Mortgage lending has declined to the lowest level in 14 years, discouraging news for a sustained economic recovery and the ready mixed concrete business, notes NRMCA President Robert Garbini. He cited an April 25 article in USA Today that detailed how "softness in the housing market could complicate the Federal Reserve's efforts to withdraw its easy-money support for the recovery."

Residents of a Minneapolis suburb praise their concrete streets, citing its environmentally safe surface, ability to walk barefoot on them at the height of summer without searing their feet and kids' claims that when they fall from their bikes they are less likely to get "road rash."  When the Edina City Council began preparing to redo roads and underground utilities in the Birchcrest neighborhood, where about 30 percent of streets are concrete, residents sent e-mails and showed up in person to praise concrete. In April, the council decided to replace all of Birchcrest’s concrete streets with asphalt. What's going on? A May 11 article by the Minneapolis StarTribune provides the details. Read more.

Researchers at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, are trying to improve the quality of concrete to make it last longer. "From a mechanical perspective, we are trying to make sure the concrete can resist the forces or the load that's applied to it," explains Dr. Jason Weiss, professor of civil engineering at Purdue. Weiss heads the concrete testing labs at Purdue. He doesn't want Midwest roads and bridges developing large cracks.

Greg Novitzki, vice president of the Concrete Division of the New York Construction Materials Association, recently invited NRMCA Senior Director, National Resources, Doug O’Neill to present at the Central New York Chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies' recent Geotechnical Symposium. "Greg’s involvement in the local chapter of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) has allowed him to develop several relationships over the years with geotechnical engineers. They now invite him to their meetings and come to him for resources and to provide them with answers on many concrete related questions," O’Neill said. "Full-loop promotion is all about developing relationships with the 'customers' of concrete, which includes geotechnical engineers. They may not actually buy concrete, but they certainly have a tremendous influence over how much concrete is used."

These engineers heard why using ACI 330R-08 was so important when making recommendations for pavement designs, along with being introduced to NRMCA’s Design Assistance Program (DAP). The attendees were shown examples of New York State-based projects where ACI 330R-08 was used successfully to benefit the owner along with how DAP works. The hope is that several DAP opportunities will be generated by this discussion, O'Neill said.

A proclamation from Colorado’s Governor John Hickenlooper declared April 25 the fifth annual "Concrete Day at the Capital." Sponsored by the PCA – Rocky Mountain Region, Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association and the American Concrete Paving Association – Colorado/Wyoming Chapter, this event recognized the hard work of the Colorado legislature and its staffs and provided the industry with an opportunity to visit with lawmakers on the importance of the concrete industry to Colorado’s economy. More than 500 legislators and capitol staffers were fed a barbeque lunch grilled on site while engaging with 14 cement industry representatives and more than 20 other concrete professionals. The event attracted 16 senators and 36 representatives, representing 52 percent of the entire legislature. U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-D) also stopped by for a brief visit. In addition, numerous representatives of the American Concrete Pipe Association also attended this year and are interested in sponsoring future events.

NRMCA's free Green-Star Auditor Webinar is scheduled for Friday, May 16, from 2 - 3 p.m. Eastern time. This is a required Webinar to be an Accredited Green-Star Auditor. This Webinar explains the educational and work experience needed to be an Accredited Green-Star Auditor and along with the continuing educational requirements to keep the certification. The Accredited Green-Star Auditor certification is valid for three years at which time the auditor must reapply. A few handy templates are covered to assist the company in starting Green-Star. At the conclusion of the Webinar, the attendee will understand the requirements to be an accredited Green-Star Auditor and the expectations that accompany certification. This course earns 1 credit hour toward a CCPf certification.

There have been significant issues raised lately about the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Reporting Program overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Do you know what your responsibilities are? Do you know what the thresholds are for reporting? Do you know what the liabilities are for not reporting? Do you know what heavy metals may be in your concrete making materials that would trigger reporting? Do you know where to look for information? If the answer to any of these questions is "no", then this free Webinar is a must. Please join us on Monday, May 19, at 2 p.m. Eastern time for this important Webinar.

