Editors’ Blog
New NSSGA membership plan for small operations
Good news for smaller aggregate operations. The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) now offers a lower-price membership option for single-location producers with fewer than 10 non-office employees. There are some limitations, as this new "eProducer" membership does not… Keep Reading
Martin Marietta shares expectations for 2015
Nonresidential construction is expected to increase. Residential construction should continue to grow. Energy-related economic activity is anticipated to remain strong. And highway funding should remain stable. Taking these factors into account, Martin Marietta expects its business to increase this year… Keep Reading
Vulcan optimistic about prospects for 2015
Vulcan Materials Co. experienced a very successful fourth quarter of 2014, reporting an 11 percent increase in total revenues, a 15 percent increase in shipments and a 45 percent increase in gross profit compared with the prior year's fourth quarter.… Keep Reading
Transportation secretary calls for long-term bill in committee hearing
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx met with the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Jan. 28, calling once again for a multi-year highway bill. According to The Hill, Foxx said short-term extensions are eroding states’ ability to commit to road… Keep Reading
Frac sand market: Conflicting reports
Will the drop in oil prices affect the frac sand market in 2015? Optimists say no, but the impact may already be happening. A number of sources are reporting it's business-as-usual for frac-sand operations despite the price of oil. An… Keep Reading
Renewable energy for the aggregates industry
Like some other types of mining, change comes very slowly to the aggregates industry. Pick up a 1950s-era photo of an aggregates plant from our extensive photo archive, and unless a vehicle is in the shot to give a clue… Keep Reading
‘Built for It’ trials embody creative construction
Caterpillar has taken construction to the next level with its series of “Built for It” trials, where it demonstrates its equipment in challenging, unique tasks. Among the latest of these tasks was building the world’s tallest sand castle. A Cat… Keep Reading
Gas tax an option for top Republican leader
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the incoming Republican leader of the Senate Transportation Committee, says a gas tax increase is up for consideration. "I don't think we take anything off the table at this point," John Thune said on "Fox News… Keep Reading
Poll: Majority of Americans still oppose gas tax increase
Transportation advocates continue to lobby for a variety of potential solutions to address the shortfall in federal highway funds, but a gas tax increase remains unlikely to emerge as the solution to the funding dilemma. According to SKDKnickerbocker and Benenson… Keep Reading
