Train Wisely for the 2024 Construction Season
BY AsphaltPro Staff
Newer contractors may not recognize the importance of a training program or an onboarding regimen that includes a set number of hours for skills and industry training. You can tell a new worker on July 6 that he wants to set the screed at 1 inch above the surface before takeoff on a golf cart path and everything is well and good. But if that same worker gets out to a mainline paving job July 15 where the mat thickness will be 2 inches compacted, you better hope he doesn’t assume the screed is always set at 1 inch above the surface. You better hope he understands lift thickness and fluff factor.
In other words, you want him to be trained in best paving practices and not just told what setting to use at each new project he encounters.
That’s the kind of education and industry knowledge every newcomer needs. Whether you’re welcoming someone to the plant, quarry, lab, paving crew, striping team or what have you, teaching them the basics is step one. You want them to have overall wisdom and knowledge as well as the step-by-step directions for running a piece of equipment. Take a look at the opportunities these AsphaltPro partners offer to see how you can bring all your team members up to speed.
Also use the training articles in this year’s directory along with the training department we include each month to shore up your arsenal of educational information. There’s always something to help newcomers and refresh veterans in our pages.
Web Extra: Get quick tips delivered to your inbox once a week for training crewmembers at the lab, plant, mechanic’s shed or paving site. AsphaltPro Magazine prepares a Monday Morning Toolbox Tip on a range of topics and delivers this for free to anyone in the industry. Sign up here: https://theasphaltpro.com/subscribe/.
Asphalt Pavement Alliance
School Name: N/A
APA offers in-person and online training throughout the year to anyone interested in increasing their knowledge of asphalt. Some webinars have a fee; others do not.
Visit driveasphalt.org/events/all
AsphaltPro Magazine
School Name: Asphalt Paving 101
AsphaltPro Magazine offers a virtual training course for paving contractors available anytime you want it. There is a one-time fee for the online course to make it available to your entire crew on all your devices.
Visit TheAsphaltPro.com’s training tab.
Astec Industries
School Name: Asphalt Road Construction Schools
Astec offers in-person training with a unique combination of lectures and hands-on practice in the plant and paving categories for customers and dealers who pre-register. There is a fee for training; classes in January, February and March typically sell out quickly.
Visit AstecIndustries.com/service/training or call (423) 827-1899
B&S Light Industries
School Name: none
B&S Light offers hands-on training in-person at the customer’s site to those customers who request it.
Call (918) 342-1160
Blaw-Knox Corporation, a division of Gencor Industries
School Name: The Blaw-Knox University
Blaw-Knox offers in-person training courses on paver operation and maintenance and best paving practices for dealers and customers in January and early February 2024. There is a fee for training and class size is limited.
Visit BlawKnox.com/training or call (407) 290-6000 ext. 342
Clarence Richard Company
School Name: Asphalt Plant Operation Schools
Clarence Richard offers web-based plant training for any plant personnel. The fee for training varies based on which multi-day course is needed.
Visit ezFloWeighing.com
Command Alkon
School Name: Regional TRAININGDAYS
Command Alkon offers in-person training through the school, Regional TRAININGDAYS, and customers can arrange online training within their product group(s) outside of the school. There is a fee for training.
Visit commandalkon.com/trainingdays
E5 Engineers
School Name: N/A
E5 Engineers, Chickamauga, Georgia, offers client training for asphalt professionals in need of solutions appropriate for improving operations in profitability and sustainability.
Visit e5engineers.com or contact malcolm@e5engineers.com
Gencor Industries
School Name: Gencor Advanced Training School
Gencor Industries offers in-person training to improve overall plant production and efficiency. Classes are for hot-mix asphalt producers that own and operate HMA facilities. There is a fee for training and class size is limited. To secure a seat for the January and early February classes, please register before Dec. 15, 2023.
Visit Gencor.com/training or call (407) 290-6000 ext. 342
Geophysical Survey System Inc.
School Name: GSSI Academy
The GSSI Academy offers over 100 classes taught in Nashua, New Hampshire, and Henderson, Nevada, on the use of ground penetrating radar (GPR) as a quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) tool and how to use GSSI equipment.
Contact sales@geophysical.com or (800) 524-3011 or visit geophysical.com
Meeker Equipment Company Inc.
School Name: none
Meeker offers in-person training for customers. There is a fee for training.
Visit MeekerEquipment.com
National Center for Asphalt Technology
School Name: Auburn University
NCAT at Auburn University offers in-person and webinar courses, continuing education, and other academic programs. Some training requires a fee for non-Test Track sponsors. Check the website for details.
Visit eng.auburn.edu/research/centers/ncat
Web Extra: You can train your paving crew online as many times as you want, for one set price. AsphaltPro Magazine offers Asphalt Paving 101. This back-to-basics course is available to everyone on your crew with the purchase of only one subscription. Take the online course as many times as you need to with as many crewmembers as you need to for life with that one purchase. Visit the “Training” tab at TheAsphaltPro.com.
National Pavement Expo
School Name: NPE
With new programming and new presenters for Jan. 23-25, 2024, NPE offers in-person education sessions and break-out “huddles” for small-group learning in a contractor-oriented atmosphere.
Visit nationalpavementexpo.com
Stansteel-Hotmix Parts & Service
School Name: Hotmix University
Stansteel hosts in-person training in Louisville and offers periodic “Hotmix How-to” webinars for asphalt plant managers/superintendents and plant managers. There is a fee for training.
Call (502) 245-1977 or visit HotmixU.com
Tarmac International Inc.
School Name: none
Tarmac offers in-person training and online meetings for trouble-shooting to customers and potential customers. Fees vary depending on the situation.
Call (816) 220-0700
Top Quality Paving & Training
School Name: Top Quality Paving & Training
John Ball offers in-person, on-site training of paving crews and in-person seminars through his Top Quality Paving & Training consulting service; and offers virtual training through the online course Asphalt Paving 101 with AsphaltPro Magazine. There is a fee for a week’s booking or a speaking engagement.
Contact tqpaving@yahoo.com or call (603) 493-1458
Willow Designs
School Name: none
Willow Designs offers in-person, on-site training and provides conference calls when needed. Training is focused on contractors who are usually clients. There is a fee unless the client has selected the package of Notch Wedge systems with the 8-hour shift of support included.
Call (717) 919-9828
Wirtgen Group
School Name: Wirtgen America’s Center for Training and Technology (CTT)
Wirtgen Group offers in-person training at the CTT for customers, dealers, employees and the road construction industry. There is a fee.
Visit Wirtgen-Group.com/en-us