A Note on 2023

I am still not used to how much the world has changed each of the last three years. 2022 provided the asphalt industry (and virtually all industry) its challenges in spades. During the first months of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, binder prices rose 87%. During this time, the Mexican government closed the quarry from which was Florida's largest source of imported coarse aggregate. Poor Class I rail service, which had suffered from a labor shortage caused by the mass adoption of precision timed railroading and subsequently followed by pandemic layoffs, made national news and a strike was narrowly avoided only by an Act of Congress. The supply shortage economy, brought to us originally by COVID-19, is here to stay. And frankly, the underlying factors causing our industry specific shortages are getting worse.

Unfortunately, these new challenges did supplement our other ones. The federal government continues to push for emission reductions and is the in process of creating the bureaucracy to do so. Climate concerns have also opened a new criteria for pavement type selection: resiliency. Other pavement choices have begun making claims that they can be produced with less emissions and can stand up to stronger weather events.

But, I like our odds. Our industry has consistently adapted to challenges to maintain its spot as Florida's pavement of choice. The Association has continued to find a great partner with the FDOT in working together to find innovative supply solutions. Furthermore, Florida is leading the nation is measuring our current emissions--which is the first step before lowering them. And when it comes to climate related whether events, the whole world watch our contractors repaired the Sanibel and Pine Island Causeways in just a few days under considerably difficult circumstances.

I personally felt a great deal of pride watching the crews from The de Moya Group, and AJAX Paving heroically repair these two bridges (albeit from the comfort of my home in Tallahassee). Our industry saves thousands of lives annually by placing better pavements, but this was different. In this moment, these crews were first responders as much as road builders.

Before that sense of pride left me, it was refreshed at the 2022 Florida Asphalt Expo held in Orlando last month. The Association's Vice-Chair Vince Hafeli gave a moving and powerful presentation on the issue of the prevalence of suicide in the construction industry. This is a serious issue our industry has never dealt with as a whole, although almost all of us have have to deal with it personally. I recommend you seek out Vince's talk as he travels around this year (February 1st in Fort Myers, for example). Bay News 9 spent time with Vince and AJAX which I encourage you watch.

By the nature of this organization, I am proud to be associated with these heroes.

Mark Musselman

Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida, Inc.