For first time, concrete drivers are taking part in the Nebraska Truck Driving Championships. In order to increase numbers, organizers included a mixer driver competition for the first time. That competition is done in cooperation with the Nebraska Concrete and Aggregates Association and NRMCA.

Did you know that sound-impact plans for new concrete projects in Austin, TX, fall under the purview of the city's Music and Entertainment Division? Well, it seems that music advocates in Austin are now calling for the city to designate a department or staff position to handle these sound plans for concrete pouring. That way, they argue, a department designed to oversee melody, pitch and the number of decibels achieved by a concert on East Sixth Street can concentrate on doing just that.

That's the headline on a recent article on the Web site archpaper.com, which is billed as The Architect's Newspaper. The heading refers to a building under construction in the NoLita neighborhood of New York City (that's the ever-trendy way to describe the downtown area North of Little Italy, get it?). The article says the building shows Japanese architect Tadao Ando's mastery of concrete, which he has been perfecting since the 1970s. According to Ando, "A living space should be a sanctuary," and for the NoLita project, the team has chosen a natural material palette that creates spaces that compress and expand while giving "life to light and water," according to Michael Gabellini, principal of Gabellini Sheppard. "Concrete is a very democratic material, very accessible," Gabellini explained. "It doesn’t create a gap between the rich and poor like some other materials."

With a theme of "Concrete Overlays - Learn How to Resurface Your Old Parking Lot Without Tearing the Old One Out," the recently-completed concrete overlay at the Pinehurst Country Club in Denver was the site for a parking lot overlay seminar on June 16, reports NRMCA Senior Vice President, National Resources, Jon Hansen. More than 70 people, some who traveled from as far away as California and Washington, packed the meeting room for the morning-long event. Speakers from Pinehurst included the president of the Board of Directors, Dwayne Fuselier, Pinehurst General Manager Jason Murphy and Director of Grounds Steve Sarro. Also on the program were contractors Tony Roberts with Scott Contracting, Troy Krieger owner of Straight Line Laser and Leonard Velasquez, owner of SLV Quality Concrete, the concrete contractor that performed the Pinehurst overlay project. Rounding out the program was Hansen who spoke on the use of the Guide to Concrete Overlays of Asphalt Parking Lots when doing projects like Pinehurst and Dave Gray with GCC Cement in Colorado who caped the morning event showing targeted promotional material for concrete overlays.

The morning event began with a professional video produced by Gray which featured the Pinehurst project. Peter Deem, the 2012 NRMCA Lifetime Achievement Award for Promotion recipient, was the master of ceremonies for the morning event. The event was arranged and sponsored by CEMEX, GCC of America, Holcim (US), Inc., Mountain Cement, with support by ACPA-CO/WY Chapter, CRMCA, PCA-Rocky Mountain and Northwest Region, Rocky Mountain ACI and NRMCA.

NRMCA national resource directors have conducted yet another concrete parking lot workshop, this time in the Northern New England states of New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, reports NRMCA Senior Director, National Resources, Doug O’Neill. Northern New England Concrete Promotion Association Executive Director Jon Kuell was able to attract not only ready mixed concrete producer sales teams, but industry partners and contractors.

"Having contractors in the room definitely gives a much broader perspective to the seminar," O’Neill stated.

NRMCA’s concrete parking lot workshops offer an overview of what it takes to convert parking lots over to concrete. Topics include just what the opportunities are in the marketplace, understanding market dynamics, the resources available to interested members, prospecting and a review of some of the most successful efforts by promoters across the country.

For more information on how to schedule a workshop in your area, contact Doug O’Neill at doneill@nrmca.org.

The NRMCA Roller-Compacted Concrete Pavement Promotion Task Force and the Pervious Concrete Promotion Subcommittee will hold conference calls on Tuesday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 15, respectively. Both calls will be held at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Interested individuals are invited to participate.

