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IN THIS ISSUE:
NEWS LINKS
PROMOTIONS
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
CALENDAR
With the stock market at historic highs, other economic indicators pointing in the right direction and 2014 results that show it was the first year since 2008 that the United States consumed more than one cubic yard of ready mixed concrete per person, it perhaps comes as no surprise that the latest Producer Confidence Survey of NRMCA members, conducted in April 2015, shows the industry’s confidence index at its highest point since the survey began, with members reporting a 75.1 confidence level in the first quarter of 2015. Respondents were slightly less confident with current economic conditions, reporting a 66.5 confidence level. However, the survey showed a 74.3 confidence level for future economic conditions. The survey uses 2006, the best year for ready mixed concrete production and financial performance on record, as a baseline to assume a 100 point positive PCI. Overall, respondents reported a 71.2 level of economic confidence.
NRMCA’s PCI survey will be conducted each quarter to gauge economic attitudes in the ready mixed concrete industry. As participation in the survey grows, NRMCA hopes to be able to provide regional/state results as well as the national perspective.
For more information on NRMCA’s Producer Confidence Index, contact Kathleen Carr-Smith at kcarrsmith@nrmca.org.
NEWS LINKS
Georgia’s concrete paving companies aren’t inefficient, but they have been overlooked, writes Benita Dodd, vice president of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. "Working to overcome decades in second place is like turning a tanker," she writes. "The state has the nation’s 10th-largest transportation system, 121,000 miles of road altogether. That’s about 18,000 centerline miles (48,000 lane miles) of state routes; about 85,000 centerline miles of county roads and 17,000 centerline miles of city streets, according to the state Department of Transportation. Ninety-five percent of the state’s roads are paved with asphalt."
Source: A May 1 article posted on the Web site Heartland. Read more.
North America is one of the few places where trucks do not require side guards so that pedestrians and cyclists don't get crushed under the wheels when the truck turns. Canadian concrete company Innocon is doing something about it by putting side guards on its trucks and a special nylon guard between the rear wheels, which it calls the Guardian. Fleet Manager Andy Ludwick, the man spending $915 per truck doesn't blame anyone. He just hopes everyone does this. "It's better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it, right?"
Source: A May 7 posting by AggregateResearch.com. Read more (the article contains an accompanying CBC News broadcast).
While insulated concrete forms (ICFs) have been popular building options for decades, the technology has generally been confined to custom homes and commercial projects. Now, four insulated concrete form houses in a low-income housing project in Louisville, KY, are among the first built as affordable housing that could be a game changer for residential construction. The affordable ICF homes are part of a revitalization project in the city's Sheppard Square development to provide energy-efficient and more storm resistant mixed income housing.
Source: A May 4 article by the Web site ProudGreenHome.com.
PROMOTIONS
The Western New York Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) along with the Association of Bridge Construction and Design (ABCD) recently held a joint meeting in Buffalo dedicated to advances in concrete technology. NRMCA’s Senior Director, National Resources, Doug O’Neill was the keynote speaker and provided the attendees with an overview of some applications for concrete that while not new are seeing tremendous growth due to advances in newer mix designs.
"The real success of this presentation was the fact that within the crowd we had representatives from admix, cement, fiber and local ready mixed concrete companies," said O’Neill. The 50+ engineers learned about how advances in concrete technology have helped bring the use of SCC, RCC and pervious concrete along with Tilt-Up and ICF construction into mainstream construction practices. "Having our industry partners right there to provide their valuable insight not only made our industry look on top of our game, but also afforded these reps access to engineers who freely admit to not being experts on concrete but are willing to learn more." Industry partners are a key ingredient to developing the relationships within the design community necessary to advance the ready mix industry's message, emphasized O'Neill. For more information on how you can become more active in our industry, contact Doug O’Neill at doneill@nrmca.org.
NRMCA Vice President, National Resources, Amy Miller, recently discussed a number of concrete-related topics with Lowe’s engineering and construction personnel at the home improvement retailer's engineering headquarters in Wilkesboro, NC. "Lowe’s continues to understand the value of concrete pavement," Miller said. "Although most of its growth is in Canada and Australia, it is also opening 10 new U.S. stores in 2015 and will continue to expand as the economy allows. It will also be building a new U.S. distribution center."
"If you see a Lowe’s store coming to your area you should be looking beyond the interior slab and be prepared to bid the concrete specification in the exterior pavement," she added. For more information, contact Amy Miller at amiller@nrmca.org. Several ready mix producers from Maryland recently attended a concrete parking lots workshop in Silver Spring, MD, adjacent to NRMCA headquarters. The workshop was hosted by the Maryland Ready Mix Concrete Association (MRMCA) and was conducted by NRMCA Senior Director, National Resources Phil Kresge. "Concrete parking lot construction is, perhaps, the greatest opportunity for increasing concrete production," said MRMCA Executive Director Tom Evans. "With the guidance from this workshop, our members will be better prepared to pick the 'low-hanging fruit' found in these potential projects."
The 3-hour workshop provided attendees with the basics of how to sell concrete parking lots. Topics included: Identifying Opportunities, Introduction to ACI330 Guide to Design and Construction of Concrete Parking Lots, Understanding the Importance of Partnering and How to Best Utilize NRMCA’s Design Assistance Program (DAP).
For more information, contact Phil Kresge at pkresge@nrmca.org.
