The J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights and the American Association of Safety Professionals (ASSP) announced today that they have launched a new study to gain a deeper understanding of the state of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) in the construction industry. The study survey is open to those in the construction industry and related trades through Wednesday, July 9, 2025, by visiting https://jjkeller.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7OtYkNcvPNeNOWW.

 Why This Study Matters

In an industry where safety risks are prominent, understanding the unique EHS challenges faced by construction professionals is critical to creating a safer future. This study seeks to uncover the challenges, spark essential conversations and drive meaningful change toward a safer working environment for everyone involved.

A Collaborative Effort

“The J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights specifically sought to partner with ASSP on this study because our organizations have a likeminded commitment to the work of safety professionals and to helping them create safe jobsites,” said Susan Baranczyk, Head of Corporate Communications at J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. “Our goal is to shine a spotlight on the critical EHS issues impacting the construction sector so that all in the industry can focus on solutions that enhance safety.”

“Improving safety in construction requires collaboration, data and a clear understanding of the realities safety professionals face every day. Real-world insights are essential to building safer, healthier jobsites, and ASSP is proud to collaborate on a project that puts the voice of the safety professional at the center,” said ASSP President Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP.

The insights gathered from the study will be shared with the public, offering valuable knowledge that can shape future safety protocols and practices within the industry.

ASSP and J. J. Keller invite all in the construction industry and related trades to contribute to this significant research effort by the end of day July 9, 2025, using the following link: https://jjkeller.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7OtYkNcvPNeNOWW.

The DD15 asphalt compactor from Volvo now comes in an electric configuration, which debuted at WOA 2025. Originally, according to the Volvo website, the DD15 vibratory compactor featured a Stage IIIB / Tier 4i engine and an operating weight of 3,372 pounds, with ROPS. The 1.5-ton DD15 Electric asphalt compactor is a double drum machine with features similar to the 2.5-ton DD25 Electric. Its size fits small-scale jobs like parking lots, driveways and municipal work.

The DD15 Electric can fully charge in three and a half hours with a 240-volt Level 2 charging setup or in 12 hours with a 120-volt Level 1 outlet. Customers will get a few days of work from the compactor with typical light usage, according to the manufacturer, if factoring non-accumulating idle hours.

For more information, visit your local Volvo dealer.

Once a project is complete and you invoice the customer, the last thing you want to do is send the crew back to the property or project site to do extra work for free. You can prevent callbacks by setting the crew up for success with good training of best practices for all projects.

Start with planning. Stage the equipment on pavement repair jobs, as well as new construction projects, so you “end” on the way off the property. For parking lots, pave or seal your way off the lot so minor mistakes, roller marks, or dripped sealcoat material can be covered with the surface course, rolled out, or squeegeed over as you finish up. If it’s not possible to stage equipment “on” the project, put heavy tarps down under equipment to keep any drips from marring grass, landscaping or nearby property that you would otherwise be asked to come back and clean.

Speaking of cleaning, it’s Step No.1 when the crew gets to a repair job. Make sure crew members take the time to clean the area that will be repaired. Rout out grass and weeds. No customer should see stubby black weeds sticking out of cracks in his parking lot at the completion of your job.

When you’re taking care of cracks, make sure you don’t skimp on energy. Take the time to saw cut 2 to 3 inches beyond the area of cracking. Get the whole problem removed. Yes, you’ll use more material that way, but your estimator should be aware that the team uses a top-quality mindset from the outset of a job. He (or she) will quote the job with the right amount of material to get it done right.

Remember the cleaning step? Do it again. After you rout or cut cracks or pothole areas, clean the area with a broom and/or air compressor. If you have the man hours, using water and air is best. Get that surface ready for maximum adhesion of material.

When filling potholes or newly saw-cut areas, tack the base and vertical edges. Don’t skimp on this relatively inexpensive material. Remember, this should be part of the quoted price, so use tack to ensure your repair is going to last.

Use clean and well-maintained equipment and tools. This shows the pride you have in your jobs. You want material sticking to the repair, not your plate compactor.  In the end, you want the customer to be pleased all summer long. Whether that customer is a commercial parking lot owner, a residential property manager or a state DOT, the sensible education offered in our online training course, Asphalt Paving 101, goes in-depth to help paving crews deliver a top-quality job.

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Transportation Products of Texas, Inc., offers the Model RBM300 bitumen applicator, which is a fully equipped applicator designed to switch from a walk-behind unit to a self-propelled unit in minutes with the optional LineDriver. It is portable enough to be transported on a regular pickup truck, according to the manufacturer. Features include:

• Automatic thermostat system
• Material thermometer
• External hand torch for burner lighting
• 300-pound capacity
• All-steel kettle
• 60,000-BTU burner system
• Foot brake
• Marker storage basket
• Discharge valves located on left and right sides

The optional LineDriver creates a one-man operation.

