It's that time of year again -- time to take CalAPA's annual "Better-Worse" survey.

Now in its 15th year, the annual survey gauges the mood of Asphalt Insider readers about the upcoming year, and also asks readers to share thoughts on challenges they face. The survey takes about 1 minute to complete and can be accessed HERE.

The deadline to participate is Nov. 22. A story on the results of last year's "Better-Worse" survey appeared on Page 14 of the association's annual forecast issue of California Asphalt magazine HERE.

A year ago respondents were slightly more pessimistic about the year ahead than the year prior as residual effects from the COVID-19 pandemic were still on the minds of many. Those who take the survey are also asked to state the No. 1 challenge they face at work.

Results from this survey will be included in a future issue of Asphalt Insider. Data from the survey will also be included in an upcoming issue of California's official magazine, California Asphalt, as well as the comprehensive 2025 Asphalt Market Forecast for California, which is published annually and is an exclusive benefit of CalAPA membership. To learn how to access this and other CalAPA member benefits, click HERE or contact CalAPA at (916) 791-5044. 

Spots are still open for two of the association's most popular classes to be held this month in the San Francisco Bay Area: "Asphalt Pavement 101" will be held on Nov. 19 in Alameda, followed by "Quality Asphalt Paving on Nov. 20 at the same location.

The "Asphalt Pavement 101" class is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is a good overview of all things asphalt, from planning and design, construction, testing and inspection. The class it taught by Roger Smith, a former senior materials engineer for the California Department of Transportation who also previously worked for the Asphalt Institute and CalAPA. All attendees to the class will receive a reference book and certificate of completion. Lunch and refreshments will be included. The class will be held at McGuire & Hester, 2810 Harbor Bay Parkway in Alameda. Space for the class is limited and must be completed on line HERE.

CalAPA's "Quality Asphalt Paving" class will be held the following day, Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the same location. The class is taught by longtime paving boss Pete Lambert. The class has a "boots on the ground" emphasis and delves into best practices for quality paving in the field, including project phasing, operation of the paving machine, rollers and other elements of the paving train, proper compaction and inspection. A workbook, construction checklist brochure and certificate of completion will be handed out to all class participants. Lunch and refreshments also will be served. On-line registration for the "Quality Asphalt Paving" class is HERE.

Both classes help meet the requirements to earn CalAPA's Quality Paving Certificate, the gold standard for excellence in the asphalt paving industry in California. Learn more about the Quality Paving Certificate HERE.

For more information on CalAPA technical training classes, contact CalAPA Director of Technical Services, Brandon Milar, P.E, at (916) 791-5044..

In advance of a series of informational sessions on the Caltrans Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, the Department has released its draft "Disparity Study" summary report and proposed DBE goal of 21.35% for the 2025-27 Fiscal Year. An electronic copy of the draft disparity study summary report is HERE.

Every three years the California Department of Transportation commissions a study of the construction market as it develops Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals.

According to Caltrans, the "Disparity Study" is designed to determine whether a government entity engages in exclusionary practices in solicitation and award of contracts to minority, women-owned and disadvantaged business enterprises. The goals are designed to provide a financial incentive to bidders to utilize DBE firms in public works projects.

As part of the study, produced by a consultant, BBC Research & Consulting, a series of information sessions have been scheduled for study authors to provide draft results of the DBE goal and methodology, and to solicit input from interested parties. The department is specifically targeting input from prime contractors, DBEs, Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBEs, Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) and micro businesses.

The previous final Disparity Study released in 2021 is 1,056 pages and references the previous goal of 17.6%. That report was used as the basis to arrive at the Department's current goal of 22.2% for FHWA-funded projects. It is available on-line HERE. The summary report for the current Disparity Study is just 9 pages and is on-line HERE.

The "virtual" sessions will be take place on Nov. 7 at 9:30 a.m. and also 5:30 p.m., Nov. 12 at 9:30 a.m. and also 5:30 p.m., and Nov. 19 at 9:30 a.m. and also 5:30 p.m. The virtual sessions will be held via the "Zoom" web platform with a phone-in option. To register for one or more of the sessions, click HERE.

