Keeping America’s highways safe is a nonstop task, and certainly not a 9 to 5 job considering the aging infrastructure of the country, increases in traffic counts, and effects of weather and natural events.  Often, governmental entities cannot handle the entire job themselves, and professional contractors are called upon to handle the tough jobs.  These contractors are on call 24/7 and put themselves in harm’s way to make sure our families are safe and protected as we travel throughout the country.

One such contractor is Virginia-based TME Enterprises, Incorporated.  Founded in 1992, TME is one of the country’s leading Right of Way Asset Maintenance contractors.  Despite their small beginnings, TME has grown to over 230 employees, and now has over 20 state and local maintenance contracts.  The company credits their success to a “ground up” approach, rather than a “top down” focus.  Steve Pecaut of TME gave me a little insight into what they are currently managing.  Here’s a quick snapshot of what is keeping them busy right now:

• Approximately 1,800 miles of interstate highway
• Over 500 miles of urban primary routes
• Approximately 450 bridge structures
• 9 Tunnels, including the famous Hampton Bay Bridge Tunnel
• 32 Tunnel Support Facilities
• Countless rest areas, school facilities, and park sites

I began working with TME almost four years ago, when I discovered they were using an inferior cold patch product to repair potholes on state highways in Virginia.  They quickly realized this as well, and switched over to using our QPR High Performance Cold Patch bags, which we provided to them through Lowe’s Home Improvement.  When the QPR ShopWorx program launched in recent years, it became a natural fit to partner with them in this initiative as well.  Contractors like TME cannot afford to wait around for safety apparel and equipment.  QPR has been providing TME with custom-printed winter PPE and safety apparel, traffic cones, and safety vests.  If you find yourself driving through Virginia’s pristine roadways and happen to spot a roadway maintenance crew, you won’t be able to miss them because they’ll be wearing a Class 2 QPR Safety Vest complete with the TME logo.

“QPR and Ben have stood behind their products ever since we came on board with them years back, and as we continue to grow they have been there for us every step of the way,” says Pecaut.  ”Having such high quality products at an affordable price makes our job easier, more efficient, and helps with the bottom line.”

The future looks bright for TME, with more and more governmental budgets strapped and city, county, and state agencies looking for ways to manage assets and right-of-ways effectively and cost efficiently.  We plan on helping them continue to grow as a premier partner, and we can help your organization in the same way.  For more information on TME, you can click here to visit their website.

One of the great things about our website and this blog is our interaction with you, the customer.  We love your phone calls, your emails, and your feedback.  We also love to learn about your businesses and the industry you work in.  That’s why we’ve decided to add a Contractor Spotlight segment to our blog, and we want to hear YOUR stories!  If you are in the business of keeping this country’s infrastructure up and running, you could be our next Contractor Spotlight.  We’re looking for anyone from paving companies to utility contractors, surveying crews, and governmental agencies out there that are working hard and interested in sharing with our readers.

What are we looking for?  Well, really…anything!  What are you working on?  What is the business climate where you live?  Are you staying busy, or is your company looking for new opportunities to get back on track?  Thousands of people read our blog every day, and the contractor spotlight could be a great new way to share your company’s story with a large number of those in the same industry.  You could tell us about a recent job you took on, or a new innovation you are making in the work you do.  All you’ll need to do is fill out a brief questionnaire about your company, spend a few minutes with us over the phone, and send us a few pictures of one of your latest projects.  We want to hear your story!

We are hoping that Contractor Spotlight will be a great way to share news, tips, and stories in an industry where communication can be limited because of the hours people work.  The internet has obviously become a great way for us to share information and ideas, and we think the QPR ShopWorx blog can be even better at helping to communicate that information and those ideas.  If you have any thoughts or would like to share your company’s story in an upcoming segment of our blog, please email me at tmagill@QPRmail.com.

Thanks!  We look forward to hearing from you.

