With ever-growing concerns about the damage that salt is doing to the environment, not to mention to vehicles and footwear, highway departments have been turning to a rather prosaic solution to cut back on its usage: home-brewed saltwater.

You might have noticed that more roadways in the region are bearing those rows of ghostly white streaks, like so many omens of winter icy horrors to come, whenever storms are in the forecast.

Thats the visible evidence of the anti-icing brine movement, which has been gaining popularity around here and the nation. Studies affirm that it has been a major salt saver, if not a popular one.

The really, really big advantage of brine is that you waste less. ... Its going to be so much better for the environment, said Victoria Kelly, a program manager at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in upstate New York.

READ MORE: Winter road salt is making some Philly-area streams as salty as the ocean, enough to kill wildlife

We can definitely spread less salt, said John Krafczyk, maintenance manager for PennDots Philadelphia region, adding that it can reduce usage by as much as 45%. Some research shows it can cut use by as much as 75%, said Stephen Schapiro, spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

The concept has been around for decades, but highway departments didnt get into pre-storm brining until about 2010, said Stephen J. Druschel, a professor of civil engineering at Minnesota State University and an expert on brining, which he acknowledges is a lonely pursuit in the academic community. (The real experts are the truck drivers, he says.) The origins of the practice are somewhat unclear, he said, and statistics on its usage are wanting.

But its popularity is indisputably spreading.

Some brines contain additives New Jersey has used beet juice when its been extremely cold aimed at further combating low temperatures, but basic brine is a mixture of 23.3% salts. Highway departments make it in massive mixers and then spread it with trucks equipped with udder-like dispensers. As for why the 23.3%, thats the maximum salt concentration that water can dissolve.

READ MORE: In Philly winters, expect anything

The liquid adheres to the paving, as opposed to salt pellets that bounce off of hard surfaces and scatter like so many hailstones.

Treating roads before a storm is a lot like cooking pasta, said Druschel. The liquified solution can speed up the melting of ice and snow on streets the way adding salt can speed the heating of a pot of water for pasta, said Druschel. One doesnt have to add salt to boil the water, he said, but it just takes longer.

The mixture gloms on to the paving and works its way into nooks, crannies, and cracks in ways pellets cannot. That prevents or at least delays snow and ice from forming an epoxy-like bond to a road surface.

The last thing I want that to do is have it pack and stick to the road where we cant peel it off, said PennDots Krafczyk.

Experimentation with brines dates to the 1960s, said Daniel Sullivan, a spokesman for the salt giant Cargill.

Druschel said that more than 25 years ago, the Minnesota Department of Transportation came up with the concept of pre-wetting salt before putting it on the road. That now is a common practice among highway departments, including PennDot, and was a precursor to todays pre-storm brining. That was a big step forward, Druschel said.

In some instances water might constitute two-thirds of the weight carried on snow-fighting trucks, said Druschel.

A major obstacle was equipment, said the Cary Institutes Kelly.

The old snow-fighting trucks were manufactured to spread crystals, not brine. That was one of the stumbling blocks. What do we do with all these old trucks, she said. Spraying is different from spreading.

In addition to the trucks, brining requires other machinery to mix the melter cocktail.

But another factor was inertia, she said. It can just take awhile for highway departments to change their ways.

PennDots Krafczyk said it has looked at additives, but, We didnt see any advantages.

READ MORE: To treat icy roads, highway agencies look to grapes, cheese, and vodka as alternatives to salt

Kelly said that the jury is still out. There just isnt anything in the scientific literature just yet. Ideas get formulated and implemented and science tries to catch up with, how effective is this?

They make a tiny bit of difference, said Druschel, adding that Minnesota has used corn water and sugary beet residue. He said the deer are grateful for the resulting roadside detritus to them its, Oh, sticky toffee, he said. Unfortunately, he added, that has led to more deer-car collisions.

The short answer is yes, and brinings impacts on metal have been the subject of multiple media reports.

Kelly, however, argues that salt is salt, diluted or otherwise, and that its going to corrode, period. She said the fact that brine is more evenly spread might enhance the impact, but that no one shes aware of has conducted a controlled experiment to isolate the effects of brine versus dry pellets.

I think the bottom line is were going to see just as much corrosion, she said.

READ MORE: It can make roads messy, but snow still captivates a whole lot of people

Cargills Sullivan concurred. Regarding corrosive effects, he said, It is unclear, as there is little hard data to confirm this. He added that even solid salt treating snow and ice is eventually converted to a brine anyway.

Kelly, who lives in a small town about 90 miles due north of New York City, says that when snow is in the forecast, shell be walking on a half-inch layer of rock salt in front of the local library and post office. She wondered whether perhaps someone could brine the sidewalks with, say, a backpack sprayer.

