17 minute read
Turner Brothers, LLC
Seeking Ways To Build Better
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Written by Kevin Doyle Produced by Stephen Marino
Now in its 40th year of operation, Turner Brothers, LLC has built an exceptional reputation within the concrete industry as a regional provider of turnkey solutions for its clients across multiple sectors.
“We stick to our roots – ever since our fathers opened the doors in 1981, we’ve operated our business with a genuine commitment to our industry. We are a family owned, relationship driven business that provides the highest quality concrete contracting services,” says Managing Partner Rob Turner.
Headquartered in Middleboro, MA, the company provides expertise in Tilt-Up Construction, Structural Concrete, Post-Tension Decks and engineered Ductilecrete™ Slabs. The company serves the northeast market, and strives to be more than a commodity or a number on a sheet of paper.
“We have to add value to every project, or we’re never going to achieve our corporate goals. Our responsibility to our customers is to build it faster, build it better, and make it less expensive,” explains Managing Partner Chris Turner. Boston region, and maintains a satellite office in Portland, ME. The business owns and operates every piece of equipment they use, and is serviced by in-house mechanics.
The company’s ability to separate from its competition is clear – Turner Brothers have created
The company employs approximately 250 individuals, works primarily in the Greater “ achieve our corporate goals. Our responsibility to our customers is to build it faster, build it better, and make it less expensive.” - Managing Partner Chris Turner
a unique culture that remains competitive while working cohesively toward one common goal. Everyone takes care of the company like it’s their own. Several individuals have been with the company for 20-25 years or more.
Rob Turner says, “Without our people, we wouldn’t be where we are today. They are the heart and soul of our operation and the motivation for us to improve as a company each day. As Turner Brothers grows there is more opportunity for our people. As we say around here, we all go up together.”
Turner Brothers puts an emphasis on employee training and career development.
“It’s the obvious answer, but it’s true. Nobody who’s running a job site came in and started in that position right away. Everybody works their way up and having that approach has been a key for us,” Chris says. “Our employees have a career path with great benefits. They give it their all every day and we make sure they have the best equipment and technology to do their job. The only thing we can do differently [than others] is our people and our process.”
Showcase Projects
55 Wheeler Street: The company is currently involved with one of the largest single projects it has ever taken on, laying down 300,000sf of elevated posttensioned decks over three levels at a 526-unit apartment complex near the Alewife subway stop in Cambridge, MA. The project www.constructorsjournal.com
is being built to LEED Silver sustainability specifications.
Cambridge Park Drive: This project, also in Cambridge, began in 2011 when Turner Brothers was awarded the first of four adjacent projects of more than 1,100 units. All told, Turner completed 100,000sf of precast parking garages and more than 240,000sf of varying thickness post-tensioned slabs.. Each project consisted of onsite parking, elevated courtyards with integral pools and amenities areas.
Safety Measures
Turner Brothers is continuously conducting safety training as well as daily Job Safety Analysis on each site daily, to ensure each member gets home safely.
“You just can’t have people getting hurt – it’s irresponsible if we don’t do everything we can to look out for our guys” Chris stresses. “There is constant communication from every laborer all the way up to Rob and I. Safety takes a lot of work so when we built a new office we dedicated a safety training area to it.”
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic March of 2020, the company was determined not to be responsible for one of its workers transmitting the disease and already had a plan in place
that included disinfecting tools, hand-washing stations, and hiring an individual whose job was to monitor masks, gloves and social distancing on all of its job sites.
“We approached the health and safety/risks caused by the pandemic like we approach every other aspect of our operation: We armed our people with the best tools and technology to safely get the job done. In this case it was masks, gloves, hospital grade disinfectant, portable hand washing stations, hand sanitizer, digital thermometers, and a company wide policy implemented to ensure the safety of our employees and their families. ”
Day To Day
Chris and Rob are constantly looking ahead, discussing what challenges may arise. “The labor and manpower shortage is a problem but I also think part of it is trying to figure out a way to attract people because the way they did it 15-20 years ago no longer works. It’s a challenging business but I think it’s that way with any business. We’ve incorporated social media and other digital platforms to help onboard great talent. The results have proven this new approach to be successful.” Chris observes.
DUCTILCRETE® Engineered Solutions
Quality slabs, higher flexibility and lower maintenance costs
• Patented extended joint spacing technology • Increased loading capacity • Flexible space usage and layout • Support a wide range of uses, including food grade, manufacturing, and lab-grade facilities. • Backed by a five-year warranty
As the company grows, it has maintained a family feel. It hosts a pig roast each year, gives away turkeys for Thanksgiving and holds an annual Christmas party. It’s not unusual during the dog days of the summer to provide ice cream or have a Snow Cone truck roll up to a site.
“We know the guys’ families, their wives and their girl friends. It’s just a way of letting everyone know that we care about them. We also give out gear to the guys and they’re proud to wear it on and off The company derives great benefit from its industry association memberships, including the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC), the Post-Tensioning Institute (PTI), and the Tilt-Up Construction Association (TCA).