It seems like summer is finally breaking in most parts of the country, and where I’m from that means college football, tailgating, and going back to watch my East Carolina Pirates on the field.  Recently, ShopWorx has been working with a handful of colleges and universities to prepare for the upcoming football season, specifically dealing with their traffic control plans.  As schools expand in both student population and size, the needs of a college and university can often mirror what many municipalities are doing to control the safety and flow of traffic in an area.  QPR ShopWorx has a full line of traffic control supplies that can increase the efficiency of your current system.

We recently sent out a mailer highlighting our Mini Full-Matrix Solar Message Board for gameday traffic control, and the responses have been great.  This week, I traveled through my home state of North Carolina meeting with a handful of universities about this fantastic piece of equipment.  The QPRSMC4000 is the perfect option for those with traffic control needs that can vary dynamically between construction, public events, lane closures, and a host of other happenings.  The board has 21-day autonomy, meaning when fully charged you could disconnect the solar panels and it will run for three weeks straight.  The board can display 250 pre-programmed messages in text, as well as 60 graphic messages.  In addition, 100 user-created messages can be stored.  One of the best features of the board is its size.  While still giving you maximum visibility of your message display, the footprint and weight of this board is much less than traditional 3-line message boards.

One university was considering the benefits of owning solar message boards versus renting them, and on the spot rattled off a list of nearly a dozen additional ways they could use the board to benefit the university and its students.  Since there are constant events on campuses aside from football and other sporting events, the message board can assist with student parking, lane closures, special events, graduations, etc.  We brought a full-size three line message board along with us in most cases to show people the differences in size and capabilities, and in every case the staff determined the smaller board to be most compatible with what they were looking to use it for.

I brought along a couple of “experts” with me as well to show off these boards.  ShopWorx Program Manager Towner Magill and Charles Frick, our manufacturer’s rep from Precision Solar Controls, both came along for the ride.  The demonstrations went very smoothly, aside from one slight “technical” glitch.  While changing out a component in the controller box Charles accidentally cut open his thumb with a utility knife, but still managed to finish the rest of the demonstration in top form!  Our thanks and well-wishes go out to Charles and his thumb.

Thumbs up, Charles! The customers loved your demonstrations.

Whether you’re a college or university, a small municipality, an event facility, or many other types of users, the Mini Full-Matrix Solar Message Board has a host of great features and potential for use in your day-to-day operations.  Please contact your nearest QPR representative for a demonstration of this great board!

Social media has become one of the major ways we communicate as a society.  Even in the business of infrastructure repair, the trend is growing exponentially.  Contractors are soliciting customers via their Facebook pages, and city street maintenance crews are getting pothole reports via Twitter, and that’s just a start.  If you weren’t already aware, QPR ShopWorx has a growing presence in social media, and we wanted to make sure we get connected with you!

Follow us on Twitter @QPR_Quality or Like Us on Facebook at our page, QPR Engineered Solutions for Infrastructure.  At both locations you can look for tips, find out about new products, and get feedback from other loyal QPR customers on our entire line.  You can also reach out to us via either location and get your questions answered promptly!

We’ve got some customer giveaways and contests upcoming, so spread the word in your organization to make sure and connect with us on the internet!  You could be the next winner!

As the newest member of the QPR ShopWorx team, I’d like to introduce myself to you the customer.  My name is Adam Sprecher, and I am our new representative covering the Midwestern states of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and basically wherever else I’m needed.  I’m excited to meet many of you and show others about our great products for those working in infrastructure improvement.  Speaking of introductions, I was also introduced to something that many don’t know about last week.  Each of us has noticed the vast amount of orange road cones used every day for traffic control purposes, but have you ever thought about how they are made?

Last week, Kevin Dye and I visited with the manufacturer of our traffic control supplies, Work Area Protection, to tour the facility and develop a better understanding of how they operate. Keep in mind that all of our traffic control supplies are made in the USA.  I was surprised to learn that many of their processes were done by hand. For example, the reflective striping that is placed on each cone is done by hand one at a time. This is also true for their channelizers and drums. At their St. Charles, IL plant they specifically make traffic cones, and it was interesting to see that process from start to finish. They actually pour a white rubber over a mold until it dries in the desired shape. From there, it moves down a mechanical assembly line and is coated with orange paint, which gives it its glossy appearance.