For more information, visit the transline website.

On June 25, 2025, the FAYAT Group held a groundbreaking ceremony to turn first dirt on the company’s new 100,000-square-foot parts distribution center in Fairfield County, South Carolina. Joining FAYAT Group President Jean-Claude Fayat and FAYAT Road Equipment Division General Manager, North America, Rob Mueckler were a host of dignitaries, including South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Chair of Fairfield County Council Clarence Gilbert, Fairfield County Economic Development Director Ann Broadwater, South Carolina State Senator Everett Stubbs and State Representative Annie E. McDaniel.

The $13.7 million investment will expand FAYAT’s operations in Fairfield County for its Road Equipment Division – which includes BOMAG Americas, Dynapac North America, Charlatte North America, Asphalt Drum Mixers, FAYAT Cleantech and the newly acquired Mecalac Group – to improve its after-sales support for customers throughout North America. Built adjacent to the company’s BOMAG Americas North American headquarters, the project will also enable FAYAT to increase localized production for its road machinery and enhance its training capabilities.

“I am proud to announce another strategic investment that will benefit the entire Road Division in multiple ways,” said Mr. Fayat to a crowd of state and local officials and FAYAT team members. “Groundbreaking for this new FAYAT distribution center in Fairfield County is not just a new facility. It is a symbol of our strategic investment in North America, Fairfield County, our dealers and our customers. This expansion is more than a business decision. It’s a testament to our confidence in the future of North America and our deep appreciation for the hardworking communities here.”

Mueckler added, “Ten years ago, the FAYAT Group made a strategic decision to invest in Fairfield County. Ever since, we’ve experienced tremendous success, thanks in no small part to the outstanding local workforce. The skill, commitment and work ethic of the people have made a lasting impact on our business. Today, this workforce has become one of our greatest competitive advantages.”

Also speaking during the ceremony, Governor McMaster commented, “FAYAT Group’s $13.7 million expansion once again proves that South Carolina provides existing businesses with the resources needed to find continued success. We’ve built a culture that supports businesses every step of the way, because we know thriving companies like FAYAT build vibrant communities.”

Command Alkon, a provider of software and technology solutions for the heavy building materials industry, has announced the acquisition of Digital Fleet, a company focused on fleet management solutions for the same sector. This acquisition is intended to expand Command Alkon’s technology offerings related to operations, logistics, and digital transformation for heavy building materials producers.

The transaction includes Digital Fleet’s full suite of products and its team. Known for its mobile-first approach and service responsiveness, Digital Fleet has experience serving customers in the heavy materials space. The company was previously owned by Ozinga Ventures, the investment arm of the Ozinga family, which focuses on a range of industries.

“We are delighted to welcome the Digital Fleet team to Command Alkon,” said Martin Willoughby, CEO of Command Alkon. “This acquisition exemplifies our Command Alkon 3.0 vision—integrating industry-leading products and exceptional talent to deliver innovative, scalable, secure, and smart solutions tailored to the needs of the heavy building materials sector.”

Digital Fleet’s platform will be integrated with Command Alkon’s Command Cloud suite, which includes solutions for dispatch, material supply, batch optimization, sales and quoting, and payment processing. According to the company, this integration is expected to provide users with additional functionality, operational insights, and user experience improvements tailored to the logistics challenges in the materials industry.

Command Alkon also stated it will continue to support and enhance both TrackIt—its existing fleet management product—and the Digital Fleet solution, with plans to unify these platforms under the broader Command Cloud roadmap.

“The synergy between TrackIt and Digital Fleet opens a new frontier of value for our customers,” said Ranjeev Teelock, Chief Product Officer at Command Alkon. “Together, we’re re-imagining the next-generation fleet experience for the heavy building materials industry—one that will offer enhanced visibility, streamlined delivery, and cost-saving automation for operations of all sizes.”

As part of the acquisition, Tim Oakes, former CEO of Digital Fleet, will join Command Alkon as Senior Vice President, Global Head of Fleet Solutions. In this role, he will oversee the combined fleet strategy and apply Digital Fleet’s operational knowledge to future developments.

“Joining forces with Command Alkon allows us to scale our vision and make a greater impact across the industry, and around the globe,” said Oakes. “We’re excited to be part of a company that shares our values of transparency, continuous improvement, and putting customers first. Together, we will continue to innovate and deliver industry focused solutions.”

Support systems, adoption frameworks, and training resources offered by Command Alkon will now be extended to Digital Fleet customers, with the goal of ensuring continuity and long-term product success.