The leaves will start to turn color in the next several weeks in some areas, the weather is starting to get a bit cooler, and work might be slowing down a bit. It’s a sure sign of fall and winter quickly approaching.
Don’t worry though: There is still time to get those projects done and keep your guys busy, so don’t pack away those directional drills and vacuum excavators just yet for the winter season.
It is a good time to start thinking about what you are going to do during those dreaded slow days of winter. Many companies where snow flies will take on the added extra work of snow clearing, but what about those that don’t do that work?
There should be time set aside for maintenance of your equipment, you can assign your crew to clean up the shop after a busy summer season (I’m sure it could use it at this point), you can get a jump-start on filling out any bid paperwork for the next summer if you have it, or you can start looking at the different ways you can help your crew improve themselves.
HEAD TO KENTUCKY
One easy way to keep your crew on top of their game is sending them to the many trade shows in the months ahead. It’s a great way to see the latest in technology coming out soon, and many of the trade shows have opportunities to learn different techniques by attending educational sessions.
The International Construction & Utility Equipment Exposition, also known as the Demo Expo, is Oct. 1-3 in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
ICUEE, dubbed North America’s largest utility and construction show, covers 28-plus acres of indoor and outdoor exhibits and brings together more than 18,000 utility professionals every two years.
You’ll see everything from directional drills to vacuum excavators, utility bucket trucks and a whole lot more.
On the education side, there are field classrooms, eat-and-learn workshops, a disaster-simulation lab and a diesel progress summit available to attendees.
CHECK OUT LOCAL COLLEGES
If trade shows aren’t your thing, check out some of your local technical colleges. Many of them offer engineering or construction programs, and some might even carry courses that fit your line of work exactly.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay, Wisconsin, for example, has a course titled Directional Drilling & Hydro Excavation Operator Training. This could be a great way to get your crew some additional training or refreshers. It could have the added benefit of drawing additional potential employees to your company.
If you send a couple of your guys to these courses, the other course attendees see that your company wants to help employees grow and they will want to join your team.
START NOW
If you stay busy, it’ll be an easier transition back into the busy time next spring and summer and you won’t have to start over from scratch on training.
Take a moment, jot down some goals for your team during these few slow months and put those goals into action.
Let me know how you plan to spend these next few fall and winter months and what advice you would give to other contractors. I can be reached at 715-350-8436 or at editor@digdifferent.com.
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