More than a decade ago the U.S. Department of Transportation revised its Hours of Service (HOS) rules which had been in effect, and virtually unchanged, since 1939. However, shortly after they were adopted the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia voted to throw out the new federal drivers' hours of service rules. The rules have been subject to numerous court actions ever since. Now there are new revisions to the rule, including a mandatory 30-minute break, new weekly clock reset, egregious violations for both company and drivers, and much more. Do you know how these rules affect the ready mixed concrete industry? Is your company in compliance? Find out answers to these questions and many more by registering for this free Webinar on Thursday, May 22, at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

On April 7, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (R) signed into law a bill that restricts the use of the LEED green building rating system. Since 2007, South Carolina required state-funded building projects to achieve LEED Silver or Green Globes certification. Originally a proposed ban on LEED, the final bill, H3592, allows local manufacturers that would now not qualify for certain credits under LEED v4 to still partake in government-funded green building projects. Under the signed law, a state committee can now dismiss LEED credits that are deemed to be "unnecessary". Anti-LEED proponents argue that LEED imposes unnecessary negative impacts on manufacturing industries, specifically the MR rating credit for building product disclosure and optimization credit that requires material ingredient reporting. The bill also advocates preference for the use of materials such as wood, masonry, plastics, textiles, concrete and steel that are produced within the state.

The American High-Performance Buildings Coalition (AHPBC), an organization formed by multiple chemical companies such as the American Chemistry Council, the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association and the Vinyl Institute have openly opposed the integration of LEED standards in the Southeast. In 2013, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas saw anti-LEED state-level policies introduced for debate. 

Click here for details of the law or contact NRMCA's Tien Peng at 206-913-8535 or tpeng@nrmca.org.

NRMCA Senior Vice President of Sustainability Lionel Lemay will present at the US Green Building Council's Texas Gulf Coast Chapter monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 28, from 6-8 p.m. in Houston. Lemay’s presentation is titled Concrete’s Role in Green Building: Transparency, Social Responsibility and Disaster Resiliency. USGBC’s LEED green building rating system, which has steadily transformed the building industry over the last two decades, has done so again with the newly released LEED v4. These new requirements are challenging product manufacturers to measure and report their performance through Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports and Health Product Declarations (HPDs). In addition, USGBC and other organizations are beginning to recognize the effects of climate change on the frequency and intensity of natural disasters and the enormous economic, psychological and environmental toll natural disasters have on our society. This presentation will detail how the concrete industry is meeting these new challenges head on by adopting strategies for reducing environmental impacts of the built environment. 

Media articles on Congress, transportation infrastructure, regulation, taxes and other subjects, each of which relate to the ready mixed concrete industry, are updated each week by NRMCA's Government Affairs staff. To access the most recent compilation of articles for May 5 - 8, please click here.

Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Ranking Member David Vitter (R-LA), leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), released the text of a six-year, $262 billion highway bill Monday night. The committee will mark up the bill on Thursday, May 15. According to the committee's press release, the bill fully funds highway programs for six years; increases support for core formula programs; focuses on freight and goods movement; funds projects of national or regional significance; requires Highway Trust Fund transparency; improves the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan program; accelerates project delivery and increases flexibility; expands flexibility and opportunities for infrastructure investment in rural areas and maintains state and metropolitan transportation planning. The Finance Committee has started holding hearings on its piece of the highway bill: the financing and the Highway Trust Fund. The Commerce Committee is also starting work on the regulatory title within its jurisdiction.

The introduction and mark up comes in the middle of Infrastructure Week 2014. NRMCA is using this opportunity to let you write to Congress and urge senators and representatives to fix the Highway Trust Fund and set America on the path for long-term infrastructure stability and success. On Monday, NRMCA sent an Action Alert In support of fixing the Highway Trust Fund. Click Here to tell Congress that now is the time to fix our highways (please note that above link will only be available until Saturday, May 17; NRMCA has a goal of sending 100 letters to Congress this week. Help us reach our goal by forwarding this e-mail to your co-workers, friends and family).

Without action from Congress, the Highway Trust Fund that has kept  moving since 1956 will go bankrupt and the Federal Highway Administration will not be able to pay its bills at the height of the summer construction season. DOT is estimating 700,000 jobs are at risk, transportation projects could halt and, by 2020, businesses could lose $1 trillion a year in sales. The EPW Committee's actions are just the first step in addressing this problem. NRMCA will continue to work with our industry partners to stop the trust fund from going broke this summer and encourage long-term highway solvency.

For more information, contact NRMCA's Elizabeth Fox at efox@nrmca.org.

The Educational Activities Committee invites ready mix producers to submit their most innovative training initiatives of 2013-2014. Companies must submit their entries no later than Wednesday, July 30. The Innovation in Training Award winner will be recognized at NRMCA's ConcreteWorks to be held this fall in Indianapolis. Additionally, the producer’s program will be featured in a best-practices article in NRMCA's quarterly magazine, Concrete InFocus. MTSU's Concrete Institute Management faculty will serve as judges.

