By Brian Thornton
Today, it is nearly 80 degrees here in Maryland, my lawn is starting to green and so is my black car. Flowers and trees are blooming, the birds are chirping and spring is springing. If you have ever traveled Maryland’s eastern shore this time of year, there is a particular pungent odor that fills the air, as the farmers prepare their fields with “natural” fertilizer for the upcoming planting season — it’s often described as “smelling like money” around here. However, there is another more pleasant nuance of money in the air for those of us in the asphalt industry that have waited months to smell it again, as we follow those black tire tracks down the road to see who is paving and where. IT IS GO-TIME!
Having just wrapped up the 2025 show season last month with “Pave/X” and “World of Asphalt,” it is finally time to ditch the fancy shoes and clothes and get back to doing what we do best. Weeks of training classes, shows and some preventative maintenance, and we are ready to put our noses to the grindstone and not take a breath until the leaves go away.
One thing I believe I learned most while attending shows this year, is that optimism is the best I have seen in sometime. The booths were packed with visitors that traveled long distances to see what the manufacturers were unveiling. I am constantly monitoring current trends in the industry, attending educational seminars and industry association meetings throughout the year. Although there are some questions and concerns with federal funding, it seems everyone has a full calendar and projecting another solid year of growth.
A few areas both private contractors and governmental agencies seem to be more focused on than ever are asphalt care, maintenance and life cycle of roads. I see plenty of focus on pothole repair, crack sealing, chip spreading, road widening and rejuvenation with increased interest and requests for information from all end users. This is not to say that paving is slowing down. That would be the farthest from the truth, but the market seems to be trending even further into these specific applications. Interestingly, as I explored the floors of the major shows, there were more and more of these products available than I have ever seen. What was once a season extender for many commercial contractors, now has become a full-time crew. On the governmental side, it has become evident that budget restraints and less staffing availability has led to privatization for much of the heavy lifting. That includes an increased need to extend the life of roads until funding is available for replacement, which has created opportunity for many companies to initiate maintenance crews and expand their offerings.
With so many unique options and methods of approaching this business, it is important that the contractor and municipal customer look for the solutions that produce the desired volume of work, keep operators safe and provide the simplest most reliable method to get the job done. This is important because as anyone that has been in the industry for any amount of time and follows local social media knows, the complaints and jabs regarding potholes are relentless.
For patching there is spray injection, whether it be from a truck or a trailer. There are multiple repair products that mix with water, infrared, asphalt hot boxes, mastic and cold patch material from the back of a dump truck. All these methods provide a result, but which one works best for you in your area and for your production schedule? I am a big fan of spray injection and hot boxes, as they each provide proven long-lasting results, with easily operated equipment and very little preventative maintenance or wear parts required. Additionally, each of these methods are well represented throughout the U.S. and Canada with retail and rental options available for each. They also provide a great additional revenue source, or a simple solution for a huge problem.
Mainline and commercial paving product offerings continue to shock and awe, with more automation, more intelligence, and more and more specialized machines. Manufacturers continue to expand their offerings and are listening to the operator, whether it be fighting for their comfort, product satisfaction or stating their loyalty for the brand. I found some unique offerings at the shows, evidenced by the crowds gathered around certain pieces; it was easy to find what was new. Manufacturers seem to clearly understand that each machine may not suit all the operators, so there is a trend to offer options such as swappable controls and multiple operating station variations to meet the needs of the contractors. As every salesperson knows, the key to the sale is through the operator, and it is quite clear all the manufacturers are working hard at doing their part to win them over.
The theme is “It’s Go-Time,” and it most certainly is. Everyone in this amazing industry across the country is ready to go. Before we know it, the heat will be here and the long days of working with the black gold will be in full swing. With plenty of inventory on the street and more options than ever to help get the job done, it is a great time to be in the asphalt industry.
Brian Thornton is a Governmental Sales Manager with LeeBoy. He can be reached at Brian.Thornton@LeeBoy.com
