Construction Industry News

LOS ANGELES (April 2, 2024) — ServiceTitan, a software platform built to power the trades, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Convex, a sales and marketing platform purpose-built for the commercial services industry.

PORT ORANGE, Fla. (March 25, 2024) — Thompson Pump and Manufacturing Company was recognized with two  Florida business awards: University of Florida’s (UF) 2024 Gator100 Honoree and GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch 2023 Honoree.

Thompson Pump’s more than 50 years of experience in manufacturing heavy-duty bypass and dewatering pumps have earned the company a reputation for high-quality pumping equipment, innovation and entrepreneurship.

BEDFORD, Mass. (March 20, 2024) — Total construction starts fell 8% in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.07 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts dropped 16%, while nonbuilding starts lost 3%, and residential starts fell by 2%.

Oklahoma City (April 1, 2024) — Carpenters in Oklahoma City are preparing for a Days of Action event to bring attention to the growing problem of employer tax fraud in the construction industry. Oklahoma carpenters, along with other carpenters across the U.S. and Canada, will be protesting fraud in the construction industry from April 13-19.

WASHINGTON (March 28, 2024) — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and its Florida First Coast chapter filed suit in federal court to stop the Biden administration’s plan to mandate project labor agreements on construction contracts procured by federal agencies.

BALTIMORE (March 26, 2024) — A cargo ship lost power and rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, destroying the span in a matter of seconds and plunging it into the river in a terrifying collapse that could disrupt a vital shipping port for months. Six people were missing and presumed dead, and the search for them was suspended until Wednesday morning.

DENVER (March 24, 2024) — ConstructReach, a construction industry workforce development initiative and consultancy, will host an “I built this!” event in partnership with Procore Technologies on April 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Stockyards Event Center. With construction underway next door, local high school students are invited to observe and learn more about the construction industry.

NEW YORK (March 21, 2024) — Coast, which offers a way for companies in the United States to manage fuel and fleet spending, has raised $92 million in new funding. The round includes $25 million in equity capital led by existing investors, including BoxGroup, Avid Ventures, Accel, Insight Partners and Better Tomorrow Ventures, as well as new investor Vesey Ventures.

March 21, 2024 — Effective April 1, José Cuadrado has been appointed Global CEO at Yanmar Compact Equipment (Yanmar CE), and Chairman of the Board at Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. Cuadrado replaces Giuliano Parodi, who is now transferring to manage the Yanmar Group’s Strategy Division as chief strategy officer.

WASHINGTON (March 14) — Construction input prices increased 1.4% in February compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 1.3% for the month.

TIGARD, Ore. (March 14, 2024) — Studson, a safety helmet developer that recently launched the Full Brim ANSI Type II Safety Helmet, announced the completion of a $2.48 million USD funding round and a strategic collaboration with Blaklader, one of Europe’s largest producers of workwear.

NEW ORLEANS (Feb. 19, 2024) — In its updated forecast released at The ARA Show, the American Rental Association (ARA) indicates that the U.S. equipment rental industry’s growth has a fairly positive outlook. Last quarter, the year-over-year growth was expected to be 7.6% in 2023 and 3.1% in 2024. The most current projections indicate a 7.9% increase in 2024 totaling $77.3 billion in construction and general tool rental revenue.

ATLANTA (March 11, 2024) — Takeuchi-US has named Scott Utzman as its new attachment specialist. In this role, Utzman will be responsible for attachment sales and support for the company’s dealer and national rental accounts throughout North America. He will work with dealer management, sales personnel and their customers to demonstrate, promote and support the Takeuchi attachment product line.

March 11, 2024 — A federal judge in Texas has blocked a new rule by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that would have made it easier for millions of workers to form unions at big companies.

The rule, which was due to go into effect Monday, would have set new standards for determining when two companies should be considered “joint employers” in labor negotiations.

Pella, Iowa — Thunder Creek Equipment has been added to Contractor Solutions’ dedicated rental and new equipment sales lineup for the underground construction industry. The company — serving utility contractors and other businesses in Des Moines, Omaha, Tulsa, Kansas City and St. Louis — will carry Thunder Creek’s lineup of No-HAZMAT fuel and service solutions. 

INDIANAPOLIS (March 7, 2024) — During Work Truck Week 2024, Jason Ritchey, president and owner of Curry Supply Co. (Altoona, Pennsylvania), was installed as 60th board chair of NTEA — The Work Truck Association. He accepted the position from immediate past board chair David Scheitlin, director of operations at Holman Manufacturing & Distribution (Roanoke, Indiana).

CLEVELAND (March 4, 2024) – Diversified Fall Protection (DFP), a large turnkey fall protection integrator in the U.S. for regulatory-driven systems and services, announced the appointment of Travis Nelson, PE, CSP, as the company’s new CEO. Nelson is a leader and influencer in the fall protection industry and brings over 20 years of industry experience to the position.

SALINA, Kan. (March 6, 2024) — Bergkamp Inc., based in Salina, Kansas, announced its acquisition of the Flow Boy line of live-bottom material transport trucks. With the ability to unload hot asphalt, gravel, sand or other materials in one minute or less, all from inside the truck cab, the Flow Boy Live-Bottom offers productivity and efficiency for paving contractors.

BEDFORD, Mass. (Feb. 20, 2024) — Total construction starts grew 1% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.16 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonbuilding starts rose 9% during the month, while nonresidential building starts fell 2% and residential starts were flat.

Morgantown, Pa. (March 5, 2024) — Morgan Truck Body LLC announced that it has acquired Transit Truck Bodies Inc. (Les Fourgons Transit Inc.), a well-established manufacturer of truck bodies in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The acquisition of Transit increases the total number of Morgan Truck Body locations to 14 manufacturing facilities in North America.