Attitudes among roadbuilders attending the industry's largest expo were positive. Budgets have returned to higher levels, and more work is available. "Orders so far in 2014 have been steady," said Ben Brock, chief executive officer of Astec Industries, which displayed 41 new products at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014, held on March 4-8 in Las Vegas.
However, not all equipment categories are as rosy. A slowdown in mining has hit sales of large earthmovers, and contractors are renting more and holding onto assets longer. Doug Oberhelman, chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Inc., said he remains "very guardedly optimistic" about 2014. Likewise, the global crane market is still "lumpy," noted Larry Weyers, global executive vice president of Manitowoc Cranes.