PennDots Krafczyk said he did try to brine his own driveway. He used a hydrometer to measure the salt level in the water in his sprayer and then fired away. Unfortunately, the nozzle quickly clogged up after he had covered all of one square foot. Eventually, he did get it to function.

It was a lot of work, he said. Was it worth it? No. I found it better to take a handful of salt and throw it on the driveway.

Read more from the original source:
Road brining before winter storms is gaining more traction around Philly and the nation - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Home Motors Talking Tires: Differences Between All-Season, All-Weather, Snow, and All-Terrain Rubber

Which type of tires are right for you and your vehicle? Tires are paramount to the performance and safety of your vehicle, and weve got the answers to your pressing tire questions.

Admittedly, Im a bit of a tire nerd. I love to geek out on all aspects of the ubiquitous rubber donuts. However, for many vehicle owners, tires are just round, black, and confusing circles that are a necessary evil when it comes to vehicle maintenance.

Frankly, its easy to see why tires can be confusing. Just look at the title of this article. You have endless options, and thats after youve decided which size you need.

There are all-season tires, all-weather tires, all-terrain tires, snow tires, summer tires, and all sorts in between. But lets step back for a moment and look at some of the most popular versions and what makes them unique. It might shed some clarity on future tire-buying decisions.

When it comes to tires, ideally wed all own multiple sets and switch them for optimal driving conditions. For starters, youd have summer tires for warm, dry drives and winter tires for cold and snowy ones, and perhaps a set of studded tires for ice, and non-studded for snow.

Oh, and if you have a 4WD, you would probably want a set of dirt tires, and even a set of mud tires for that muck, too. But most people dont want to have several sets of tires; some owners dont even want to switch between summer or winter tires, which is a best practice for cold climates.

Instead, the vast majority of car owners have one tire to fit most conditions. Because of this, tire manufacturers have a variety of tire types for multiple driving scenarios.

Sometimes the jargon can get confusing, though. For example, whats the difference between an all-season, all-weather, all-terrain and, for that matter, a snow tire? Im glad you asked.

All-season tires are designed for most conditions most of the time, but dont excel in any. These tires are the absolute middle ground for tires in terms of performance. Thats not to say theyre a bad choice, but theyre designed to do a bit of everything versus be exceptional at something specific.

That being said, all-season tires typically have a rubber compound thats designed for having a comfortable ride and getting the most miles while doing so, such as the BFGoodrich Advantage Control tires I installed on my Toyota Yaris.

But there are a variety of all-season tires, such as high-performance versions geared toward sports cars, and touring tires often found on CUVs or minivans. But as a whole, all-season tires are the most middle-of-the-road tires you can get theyre also usually shod on most new vehicles. Versatile, long-lasting, comfortable, and quiet these are the traits all-season tires are known for.

Honestly, their biggest downfall is the fact they arent masterful at much of anything. No matter the season, theyre never going to provide the best traction or the best grip. For that, youd need to opt for a dedicated summer tire, a dedicated winter tire, or a dedicated dirt tire.

If theres one driving condition in which all-season tires suffer most, however, its winter and snow performance. This is due to their harder rubber compounds that dont grip the pavement at colder temperatures (typically 45 degrees F and under), and tire block designs that arent conducive to handling snow and slush.

Many all-season tires carry the M+S (mud and snow) rating, a designation from the U.S. Rubber Manufacturers Association. This means they have deeper grooves for muddy and snowy conditions.

There isnt an actual performance standard these tires must meet to be considered M+S. Instead, its based on the tires tread design.

So, while an all-season tire might have the M+S rating, theyre actually neither mud nor snow tires. But, in exchange for versatile yet nonmasterful performance, buyers get a longer service life.

If youre regularly driving in muddy or snowy conditions, you might want to step up to another newer tire style: the all-weather tire.

All-weather tires are a European transplant that has been getting traction on the U.S. market in the last several years. These tires came about because many European drivers were required to have two sets of tires: one for summer, and one for winter (depending on locale), and they would rotate between the two.

At some point, someone developed a tire for use during all four seasons. This eliminated the need to have two sets of rubber.

All-weather tires carry the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) logo, designating severe snow service requirements. For many years, only snow tires earned this designation. But now some all-season tires carry it, and often carry the title of all-weather tires.

All-weather tires perform better in the snow than all-season tires carrying just the M+S rating. This is due to compounds that can perform more admirably in cooler temperatures. They also have more siping and unique tread patterns to usher away snow and slush.

According to tire retailer Tire Rack, In 1999, The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) agreed on a performance-based standard to identify passenger and light truck tires that attain a traction index equal to, or greater than 110 (compared to a reference tire which is rated 100) during the specified American Society for Testing and Materials traction tests on packed snow. The standard helps ensure drivers can easily identify tires that provide a higher level of snow traction, and tires meeting that standard are branded with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.