The RCC Pavement Task Force is looking to finalize the proposed Ready Mix Producer’s Guide to Roller-Compacted Concrete, according to Chairman Steve Tripp. Focus of the guide will be to provide assistance to ready mix producers with regard to mix design and production. Additionally, the task force will discuss promotion/marketing opportunities for the ready mix industry. On the heels of the release of its successful Pervious Concrete Pavement Maintenance and Operations Guide, the Pervious Concrete Promotion Subcommittee will discuss the development of future technical briefs addressing such topics as proper pervious concrete specification, mix design guidance and acceptance testing of pervious concrete. Additionally, Chairman Dave Frentress says that discussion will include an update from the ASTM Pervious Concrete Subcommittee, with special emphasis on the exclusion of compressive strength testing of pervious concrete.

The preliminary estimate of ready mixed concrete production in April 2015 is 28 million cubic yards, 4% higher than that in April 2014. The estimated production through April 2015 is 88.6 million cubic yards, 5.2% higher than that during the same period in 2014. Ready mixed concrete production is estimated from cement shipments reported by the US Geological Survey.

Additional information, including production in each state, is posted for access by NRMCA members on NRMCA's Web site.

NRMCA congratulates the following ready mix executives who have been selected for the 2015-2016 Developing Industry Leaders (DIL) program: 

• Michael Baldoni, Irving Materials, Nashville, TN
• Don Bassett, Eastern Concrete Materials, A U.S. Concrete Company, Elmwood Park, NJ
• Patrick Bergin, Aggregate Industries, Golden, CO
• Erica Biser, Chaney Enterprises, Gambrills, MD
• Herbert Burton, Central Concrete Supply Company, A U.S. Concrete Company, San Jose, CA
• Anthony DiMaio, Superior Concrete Materials, Inc., A U.S. Concrete Company , Washington, DC
• Branon Evans, Ingram Concrete, A U.S. Concrete Company, Brownwood, TX
• Joseph N. Ferrara, Ferrara Bros., LLC, A U.S. Concrete Company, Flushing, NY
• Patrick Frawley, Central Concrete Supply Company, A U.S. Concrete Company, San Jose, CA
• Reid Harris, Concrete Supply Company, Charlotte, NC
• Dustin Heiland, Redi-Mix, Inc., A U.S. Concrete Company, Euless, TX
• Danielle Leines, Trimble Construction Logistics, Tempe, AZ
• Bubba Metts, Concrete Supply Company, Morrisville, NC
• Bo Morgan, United Companies, Grand Junction, CO
• Todd Morris,  Concrete Supply Company, Greenville, SC
• Margaret Ramirez, CEMEX, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
• Mike Tornquist, Central Concrete Supply Company, A U.S. Concrete Company, San Jose, CA

The goal of the annual DIL project is to broaden participants’ understanding of the ready mixed concrete industry at a national and strategic level while also giving them the opportunity to work on a diverse team with members from across the country. This peer-centric program, with its accompanying industry mentorship, encourages participants to make lifelong, career friends as they gain insight into a specific industry-specific, national challenge. The collective group will start its work in the next month, meet face to face during NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks, September 18-22, in San Antonio, and present its findings at NRMCA’s annual convention in March 2016 at a membership meeting.

The following is a summary of activity at recent ASTM meetings of Committees C09 on Concrete and C01 on Cement attended by NRMCA staff in Anaheim, CA.

C09.20 Concrete Aggregates - Revised versions of methods to determine relative density (specific gravity) and absorption of aggregates C127 and C128 are now published. A specification for mineral fillers for use in concrete continues to progress through the ASTM balloting process. A version balloted received several negatives that were addressed. Mineral fillers in concrete may be used in self-consolidating or conventional concrete. A presentation indicated that fines from dolomitic aggregates was being used successfully in Ohio and was recognized by the DOT. These materials would comply with the proposed specification on mineral fillers. A proposal to include "recycled material" as aggregate in the terminology of Specification ASTM C33 for Concrete Aggregates, was balloted and received several negatives that were discussed. Recycled materials would need to meet the requirements of C33 with no changes to the specification. A method to measure relative density and absorption by volumetric displacement was presented. The method is purported to measure the absorption of sand and coarse aggregate with better repeatability. The method is published as an AASHTO provisional standard. ASTM will consider standardizing the method. With the publication of practice ASTM C1778 on alkali aggregate reactions, the subcommittee will consider deleting the appendix to C33 on the subject and refer to this standard. 