Rubber is poured over a mold before it dries and then is covered with PVC

Reflective striping is added by hand to a channelizer cone

Something else I found very interesting was the process we can use to put a company’s name or logo on a cone.  Traditionally, this is done with a stencil and some spray paint by hand.  However, we can offer an option where the company’s “stencil” is actually inlayed withing the layer of the PVC so that it can’t be washed off and is a more long-lasting identifier of whose property it is.

An example of a logo inlayed within PVC

We were lucky to have Mike Linkimer from Work Area Protection show us around the plant and give us a behind-the-scenes look at the process.  Mike also described to us the different suppliers they partner with to get materials, and how that affects costs. This is due in large part to the varying state laws relating to the specs of each item they sell. For example, they had an order from New York City for cones, and they are required to use green cones in certain situations.  I’d like to thank Mike and the folks at WAP for having us in for the day, it was a very educational experience.

Keep in mind that if you have questions or needs involving cones, channelizers, or drums, as well as any of our traffic control devices, we are here to help!  Please don’t hesitate to call or or any of our QPR ShopWorx representatives!

We have plenty of channelizer drums in stock for you!

Hopefully you’ve been able to enjoy some vacation this summer, and relax somewhere cool and shady.  Of course, that seems to be harder and harder to do as weeks go by.  Our country has been in the grip of a tremendous heat wave over the last several weeks, and this is on pace to be one of the hottest summers in record.  For those of you in the asphalt & paving world, this isn’t news.  Hopefully this isn’t news to you either: it is critical that those working around hot pavement and machinery take extra precautions to remain hydrated and cool.  There are many ways of doing this, but the most obvious is drinking plenty of water throughout the day.  QPR ShopWorx wants to help keep your crew hydrated this summer.  We have great prices on our 5 & 10 gallon Igloo coolers, and are even giving away coolers for free with a minimum purchase of Personal Protective Equipment.

Has your plant manager thought out providing warm mix asphalt to your customers and paving crews?  While traditionally thought of as a additive for cold weather paving options, our QualiTherm warm-mix additive can be used to lower the temperature of both your plant, saving fuel, and your production temperatures, saving your paving crew from additional heat exposure.  These crews are already exposed to extreme temperatures and conditions improving our infrastructure, and a 75 degree difference in laydown temperatures can mean a lot less stress on a worker’s body.

Paving Crews work better in hot summer conditions when the laydown temperature is lower using WMA

Staying cool while out on the job site can also be done by taking more frequent breaks, staying in the shade as often as possible, and wearing loose-fitting clothing with a lighter fabric for summer heat.  Staying out of the sun is also important for a worker’s skin health – be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen with high SPF rating (55+).  Make sure someone on your crew is trained in first aid in case of a heat emergency.  Stay safe this summer – hopefully Fall won’t be along too late!

Some other news of note – QPR ShopWorx reps are coming to your area with demonstrations of our great line of message and arrow boards.  We have demonstration units throughout the country and are visiting with contractors, local government, and other agencies on a regular basis, and we can come to you too!  Contact your rep today and schedule a demonstration of our user-friendly, durable message boards.

QPR wants to recognize the hard work and contributions provided by public works professionals, and their vital role in protecting public infrastructure.  National Public Works Week is held every year during the third week of May to spotlight the importance of public works departments and their impact on our communities.  Across the nation, thousands of public works professionals will be celebrated, bringing attention to the many important ways their services impact our lives.  The artwork below was chosen to represent this year’s theme, “Creating a Lasting Impression”.

This week was instituted as a public education campaign by the American Public Works Association in 1960.  National Public Works Week showcases these professionals who serve the public with quiet dedication.  In 1962, John F. Kennedy recognized this with an official acknowledgment of the National Public Works Week.  This week is observed in efforts to increase confidence and awareness of these public works individuals, who are dedicated to improving our quality of life for present and future generations.  The celebration of this week has evolved into cities holding parades, displays of equipment, essay contests, open houses, and other programs or media events.

