Registration is open for a special daylong asphalt training class to be held Nov. 17 in West Sacramento delivered by two of California's most noted asphalt experts.

CalAPA's popular "Asphalt Pavement 101" will be married with a new offering, "Five Trends Impacting Your Pavements." The daylong in-person session will feature lunch and refreshments, and a workbook for future reference.

Space is limited, and advanced registration is required. On-line registration for the full day of training is HERE.

CalAPA’s “Asphalt Pavement 101” class provides a comprehensive overview of everything asphalt, which includes how asphalt pavements are designed, constructed and maintained. This class contains useful information for engineers, contractors, paving crews, quality control specialists, lab personnel and others who interact with asphalt pavements. Roger Smith will lead the class that covers the asphalt terminology, pavement structure design, asphalt mixture characteristics and components, mixture production operations, pavement construction, quality assurance protocols and project specifications.

Because so much is changing in the world of asphalt pavements, particularly as it relates to specifications, test methods, technology and best practices, the class provides a comprehensive overview that is good for those new to the field or a refresher for experienced personnel. The class is a recommended prerequisite for other CalAPA technical classes, such as “Quality HMA Paving, Caltrans Section 39 Specifications,” “Essentials of Pavement Smoothness” and “Quality HMA Paving.”

Attendees of AP101 can earn PDHs via a nationally recognized Registered Continuing Education Program (details are on the website).

As a bonus offering, the day of training will feature a new offering, "Five trends impacting your pavements," led by CalAPA Technical Director Brandon Milar, P.E. Successful owners and managers of asphalt pavement assets rely on technological innovations to effectively ensure the sustainability of their pavement infrastructure. This session will explore five current trends that practitioners are utilizing in their pavement programs. Participants will explore and discuss the challenges asphalt pavement practitioners experience and how innovative strategies provide insight into ensuring the continued long-term sustainability of asphalt pavements.

Milar, a prominent leader in technical committees at the local, state and national level, introduces participants to the various innovative strategies that are changing the asphalt pavement space.

Refreshments and lunch will be provided to all attendees, as well as a handbook for future reference, and a certificate of completion.

For more information on CalAPA's technical training program, click HERE. Contact CalAPA for information on how to host a CalAPA technical training class at your facility, which provides a low-cost and convenient way to access quality asphalt training.

A provocative commentary authored by CalAPA is making the rounds in newsrooms across Southern California in advance of Tuesday's midterm elections. In the commentary, the association provides some background and context to one aspect of an obscure charter revision Los Angeles residents are being asked to approve.

With little fanfare, the new charter language, in the form of ballot measure Charter Amendment LA, could potentially open the way for the City of Los Angeles to sell asphalt from the city-owned and operated plant on to the commercial market. The city plant has been dogged by controversy for years with high costs of operating the under-utilized plant.

When confronted with a similar situation, the City & County of San Francisco shuttered the taxpayer-funded plant, saving money in the process. The mayor then? Gavin Newsom.

The commentary may be viewed HERE. A previous Asphalt Insider article on this topic is HERE. Our special thanks to Hollywood for producing a blockbuster movie "The Odyssey" that prominently features a depiction of a "Trojan Horse" that is referenced in the commentary.

All CalAPA members were sent a brief member satisfaction survey via e-mail last week. The survey is an important way for the association to keep the opinions of its membership at the forefront of all of its activities. Please contact CalAPA HERE if you did not receive a survey.

The data from the survey is studied closely by staff and the CalAPA Board of Directors as they evaluate current activities as well as refine the association's long-term strategic plan.

The on-line questionnaire is one of many feedback channels CalAPA utilizes to ensure all association activities are in line with what members want. Other feedback channels include event surveys, responding to calls and inquiries, and in-person feedback.

CalAPA's sole mission is to help companies in the asphalt pavement industry succeed, and the association's strategic plan is build on a foundation of promotion, advocacy, education and networking. To learn more about CalAPA visit our website HERE.

A free educational webinar series produced by the National Asphalt Pavement Association, a CalAPA partner, is titled "Road Basics" and covers everything from materials, design, production, construction and inspection.

The series continues this week with an installment titled "The asphalt plant as a system." It will take place live on Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PST. Advanced registration is required HERE.

Other webinars are scheduled through April. Click HERE to see the full schedule of dates and topics.

For those who missed one of the webinars, not to worry. Recordings of the sessions are viewable on YouTube HERE.


CalAPA is pleased to welcome its newest paving contractor, Rose Paving, a national paving company with local offices in San Diego, Escondido, Santa Fe Springs and San Francisco.

The company traces its history back to 1974 and has grown into one of the nation's leading providers of commercial paving and pavement maintenance solutions. The company's comprehensive services include asphalt paving and repairs, milling and overlays, sealcoating, crack-filling, concrete installation and repairs, parking lot striping, ADA improvements and preventative pavement maintenance.

The company boasts experienced personnel and a commitment to clear communication, accountability, safety and customer satisfaction.

For more information click HERE to visit the company website, or contact Lauren Wyatt at (760) 898-3517.

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

AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA): A federal law passed in 1990, and generally referring to subsequent laws and guidance, that mandate that public facilities be made accessible to persons with physical disabilities.

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.

PREPARING FOR ASPHALT DELIVERY: Ask yourself: Has a pre-paving meeting been held with the paving foreman to inspect the sub-base? Have you checked the site for possible safety issues?

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.

PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT: A 2015 treaty on climate change to mitigate, adapt and finance CO2 reductions.

Editor's Note: As a convenience to our readers, Asphalt Insider reports the most current Caltrans "Statewide Crude Oil Price Index" posting. The department posts this monthly on its public website HERE. The index is used to calculate payment adjustments for paving asphalt under special provisions section "Payment Adjustments for Price Index Fluctuations" in those projects containing the section. The department posts the index on or about the first business day of the month using the daily Brent crude oil prices from the previous month as reported by Business Insider. Inquiries about the index should be directed to Caltrans at: Oil.Index@dot.ca.gov .

October 2026: $557.6 ($/ton)*

Last month: $481.3.4

1 year ago: $364.5

* The November posting by Caltrans was not available at press time.

"I dwell in possibility."

– Emily Dickinson

We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider newsletter, widely regarded as the most influential publication of its type in California. 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. We are committed to promptly notifying our readers of any errors in this publication. Please click on the comment link above to alert the editor of any errors or omissions.

Sincerely,

Russell W. Snyder, CAE

Executive Director

The California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®