C09.26 Chemical Reactions - The subcommittee reapproved the concrete prism test to determine the reactivity of aggregates in alkali silica reactions, C1293, with no revisions. The subcommittee is considering removing two older ASR tests – C227 and C289 – due to their lack of reliability.

C09.40 Ready Mixed Concrete - A new version, ASTM C94-15 has been published. Changes include:

• Clarification that purchaser’s requirements stated in the order that differ from C94 govern and places a responsibility on the purchaser to communicate all requirements for concrete from a project specification.

• Air content is set at two levels for moderate and severe exposure; the purchaser, when ordering concrete, should either state the required air content or indicate the type of exposure.

• Include a requirement that the purchaser should state the required density when ordering heavy weight concrete; ordering lightweight aggregate by stating equilibrium density was clarified. 

• Revisions to the appendix that advises on strength overdesign concepts.

Proposal to permit the use of electronic tickets in C94 was balloted and discussed. Item still needs resolution. The subcommittee will revisit the issue of eliminating time limits to delivery; consider a performance-based option and scheduling when ordering concrete; defining batch water with consideration for water held back for addition at the jobsite and several other revisions. A new specification for reuse of returned concrete received several negatives, but continues to make progress toward acceptance. A revised specification will be balloted shortly.

C09.48 Performance of Cementitious Materials and Admixture Combinations - After significant effort, a new standard was approved – this practice outlines the use of thermal measurements for evaluation of compatibility of materials. It includes several example evaluations of cement chemistry, fly ash characteristics, relative setting time estimation and impact of temperature of materials.

C09.50 Risk Management for Alkali Aggregate Reactions (AAR) - The subcommittee has published a new standard, ASTM C1778 Determining Reactivity of Concrete Aggregates and Minimizing Risk of Deleterious Expansion, similar to the AASHTO provisional standard PP65. Discussions evolved around varying adoption by state highway agencies. There was concern on assignment of risk categories to different structures by users and the excessive amount of SCMs required when this occurred. A simplification of this process was suggested. Some feel that ASTM C1260 should not be recommended for evaluation of the reactivity of aggregates. It was also discussed that the performance option for qualifying quantities of SCMs to mitigate ASR may not be adequate for some situation. The subcommittee will work with various subcommittees that include provisions for ASR to propose deleting those requirements and to refer to ASTM C1778. It was noted that the Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL) has started a proficiency sample program for ASTM C1260 – the accelerated mortar bar test. CCRL will also consider stocking a reference aggregate for ASTM C1293 tests – this aggregate would have an established expansion level for laboratories to compare their results and evaluate their procedures, if necessary.

C09.60 Fresh Concrete Tests - Minor revisions were in process for slump (C143), density or unit weight of fresh concrete (C138) and the volumetric air method (C173). A precision statement based on a recently completed interlaboratory study is being proposed for the pressure air method (C231). A request to reinstate ASTM C1362 (recently withdrawn) on the "K-slump tester" was rejected by the subcommittee. A presentation was made on the measurement of electrical resistivity of fresh concrete. It was suggested that the method could be used to estimate water-cement ratio (with pre-established calibration), estimate setting time, evaluate uniformity of mixing and to predict early age strength. The subcommittee will consider the method.

C09.61 Strength - Revisions to ASTM C39 were proposing tolerances on test age and the time from which the age of the cylinder begins – either at batching or when the specimens were made. A revision to C31 clarifies that the sides of the cylinder should be tapped with a mallet when consolidating specimens in plastic single use molds. A request was made to the subcommittee to consider, including the procedures for preparing cube specimens for concrete strength. Revisions to C31 and C78 will address the use of beams with 4 x 4 inch cross section for flexural strength measurements. A proposal to include reporting the max-min temperature during initial curing in the field on strength test reports was balloted and received negatives. The revision will be reballoted based on comments and other considerations. 

C09.66 Fluid Penetration - The subcommittee continues to work on finalizing the surface resistivity test using Wenner probe which can be used for concrete quality assurance.