For years, Ive jokingly said all-weather tires are basically all-season tires for people living in Finland. Theyre more versatile in temps both above and below 45 degrees F than all-season tires, yet still have high mileage warranties. They are, however, often not as quiet as an all-season tire due to a blockier tread design.

I recently equipped my 1998 Honda CR-V with a set of Toyo Celsius all-weather tires and embarked on a 4,500-mile winter road trip from Oregon to Wisconsin and back over the holidays. The tires performance in rainy, snowy, and slushy conditions impressed me. We even saw temps near -10 degrees F, and the tires performed well. Add to it, they have a 60,000-mile tread life warranty.

All-weather tires can be a great alternative to standard all-season tires for people who dont want to switch out to a dedicated winter tire. And theyre a good choice for people living in colder climates.

It should be noted, however, that despite the 3PMSF ratings, theyre still not as competent in snow, slush, and ice as a dedicated winter tire.

If all-season tires are just OK in the snow, and all-weather tires are better, dedicated winter tires are the best you can get for cold, snowy, and icy conditions. But youll only want to use them in the winter.

When used above 45 degrees F and run on bare pavement, snow tires will wear quickly. However, their snow, slush, and ice performance is above and beyond other tires. Similarly, a dedicated summer tire would be better for warm, dry conditions.

Winter tires are often noisier than all-season/all-weather tires due to their aggressive blocky tread design for snow. But they are great for harsh winter conditions where you might encounter deep snow and fair bits of ice.

Their chunky tread patterns with aggressive siping and softer rubber compounds are excellent at channeling out the wintertime muck and providing maximum traction in cold temps.

But that performance is at the expense of dry-pavement grip, wear, and noise especially if you have a set of studded winter tires. Studded tires are not legal in all states, as they chew up the roads pavement. Some states allow them (such as my state of Oregon), and their performance specifically on ice can be advantageous.

Studs or not, snow tires are also noisier than all-season or all-weather tires. And because youre not going to want to run these in the warmer months, youll likely want to mount winter tires on a separate set of wheels to avoid having tires mounted and dismounted off your only set of wheels. This means youll have summer and winter tires, which means youll always have to store one set somewhere.

Oh, by the way, if your car uses a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), prepare for the extra expense of installing a second set of sensors in your winter rolling stock.

Make no mistake: Winter tires are amazing in cold, snowy, and icy conditions. But these specialized tires come with distinct compromises.

We wouldnt be covering all the all tires without briefly mentioning all-terrains. You can find these tires on trucks, SUVs, and sometimes crossovers, but rarely on cars. Their design focuses on performance in a mix of dirt and pavement.

However, some all-terrain tires also have the 3PMSF rating, making them truly good in nearly all terrains. The one exception is mud. And there are dedicated mud-terrain tires, but they generally dont carry the 3PMSF rating and make a lot of noise on pavement.

All-terrains often utilize blocky tread compounds. These help them run circles around all-season highway tires when you leave the pavement.

But they usually come in sizes compatible with trucks and SUVs; some crossover-style sizes are becoming available. They do, however, come in LT (light truck) versions that have heavier-duty sidewalls for the demands of heavier-duty vehicles.

An all-terrain tire is really what you want if youve got a 4WD vehicle thats trading pavement performance for dirt driving. So if youve got something like a Jeepor a pickup truck, these can be a fantastic choice. However, this tires on-road handling and quietness arent as good as an all-season or all-weather tire.

But tires are, effectively, a safety device and you should educate yourself on which tire type is right for you, your driving conditions, and your vehicle.

But, lets put it this way: If you dont live somewhere that gets under 45 degrees F, an all-season tire can still be a good choice due to its versatility. If youre looking for the upper echelon of cornering, go with a summer tire.

If you live somewhere cold and snowy, the best option is having a dedicated set of summer and winter tires. But if you dont want to swap out tires in the cold, take a look at the burgeoning all-weather segment with better snow performance.

And if you have a truck, SUV, or a CUV, an all-terrain tire is a fantastic choice if you venture off the pavement from time to time. And check out all-terrains with the 3PMSF rating if you venture into cold, snowy situations.

There really is a tire for every vehicle out there. Arming yourself with a bit of knowledge will ensure that you get the right rubber for your ride.

Originally posted here:
Talking Tires: Differences Between All-Season, All-Weather, Snow, and All-Terrain Rubber - GearJunkie

Recent footage taken of Gigafactory Texas has revealed that Tesla has brought over its all-electric pickup truck to its new headquarters. The arrival of the Cybertruck at the Giga Texas site comes just as new images of the vehicles alpha prototype were shared online.

The Cybertrucks delivery could be seen in a video of the Giga Texas site that was taken on Sunday, January 23, 2022, by drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer, who has been following the progress of the massive project since its earliest days. As could be seen in the footage, a vehicle that appears to be the Tesla Cybertrucks updated alpha prototype could be seen being offloaded from a truck.