More information about the study can be found HERE. Questions should be directed to Edwin Bragado of Caltrans at (916) 907-2155, or via e=mail at: Edwin.Bragado@dot.ca.gov .

For for than a century asphalt paving contractors have prided themselves on delivering a quality job that includes creating a smooth surface on the pavement. Grooves? That's for the other guys. But a recent paving machine option is turning heads not only for field reports that it improves density, but also for the distinctive lines it leaves on pavements that are reminiscent of concrete tining.

Caterpillar has been promoting the field-installed option for its paving machines known as the "CAT SDX Screed Plate System." Caterpillar reports that the design provides dynamic flow of Hot Mix Asphalt through the screed plates to reduce air voids and increase density. Behind the paving machine, however, the device leaves unmistakable lines in the pavement mat that may be unfamiliar to pavement inspectors. The slight indentations diminish during the rolling operation but still may be visible to the naked eye. (A photo from a presentation by CAT's Jeff Mansell helps illustrate the point).

At a meeting of the State Asphalt Pavement Association executives last month, there were reports that inspectors unfamiliar with the equipment were surprised by the appearance of the pavement surface and had questions about what they were seeing. However, initial reports are that the device improves road quality through better consistency and all-important density readings, which have been show to have a direct correlation to pavement durability. Those objective measures of quality appear to be carrying the day.

Considering that part of many pavement specifications include language on visual appearance, there is no doubt further education will be needed as more of this equipment shows up on paving jobs. More information about the device can be found HERE. A brief video of the system is HERE.

CalAPA turns 71 on Nov. 9. The association, founded in 1953 in Los Angeles, is the only statewide organization that focuses exclusively on asphalt pavements, or as its website states, "All Things Asphalt."

The non-profit trade association is dedicated to the advancement of the asphalt pavement industry in California, which includes asphalt producers, liquid asphalt binder suppliers, suppliers, paving contractors, consultants, testing labs and other companies that make up the industry.

The association continues to grow and evolve, adding a people-centric charitable arm earlier this year, known as the California Asphalt Research & Education Foundation. The association's most recent strategic plan also includes language committing the association to contributing to the success of its agency partners and other stakeholders.

To learn more about CalAPA, including the benefits of membership, visit the association's website HERE.

Each week we highlight a word, acronym or other term commonly used in the asphalt pavement industry in California.

SURFACE COURSE:  One or more layers of a pavement structure designed to accommodate the traffic load, the top layer of which resists skidding, traffic abrasion, and the disintegrating effects of climate. The top layer is sometimes called the 'wearing course.'

Each week we highlight a key point or best practice of interest to asphalt paving crews, inspectors and others working in the field. We welcome suggestions. More tips can be found in our "Asphalt Parking Lot Construction Checklist" HERE. Information on the CalAPA "Quality Paving Certificate" program is HERE.

SUBSOIL: Is the base layer/subsoil firm and unyielding under the pressure of repeated

construction trucks? Is the soil dry enough to support heavy construction? Can the soil hold its

shape under loaded trucks? If the site is wet, postpone until the site is sufficiently dry and can be

proof rolled and uniform stability is obtained.

Each week we highlight a term that is specific to climate-change issues related to the asphalt pavement industry. This feature is intended to raise awareness of the asphalt industry's climate-change initiatives and the specialized terminology that goes with them. More information on "The Road Forward" asphalt industry climate initiative can be found HERE. A recent CalAPA magazine story on the topic is HERE.

SEQUESTRATION: Storage or removal of carbon dioxide within a product.

"Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us.”



– Stephen R. Covey

We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider newsletter. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information on technical issues, regulation, news, analysis, people, events and trends in California that is of interest to the asphalt pavement industry and our various agency partners. To subscribe to the newsletter, click HERE. For comments, questions or to suggest a story idea, click HERE.

Sincerely,

Russell W. Snyder, CAE

Executive Director

The California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®