Fire up the plant and start putting product on the ground. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), passed Nov. 5, is the most important piece of transportation legislation since the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956. Yes, it is big and that consequential. Michele Stanley, the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association’s (NSSGA) vice president of government and regulatory…
Read MoreCategory: Editorial
Welcome to the Aggregates Almanac
Welcome to the 2021 edition of the “Aggregates Almanac: The Ultimate Information Resource for Quarry Operators.” Published now for the fifth 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 2021 survey indicated that aggregates operators are highly interested in: • Equipment…
Read MoreMINExpo Finally Opens Its Doors
MINExpo 2021, held in Las Vegas last month, was a reboot of the event that was supposed to happen last year. COVID put a stop to that. This time, the doors opened on time and the show went on. It was a good one. More than 20,0000 people attended, and while that is certainly down from previous shows, the attendees…
Read MoreHey, Update Your Website!
I could write an editorial every month about the need for a new infrastructure bill. But the chess game in Washington goes on and on, so I will wait until checkmate to address that issue again. In the meantime, why haven’t you updated your website lately? I know, that’s a seemingly random question that came out of left field. But…
Read MoreThe Horses Are Out of the Barn
Well, the barn door has been kicked open, and the horses are out. After more than a year of COVID-19-driven inactivity, a lot is starting to happen. For openers, two major mergers rocked the aggregates industry, changing the landscape regionally and nationally. Vulcan Materials Co. and U.S. Concrete Inc. entered into a definitive merger agreement; and Martin Marietta Materials Inc.…
Read MoreThere Are Still Problem Solvers
You may find this hard to believe, but there are members of Congress who really do want to solve problems – and in bipartisan fashion. Kind of reminds you of the good ol’ days, right?
Read MoreThe Big Picture
Welcome to the 2021 version of the Rock Products Aggregates Industry Atlas, one of the best reference sources in the industry.
Read MoreCOVID’s Digital Revolution
One thing that COVID-19 has by necessity pushed the aggregates industry to do is develop ways to reach out to customers and members using digital means. Early on in the pandemic that effort was a little rough, with e-mail and Zoom taking center stage. Since that time, much more sophisticated platforms have emerged to generate outreach, resulting in more effective…
Read MoreThe Road Ahead Is Cause for Optimism
A lot of people are asking the question, how is the industry expected to perform up the road? With the combination of a new infrastructure bill; a reviving post-COVID economy; and a housing market that shows no signs of letting up, you have to believe that good things are on the horizon for aggregates producers.
Read MoreBiden Our Time
With the inauguration of Joe Biden as president, we move into an entirely new chapter in U.S. history. Rest assured there will be good points and bad points to the next four years.
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