Category: Business
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How California’s Refinery Closures Hit Asphalt Contractors
California is on track to lose another major refinery just months after Phillips 66 fully shuttered its Los Angeles-area operations at the end of 2025. Valero’s Benicia plant is now set to end refining by April 2026. Together those two closures wipe out roughly 309,000 barrels per day of capacity, about 18% of the state’s…
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Stellar Industries to Acquire Elliott Equipment, Expanding Lifting Solutions
Stellar Industries, a 100% employee-owned manufacturer of work trucks and service equipment, has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Elliott Equipment Company, a U.S. maker of truck-mounted aerial platforms, digger derricks, and cranes. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary conditions. The acquisition expands Stellar’s presence in…
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How Government Shutdowns Disrupt Public Construction — and How Contractors Can Stay Resilient
The government shutdown last month caused headaches for industries across the board. But public construction projects are hit especially hard, even in the aftermath. Why? These projects depend heavily on government decisions for the funding and approvals that keep them moving. When Washington, DC, faces political gridlock, it can freeze entire projects for weeks or…
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From Apprenticeships to Automation: Inside Construction’s New Tech-Driven Workforce
Twenty-five years ago, the construction industry was completing takeoffs on paper, filing cabinets filled job trailers, and cell phones were just being introduced. Today, jobsites are run from tablets, equipment operators navigate using GPS, and AI identifies issues in massive point clouds in minutes rather than hours. The transformation isn’t just changing how construction gets…
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2026 Infrastructure Outlook: Sustainability, Monitoring and Lifespan Planning Lead the Way
2026 is shaping up to be an important year for the infrastructure world as governments, cities and private developers deal with growing pressure on aging systems. Instead of focusing only on building quickly or staying under budget, more attention is shifting toward durability, long-term performance and overall resilience. The goal is no longer just to…
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What Will Shape Construction in 2026? Interest Rates, Labor Gaps and Market Shifts
Growth in the construction industry plateaued over the past year — and in 2026, look for that trend to continue. Faced with labor shortages, supply chain issues and economic pressures like high interest rates and tariff uncertainty, construction will need to adopt more disciplined habits and embrace both technological and cultural innovation in order to…
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AI-Powered Digital Twins Drive New Era of Data-Driven Construction
The construction industry is incredibly fast-paced, meaning that any innovation that can accelerate operations will immediately pique the interest of construction professionals. However, this increased efficiency must not come at the expense of safety, as a safety incident could be catastrophic — not to mention deadly. The digital twin is the rare innovation that promises…
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What the PERMIT Act Means for Contractors: Faster Reviews, Fewer Delays
Washington has been busy reshaping how Clean Water Act permitting works, and for once, the changes appear aimed at reducing headaches rather than adding new ones. That’s really good news, considering that in our 2026 State of the Roadbuilding Industry contractor survey, one of the biggest concerns voiced by contractors was in regards to permitting…
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QBE: Labor Gaps, Higher Costs Shape 2025 U.S. Commercial Construction Outlook
QBE North America has released its 2026 U.S. Commercial Construction Outlook, developed with Control Risks, outlining key pressures and opportunities for the industry. The report, which is based off of 2025 reports, says commercial construction faces continued labor shortages, driven by an aging workforce and immigration limits, even as overall employment remains high. Material costs…
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Winter 2025 Burnout Risk Index Highlights Pressures Facing Construction and Trade Workers
A new analysis from Vegas Insider ranks burnout risk across 50 job categories heading into winter 2025, offering insight into how seasonal pressures and working conditions affect construction, trades and other labor-intensive fields. While healthcare and social services still top the overall list, the report notes that many construction and trade occupations face elevated burnout…