C01.10 Hydraulic Cement - Revision to cement standards are discussed in an ASTM AASHTO harmonization task group to ensure the requirements in the equivalent ASTM and AASHTO specifications are consistent. Revisions to ASTM C150 were approved – to report chlorides in portland cement on request and to report the heat of hydration based on isothermal calorimetry, ASTM C1702. Proposed revisions include tolerances for the stated quantities of slag, pozzolans and limestone in blended cements covered by ASTM C595. It is proposed to delete the current requirement to determine methylene blue value and total organic carbon of limestone to be interground in blended cements. Research has indicated that these limits do not impact the performance of cement. A proposal has been made to increase the limits of loss on ignition and insoluble residue in ASTM C150 for portland cement. The current limits for LOI and IR do not allow the 5% interground limestone permitted by the specification. 

Award - NRMCA Senior Vice President, Engineering, Colin Lobo was recognized as an Honorary member of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Aggregates for his contributions to standards. 

Memorials - Memorials were read for recently deceased members Emory Farkas and Darrell Elliot.

NRMCA is accepting entries for the 2015 Quality Awards through Tuesday, June 30.  It does not take a long time for a company to fill out the form, particularly if it has done so previously. For companies that have never done so, filling out the application is an excellent way of self auditing quality metrics. Companies that do not receive an award are given areas for improvement based on their scores. It is also an excellent way of self auditing your company’s quality. So don’t wait till the last minute: please send the form to Karen Bean as soon as you can (make sure you download and fill the 2015 award form and not an older version).

Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed rule aimed at mandating increased fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions from, in part, heavy-duty vehicles such as ready mixed concrete trucks. According to EPA, the proposal is "expected  to lower CO2 emissions by approximately 1 billion metric tons, cut fuel costs by about $170 billion, and reduce oil consumption by up to 1.8 billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program." The new standard purports to cut CO2 emissions by 24 percent with a similar fuel efficiency increase for covered vehicles, model years 2021-2027.

DOT and EPA contend that the proposed standard will cost impacted industries roughly $25 billion over the seven year period. They also suggest that any added cost to new trucks adhering to the new requirements would be recouped by truck owners in under two years due to the fuel savings. NRMCA is analyzing the nearly 1,400-page proposal. Once the proposal is published in the Federal Register there will be a public comment period open for 60 days.

On Tuesday, June 30, from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern time, NRMCA will host a free webinar, "The NLRB Is Changing the Workplace. Are You Prepared?" Hear about the most recent decisions that impact both union and non-union companies from labor attorney Jeff Thompson, a partner with Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP. The Webinar will focus on the National Labor Relation Board's newest changes that allow unions to be quickly and easily voted in by non-union companies’ employees. The latest NLRB revisions also force employers to release employees’ personal information to unions which could undermine employers’ due process rights about unionization.

Additionally, these numerous NLRB decisions now find many employers’ rules of conduct policies illegal. These new changes concerning employer policies will affect both union and non-union companies. Mr. Thompson’s address will not only provide a detailed description of the alterations that allow for quicker elections but also offer specific guidance for employers. Finally, the presentation will provide a summary of employer policies that are now considered illegal as well as possible modifications to employee handbooks and other rules of conduct policies.

 

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 June 15 - 19, 2015, please click here.

Earlier this month, the House Labor, Health and Human Services (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee passed its spending bill out of committee by voice vote. The bill funds the Departments of Labor, Education, Health and Human Services and several other independent agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The spending bill is deemed one of the most contentious of the appropriations bills and is viewed as a policy statement on President Obama’s labor agenda by some policy analysts. The bill provides $153 billion in discretionary spending for FY16 and includes two key defunding provisions for labor rules. 

The first provision defunds the NLRB from implementing the recently finalized union election rule or ‘ambush’ rule. The union election rule fast tracks union elections by shortening the organizing election time frame from an average of between 45 to 60 days down to approximately 13. In March of this year, the House and Senate passed a resolution of disapproval on the ambush elections rule sending the measure to President Obama’s desk which he immediately vetoed. On May 5, the Senate voted to table or halt any further legislative action to override President Obama’s veto. NRMCA is concerned that these ambush elections will overly burden the ready mixed concrete small business owner who may lack the legal resources to prepare for these elections and also the time to educate the workforce of union claims. The proposed rule was finalized on April 14, 2015.