Considering that Tesla CEO Elon Musk is expected to announce several product updates this coming fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 earnings call, the arrival of the Cybertruck at the Giga Texas site seems to be well-timed. It would be quite interesting to see exactly just what Musks product update would be like, however, considering that Teslas earnings calls are typically conducted as an audio conference.

Interestingly enough, a couple of photos showing the clearest look yet at the Tesla Cybertrucks updated alpha prototype also emerged recently. The images showcased several of the changes that have been implemented to the Cybertrucks physical design, from its now-removed door handles to its massive, single wiper blade. The vehicles front end also seemed to be shortened slightly, paving the way for an extremely massive windshield.

Teslas earnings call will be held on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, after markets close.

Watch a recent drone flyover of the Giga Texas site in the video below.

Dont hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to[emailprotected]to give us a heads up.

Follow this link:
Tesla Cybertruck spotted being offloaded in Gigafactory Texas - Teslarati

The Global Asphalt Surfactant Additives Market from 2021 to 2027 global study report, which was recently published by MarketQuest.biz, was constructed with a great blend of industry knowledge, innovative ideas, practical solutions, and cutting-edge technology to deliver a better user experience. In terms of drivers, restraints, opportunities, trends, and the competitive environment, the research provides a firm foundation for users who want to enter the global market.

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Global Asphalt Surfactant Additives Market Precise Scenario Covering Trends, Opportunities and Growth Forecast during 2021 to 2027 Discovery Sports...

Because of weather conditions and other issues, the contractor will not do stormwater work in the Commerce St. and S. 9th St. intersection this weekend. This stormwater work will be rescheduled. Crews will start signals, electrical work and track installation on Commerce Street from S. 7th St. to I-705 on Monday, Feb 22. First, crews will do signals and electrical work at the S. 7th St. intersection and for the track and Old City Hall Station. Then, the contractor will install track from S. 7th St. to I-705. This work includes removing asphalt, moving rail into place, pouring concrete around the rail, and paving. Starting on Feb 22, the southbound lane on Commerce St. will be closed from I-705 to S. 9th St. Commerce St. will be closed to thru-traffic from S. 9th St. to S. 7th St. Local access and access to driveways will be maintained. The detour route from I-705 is Stadium Way north to Broadway or St. Helens or take an earlier exit (City Center exit). Please allow extra time to reach your destination thank you.

We will provide more information about the schedule and location of the stormwater work on Commerce St. This work is expected to start in the S. 9th St. and Commerce St. intersection during a weekend.

COVID-19. The health and safety of all workers on Sound Transits construction sites are of utmost importance to us. Our contractors have primary responsibility for their wellbeing while working on our projects. Sound Transit is actively working with the contractors and construction management teams on all our projects to assure that public health guidelines are being followed.

Construction and traffic restrictions on Commerce Street.

As soon as Feb 22.

See more here:
No stormwater work in Commerce Street and S. 9th St. intersection this weekend - soundtransit.org

In the pavement maintenance industry, the use of coal-tar sealer is vast. These materials are safe and provide the best benefit to end users. Still, environmentalists have been trying for years to ban the use of these sealers.

In the state of Maryland, the legislature is attempting to pass a bill that will ban ALL coal tar and LP based sealers in the entire state. These sealers made up 85% of all sealer applied to parking lots and driveways in Maryland between 2019-2020. The ban would include:

The bill has now passed the Maryland House. The next step is consideration by the Senate.

"PCTC has been working in conjunction with the SealMaster franchisee in Maryland Tom Decker. The bill is an existential threat to Mr. Deckers business and everyone involved in the sealcoat business in Maryland," Anne LeHuray PCTC advisor says. "If you have colleagues/customers/supporters in Maryland, please ask them to contact members of the Committee asking them to oppose the sealant ban. If you are NOT in Maryland, you can still call and/or email your opposition."

The Maryland pavement maintenance industry is also asking our vast network of contractors to sign a petitionto show lawmakers how many jobs this ban will eliminate and the devastating impact it will have on the economy.

The fact remains, sealcoating with these products offers the very best protection and preservation, but local elected officials are wasting taxpayer dollars to enact bans on these safe products. Coal tar pavement sealer has been safely manufactured and applied on asphalt parking lots for over 50 years.

It's up to the industry as the constituents, to educate our elected officials on the impact this will have on small businesses that complete pavement maintenance services and the sealcoating industry as a whole.

Sign the petition here.

Excerpt from:
Pavement Maintenance Industry Urges a Stop to Maryland HB 77 - ForConstructionPros.com

I knew I could sell, but I didnt know how to manage my business.