“It’s more than sending in a dues check. If you’re not going to go
and be a participant, there’s no point in being involved. Each time you’re going to learn something new, and more importantly meet people with different perspectives,” Rob points out. “Maybe we get to share the hard lessons we learned so they don’t have to.”
“We’ve developed a lot of relationships with other companies and we help each other out. Associations legitimize a company as well. If someone is spending the time and money to belong, [clients] know you care about the industry and it’s not just about how much money can I make on this job,” Chris adds.
When it comes to subcontractors, the company prefers to work with like-minded family businesses.
“We shake their hand and look them in the eye. It’s all about trust and loyalty,” Chris asserts. “We take care of the stake-holders, vendors, suppliers, everybody and if somebody doesn’t treat us and our people well, we won’t work with them anymore. Maybe that’s not the smartest thing from a dollar and cents focus but we don’t want to work like that”
As for technology, the company is fully digital, has been paperless for a number of years and is always on the lookout for new systems that allow for the distribution of information as quickly and efficiently as possible. All foremen and crew leads use iPads. A suite of software – Tekla BIM, Trimble robotic total stations and Procore – enables the company to create and share 3D models packed with information and to manage and streamline project workflow while eliminating paper drawings altogether.
Turner Brothers also uses Foundation for project and company accounting, ExakTime (a cloud-based time tracking tool) www.constructorsjournal.com
“We stick to our roots – ever since our fathers opened the “ doors in 1981, we’ve operated our business with a genuine commitment to our industry. - Managing Partner Rob Turner
(a cloud-based time tracking tool) ensures the employees all get paid for every minute that they are on the job, and they use On-Screen Takeoff integrated with Quick Bid for their estimating department. Turner Brothers is a savvy company that stays ahead of its competitors by keeping its word and delivering top-shelf work while also refining its processes. It is working toward strengthening its presence in the Midwest as well as the Mid-Atlantic region.
The key to continued success?
“Stay the path, work hard and be patient. I still have to tell myself that all the time,” Chris Turner concludes.
COMPANY INFORMATION
Company Name:
Turner Bothers, LLC Country: United States Industry: Construction Est: 1981
Premier Services: Expert provider of Tilt-Up Construction, Structural Concrete, Post-Tension Decks, or an engineered Ductilecrete™ Slab.
Managing Partners:
Rob Turner, Chris Turner Website: www.turnerbrothers.com
Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association:
Creating Harmony On The Road
Written by Kevin Doyle Produced by Stephen Marino
Established in 1947 as part of the American Trucking Associations, the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) has grown into a global entity with more than 1,400 members in 46 nations. Of that number, all but 300 members are based in the United States and Canada.
Located in Centreville, VA, the association specializes in government and regulatory affairs while keeping members abreast of industry best practices and providing an array of educational products. Association members operate across multiple sectors of the construction industry, such as oil and gas and renewable energy, machinery moving and erecting, industrial maintenance, millwrighting, crane and rigging operations, manufacturing, equipment rental and concrete pumping.
The association holds four events a year. Due to the pandemic, it will hold its Specialized Transportation Symposium later than usual in Birmingham, AL July 13-15) and its Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX (Oct. 25-20).
“I think the No. 1 reason we exist is to create an environment for our members to operate and make sure there are no overarching regulations or legislation that would stop their ability to operate or hinder them in some way. We look at the landscape, monitor it, find the issues in different parts of the country and stop them from snowballing into other states,” explains SC&RA CEO Joel Dandrea.
“We monitor on the federal and state levels. It’s behind the scenes work that a lot of our members don’t see every day but it’s important for their ability to operate. We work closely with other associations as well. It’s the only way companies can get together to solve problems without anti-trust issues,” he adds.
Chris Smith, Vice President of Transportation explained the SC&RA’s unique composition.
“Approximately half of our members are crane and rigging companies and the other half are specialized carriers and some in the middle do both,” says Smith, an industry veteran of 20 years who previously worked for AASHTO.
“The evolution has been rather dramatic in terms of the numerous harmonization initiatives beginning to catch on and grow throughout the country. Much of that has to do with our association’s extraordinary ability to network with state and province government officials,” he explained.
Operating In Harmony
The association’s Uniform Permit Transport 2021 (UPT 2021) harmonization drive launched a couple
of years ago advocates for minimum weight thresholds and automated permitting systems across all 50 states at the local and Federal levels.
The Permit harmonization process allows permit applications to be analyzed and issued within seconds.
“As an industry, we have been stuck in the previous century. It’s not uncommon for permits for routine size loads – 120k, 14 feet wide and high – taking a week or two to be processed and issued. Now 37 states can process, analyze and issue permits for that size in seconds,” Smith says.
“Permit harmonization is huge – we have made it a priority. Hauling something from one town or city or state to another is very costly and
Chris Smith Joel Dandrea
“The evolution has been rather dramatic in terms of “the numerous harmonization initiatives beginning to catch on and grow throughout the country. Much of that has to do with our . . . ability to network with state and province government officials.” - Vice President Chris Smith
challenging. What we are trying to do for our members is to make their ability to do the job across state lines much more efficient,” Dandrea adds.
