The DOZR Buzz
It’s Time for a 2017 Reflection
Heading into the end of 2017 the construction industry should feel pretty good: total new project starts are up 6.1 percent year-over-year. More on that later, but it’s definitely good news as we move into December. But there’s much more for the industry to think about in a 2017 reflection.
Builder confidence has been strong during the homestretch of 2017, Construction Dive reported, buoyed in part by more jobs, a strong economy and plenty of work opportunities due to hurricane Irma and Harvey. If you’re busy preparing for your next contract, DOZR can help you find the equipment you’ll need at a low cost so you can pull even more profit from your work. Give us a call and tell us what you need – we’ll find it.
Construction Industry Happenings
The first thing in our 2017 reflection is the 6.1 percent year-over-year rise in construction stats reported by Dodge Data & Analytics. Now, this does not include construction for electric utilities/gas plants. The typically volatile sector saw a sharp decline over the past four months, however October reversed the damage in both the construction and institutional sectors.
During the month of October projects worth upwards of $100 million in both the construction and institutional sectors kicked off. Notable projects in the construction sector included two Facebook data centers in Sandston VA. The institutional sector also successfully started two hospital projects, one in Dallas TX for $480 million and a second in Seattle WA for $160 million.
It has been announced in The Journal Gazette that Microsoft has revealed plans to expand its HQ campus to keep up with its competition in Seattle which includes the headquarters for Facebook and Amazon. Construction is planned to take four to seven years and consists of new building plans and renovations. Microsoft claims that the project will be a multibillion dollar project but has not announced an exact dollar amount.
DOZR News
We wrapped up the summer with co-founders Kevin and Tim Forestell who each talked a bit about how DOZR works for contractors in any line of work.
Green Industry Pros interviewed Kevin for their article “An Airbnb for the Green Industry?” Editor Carrie Mantey explains how contractors can find equipment for less and rent their own machines to generate some extra revenue, and also heard from Kevin that DOZR can help outdoor power equipment dealers and traditional rental houses, too:
"DOZR acts more as an Expedia, a website that acts as an online marketplace for discounted vacant hotel rooms. This means that dealers can list their available equipment at a discount—since any profit is better than no profit just like an occupied hotel room is better than an unoccupied one."
Tim Forestell talked with Contractor Magazine’s Steve Spaulding about fleet management in August in an article titled “The latest fleet management systems solve problems; maximize profits”
On top of helping contractors find the equipment they need, Tim explained to Steve that some businesses use DOZR to quickly scale up if they win a big project and need to expand their fleet. When the project is done, they can send trucks, tools and heavy equipment back to their owners without having to worry about a large fleet sitting idle waiting for another bigger-than-average contract. In the fall we shared insights on renting and caring for equipment in the winter season that you can read here, Get your equipment winter ready.
Machine Moves
In new equipment news, Case updated their 32,100-pound excavator, the CX145D SR, with new electronic pump controls and sensors that help the crawler excavator lifts quickly and more efficiently than before. Updates to the cab make for comfier, more intelligent operation with a heated seat and rear- and side-view cameras as standard equipment. The CX145D SR also offers a choice between three operating modes for different types of work, and optional equipment includes even more visibility cameras, a dozer blade and more.
You can read more about the safety benefits CDOT hopes for and watch a recording of the live-streamed demo here on EquipmentWorld.
Speaking of autonomy, have you given any thought to how your business might be impacted by autonomous heavy equipment? These machines may seem far from having an impact on our day-to-day lives, but in fact they’re already being used on worksites around the world.
DOZR’s CEO Kevin Forestell knows it’s time for contracting businesses and heavy equipment operators to think about robot labor, and he took time to write about how businesses can prepare for autonomous machines. Read the blog post here. Check back next month for a wrap-up on industry performance in January, info on new machines and technology and more news about DOZR, including where you can find us at upcoming trade shows
A 2017 reflection shows us how much can really happen in a year. As 2018 comes along, it’s clear that the industry is changing, and changing fast. While reflecting back on the last year is a great way to learn lessons, its always important to turn toward the future and look ahead.