What a scary realization to come to especially after four fast-growing years in business when everything seemed to be going in the right direction. But that is the realization Jim Bebo, president of ACI Asphalt & Concrete Inc., faced after 1997.

This is the story of how a concerted effort to rely on accurate job costing, focus on customer service, target specific markets, develop a turnkey CRM proprietary software system, and emphasize customer solutions instead of just bidding every opportunity enabled the Maple Grove, MN, pavement maintenance contractor to become a dominant force in the Minnesota and upper Midwest market.

This is the story of how ACI Asphalt & Concrete became Pavements 2021 Contractor of the Year.

When Bebo started ACI in 1993 he did not own any equipment. He survived by getting his general contractors license and focused not only on selling asphalt, but roofing, remodeling, and real estate, and he hired out subcontractors to get the work done. This, of course, brought a lot of challenges trying to juggle all the various businesses.

So, in 1995, ACI bought the subcontractor that had been doing his asphalt work, and in 1996 he bought his first self-propelled paver, and focused solely on asphalt. He called his company ACI Asphalt.

In 1997, Bebo quickly realized he was good at providing his customers with quality service, but he was barely staying afloat in his business. So he looked toward the National Pavement Expo to get the knowledge and networking he needed.

I remember buying the pass and sitting in every single class and leaving NPE with a long list of what to do when I got back, he says. I remember listening to Jeff Stokes in class and thinking Boy do I have a lot of work to do. I called him the Monday after the show and had him in here on Tuesday and the first two things we did were look at our job costs and start an estimating system based on job costing.

Accurate job costing is the difference between making a profit and not making it at all. Its as simple as that, he says. Contractors need to realize that if youre going to be in business today, you have to understand your job costs and bid your work accordingly. There is no room for fluff in bids if you want to remain competitive.

When Stokes and Bebo analyzed ACIs job costs, they learned not only why they needed to make some changes but also what some of those changes should be including focusing on different markets and changing the sales culture from old school bidding to a new consultative customer approach.

ACI realized that when they had trouble collecting payment, the problematic customers were almost always either a home builder or a small general contractor.

We were at the mercy of all these other people and all these other things that we couldnt control, and we were bidding so close that we couldnt afford any errors on our part or on anyone elses part. We couldnt afford delays or anything, he says. So ACI ran a tight ship for a couple of years.

In 1997, after focusing strictly on asphalt and making those changes, ACI and its 15 employees generated $1.4 million in paving and pavement maintenance work ranging from patching and repair to overlays and construction of new driveways and parking lots.

But despite the nice gross sales number, the company barely made a profit that year. However, ACI continued to grow at a successful rate, eventually reaching $5 million in sales with a payroll of 30 fulltime people in 2000. That same year ACI acquired strategically located property and built a new building. The new location featured a bigger yard, enabling the contractor to add bulk storage tanks and house more equipment, meaning it could perform almost all its own services rather than subcontract them out.

Then came 2002. We really amped it up that year, but we lost a ton of money, Bebo says. We did a lot of work for general contractors, and we lost money because we were running a driveway crew and a mainline crew, and the margins were terrible. I tried to compete where I couldnt, and we got ourselves into some real trouble.

He says he came to that realization in June 2002. But we had no choice but to play out the season and we did. That year was an MBA from Harvard. What I learned that year was its got to make sense or dont do it, Bebo says. It happens to all of us. Learning to say No was good. That year woke me up, pissed me off, and made me realize we cant be everything to everybody. I realized I had to figure out what were good at and do a lot of that.

So, in 2002 ACI revamped again, scaled back residential, eliminated most builders and general contractor work, no longer serviced small driveways, and started to focus on specific commercial markets, large HOAs and large residential jobs. We got rid of any customers who had a motive to squeeze us, started to build a sales team, and we dug ourselves out of a hole, Bebo says.

ACI retained quality accounts and built from there, focusing on how best to serve those customers, improving job costing, and growing no less than 10% each year.

Another improvement was a change in compensation for the sales team. That was essential to our growth, Bebo says. Compensation was now based on how well they managed the job and keeping the customer happy instead of just a percentage of the gross sale.

He says this allows them to focus solely on the customer solution and meeting customer needs not just bidding everything. ACIs business actually shrunk the first year they implemented the change, but then business improved soon after.

Like most businesses, ACIs revenue declined and business went down 25%. So, in 2009, ACI acquired its first infrared repair machine. Bebo says that single addition to its service offering has generated constant work for the company while providing a less-intrusive, short-term solution that is more cost-effective for the customer.

The main reason we bought an infrared machine was because the economy was tough for many of our customers, he says. It got to the point where I couldnt tell a property manager it was going to cost X dollars for three patches because I knew they couldnt spend that amount of money. Now, however, we can do those same patches for one-third the price in half the time with infrared. Thats another move we made with our customer in mind. Now ACI runs 4 infrared units.