Smith says the association succeeded in convincing the Federal DOT – which plays no role in the movement of oversized/overweight loads around the country – to take notice.
The association’s App-based mapping system identifies barrier states that have not yet implemented harmonization procedures.
“A great deal of credit for our success now has to do with the work of my predecessors Steven Todd and Doug Ball, and the fact we found great success with mapping. We can make the case from an economic development and safety, and time standpoint on why harmonizing is a win/win for state governments, our industry, and the public,” Smith says.
Indeed, harmonization has led to a marked accuracy rate in permits issued. As more carriers buy more permits to run legally, state revenue increases and the roadways become safer in general.
Smith points out the association’s comprehensive permit manual covers all 50 states as well as Canada’s provinces.
“It allows members to map out trips and is valuable as a timesaver and for efficiency. That’s something we’re really proud of. If the company doesn’t pull the right permit they can get in serious trouble. It’s crucial to knowing what the laws are,” he stresses.
Some Challenges
As with every other segment of the construction industry, SC&RA members struggle with workforce development.
“Far and away, to the point of our being surprised, workforce development and labor shortages were identified as the No. 1 issue barrier for the industry,” Smith says. “The severe driver shortage is very real. In our industry shortages of welders, project managers, planners and even engineers are all an issue. We have implemented a few programs that we are proud of.” “Before COVID, our members would host Lift and Move events bringing in 500-700 local and regional high school and college age students. They rotate through from six to 12 stations where a professional is working with them. At least one-third of the stations are virtual reality and interactive, such as operating a crane or driving an oversized load,” Smith explains. “Videos show who our members are and the great work they do.”
“There is a lot of money to be made in this industry for kids fresh out of school. There is a shortage of drivers on the Specialized Transport side because18-year-olds can’t get a CDL, so we are supporting legislation that would allow 18-year-olds to get their CDL since people in the industry are trending older because you need experience,” Smith says.
SC&RA also pays close watch to penalties and fines levied by states against operators involved in accidents.
Noting that perception is reality, Smith says “a growing number of state officials now believe, anecdotally or otherwise, that bridge hits caused by overweight loads with or without permits on or off route, and a slightly growing number of violations, are causing the state officials to reassess the penalty system and whether they choose to issue a permit or not.” www.constructorsjournal.com
Smith says one state sought to hold back permits for six months from any carrier causing damage but the association intervened before the bill reached the Governor’s desk. Smith tracks bridge hits each day and says with confidence that 98 to 99 percent of such events involve non-association members.
“We are confident and hopeful that folks will show discretion for those that do the job the right way. We are an association that is as committed, if not moreso than the state government themselves, in removing bad apple carriers from the road. All accidents can result in fatalities, property damage and otherwise but the potential for catastrophic events from an oversized/ overweight load can be 10 times that of a regular incident,” he states.
“We are at the early stages of rising concerns among state governments about bridge hits and loads running without a permit. We are taking steps to get out in front of this before states are tempted to resolve an issue caused by a very small minority within an industry by creating new policy that impedes and punishes the greater industry that are doing things the right way while doing little or nothing to prevent bad apples from continuing to do business,” he adds.
Spreading The Word
the No. 1 reason people belong is for the networking. The events bring them together with their peers and competitors, allowing them to learn best practices and share experiences,” Dandrea says. “There are many opportunities to serve on committees and in leadership positions. This industry is really about relationships and part of our value is that we bring those opportunities to the members.”
The Specialized Transportation Symposium attracts upwards of 500 attendees each year and is regarded as one of the premier global events of its kind. Leading specialized transportation professionals and government permitting officials to discuss permitting harmonization, safety, regulations, compliance and some of the industry’s most pressing topics.
The Annual Conference offers industry standard best education sessions and premier speakers along with committee meetings, receptions and countless networking opportunities.
“There is lots of opportunity for recognition. Our awards program is big and our Jobs of the Year are spectacular,” Dandrea says.
The President’s Award, Environmental Award, Golden Achievement Award, Zero Accident Award, Crane Operator of the Year Award, Driver of the Year Award and Project Safety Award are
“The No. 1 reason we exist is to create an environment for our members to operate and make sure there are no “overarching regulations or legislation that would stop their ability to operate or hinder them in some way.” - CEO Joel Dandrea
also presented at the awards gala.
Down The Road
In addition to opening their membership to concrete pumpers, like Brundage Bone, the Association is turning its attention to attracting premier general contractors to become members. Among those who have joined is energy and Infrastructure giant Michels Corporation. Heavy and civil specialist Wright Brothers Construction is another. Meanwhile, Dandrea says the association will continue to produce educational materials focused on best practices and is looking at the possibility of providing training programs. Finally, on the Crane & Rigging side, SC&RA will continue to work closely with the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO).
COMPANY INFORMATION
Company Name: Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association Country: United States Industry: Construction Est: 1947
Premier Services: Specializes in government and regulatory affairs while keeping members abreast of industry best practices. CEO: Joel Dandrea
