Travelers Inland and Celevoke offer initiative to protect heavy equipment

For Construction Pros.com reports that Travelers Inland recently announced an initiative with Celevoke, Inc. to protect heavy equipment.

Travelers customers will be able to purchase Celevoke's LunarEYE Wireless Asset Tracking and Control systems at a discount price.

Celevoke has a secure website in the works, allowing Travelers customers to track equipment outfitted with GPS transmitters, speeding the recovery of stolen heavy equipment.

Source: ForConstructionPros.com

Cracking down on the "beeping" of heavy equipment in Colorado

The famous "beep beep" noises made by back-up alarms on heavy equipment has annoyed some Colorado residents enough to pass a law about it.

The Aspen Times reports that the Basalt Town Council approved a provision that limits the use of equipment with back-up alarms before 8 AM in residential neighborhoods.

Contractors will be notified of the new rules when applying for building permits.

GPS and common sense can stop equipment theft

According to an story in The Journal of Commerce from Western Canada, common sense can help stop equipment theft...along with handy GPS tracking systems.

An insurance company vice-president offered the suggestions during a seminar on bonding and insurance, sponsored by the Vancouver Regional Construction Association.

Another important point covered during the seminar is the brazen nature of equipment thieves, who now steal equipment during daylight working hours.

Some thieves pretend to be employees hired to operate equipment, such as a Bobcat loader operator. It's not till the bobcat and the "employee" have vanished that the truth is discovered. Other thieves use flatbed trucks, stealing equipment off parked trailers.

Stolen equipment is beyond recovery shortly after a theft, but a GPS tracker can make the difference. Trackers are a modest investment compared the thousands it takes to replace just one piece of heavy equipment.

Heavy equipment company battles wildfires

Local 8 News in Idaho Falls, Indiana, features a story and video on how a heavy equipment company is pitched in to fight wildfires.

Employees of Western States Cat Rentals loaded a bulldozer on a flatbed truck to help protect the home of a relative in the hills.

After protecting that home, they stayed and assisted firefighters to save other houses.

John Deere supports nationwide utility safety effort

A common cause of construction is underground power lines and other utilities damaged by digging. These accidents could be prevented if calls were placed before work began and checked for potential hazards.

The AED News website reports that equipment manufacturer John Deere participating in a nationwide effort to "Call Before You Dig".

An 811 number offers professionals and homeowners a resource to have underground lines marked for safety. The new number will be launched May 1 in Washington, D.C., and is designed to clear up confusion with multiple numbers offering utility line information.

Dealing with equipment theft and how to stop it

Equipment theft affects both contractors and the public. A lost piece of equipment can be costly and even bankrupt a construction company. The costs associated with stolen equipment eventually get passed on to the public.

The Herald-Dispatch.com features a story about equipment theft in West Virgina and what contractors and law-enforcement are doing to stop it.

Steps taken to stop equipment theft range from GPS tracking devices to special training for police officers to spot stolen equipment.

Have you have a problem with equipment theft? What do you do to protect you equipment? Tell us your story and leave a comment.

Protect your skid steers from danger

While skid steers are tough-working pieces of equipment, they are no match for debris from demolition and other hazards found on construction sites.

For Construction Pros features a story on how to protect you skid steers from concrete chunks and exposed rebar.

Using specialized attachments on skid steers can protect them from the dangers of the rough work.

Dealing with dirt from a construction site

You may be familiar with the term "dirt cheap". When dirt has to be moved from a construction site, dirt is anything but cheap.

For Construction Pros features a story on how contractors are dealing with moving dirt, which can be expensive due to fuel costs.

How do contractors deal with dirt? Some sell it to other projects who need it. Others go for a more balanced approach, using the dirt for other purposes on the job site.

Have you had to deal with excess dirt on construction job? Tell us your story and leave a comment below.