NRMCA e-news

The American Coal Ash Association (ACAA) reports a record level 56% of Coal Combustion Product (CCP) generated in 2016 was beneficially used. The ACAA “Production and Use Survey” reports that 60.2 million tons of coal combustion products were beneficially used out of 107.4 million tons produced. While the rate of use increased from 52 to 56%, the total volume used was approximately the same as in 2015 because of decreased production.

There were some changes in the use patterns, however. Use of coal fly ash in concrete declined 8 percent to 14.4 million tons. The use in concrete was at a record level of 15.7 million tons in 2015. The dip in 2016 utilization is attributed to some regional seasonal shortages of supply that resulted from power plant shutdowns and changing generating profiles. Demand for fly ash remained strong in all concrete markets and utilization likely would have been higher if some logistical disruptions had not occurred. ACAA also estimates about 4.8 million tons of coal combustion products are used in cement manufacture – for blended cement or raw feed.

More details are available here.

The MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub will hold a free public Webinar on Thursday, December 7, on How Competition Impacts Paving Prices.

Click here to register.

The recently completed NRMCA Concrete Technologist Training and Certification program (Short Course) in Silver Spring, MD, was attended by 40 industry personnel; the following number of certifications were awarded to individuals based on successful completion of the exam and certification criteria:

• NRMCA Concrete Technologist Level 2 = 25 (79% of those who attempted passed the Level 2 exam)

• NRMCA Concrete Technologist Level 3 = 20 (63%)

• NRMCA Field Testing Technician Grade II = 18 (57%)

NRMCA congratulates all course attendees and those who obtained certification. The next technical course is scheduled for Dallas in early February 2018. Registration information is available here.

The annual NRMCA Dispatcher Training Forum will be held January 9-11 in Orlando, FL. As the new year launches, it is time to make sure experienced as well as neophyte schedulers and dispatchers are primed to make the order flow seamless. Since their work pressure continues to remain intense, they must be terrific at juggling competing demands at a much faster pace. New dispatchers often perform unevenly while under fire and even seasoned veterans can find it difficult to step back and change old habits. Put learning to work: attendees return ready to perform more efficiently in core skill areas:

• Putting Orders in Order: Mastering technical, practical and customer-service issues;
• Scheduling Success: Juggling priority customers, advance notices, callbacks, plant managers and sales reps, and a possible cement shortage;
• Technically Speaking: Knowing ASTM-C94 is vital to success;
• People Professionalism: Managing stress, phone skills and peers. Customers aren’t always right yet they must be served for their- and a producer’s benefit; and
• Details, details, details: Dealing with clean-ups, small load charges... the list goes on.

Click here for more information, registration options and staff contact.

With hiring and retention of paramount importance in the recovery, it is critical that ready mixed concrete front line supervisors understand the scope and tasks they are expected to execute. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the most common business lawsuit filed is by employees against their employers - and the employees cite their direct supervisors as the cause. Therefore, the class content supports plant, operations dispatch, fleet and driver managers and supervisors, as well as QC supervisors. Content includes industry-specific, hands-on exercises to develop solid procedures to increase efficiency and profitability using better communication skills with front line employees. The class is held just once a year. Dates are January 23-25 in Orlando, FL.

Click here for more information, registration options and staff contact.

In just six short weeks, the date goes into effect for the requirement to install and use Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) for compliance with Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. On December 18, 2017 eligible commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers will need to install and use ELDs for compliance with HOS regulations; however, specific only to the ready mixed concrete industry, there is a workable solution for not being required to install and use ELDs. Specifically, if a mixer driver does not work more than 14 hours, more than eight days in any 30-day period, ELDs are not needed.

Click here and here to find out exactly how this works and what a company may need to do to avoid ELD use. For more information on ELDs, ELD requirements, FMCSA Registered ELDs and more, click here. For more information, contact Gary Mullings or Kevin Walgenbach.

The 2017 Mixer Truck Rollover Survey is designed to collect data on actual rollovers of ready mixed concrete trucks in calendar year 2017. The electronic form uses check and drop down boxes for ease of completion and data compilation. The data collected is for rollovers that occur in calendar year 2017; no personal or company names are required to complete the form.

Click here to download the form. When completed, please return the form to NRMCA's Gary Mullings. Questions regarding the program or form should be directed to Gary Mullings at 240-485-1161 or gmullings@nrmca.org.

NRMCA's Ready Mixed Concrete Delivery Professional Driver of the Year Award acknowledges the significant contribution of ready mixed concrete truck drivers to the growth and success of individual companies and the ready mixed concrete industry. As a salute to these key members of the concrete production and delivery team, the award recognizes the driver’s career achievement, safety, professionalism, competence and customer service skills in a manner that will enhance the industry and public image of the career ready mixed concrete delivery professional. The 2018 Ready Mixed Concrete Truck Driver of the Year Award winner will be honored at an awards presentation ceremony at NRMCA’s Annual Convention in Houston in March 2018.

Applications are due no later than Friday, December 29, via e-mail to NRMCA’s Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org. Click here for more information and to access the nomination form from NRMCA's Web site.

The last two Certified Concrete Sales Professional (CCSP) series are open for registration. Register now and take the fee as a 2017 expense. They will be taught at NRMCA’s headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. The schedule is as follows:

• Module 3: RMC Business Knowledge, January 24-26 - Content is an overview of critical business concepts used in the RMC business, focusing on RMC job cost analysis. Assure your reps know the factors to price a job profitably without solely relying on a plug-and-chug software program.

• Module 4: Professional Sales Skills and Promotion, March 21-23 - Mid-level staff learn to apply consultative, team-based, cross-selling methods in ready mixed concrete situations.

Each class stands alone so it does NOT have to be taken consecutively or collectively. Additionally, these are the required courses in the STEPS® Sales and Promotion certification program, where those in the field earn the industry's most prestigious capstone certification, the CCPf.

For more information, contact NRMCA's Jessica Walgenbach at jwalgenbach@nrmca.org or 240-485-1152.

*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site.

December 5 – 7, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module II: Customer Business Knowledge
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

December 6, Salem, OR
Regional ConcreteWorks Northwest Region
Email: Tamara Waugh, 240.485.1132

December 12 – 15, Orlando, FL *Sold Out
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

2018

January 9 – 11, Orlando, FL
Dispatcher Training Forum
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

January 16 – 18, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module III: General Business Knowledge
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

January 16 – 19, Minneapolis
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

January 17, Eagan, MN
Improving Concrete Quality
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

January 23 – 25, Orlando, FL
RMC Effective Supervisor Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

February 5 – 9, Dallas
Regional Technical Short Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

February 20 – 22, Nashville, TN
CCSP Module I: Concrete 101
Email: Darla Sparkman, 615-360-6670

February 20 – 23, Albuquerque, NM
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

March 2 - 5, Houston
NRMCA's Annual Convention
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

March 27 – 29, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module IV: Professional Sales Skills
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

March 27 – 30, Louisville, KY
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

April 10 – 12, Orlando, FL (Tentative Date)
NRMCA Safety Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

September 29 – October 1, Metro Washington, DC
NRMCA's ConcreteWorks
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

December 11 – 14, Austin, TX
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152