By 2010, ACI completed about 900 jobs, and the companys growth was increasing. They bought a six-acre site in Maple Grove, MN -- now the main headquarters -- to help propel them to the next level. The company employed more than 40 people, with twice as many field personnel as sales or administrative employees. ACI was sending between three and seven crews into the field each day, with about 70% of revenue generated from paving and patching, and 30% from sealcoating and cracksealing.

In 2012, ACI added a concrete division and added concrete to its name, becoming ACI Asphalt & Concrete. They had been subbing out concrete work for many years but realized they didnt have control over quality or continuity of the projects, which was not in the best interest of the customer.

ACI started its concrete division with five employees; it now has 20 employees representing 15% of the business. Managing quality control ourselves was the only way we were going to provide concrete services, Bebo says. If we cant do it the right way for our customers, were not going to do it at all.

In 2018, as demand for ACIs services continued to grow, ACI made the strategic decision to acquire the people and assets of Asphalt Associates of Roberts, WI, and Minnesota Asphalt Maintenance, St. Paul, MN. You cant just add equipment to grow, you need the right people too, Bebo says. We saw an opportunity to make these strategic acquisitions, and we focused on bringing the best parts of each of our cultures together to make ACI stronger and better positioned to serve our customers.

There are two big challenges in this business, as far as employees go. One is the seasonality of our business and the second is getting the right can do people on our team, Bebo says. Weve always kept a few people on during the offseason, and when the company was smaller, we were able to keep more people on. But with 100-plus employees we cant do that anymore. We cant keep that many employees on 12 months even though were only working nine months.

To balance the seasonality aspect, ACI seeks fulltime workers who are willing to work seven to nine months with the other months working another job or on unemployment. Through our unions and our benefit programs, our employees are able to get year-round benefits which helps balance the seasonality of most of our jobs, he says.

After our reawaking back in 2003, we evolved our approach to hiring and focused even more on getting the right people on the team to fit our mission, vision and the skills we need to be successful, Bebo says. He says that for years he would hire skilled people and throw money at them and hope they work out. Now, however, ACI hires people for cultural and skill fit and lets them work their way up in the company, promoting from within wherever possible.

This way, they learn the business the way we want to do business he says. Its much less risk for ACI, offers the right people the opportunity to succeed and its been much more successful for all parties, adding that ACIs retention rate is 85%.

Also enabling ACIs growth has been the consistent development of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. For years, ACI scheduled its jobs on a white board, but starting in 2010, ACI added scheduling to its software system, managed by a fulltime scheduler.

Then in 2016, ACI developed a full-service CRM system and turned it into a turnkey software system that integrates virtually all aspects of the business including CRM, sales, management, and operations. It is more of a workflow and business operation system incorporating everything from job costing to scheduling to reporting equipment costs and even gross profit. All in real-time. This has helped ACIs growth exponentially. The software, PROcru, is used by ACI and several customers and is also available to all other contractors across the country.

Additionally, the development of the PROcru App has improved business greatly as it provides immediate job costing results. Weve eliminated all the job costing paperwork and we are no longer waiting on the foreman to manually enter in all of the information every night, Bebo says. Each field employee manages their own time and equipment costs on their own App. This gives them accountability, and no one needs to be micromanaged.

Bebo says ACI has always made a concerted effort to lower its operating cost and overhead so the company could be more flexible with its proposals and better able to add or upgrade equipment when needed.

He says tighter management of labor contributed significantly to lower direct costs of the project. When crews are in the field, ACI works to make sure crew members are being cost-effective on the jobsite, making them aware of the choices they make during the day and on the job and the impact those choices have on the job and on the bottom line.

We try to drive home the fact that they dont work for me and they dont work for ACI. Ultimately, we all work for the customer and the customer pays the bills and pays our salary. ACI just signs the checks, Bebo says.

When we drive operating costs down, we can provide a better service and the same high-quality work as we always have and we do that because thats what our customers have told us they want, Bebo says. We never want to be the company with the lowest price as that requires a business to cut corners and we would never do that.

We are the most cost-effective producer out there for the value given and property managers and owners understand what that means for them. Add our constant communication, professionalism and following through on all our commitments and choosing ACI as a top vendor is a no-brainer.

Even with all its attention on reducing operating costs and job costing, ACI still carries a lot of overhead.

Overhead is tricky because you can only spend so much money on it before you get into trouble. But if you dont have the overhead you just cant give to the customer the service they need and want.

Bebo adds that ACI does not believe in massive borrowing to finance equipment, so the company carries very little debt. That philosophy was key to surviving recent economic downturns because ACI has been able to borrow where other contractors couldnt because their debt load is too high.

