Paveology Tech brings concrete paving expertise to jobsites

First published at CONEXPO-CON/AGG - March 13, 2020

Chad Barnes and Paveology Tech bring expertise to concrete paving jobsites.

There was a time when concrete paving expertise was everywhere … on every project. That began to change about five years ago, as many industry experts retired, and the next generation was slow to join the trades and become skilled professionals.

Paveology Tech’s goal is to fill the knowledge gap that now often exists on concrete paving jobsites. The company sends experts to the jobs and addresses a variety of project management and coordination issues – including calibration, start-up, equipment troubleshooting, repair and maintenance.

“Some basic knowledge might be there,” said Chad Barnes, chief operating officer of Paveology. “There are just pieces missing, and putting it all together – the layout of the job, the setting of the equipment, how the operation all blends together – that’s where we come in.”

Contractors working on challenging jobs, such as airports or interstates, are Paveology’s main customers. Manufacturers offer their own training, but some times they, too, struggle as experts leave the industry – leading them to turn to Paveology for help. Stressed-out contractors turn to Barnes, asking him to fly in his company’s expertise as quickly as possible.

Yet another opportunity is groups of contractors who combine efforts in order to bid on the largest projects. On these jobsites, Paveology helps create teams and organize the varied groups.

Barnes has decades of concrete paving experience. He also utilises some of the experts who have retired to help provide knowledge on the jobsites: “They like to do a project for three weeks or so,” he said. “We’ll also bring young guys on and train them ourselves.”

Paveology is a business, to be sure. But the work provides satisfaction beyond profit.

“If we as an industry are to grow, we have to put out a quality product,” Barnes said. “We’re in the business of helping the contractor do a good job so the state DOT or airport authority continues to spec concrete.”