The second provision included in the spending bill will prohibit the NLRB from amending or redefining the current joint employer standard. The NLRB is attempting to reform the 30 year old joint employer standard and has issued a public notice on filing amicus briefs in the Browning Ferris Industries case. If the NLRB uses a new joint employer standard it could have a dramatic impact on what it means to be an employer and an employee. Browning-Ferris involves a subcontractor/contractor relationship at a recycling facility. A new joint employer standard could mean that many contracting companies could find themselves designated as joint employers of their sub-contractors' employees.

NRMCA along with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) is working to secure inclusion of amendments on mircro-unions and persuaders issues. The House Committee on Appropriations is scheduled to mark up the Labor-HHS spending on Wednesday, June 24.

For more information, contact Kerri Leininger at kleininger@nrmca.org.

On June 17, the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing addressing financing the Highway Trust Fund (HTF). Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) began the hearing by stating that he would not support raising the federal gas tax. The federal gas tax is currently at 18.4 cents a gallon and was last increased in 1993. The HTF has been operating with funding shortfalls since 2008 and subsequently Congress continues to pass short-term extensions paid for by general fund transfers or other financing gimmicks. The latest short term extension runs until July 31, right before Congress breaks for the month-long August recess. Ryan acknowledged that it is highly likely that the House will pass an extension until December, meaning another extension would be funded by another general fund transfer.

In the Senate, the Finance Committee held a hearing on the future of highway funding on June 18. Chairman Orin Hatch (R-UT) didn’t come out opposed to raising the federal gas tax, but stated he was not confident that such a measure would pass this Congress. Hatch urged his colleagues to pass a long-term bill and to consider all revenue options on the table. According to the Congressional Budget Office, an estimated $92 billion is needed in addition to the revenue raised from the current gas tax to adequately fund a six year transportation bill.

NRMCA, along with members of the Highway Materials Group (HMG), sent letters to the House Ways & Means and Senate Finance Committees calling for prompt action on passing a long-term surface transportation bill that increases infrastructure investments and addresses the shortfalls facing the HTF.  Besides NRMCA, other HMG members include the American Coal Ash Association, American Concrete Pavement Association, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Associated Equipment Distributors, Concrete Steel Reinforcing Institute, National Asphalt Pavement Association, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association and Portland Cement Association.

In recognition of National Safety Month, NRMCA wants to help you promote safety for your delivery professionals. The NRMCA June Internet Spotlight, which will be valid through Tuesday, June 30, are two popular Safety Series topics. Use Discount Code: ISJUN15 to order your safety topics online today and receive 25% off the member price.

• Highway Safety for Ready Mixed Concrete Drivers - This CD-based PowerPoint presentation and instructor notes is designed to teach mixer drivers the importance of safety in highway work zones. These work zones are especially challenging as motorists encounter a different traffic pattern along with assorted lights and cones as well as flagmen directing traffic. The new OSHA highway work zone letter of interpretation is covered along with the three classes of available reflective attire (safety vest). Finally, a quiz and training documentation form is enclosed to help track personnel training.

• Night Pour Safety - This CD-based PowerPoint presentation and instructor notes are designed to teach employees the importance of hazard recognition when it comes to night pours. Job sites are potentially difficult to deliver to in the day, let alone night. Slips, trips and falls as well as temporary lighting are covered. Excavations are more difficult to detect at night and special emphasis is placed on the "1 to 1 Rule." Finally, a quiz and training documentation form is enclosed to help track personnel training.

Regular member price $85, discounted member price $63.75, plus shipping. Order online.

June 30, Free Webinar

The NLRB Is Changing The Workplace. Are You Prepared?

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

 

August 24, Free Webinar

Roller-Compacted Concrete for Streets and Roads

Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165

 

September 20 - 22, San Antonio, TX

ConcreteWorks & Board of Directors' Meeting

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

 

September 28 - 30, Ontario, CA

Concrete Durability Course

Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168

 

October 6 - 8, Webinar

Handling Concrete Specifications, Low Strength Problems and Mixture Submittals

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, Free 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

 

November 17 - 19, Charlotte, NC

NRMCA Safety 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

 

 

February 23 - 25, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module III: General Business Knowledge

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

 

March 13 - 15, San Diego

NRMCA's Annual Convention

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