The Public Works Department in your city is responsible for maintaining all parks, facilities and other recreational areas.  They also keep the streets and traffic signals in working order, while maintaining storm drains sewers and etc.  We all agree these are very important services and we owe a great deal of thanks to our local public works departments.

QPR wants to thank public works professionals for the hard work and dedication they have provided to make our world a better place.  Now through the end of June, we are offering FREE screen-printing on all QPR ShopWorx safety vests (minimum 20 vests) to all public works departments who place an order with us.  Thanks for making a difference in our communities; your hard work does not go unnoticed.  Please visit our website for more information on the QPR ShopWorx line, including all of our personal protective equipment.

This week myself and Sean Harbison, who represent much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, were exhibitors at the 2012 Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors Annual Conference.  The show was a blast, and there were tons of familiar faces with us in Hershey, PA this week.  Many thanks to those who came by the booth and checked out some of our newer products.  It sounds like everyone who knows QPR for high performance cold mix asphalt is excited to learn about our ShopWorx line!

Here at QPR ShopWorx, we are constantly looking for potential new products to add to our line.  This is done in a variety of ways, including suggestions from you, the customer.  In fact, our home page includes a box where you can suggest new products for us to carry.  If there is something you have difficulty finding, or finding a decent price on, we want to know!  This week, we attended the 2012 National Hardware Show in Las Vegas in an effort to find some innovative new products that can benefit all of our customers.  As the manager of our RoadShop product line, I am responsible for the retail side of our business at Lowe’s Home Improvement.  The RoadShop product line makes up “everything you need for streets, driveways, and parking lots,” and we are always looking for new products to bring to the retail consumer.  The same is true for our ShopWorx line, which is why our ShopWorx Program Manager and I walked the miles of booth space in an effort to find new products for you.

With over 2,500 exhibitors in attendance, 100,000+ products, and over 25,000 more attendees the Hardware Show is easily the largest trade show I’ve ever attended.  The show itself announced that this year’s selection included more new products than had ever been in show history, which is what made it so appealing.  We had the opportunity to explore potential new products for the ShopWorx line in Personal Protective Equipment, Work Tools, and Traffic Control.  Time will tell which products will make the cut, and which will not.  We often look to our best customers and partners to sample new offerings and give us feedback.  Let us know if you would like to be a ShopWorx product tester!!

ShopWorx Program Manager Towner Magill "trying on new PPE Options" at the National Hardware Show this week

On a side note, our new catalog is out and we are excited for you to see it!  Please visit our website to request a free copy of the latest catalog.  Just give us your address and we’ll mail it out to you ASAP!  You can also subscribe to our blog updates on our homepage.

At some point this week, all us will most likely travel through a work zone while driving to work, school, church, or other places.  With infrastructure improvements being made in nearly every community, both drivers and those working on our roads and bridges continue to be at a high risk of danger in work zones.  Each of us as drivers need to be aware and safe while driving through work zones, but those working in dangerous areas have a responsibility to warn drivers, be visible, and provide proper warning and traffic control.  That’s why April 23-27 is National Work Zone Awareness Week.

Each year in April, National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is held to bring national attention to motorist and worker safety and mobility issues in work zones. Since 1999, the Federal Highway Administration has worked with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) to coordinate and sponsor the event. Over the years other transportation partners have joined the effort to support NWZAW. In addition to a National event conducted each year, many States host their own NWZAW events.  You can find out more information on NWZAW and events held in your state here at the FHWA website.  NWZAW is in its tenth year, and Tracy Scriba with FHWA gives a great rundown of the progress of the movement so far in this article at the FHWA website.

QPR ShopWorx is a great resource for construction crews and their need to remain safe in work zones.  Please visit our website for more information on traffic control or personal protective equipment.  Or, feel free to contact your QPR representative with questions.

This weekend whether you are going out to dinner with friends and family, driving to work, or taking an out of town vacation, be sure to make extra effort to be careful and aware when driving in work zones across the country.  The people out there working hard to improve your roads will thank you – and so will their families!