Micheal NewmanConstruction EquipmentMaterial price changes from September to October 2009Percent change from September to October 2009/ October 2008 to October 2009 Gasoline – -2.1 / -16.0 No. 2 Diesel fuel– +5.1 / -27.9 Crude petroleum– +5.7 / -7.2 Synthetic rubber– +2.8 / -16.5 Plastic construction products– +0.3 / -1.8 Softwood Lumber– -1.7 / -5.8 Hardwood Lumber– +0.4 / -4.9 Plywood– -1.3 / -5.9 Steel […]December 15, 2009BusinessExxon bets big on natural gasWith the announcement of the $31 billion purchase of natural gas producer XTO Energy, Exxon left no doubt where it thinks the future of energy is headed. While natural gas prices are in the tank right now, this is still good news on every front. The United States is the Saudi Arabia of natural gas, […]December 15, 2009HomeNavistar acquires ContinentalNavistar on Monday announced the acquisition of Continental Manufacturing Company, the largest privately held mixer manufacturer in North America. Continental manufactures rear discharge mixers under the CBMW brand and sells replacement parts for all mixers. Continental, based in Houston, will continue to operate independently. Navistar will also use select International Truck dealers to distribute and service […]December 15, 2009BusinessJim Owens as Secretary of TreasuryGranted this is just coming from a website Business Insider, and the writer includes several other options, but it is an inspired choice. Owens, if you don’t know, is the CEO of Caterpillar, but he is set to retire next year. I’ve heard Owens speak several times and he’s always impressive: clear, methodical, well prepared and […]December 15, 2009HomeDo highways pay for themselves?Not as much as they used to. A report out today from SubsidyScope notes that gas taxes account for for an increasingly smaller share of our roadbuilding funds while “non-user” taxes, bonds and other forms of revenue have steadily increased. A lot of the blame for this can be placed squarely on the failure of Congress […]December 15, 2009BusinessThe Rental Show 2010 provides education, networkingAmerican Rental Association’s (ARA) The Rental Show opens its doors February 7-10, 2010, to all heavy construction, light construction and party/event rental companies. The Show will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, and provides a streamlined schedule, educational seminars and networking opportunities. The Show offers three full days of educational […]December 15, 2009HomeNavman Wireless fills three senior sales positionsNavman Wireless filled three senior sales positions, hiring former Qualcomm managers Tom Leach, Tom Remy and Jamie Schmidt. The company also named Michael Baker, former Qualcomm sales director, as vice president of sales for North America. Remy is now sales manager, strategic accounts; Leach is now director of sales, western region; and Schmidt is now […]December 15, 2009HomeMack names new vocational marketing product managerMack Trucks named Curtis Dorwart its new vocational marketing product manager. Dorwart will be responsible for the commercialization of new and existing vocational products. Since joining Mack in 1984, Dorwart has served as a vehicle architect and product planning manager for the company’s low cab forward models. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from […]December 15, 2009RoadbuildingHonda HS928 SnowblowerEquipped with a full range of innovative, groundbreaking features, this snowblower is easy to start and consistently delivers smooth and reliable power. Every model in all four series of products, which range from light-weight to heavy-duty snowfighters, is designed to plow through even the heaviest snow. The HS928 employs a specially designed, heavy-duty, height-adjustable serrated […]October 1, 2009RoadbuildingRoadScienceClean. Green. Mainstream. Paving’s Soft Footprint A new surface transportation bill may demand greener highway building. This industry is already doing that. Whether you believe that anthropogenic (man-made) climate change is taking place, maintaining a smaller carbon and other emissions “footprint” when building pavements can pay dividends now and in the future.    A smaller […]September 1, 2009Previous PagePage 7 of 8Next PageTop StoriesWheel LoadersLiebherr Debuts World's First Large Wheel Loader with a Hydrogen EngineThe L 566 H's hydrogen reciprocating piston engine is the "optimal power source" for larger equipment, offering comparable performance to diesel, Liebherr says.DozersHyundai Breaks into the Dozer Market with HD100The DirtTest Run & Review: The Market's First Electric Mini Excavator, JCB’s 19C-1ECompact equipmentTakeuchi's TCR50-2 Crawler Dumper is Coming to North AmericaCompact Track Loaders“There’s Something for Everyone” – Compact Track Loaders Continue to Evolve