Our financial strength and fiscally conservative nature have enabled us to weather the storms and not miss a beat, Bebo says. The quality of our people, our investment in our equipment fleet, the quality of the work we do and the way we approach our business, and our customers helps us get through. But one of the biggest things is our willingness to change. We adapt as the economy and market conditions change -- that is essential in this business.

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ACI Asphalt & Concrete named 2021 Contractor of the Year by Pavement Magazine - ForConstructionPros.com

WUWM's Chuck Quirmbach reports on the Snow Angels program in West Allis.

The snow depth in Milwaukee is now the deepest it's been in about 20 years as snow shovelers with sore backs or shoulders can well attest. In most cities, it's up to the property owners to hire a plowing service. Or, they buy a snowblower or a good shovel, and do pavement clearing themselves. But West Allis recently joined the ranks of snowy North American cities that match older, or disabled, homeowners with volunteer shovelers.

West Allis has about 60,000 residents. Some people live in older, tightly-packed neighborhoods. Others live in areas developed after World War II, where the homes are more spread out.

It's in one of those newer neighborhoods where Nate Meyer was at work on a cold and windy night recently, pushing a snow shovel.

Meyer was clearing a 50-foot long driveway of about three inches of newly fallen snow. The snow looked heavy and wet, but Meyer, so to speak, brushed off that notion.

"Ah, it's actually not too bad tonight. I thought it was going to be worse, Meyer says.

Meyer is one of about 40 West Allis residents who have volunteered for a new city program called Snow Angels.Unpaid shovelers are matched with homeowners who are 55 or older, permanently disabled or otherwise unable to shovel their sidewalks, driveways or alleys.

Meyer is an energetic 30-something who says, no, he has not lost his marbles, not completely.

"Maybe a little bit, he says. I was actually like, looking for a way to volunteer in my community, and I happened to see this posted on Facebook, and I'm like, 'Why not, I'll give it a shot, you know?' I'm younger, able to do the shoveling."

Meyer signed up to shovel two homes that night. One belongs to Jane Adams, who's wearing a cast on her left foot due to a recent surgery. Adams has a snow blower and says she normally does her own driveway. But not this winter, and she says her relatives and friends are out of the picture.

"I have family and friends, but they also have a lot of medical things going on right now. So, I was kind of in a bind, and when I saw the Snow Angels program, I thought, 'I'm going to sign up,'" Adams says.

She's not alone. West Allis reports 50 people quickly signed up for the program. And with demand for shovelers currently outpacing the supply, the city has stopped taking applications, for now.

Shoveling snow or doing other work on someone else's property can betricky, since homeowners often want things done just so. But Adams praises her Snow Angel Nate Meyer.

"I'm like, he's meticulous, he doesn't leave piles. I mean, he does a perfect job, she says.

West Allis says it modeled Snow Angels after similar programs in Pittsburgh, Denver and Canada.

West Allis Mayor Dan Devine says his community does have neighborhood associations and church groups that offer snow shoveling. But Devine says demand is typically unmet, and he wanted the city to do its part.

"We know that we have to salt, we have to plow. We have to pick up garbage. We have to recycle, and people are happy with those services. But when it goes to the extra steps, we did look at other cities offerings and just thought it would be a good idea for our population, he says.

Devine says there's little cost to the city. And to reduce liability concerns, homeowners have to sign a waiver saying West Allis is not responsible for any injuries.

The mayor, who is pushing 50, notes he's not quite eligible for shoveling help from the Snow Angels program. "Not yet, not yet. I hope it's still in place when I am," he says.

Read more:
The Snow Angels Of West Allis Help Elderly And Disabled Property Owners - WUWM

Road crews battle the weather to keep the city moving while cleaning up in the wake of Winters mixed mess.

Here is how the Erie City Streets Department is working during a snow storm.

Its hard to drive through a snow storm or to shovel snow to clear your driveway.

Erie City Streets Department is doing their part by working around the clock to plow the streets.

Keeping safe during a snow storm is hard to do especially if you have to travel in your car or shovel your driveway.

Im 64 at the end of this month so I dont need to be pushing heavy snow. I dont need to have a heart attack out here, said Mark Andrews, Erie Resident.

Once you get out of the driveway, theres another challenge.

Its kind of bad out here, but I think the ice is more bad than the snow. Its what is under the snow thats bad, said Drewey Williams, Erie Resident.

Its that mix that has made the latest storm unique. Its also forced the Erie Streets Bureau to work around the clock.

The bureau allowed us to ride along as one of the citys plows cleared the roads on Tuesday night.

Weve prepared for this storm. We had the trucks in and we serviced them all, checked all the fluid levels, the blade bolts, sprains and everything. We made sure all the spreaders were working properly. Everything was maintained and ready to go, said Steve Sornberger, Bureau Chief of Streets.

The Erie City Streets Department uses trucks such as this one to plow through the streets to not only let people drive through safely, but also for first responders.