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
The 2016 NRMCA Board nomination process is underway. The NRMCA Nominating Committee must select director candidates from regions, member companies and one state association executive director to be elected to the NRMCA Board for the 2016 - 2019 term beginning at the end of the annual convention in San Diego in March 2016. Please submit your nominations today; the deadline for nominations is Wednesday, July 15.
Please contact NRMCA’s Deana Angelastro at dangelastro@nrmca.org for a nomination form. OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
Do you have questions about the Hours of Service 30-minute break? Did you know the ready mixed concrete industry now has an exemption from the 30-minute break? More than a decade ago the U.S. DOT issued revisions to its Hours of Service 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 threw out those rules. The rules have been subject to numerous court actions ever since. Now there are new revisions to the HOS rules, including the confusing and dreaded mandatory 30-minute break. Do you know how this rule impacts your drivers? Is your company in compliance?
Join us on Tuesday, May 19, at 1 p.m. Eastern time for a 30-minute Webinar to explain what the law is, how the industry is impacted and what your company and drivers need to do, or don’t do, to be compliant.
Click here for more information, staff contact and to register.
The free Green-Star Auditor Webinar scheduled for Thursday, May 28, 2 p.m. Eastern time is a required Webinar to be an Accredited Green-Star Auditor. This free Webinar explains the educational and work experience needed to be an Accredited Green-Star Auditor, 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.
Completing this Webinar earns 1 credit hour toward a CCPf certification. This certification designation is the highest professional designation in the industry (for more information, visit www.nrmca.org/steps). Click here for more information, staff contact and to register.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
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 4 - 8, 2015, please click here.
If you would like to receive this weekly updated link in a separate e-mail, or if you have questions or comments about the roundup, contact NRMCA’s Jill Landry at jlandry@nrmca.org.
Infrastructure Week officially kicked off this past Monday, May 11, bringing together thousands of stakeholders to the nation’s capital from across the country. This 3rd annual event, which ends Friday, May 15, focuses on the importance of investing in America’s infrastructure in order to compete in the 21st century. Representatives from labor, business and advocacy groups, including NRMCA, will participate by joining to bring a direct message to Congress on investing in infrastructure and funding a long-term transportation bill.
Click here to view a calendar of events. For more information, contact NRMCA’s Kerri Leininger at kleininger@nrmca.org. On Tuesday, May 5, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing on "Surface Transportation Reauthorization: The Importance of a Long-Term Reauthorization." The hearing marks the third in a series on surface transportation reauthorization priorities for the committee. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) expressed her disappointment with her fellow colleagues at the hearing; stating that while they supported the enactment of a multi-year surface transportation bill they lacked the political will to actually get it done. She focused on the fact that there is still no bill from the House or Senate with the May 31 deadline fast approaching. McCaskill ended her rant by urging her colleagues to take on the challenge of passing a long-term, fully funded bill.
Congress only has weeks to act before highway funding is shut down; debate over how long to extend the program is holding up the process. NRMCA has urged members of Congress to pass a long-term extension instead of a temporary patch in order to get the industry through the primary construction season. NRMCA has also joined members of the Highways Materials Group in sending a letter to House and Senate leadership this week that urges them to act on a long-term bill. In addition to NRMCA, groupl members include the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, the National Asphalt Pavement Association, the American Concrete Pavement Association, the Portland Cement Association, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Associated Equipment Distributors and the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute.
For more information, contact NRMCA’s Kerri Leininger at kleininger@nrmca.org.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
The NRMCA May Internet Spotlight, which will be good through Tuesday, June 2, is the ever popular Concrete In Practice (CIP) sets – CIP100 (20 collated sets) and CIP Single Sets. Concrete In Practice is a series of 43 one-page information sheets on important technical topics, written in a non-technical "What, Why and How?" format. Give them to contractors and they'll know that you deliver quality and value and make them a part of your promotion and education program. The CIPs are written in English (43 topics), and in Spanish (41 topics).
Use Discount Code: ISMAY15 and Order your CIPs online today and receive 20% off the member price.
CALENDAR
*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site.
May 19, Wheaton, IL
Building Green with Concrete
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
May 19, Free Webinar
Hours of Service: 30 Minutes on the 30-Minute Break
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
May 28, Free Webinar
How to Become a Green-Star Auditor
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
June 2 - 4, Nashville, TN
Concrete Durability Course
Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168
June 2 - 5, San Antonio, TX
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
July 6, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Promotion & Advocacy Overview
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
July 13, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Team Building & Situation Analysis
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
July 20, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Promotion for DOTs, Counties & Municipalities
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
July 31, Free Webinar
Winning Initial Streets & Roads Projects in Counties & Municipalities
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
August 14, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Elected Official Advocacy
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
September 20 - 22, San Antonio, TX
ConcreteWorks & Board of Directors' Meeting
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
October 13 - 16, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module I: Concrete 101
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
November 2 - 6, Silver Spring, MD
Annual Concrete Technologist Training and Certification Course "Short Course"
Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168
November 4, Webinar
STEPS A Long Term Career Tool for the RMC Industry
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
November 17 - 19, Silver Spring, MD
Effective RMC Supervisor Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
December 1 - 3, Orlando, FL
Environmental Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
December 1 - 3, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module II: Customer Business Knowledge
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
December 8 - 11, Orlando, FL
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
2016
February 23 - 25, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module III: General Business Knowledge
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
March 15 - 17, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module IV: Professional Sales Skills
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
May 15 - 18, Washington, DC
International Concrete Sustainability & Self-Compacting Concrete Conference
Email: Lionel Lemay, 847-918-7101
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May 13, 2015
 
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