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February 27 2010 Vol. VI • No. 5
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.” 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215/885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215/885-2910 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Inside
El Niño, Erosion Cause Major Road Washouts
Yoder & Frey Enters Fla. Auction Fray…21
Cat corporate executives also are working through a dealer in Haiti called Haytrac in the deployment of equipment and operators to the stricken area.
Industry Responds to Haiti’s Needs By Giles Lambertson
Kenworth Liquified Natural Gas Truck Available…29
CEG CORRESPONDENT
CEG CORRESPONDENT
significant damage due to mudslides, which prompted a number of emergency repair projects.
For Southern California counties the periodic, yet unpredictable, arrival of the El Niño climate pattern equates to winter and spring rainfall totals that are significantly higher than historical averages for that region. This year’s rainfall — coupled with numerous post-fire erosion areas — is capable of causing mudslides and debris flows that can wash out sections of roadway and clog and break underground drainage pipes. During January and February of this year, several sections of highway within Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange counties all experienced closures and
State Route 2 Along the Angeles Crest Highway, SR-2, heavy rains and the lack of vegetation on slopes — due to the Station Fire last September — caused several mudslides that resulted in road washouts and mountain slope erosion during midJanuary. A Caltrans damage assessment team determined that the most significant road washouts ranged between 50 to 110 ft. (15.2 to 33.5 m) along the highway and about 200 ft. (61 m) below the highway at some locations.
General contractors and equipment dealers in the United States have limited options right now in responding to Haiti’s destructive earthquake. Contributing funds to recovery efforts is the big-ticket response at this point. Shortly, however, the companies’skilled personnel and equipment will be in greater demand. The 7.0-magnitude quake that struck Haiti just before dusk on Jan. 12 collapsed thousands of concrete-block homes and larger buildings. The next morning’s light revealed wholesale destruction and loss of life in the nation’s capital, Port-Au-Prince. Deaths are estimated at somewhere between 75,000 and 200,000, with another 200,000 injured. Because Haiti generally is considered the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, recovery is expected to be slow amid enormous human suffering. Numerous heavy equipment manufacturers responded swiftly to the disaster. They did so for genuine humanitarian reasons as well as in recognition of the fact that a voluntary response was appropriate. After all, major reconstruction efforts eventually will require their equipment. A preliminary sampling of manufacturer relief effort responses shows: • Volvo Construction Equipment North America matched employee donations that were contributed by Feb. 1. The total amount will be consolidated with donations from other Volvo business areas and business units in North America into one Volvo Group NA gift. In addition, Volvo Group NA will be providing support on the ground, and both Mack and
see WASHOUTS page 24
see HAITI page 12
A Hitachi excavator, along with a crew of workers, performs drainage system repairs near Hemet.
By Erik Pisor Alex Lyon & Son Kicks Off Annual Fla. Auctions…40
Table of Contents ........4 Business Calendar ....10 Recycling Section 13-17 Parts Section ........21-23 Trucks & Trailers ..29-30 Auction Section....36-41 Advertisers Index ......42