The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast: Season 3

Well-known author, construction veteran, and coach, Brad Humphrey, moderates each 15-minute episode in a quick recap only highlighting the most fundamental points

September 4, 2019

TCBF: The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast is back with season three! Brought to you by ForConstructionPros.com and Caterpillar, the A-team brings more content tailored specifically for you!

Well-known author, construction veteran, and coach, Brad Humphrey, moderates each 15-minute episode in a quick recap only highlighting the most fundamental points.

During this season, the team will cover:

The evolution of leadership
Building and training more operator safety awareness
Maximizing site efficiencies
Enhancing site maps
New equipment technologies
Intelligent compaction
New outlets for finding & keeping workers
Top 5 success strategies

Caterpillar was an early pioneer of grade control with products like Grade with Assist, which automates the bucket and stick to continuously optimize the blade position, helping operators hit grade 45% faster.

Grade Control Tech Update

A quick overview of how grade control, already indispensable to heavy and civil contractors, is evolving for additional use cases and construction disciplines.

There are a lot of great prospective employees out there who have never been exposed to construction. You could be the one who helps them fall in love with our amazing industry.

How to Onboard New Hires With No Construction Experience

Many contractors are being forced to look outside the industry for workers. Follow these suggestions to help non-construction new hires make the transition quickly.

Dash cams add value to GPS for theft prevention by offering a more powerful deterrent since clear images are available of perpetrators stealing of vandalizing equipment.

Tech for Construction Theft Protection

From GPS tracking and fixed and equipment-mounted cameras to cybersecurity approaches to back office tech for white collar theft, criminals may soon find contractors a harder target.

Opioids and Overdose Deaths In The Construction Industry: A Call to Action

Opioids & Overdose Deaths In The Construction Industry: A Call to Action

Addressing the opioid and overdose crisis requires straight talk to acknowledge that there is a problem. Stigma associated with substance misuse creates barriers to care-seeking for addiction treatment and recovery. Let's talk about it.

It’s time to transform compaction from an art to a science. Find out how intelligent compaction technology helps you achieve compaction specs in fewer passes — and how that translates into money saved.

Intelligent Compaction 101: How It Works and How You Benefit

It’s time to transform compaction from an art to a science. Find out how intelligent compaction technology helps you achieve compaction specs in fewer passes — and how that translates into money saved.

The initiative will be part of Xcel Energy's Electric Vehicle Supply Infrastructure (EVSI) program which will improve the availability and access to charging ports for business fleets in particular within Xcel's U.S. service areas.

Ford Pro & Xcel Energy Team Up to Provide 30,000 EV Charging Ports by 2030

The companies are putting their heads together to pursue their 30x30 initiative.

Green Asphalt: Be Humble and Kick Asphalt

One asphalt plant is doing what many consider as the unthinkable: producing asphalt mixes from 100% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), and they can convert any asphalt plant to do the same. Extensive testing says it works, but changing opinions is hard.

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.

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.

The Spot-r Sensor.

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.

Uncomfortable with technology or just not sure how to get started? Schedule a grade control demonstration to make the transition easier.

See It and Believe It: The Value of a Grade Technology Demo

Uncomfortable with technology or just not sure how to get started? Schedule a grade control demonstration to make the transition easier.

The dump truck and wheel loader are connected through Connected Load Out.

Automation & Machine Control in Wheel Loader & Dumping Applications

Automation and machine control are useful technological advancements for the construction job site. This assistance technology is trending in wheel loaders and dump trucks.

From supporting basic communication to enabling advanced data analytics and automation, a reliable network is the backbone of modern construction operations.

7 Tech Tips for Construction Contractors

The transformation of construction sites into technology-driven environments has made network infrastructure an essential component.

Nel Ep3 Thumb2

Paving Big Philly Style | No Edge Lines Season 1 Episode 3

Brandon heads to the "City of Brotherly Love" and tries his hand at a number of new asphalt and pavement maintenance jobs for the first time, while also getting the chance to see some of what makes Philadelphia great.

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

Brad Humphrey and Caterpillar construction experts discuss how to get the maximum value for heavy equipment when doing a trade-in.

The various elements of cybersecurity may seem overwhelming, however taking simple steps, including consulting with a local expert, can go a long way toward protecting your business.

Four Ways to Help Protect Your Business From Cyber Crimes

The various elements of cybersecurity may seem overwhelming, however taking simple steps, including consulting with a local expert, can go a long way toward protecting your business.

Ballenger brings more than 40 years of management experience to Hitachi Global Air Power.

Hitachi Global Air Power Welcomes New VP of Operations

Ballenger will lead the company’s manufacturing in Michigan City, Ind. and has worked as a Lean consultant for Hitachi Global Air Power since July 2023.

Advancements in ecommerce, inventory management, business intelligence, machine intelligence, and sales and financial forecasting are reshaping the LBM landscape.

Technology is Reshaping What it Means to Run a Lumber and Building Materials Business Successfully

Advancements in ecommerce, inventory management, business intelligence, machine intelligence, and sales and financial forecasting are reshaping the LBM landscape.

2023 Rental Editor's Choice Awards: Top 35 Rise to the Prize

Drumroll, please! Check out our 2023 Editor's Choice breakdown of the top 35 products in the rental industry that make rental houses more efficient.

The facility will feature areas for welding, painting, and assembly, as well as an on-site warehouse and office space.

Bobcat Expands CTL, Skid Steer Manufacturing Footprint With New Factory

This new location was selected after extensive review and consideration of expansions at existing Bobcat locations, along with the potential for new developments at locations across the globe.

Trimble CEO Rob Painter kicks off Trimble Dimensions 2023.

What's New at Trimble Dimensions 2023

Trimble partners with Microsoft by harnessing Azure AI, plus announcements regarding autonomy, integrations within the Trimble Construction One platform and a focus on small contractors.

Brooks Bridge Construction Begins In Florida

Work Starts On New Design For Florida Bridge

Infrastructure contractor Superior Construction and WSP begin construction of Brooks Bridge, Florida, in $171 Million project.

Onboard weighing systems are the key to reducing your cost of material handling. Find out how payload technology works and five ways it can improve your profitability.

How to Get the Most Profit Out of Every Pass and Load

Onboard weighing systems are the key to reducing your cost of material handling. Find out how payload technology works and five ways it can improve your profitability.

Wheel loader performance rides on the right tire selection. Get tips on when to choose radial versus bias tires along with guidelines on proper tire pressure.

Radial or Bias: Which Tires Are Right for Your Wheel Loader?

Wheel loader performance rides on the right tire selection. Get tips on when to choose radial versus bias tires along with guidelines on proper tire pressure.

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

When adverse weather strikes, slowing work productivity on the jobsite, it's the perfect time to train employees.

A new construction AI product from Slate pulls construction insights out of the project schedule, joining SmartPM and others.

Construction Scheduling AI from Slate

A new construction AI product from Slate pulls construction insights out of the project schedule, joining SmartPM and others.

How The Concrete Industry Can Maximize Its Moment In The Sun

Op-Ed: How The Concrete Industry Can Maximize Its Moment In The Sun

Despite the big headlines and interest in the industry, take patience and caution as even as we launch into the decarbonized era.