Welcome to the 2023 edition of the “Aggregates Almanac: The Ultimate Information Resource for Quarry Operators.” Published now for the seventh year in a row, feedback from our readers indicates that this publication is widely used and valued; and retained as a go-to information source. Rock Products’ Benchmark 2023 survey indicates that aggregates operators are highly interested in: Equipment upgrades.…
Read MoreCategory: Key Issues
First Look – September 2023
‘Removed From Service’ or ‘Available For Use’
Here Are Some Suggestions Aimed At Reducing Your Liability In These Two Situations. By Brian Hendrix An “evergreen” issue is one that comes up repeatedly and remains relevant over time. Here’s a great example: MSHA inspects a piece of mobile equipment that’s parked on the ready line, but not in service. It has not been examined by the operator. Let’s…
Read MoreWhen We Speak of Things That Matter
The Art Of Communication Is Balancing Who You Are And What You Believe With The Expectations Of The Audience. By Thomas J. Roach Nothing is more naïve than dismissing communication by saying, “it’s only rhetoric,” or “it’s just political correctness.” The first and most important lesson about communication is that it is strategic. The world we live in after we…
Read MoreThe Dolese Effect
Roger Dolese’s Legacy Is Expanding The Number Of Engineer Graduates, Ensuring More Young People Are Prepared To Help Build The Nation’s Future. by Therese Dunphy As his tenure at Dolese Bros. Co. drew to an end, Roger Dolese carefully considered what to do with the business. Mark Helm, president and CEO, said Dolese wanted a way to keep the company…
Read MoreDrones and Robots
By Mark S. Kuhar How do you use drones and robots to make underground mining less risky for workers? Virginia Tech researcher Richard Bishop and his West Virginia University collaborators are working to answer this question. A recent two-year, $569,149 Alpha Foundation grant will allow the team to study ways to use autonomous drones to predict and prevent roof collapses…
Read MoreThe Human Side of the Equation
My Fullest Understanding Of Who I Am And What I Am About Has Everything To Do With How I Treated Others And How They Treated Me. By Thomas J. Roach Many years ago, a supervisor of mine told me that he almost choked to death at a dinner meeting with corporate executives. One of the men at the table performed…
Read MoreSand Box Saturday
Morgan Sand & Gravel Encourages Kids To Spend Time Outdoors With An Annual Event That Fills Their Sand Boxes And Supports Community Organizations. By Therese Dunphy For more than 40 years, a small sand and gravel operation in Fort Morgan, Colo., has been encouraging area kids to spend time outside through its Sand Box Saturday program. The program was created…
Read MoreNews from Illinois
The McHenry, Ill., City Council delayed action on a sand and gravel mine proposal from Jack Pease and Super Aggregates until next month, according to the Shaw Local News Network. At issue is a proposal for a wet-processing gravel mine on 110 acres at Routes 120 and Chapel Hill Road. Currently not annexed into McHenry, the proposal was last considered…
Read MoreConstruction Spending Rises in May, Highways Down
Construction spending during May 2023 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,925.6 billion, 0.9% (±0.5%) above the revised April estimate of $1,909.0 billion. The May figure is 2.4% (±1.2%) above the May 2022 estimate of $1,880.9 billion. During the first five months of this year, construction spending amounted to $740.8 billion, 2.9% (±1.0%) above the $719.6 billion…
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