This plow is actually 12 feet wide, and this is eight. So we can cover a 20 foot sloth of road going one way and we use this on main runs so we can go down the road and clear a big sloth with one shot, said Sornberger.

The interesting thing about those big plow trucks is that they have a mixture called brine. So what is it?

Brine is a condensed liquid of salt and water. This is then released while salting the roads.

Once on direct pavement it will create a barrier between any new fresh coating of snow, so the next time they replow the same spot it is easier to remove.

Link:
Road crews battle the weather to keep the city moving - YourErie

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 10: Chase Briscoe, driver of the #14 HighPoint.com Ford, sits in ... [+] his car in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2021 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Chase Briscoe may have just started in Nascars Cup series, but the rookie is already making an impact. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver made the move into the Cup series this season after a successful 2020 Nascar Xfinity series campaign that saw him score nine wins and make the Championship 4.

Briscoe was tapped to take over the No. 14 Ford for Stewart-Haas for outgoing driver Clint Bowyer late last year. Not only did Briscoe bring his helmet to the Cup series with him, he also brought his primary sponsor HighPoint, an IT integration services company that joined him in the Xfinity series and is new to Nascar.

While HighPoint might not be recognizable to all Nascar fans yet, another sponsor, also new to the sport, is along for the ride. And this one has a great deal of brand name recognition.

The Huffy Corporation is widely known across America. The bike manufacturer began its sponsorship of Briscoe last season during the virtual racing league iRacing and that virtual became reality starting with last weeks Daytona 500. For Briscoe, the sponsorship is a homecoming of sorts.

Growing up, I had a Huffy bicycle. I had imaginary races in my driveway on that thing, he said chuckling. I wasn't out there with anybody else, but I would set up cones in my driveway and I was imagining I was racing other people.

For me, a lot of my childhood, I remember truthfully being on a Huffy, I'm not saying that because they're associated with me now. Like that's a true honest thing. And, you know, it's pretty neat.

With Huffy, Briscoe has now brought in two high-profile sponsors to the sport. The latest, as he points out, is also very involved in racing.

For me to be able to be the guy that has brought them into NASCAR is a huge honor and very humbling, he said. It's really neat to, to see those guys be so involved like they are, and they're so interested in it.

Yes, they're on two wheels and we're on four wheels, but you know, they still have a racing division like BMX and all these other things. It's really a good tie in, and hopefully we have a relationship that will last a long time, because it's, it's great on my end.

The sponsorship couldnt have come at a better time for Briscoe, coming just as COVID-19 put the world in a lockdown last year. Especially when that sponsorship included a bike of his own.

It was really a great way to get out of the house, Briscoe said. When COVID first started, training wise, I was on a stationary bike. So, when Huffy and I lined up at the beginning of COVID, it allowed me and my wife to go out and do something outside finally. And it was just a huge thing to be able to get out of the house and have something every day to look forward to.

Chase and Marissa Briscoe love getting out of the house and riding.

Jimmie Johnson, the 7-time champion who recently left the sport could be seen riding his bike with crewmembers, other drivers and people who work in the industry during race weekends. That seems to be one of the legacies he left behind.

Its something that, truthfully the Nascar garage ever since Jimmie, Briscoe said. I would say a large, large majority of the, not only the industry, but specifically at Stewart-Haas, almost half of our guys on their lunch break, go and ride bikes. I mean, that's what they do.

And all that riding has helped in the racecar as well.

My crew chief just yesterday went and rode 25 miles, Briscoe said. Man, it's a huge thing in Nascar. And I think it's just because it is relatable to what we do. You know, it's a team kind of aspect. You can go out and ride with your buddies you can still talk and communicate. The drafting is very similar what we do on the racetrack.

Unlike Jimmie Johnson who spent most of his time riding on pavement, Briscoe prefers going off-road.

Huffy actually sent me an off-road bike, he said. It was something that last year, one of the guys on the Xfinity team was really big into. So just picking his brain and trying to go do it. It reminds me kind of, of growing up. I rode a little bit of dirt bike stuff just for fun and it's kind of like that. It's intense because you're going on these trails that are narrow, there's some jumps it's, it's really, really exciting.

So while other drivers might be gulping energy drinks or eating fast food, Chase Briscoe is riding his bike just like he did when he was a kid winning imaginary races in his driveway.

It's a great thing for me to be tied in with Huffy, he said. And then, you know, all of the things they've been doing from the Chase the Ride deal to help other people go and get bikes at 20% off. And then also, you know, every time we won a race last year, they would donate a thousand dollars a children's hospital.

There's just so many things they're doing to try to bridge that gap to the racing crowd. it's been really neat for me to be tied to a brand that we're just so well known, and it's such a great company from top to bottom.

More here:
Nascar Rookie Brings Another Major Sponsor To The Cup Series - Forbes