You’d be hard pressed to meet a heavy equipment owner who doesn’t understand the need to extend machine life and minimize down time. Getting the most from a fleet is a priority for owners and managers, but not their only one. Budgets and time constraints have left more than one piece of equipment waiting for repair until it became critical. PARKER Whether cutting costs or simply ignoring equipment, consequences can be exponentially expensive if overlooked. Consider the following maintenance tips: Follow Manufacturer Guidelines How often do you check the torque on your bed articulation hitches? When did you last look at
Most businesses struggle with a shortage of cash at some point. For contractors it�s nearly a way of life. GUAJARDO What some contractors overlook is a way to raise cash other industries don’t have. This is provided by equipment through sale-leaseback agreements. Sale-leaseback agreements essentially work this way: A contractor sells its equipment to a finance company and leases it back. The contractor raises capital while retaining use of the equipment. For tax purposes, FASB Statement 13 generally treats a sale-leaseback as a single transaction in which any profit or loss is deferred and amortized by the seller, who becomes
Cost efficiency is foremost on everyone’s mind in this economy, but one thing is certain: No firm can afford to skimp on safety. HARVEY A focus on project and worker safety is a cost-saving move. An incident or injury can have short- and long-term repercussions on your firm’s bottom line. Injuries are no longer considered “the cost of doing business.” Firms must view a quality safety program as a part of doing business. With the change in focus from “compliance requirement” to “value-based,” safety becomes an inseparable indicator of excellence as much as productivity and quality. By “doing it right,”
Georgia Branch, AGC Holds Annual Convention at Amelia Island September 2009 Image Popups More Than 340 Attend Georgia Branch AGC’s Annual Convention The annual convention for Georgia Branch, AGC was held June 7-9 in Amelia Island, Fla., with more than 340 people attending. Speakers included AGC of America�s CEO Stephen Sandherr; Doug Pruitt, 2009 president of AGC of America and president of Sundt Construction; and Scott Shelar, executive director of the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia. Chapter offi cers and board members were installed for the 2009-2010 year: They include: president - Dan Baker, Duffey Southeast of Cedartown, Ga.; vice
The American Institute of Architect’s series of construction contracts are likely the most commonly used construction contracts throughout the United States. The AIA recently released the 2007 A201 General Conditions (“General Conditions”) and Standard Forms of Agreement Between Owner and Contractor (A101, A102 and A103) to which it has made significant revisions. GENTILE The dispute resolution provisions have changed. The prior versions provided for the resolution of all disputes by binding arbitration in accordance with the Construction Industry Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Because owners and contractors often deleted this provision, the revised General Conditions now allow the parties
The State Transportation Board in Georgia plans to use up to half of its $932 million in stimulus funding for maintenance projects, such as resurfacing and interstate rehabilitation. Roughly a quarter will go for new-capacity or congestion-relief projects. About 10% will fund bridge replacement and rehab, another 10% is for safety projects and 4% is for enhancements. Photo: GDOT Attending the ceremony marking Georgia's first stimulus project were, from left: Clayton Co. Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell, Deputy U.S. Transportation Secretary John Porcari, Gov. Sonny Perdue, and Georgia Dept. of Transportation Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr. Photo: Steve Hudson Trucks get
Zachry of San Antonio, Texas, topped Southeast Construction's design-build contractor list with $378 million in project revenue in 2008, and since then the company has added to its portfolio. Photo: FPL A recent aerial view of FPL's $2.1-billion West County Energy Center project, currently under construction in Palm Beach County. Related Links: Top Design-Builders Ranking Zachry, in a joint venture with Black and Veatch of Kansas City, Mo., began working on units one and two at the $2.1-billion West County Energy Center for Florida Power & Light of Juno in April 2007, and later it picked up the contract for
Suffolk Construction Co. in West Palm Beach is weathering South Florida’s harsh brand of economic turmoil by branching out into new markets and embracing technology to streamline operations. Photo: Suffolk Construction Suffolk Construction's Met 2 project in downtown Miami. The project's office and hotel towers are rising simultaneously. Photo: Suffolk Construction Suffolk Construction completed the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies in Port St. Lucie, Fla., five months early. Related Links: South Florida Report: All Dried Up “We’re not growing, but we are staying even in our revenues,” says Rex Kirby, president and general manager of the Southeast Region for
New construction starts have slowed in Palm Beach and Broward counties, but a couple of big projects about to begin in South Florida have contractors hopeful for better times ahead. Photo: Aerial Photo Inc./www.api4.com A reminder of recent times, when construction opportunities dotted the landscape. Miami-based Coastal Construction's nearly completed Promenade project. A rendering of the new Florida Marlins baseball park, which will feature a retractable roof. Located in Miami, the $430-million project, which officially broke ground is July, is raising hopes of creating jobs for contractors located in Broward and Palm Beach counties, too. Image courtesy Populous. Related Links:
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