated.

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No Edge Lines Season 2 Is Going Places

What do you do if you weren't "Raised On Blacktop" and you're also the editor for Asphalt Contractor magazine? You go to school! The soon to launch second season of No Edge Lines is headed to more than twice as many jobsites as season one!

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DEWALT Introduces 20V Max XR Cordless 21º and 30º Framing Nailers

The next-gen nailers are compatible with optional extended magazines, DZN920 and DZN930 (sold separately), which are constructed from high-strength magnesium and hold two strips of nails.

Charter Up Construction

Hidden Costs of Worksite Parking

Re-evaluating crew transportation logistics through the lens of shuttle services is not just an operational decision, it's a strategic investment in the future of construction project management.

A change for the new L30 and L35 is the addition of an eight-pin harness on the boom, which can be activated by a button on the joystick.

Volvo CE Updates L30 and L35 Compact Wheel Loaders

A change for the new L30 and L35 is the addition of an 8-pin harness on the boom, which can be activated by a button on the joystick.

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Autodesk to Improve Collaboration, Cloud Tools

The interoperability agreement with Nemetschek Group will allow the two companies to improve upon existing data exchanges and open new data-centric workflows that span disciplines and industries.

Rental Snapshot Tom Butts of Nor-Cal Equipment Rentals

Rental Snapshot: A Desire to be Unique

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, Nor-Cal Equipment Rentals has evolved into a unique, electrifying company. Part of that ingenuity comes from owner Tom Butts, who shares his insights in this month’s Rental Snapshot.

Rental Company Relationships with Suppliers and Rental Customers

How Relationships with Equipment Suppliers & Rental Customers Are Similar

There are a lot of parallels between the people selling equipment to rental companies and those who are destined to rent it out later.

Reputable sellers, UCC searches, and ensuring all paperwork is accounted for are all good practices to follow.

Buying Used Concrete Equipment? Beware of Hidden Liens

There's an uncommon-but-real issue that could crop up when buying any type of used equipment, and that’s buying equipment that unknowingly has a lien on it.