Category: Expert Columns
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How Small Engine Uptime and Efficiency Increases Rental Business ROI
For rental businesses and construction contractors, the small engine is often an overlooked component, yet it remains the primary driver of jobsite productivity. While an engine’s upfront cost may raise some eyebrows, a truly profitable engine isn’t the one with the lowest price tag. The real measure of its worth is its long-term return on…
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AI and Open Access to Building Codes Are Key to Climate-Resilient Construction
The U.S. construction sector, worth more than $2.2 trillion annually, is continuing to build in the eye of the storm. Extreme heat, flooding, wildfires, and hurricanes are no longer rare, they’re routine. In 2024 alone, the country faced 27 separate billion-dollar disasters, with damages reaching $182.7 billion. Modern building codes are our strongest defense. They…
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Essential Heavy Equipment Tools Every Operator Needs for Safety and Efficiency
Heavy equipment tools can make the difference between a smooth workday and a pricey disaster. Operating massive machinery worth hundreds of thousands of dollars without proper preparation isn’t just unwise — it’s dangerous. The average technician puts $7,500 to $11,000 into their tool inventory, while specialists might spend up to $27,000. This investment pays off…
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AI-Enabled Jobsite Intelligence: How Contractors Can Unlock Safety, Efficiency, ROI
At the start of 2025, only 2% of construction firms reported using AI, but that percentage is expected to double over the course of the year. Not only will AI support productivity but two in three construction firms agree that the use of cutting-edge tools will help them recruit talent. Still, confusion persists surrounding how…
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Why Training and Maintenance Are Critical for Roadside Crash Cushions and Safety Systems
In highway work zones and along high-speed corridors, impact attenuators and crash cushions often serve as the last line of defense between a vehicle and catastrophe. These safety systems are engineered to absorb impact, redirect vehicles that veer off course, and protect both motorists and workers. Even the most rigorously tested device can fail if…
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What Happens When AI Gets It Wrong
In our previous articles, we explored different types of AI and their common uses. One of the more interesting — and important — issues is how much you should trust AI and the information it provides. Editor’s Note: previous articles offered a definition of AI for equipment rental businesses and thoughts on using Gen AI…
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Strategic Networking Tips for Concrete Contractors and Equipment Rental Professionals
In concrete contracting and equipment rental sectors, strategic networking is more than just a tool — it’s a pathway to success. Sharing resources and expertise is crucial, especially as the demand for concrete and equipment rental continues to rise with the demand for infrastructure projects and residential and commercial construction. Networking is not just about…
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Construction Industry Confronts Opioid Crisis and Mental Health Challenges
The construction industry is built on the strength of materials, structures, teams and individuals. Yet even the most resilient workforces are vulnerable to the challenges of today’s world. In recent years, the rise of drug overdose deaths across the United States has reached crisis levels, with Bexar County, Texas, home to San Antonio, seeing some…
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How Structured Data Can Unlock AI’s Potential in Construction
Most construction sites still operate with a patchwork of tools — updates shared via messaging apps, paper checklists and cloud folders that are often days out of date. With information fragmented and delayed, artificial intelligence (AI) feels disconnected from the realities of daily work. Until data is current, complete and centralized, AI remains a theoretical…
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Fix the Dam Concrete: Aging U.S. Dams Face Urgent Repairs
With America’s dams showing their age, utilities have an opportunity to tap into federal funding and modernize critical concrete infrastructure before costly failures strike. In the U.S., hydropower generates nearly 27% of renewable electricity and 93% of all utility-scale storage, yet the average dam is nearly 80 years old, according to the U.S. Department of…