On Wednesday, May 21, NRMCA will conduct a 90-minute Webinar designed for every ready mixed concrete manager – sales, service, dispatch, admin and executive. The topic is about leading and coaching your sales staff: the important difference between management and leadership – and why it matters. Focus areas will be:

• When to be a "Manager" and when to be a "Leader" – a critical difference

• The Four Coaching Strategies – different coaching styles for different employees

• "C4 Leadership" – How to become an effective leader.

This Webinar is part of an ongoing series for sales managers to support themselves and their staffs' efforts during the economic recovery.

Click here to register for this Webinar. To learn about other ready mixed concrete sales-related Webinars, click here.

The NRMCA May Internet Spotlight is the User’s Guide to ASTM Specification C94/C94M on Ready-Mixed Concrete 2nd Edition. This second edition includes 22 comprehensive chapters that explain every section of ASTM C 94/C94M, including background, scope, referenced documents, ordering information, materials, requirements for production, acceptance of concrete and much more. Authors: D. Gene Daniel and Colin L. Lobo. 160 Pages | Pub# 2PMNL49-14.

May 16, Free Webinar

Green-Star Auditor Certification

Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168

 

May 19, Free Webinar

TRI Reporting: What A Ready Mixed Concrete Producer Should Know

Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168

 

May 21, Webinar

Personal Leadership and Coaching

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

May 22, Free Webinar

Drivers' Hours of Service in the RMC Industry Free Webinar

Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168

 

May 27, Webinar

Soils 101

Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382

 

May 29, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Promotion for DOTs, Counties & Municipalities

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

June 3-5, Silver Spring, MD

Concrete Durability Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

June 5, Free Webinar

Overlays for Streets & Local Roads

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

June 10, Free Webinar

Roller Compacted Concrete for Streets & Local Roads

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

June 11-12, Online Course

Designing Pervious Concrete Pavement for Municipal & Commercial Applications

Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382

 

June 13, Free Webinar

Winning Initial Streets & Roads Projects in Counties & Municipalities

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

June 17, Webinar

Concrete Pavement Jointing Plans

Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382

 

June 18, Free Webinar

Backing Accident Prevention Program

Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168

 

June 19, Free Webinar

Utilizing MIT Research Results

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

June 23-26, Online Course

Concrete's Role in Sustainable Development

Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535

 

June 26, Free Webinar

SLR Concrete Construction & Repair Basics

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

July 7-10, Online Course

Building Green with Concrete

Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535

 

July 8, Webinar

Understanding Asphalt

Email: Brian Killingsworth, 830-438-2690

 

July 11, Webinar

Designing Concrete Parking Lots the Right Way!

Email: Amy Miller, 904-264-8850

 

July 15, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Elected Official Advocacy

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

July 29-30, Online Course

Designing Jointed Concrete Pavement for Streets and Parking Areas

Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382

 

July 30, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Promotion & Advocacy Overview

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

August 4-7, Online Course

Life Cycle Assessment of Concrete Structures

Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535

 

August 5, Free Webinar

Roller Compacted Concrete for Streets & Local Roads

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

August 12-15, Silver Spring, MD

Plant Manager Certification Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

August 14, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Team Building & Situation Analysis

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

August 19, Webinar

Controlling Moisture in Concrete Slabs

Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382

 

August 20, Webinar

Recruiting & Hiring Top Performing Ready Mix Sales Reps

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

August 21, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Promotion for DOTs, Counties & Municipalities

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

September 8-10, Silver Spring, MD

Concrete Durability Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

September 10, Webinar

Re-Entrepreneuring: 7 Strategies for Rebuilding Your Business in the New Economy

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

September 12, Free Webinar

Winning Initial Streets & Roads Projects in Counties & Municipalities

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

September 12, Webinar

Designing Concrete Parking Lots the Right Way!

Email: Amy Miller, 904-264-8850

 

October 7-10, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module I, "Concrete 101" - Technical/Product Knowledge

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

October 14, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Elected Official Advocacy

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

November 3-7, Silver Spring, MD

Annual Concrete Technologist Training and Certification Course "Short Course"

Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168

 

November 7, Webinar

Designing Concrete Parking Lots the Right Way!

Email: Amy Miller, 904-264-8850

 

November 18-20, Silver Spring, MD

The Effective RMC Supervisor - Silver Spring, MD

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

November 19, Webinar

Sales Performance Assessments and Review for Ready Mix Sales Managers

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

December 3-5, Phoenix

Environmental Professional Certification Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

December 9-12, Phoenix

Plant Manager Certification Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

December 16-18, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module II: Customer Business Knowledge - Understanding the Concrete Contractor's Business

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154