The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 14: 'Second Chance' New Hires

Many contractors are giving former employees a second chance on the jobsite to help fill workforce gaps.

December 6, 2023
Brad Humphrey
Caterpillar
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad

In the latest episode of The Contractor’s Best Friend Podcast, longtime construction expert Brad Humphrey talks with Jason Hurdis, Caterpillar’s global market professional for quarry and aggregates and Lonnie Fritz, Caterpillar’s senior market professional construction industry expert with a focus on heavy construction and roadbuilding, about the challenges of hiring workers. Many contractors are giving former employees a second chance on the jobsite to help fill workforce gaps. 


Moderated by: Brad Humphrey, The Contractor’s Best Friend, Pinnacle Development Group - Founder

With special guests: Jason Hurdis, Caterpillar Inc, Global Market Professional – Quarry & Aggregates Industries

Lonnie Fritz, Caterpillar Inc, Senior Market Professional - Construction Industries

Scott Hagemann, Caterpillar Inc, Senior Market Professional - Construction Industries

NEW EPISODES EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY 

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/idhttps-podcasts-apple-com-us-podcast-contractors-best/id1406479825

Leave a review: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/idhttps-podcasts-apple-com-us-podcast-contractors-best/id1406479825

Tell us what you think of the podcast series, take our survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/DSVVLX9

Recommended
“I’ve been using Bobcat equipment for years on my farm in Waco, and I can’t imagine working without it. My Bobcat machines have empowered me to bring some of my biggest ideas to life,” said Gaines.
Bobcat Hires Magnolia Co-founder Gaines
From tending gardens to managing goats, pigs, and horses, Gaines is already sharing the work he is accomplishing with his Bobcat equipment.
March 11, 2024
Adobe Stock 157864739
Taking Off On A Runway Revamp at Albert J. Ellis Airport
Strategic planning and teamwork create smooth
landing pad for $10.4 million pavement maintenance job.
March 11, 2024
Building Trades Recovery Week - Breaking Down Stigma and Creating Hope
Recovery Week: Breaking Down Stigma & Creating Hope
Hope, help, and healing come through recovery. The story behind Building Trades Recovery Week, how it started in Boston, and is now spreading throughout the New England construction industry.
March 11, 2024
Latest
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 10: Why Implement Compact Technology into My Operations?
Compaction technology benefits contractors who move, grade and compact materials to specified moisture and density levels.
October 11, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 9: How to Minimize Equipment Costs
Ever wondered how to create preventative maintenance plans for your jobsite heavy equipment?
September 27, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 8: Jobsite Security Part 2
As construction industry equipment theft continues to be a problem, the latest technology can help prevent such theft and keep crews safe.
September 13, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 7: Jobsite Security Part 1
More than ever, construction contractors are concerned about jobsite access and crew safety through the use of cameras, radar and other technologies.
August 30, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 6: Understanding CO2 Emissions Reduction
The reduction of emissions in the construction industry will be a process. Caterpillar construction expert Jason Hurdis talks about how alternative-power sources will be phased in on the jobsite to meet emissions requirements.
August 16, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 5: ‘Proactive’ Safety
The importance of safety in the construction industry cannot be overstated. The jobsite safety talk is shifting away from being one of punishment to a discussion for everyone to participate in.
August 2, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 4: Dozers: Going Back to the A-B-Cs
In this episode of The Contractor’s Best Friend, construction expert Brad Humphrey sits down with Sam Meeker, Caterpillar’s dozer and track loader specialist, to talk about what contractors should consider when buying or leasing heavy equipment.
July 19, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 3: Increasing Use of Cameras in Company Vehicles
Three construction experts talk about the reality of using vehicle cameras in heavy equipment on construction jobsites.
July 5, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 2: Can Payload Technology Decrease My Unit Cost of Material Handling?
Each payload cycle is an opportunity to increase profits and decrease costs on the jobsite. Three construction experts talk about how the latest technology can improve uptime when hauling heavy materials.
June 21, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 7 Episode 1: Benefits of Factory-Integrated 3D Grade Solutions
Grade control is one of the hottest topics in construction as technology continues to advance in this area, integrating it with machines and adding new pieces of the puzzle, including improved safety.
June 7, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 33: Equipment Obsolescence
Contractors should keep track of a machine's number of hours to get a better idea of when it might need to be replaced. There's also lots of new technology on the market that may get contractors thinking about an upgrade.
May 10, 2023
Construction companies, no matter the size, need to establish a budget for equipment maintenance throughout the year to remain profitable.
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 32: Estimating Equipment Maintenance Cost
Construction companies, no matter the size, need to establish a budget for equipment maintenance throughout the year to remain profitable.
April 26, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 31: Fuel Efficiency: Fuel Data: Quick Wins to Help Control Fuel Costs
Three heavy equipment experts discuss fuel efficiency and how contractors can be more fuel efficient on the jobsite through the use of data. It's important to measure fuel usage, determine where fuel is being used and create a plan of action.
April 17, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 30: Transition Non-Construction New Hires to Crafts People
Fewer people are growing up with a farming, mechanical or construction background. It's no small hurdle, but most contractors are dealing with it today: teaching construction skills to young and new workers without construction experience.
March 29, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 29: Benefits of Aftermarket Safety Solutions
There are several aftermarket safety devices and techniques that can be applied to construction equipment that can greatly enhance the overall safety of the construction jobsite.
March 15, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 28: Matching Workers to Your Equipment
It's a no brainer -- you want your most experienced equipment operators performing the most complex tasks on the jobsite. What about new workers, though?
March 1, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 27: Transition from Traditional Construction Methods to Use of Grade Technology
Long past are the traditional grade stakes that once dotted a construction jobsite. Now, lasers and other technologies can do that job. That's one of many examples of technology changing the landscape of the modern jobsite.
February 15, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 26: The 4 Most Common Construction Injuries (And How to Prevent Them)
The top four causes of injury on a construction jobsite have remained the same for many years: falls, struck by an object, electrocution and being caught between equipment. Listen for best practices to stay safe on the jobsite.
February 1, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 25: Protect People on Worksites
There are many equipment upgrades available today that can help enhance the safety of construction workers and operators on the jobsite today. Communication, visibility and planning also come into play to keep everyone on the jobsite safe.
January 18, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 24: How Your Workforce Influences Your Equipment Purchases
With the ongoing construction workforce labor shortage, it's difficult to find equipment operators. One technique many contractors are using to combat that challenge is by using equipment with improved operator comfort.
January 4, 2023
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 23: Monitoring Equipment Utilization and Managing Availability
Contractors need to have full visibility into the use and availability of heavy equipment on the construction jobsite. Tracking that equipment utilization comes down to telematics and connectivity.
December 21, 2022
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 22: Protect Operators in the Cab
There are a number of ways construction contractors can upgrade the safety of their existing fleets. One simple safety upgrade would be adding a seatbelt reminder kit to construction equipment to encourage operators to buckle up on the jobsite.
December 7, 2022
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 21: Top 5 Dealer Resources You Should Use
There are a handful of dealer resources that most construction contractors are not using, they said, including certified dealer operators, who are trained in how to use the equipment and will travel to jobsites to train workers on equipment.
November 23, 2022
Tcbf 2020 Logo Final No Season 6050dd1a42cad
The Contractor's Best Friend Podcast Season 6 Episode 20: Getting Used to New Equipment
After purchasing a new piece of construction equipment, there are some basic steps contractors should follow. For example, contractors should learn how to use the new technology features and know how to use the machine for its intended applications.
November 9, 2022