NRMCA e-news
Association & Industry News

As recently reported by the RMC Research & Education Foundation, the Carbin app collects valuable data that can be used to demonstrate the need to policy makers for increased infrastructure investment. It can also provide important information to state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and municipalities about the condition of their roadways, so that they understand which roadways are performing best and can appropriately direct their infrastructure dollars. Carbin has already surveyed more than 35,000 lane miles around the world and builds upon research conducted at the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub).

The Carbin app is available for both Apple and Android smartphones. The data collected is then used to update and populate the FIX-MY-ROAD map, which may be viewed here.

The RMC Research & Education Foundation is a co-funder of the MIT CShub along with the Portland Cement Association. For more information about the work of the foundation, please visit www.rmc-foundation.org or contact Julie Garbini or Jennifer LeFevre.

The estimated ready mixed concrete produced in March 2019 is 27 million cubic yards, 1% lower than that in March 2018. The estimated production in the U.S. for 2019 through March is 71 million cubic yards, 2.4% higher than that during the same period in 2018.

Ready mixed concrete production is estimated from cement shipments reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. More detail, including production by state for the first quarter of 2019, is available here.

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SEO

Registration for NRMCA’s Fall Safety Course is now open; please note that this course will sell out very soon. It will take place October 22 - 24 in Dallas. This 2.5-day course teaches participants about OSHA safety compliance, beginning with why safety is so important and details the reasons why an effective safety program actually saves money through loss prevention and control. Participants learn about the new silica rule, electrical safety, machine guarding, fall protection, hazard communication, confined spaces, personal protective equipment, firefighting and evacuation, maintenance shop safety, chute handling, fleet safety, pre-trip inspections and much more.

Click here for location details, registration options and staff contacts or contact Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.

Each year, hundreds of people attend NRMCA’s National Mixer Driver Championship (NMDC). In conjunction with ConcreteWorks, October 5 - 7, 2019, this event is one of the industry's best opportunities for ready mixed concrete producers to interact with companies that provide goods and services to the concrete industry. This year's sponsorships are selling fast, so hurry and take advantage of the NMDC sponsorship opportunities. You can choose anything from "Challenges" to sponsoring the awards banquet for the drivers – there’s something for everyone’s budget. For just $500, your driver will know you’ve got his or her back when he or she pulls up to the challenge and sees your company’s logo!

Use the sponsorship form here to secure your spot as a sponsor. For more information, please contact Jacques Jenkins at jjenkins@nrmca.org or at 240-485-1165.

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Engineering

The American Concrete Institute is offering the 2019 Professors’ Workshop at its Farmington Hills (Detroit area), MI, headquarters from July 22 - 26. The workshop has previously been held annually at the PCA headquarters in Skokie, IL. It is supported by the PCA Education Foundation, ACI Foundation and several sponsors, including NRMCA.

The Professors' Workshop is designed to provide instructors in civil engineering, architecture, architectural engineering, materials science and construction management programs the tools to engage students in the latest developments in concrete design, construction and materials. Prominent, nationally-known faculty and industry representatives will present information on proven teaching methods and instructional resources, as well as updates on the latest industry technical information and trends. Attendees of the workshop will receive copies of the handout materials, PowerPoint presentations and industry resource literature provided by the sponsors. NRMCA state affiliates and other concrete industry-affiliated local groups are encouraged to sponsor younger university professors or graduate students heading to academia to attend this workshop.

Click here for more information.

The National Concrete Pavement Technology Center has revised the 2006 edition of the reference manual Integrated Materials and Construction Practices for Concrete Pavement (IMCP) that is a widely-used reference by concrete pavement practitioners. The 2nd edition of the IMCP (May 2019) reflects recent innovations, research and common practices to install smooth, long-lasting concrete pavements. The updated IMCP manual emphasizes concrete as a material and how its quality is affected by all aspects of a given paving project. The text discusses tests for evaluating the multiple properties governing pavement performance to enable practitioners to design and deliver pavements that are able to resist the environmental challenges they face.

Click here to access the revised IMCP manual.

Buildings

NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations, Chris Dagosta recently traveled to Nebraska to meet with Jeff Mulder, promotions director of the Nebraska Concrete & Aggregates Association and then visit architects, general contractors, owners and suppliers in Omaha and Lincoln. Three area projects, including a bank and a mixed retail building, are utilizing Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) as a direct result of the general contractor attending a Quality Concrete Conference in 2017 where Dagosta presented Build With Strength “An Introduction to ICFs”. The general contractor became so impressed with ICFs that he is designing his personal home with the material.

Other area projects that NRMCA and NC&AA have successfully converted to concrete include a new elementary school and a church. Even though this is Mulder’s first year as promotions director, he is focusing much of his efforts toward being in the field building and strengthening relationships. Dagosta said Mulder’s goal is to have the safest and most energy-efficient structures in the Midwest.

For more information, contact Chris Dagosta at cdagosta@nrmca.org.

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2020

January 14 – 16, Des Moines, IA
Effective RMC Supervisor Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 240-485-1152

January 28 – 30, Orlando, FL
Dispatcher Training Forum
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 240-485-1152

March 7 - 9, Las Vegas, NV
NRMCA 2020 Annual Convention
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 240-485-1152

March 10 - 14, Las Vegas, NV
CONEXPO-CON/AGG Show
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 240-485-1152 

September 27 - 29, Aurora, CO
NRMCA's ConcreteWorks
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 240-485-1152

Learning & Development

Since last week’s E-NEWS plea for producers to participate in the survey, the response rate has grown from 50 to 105 companies. Thank you very much, but we still have a steep hill to climb to equal the 183 Producer members that participated in 2018. Currently, the survey represents 13% of the estimated mixer driver pool; last year it represented 26%.

While we still have 10 days to collect your data, NRMCA can say that the mixer driver horizon appears to be a bit brighter. Last year’s survey found the driver pool shrunk 3%; so far this year there is a 4% growth. Total left (quit and released) is 23%; last year the number was 30%. New hires have, and continue this year, to represent approximately 30% driver pool. This year you told us that 10% of them were rehires. Over the past four years, approximately 33% hired 18-21 year old drivers; this year the number grew to 39%.

Nevertheless, each year for the past five years almost 50% of respondents walked away from business because they did not have a mixer driver to deliver an order. Therefore, PLEASE have your appropriate person gather your driver employment data and fill out the anonymous survey. Just give us the numbers and we will run your calculations. There are 30 questions: approximate estimate to fill out the form is only 12 minutes. Help us help you!

The survey closes on Friday, June 28. For more information, contact Eileen Dickson at edickson@nrmca.org.

Calendar

*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site.

July 10 – 11, Dallas
NRMCA Promotion Committee Meeting
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 240-485-1152

October 5 - 7, Kissimmee, FL
NRMCA's ConcreteWorks
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 240-485-1152

November 11 – 15, Baltimore
Concrete Technologist Training and Certification “Short Course”
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 240-485-1152

November 19 – 21, Orlando, FL
Environmental Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 240-485-1152

December 10 – 13, Orlando, FL
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 240-485-1152

   Basys Processing, Inc.       Shumaker Industries