Todd Hillard, senior purchasing manager at AMI, is part of the seventh EPIC (Experiential Participatory Image-Driven Connective) leadership program class through the Asphalt Institute (AI). The program is designed to foster future leaders within AI and develop AI members for further industry leadership. Hillard’s class began the program in June and will end at the Asphalt Institute’s spring meeting in April 2024.
Road managers know that the longitudinal joint is the first part of the pavement to fail. As a road’s most permeable part, this joint is susceptible to the elements. Air and water work down through this gap causing the joint to deteriorate, crack and pothole. And when the longitudinal joint fails, the rest of the road soon follows—triggering the need for even more maintenance.
Pavement preservation is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to extend the life of your roadways and make public funding go further. A well-implemented pavement preservation approach achieves maximum efficiency by increasing the average condition of your pavement while decreasing your average spending per square yard. Pavement preservation treatments are known for their ability to ensure quality with minimal effect on your budget and the environment.
Pavement preservation is the core of our AMISEAL™ product line, including micro-surfacing, chip seal, scrub seal, slurry seal, cape seal, and more.
Rapid penetrating emulsions (RPE) fill asphalt pavement voids and reduce air and water intrusion in pavements. Asphalt Materials Inc.’s (AMI) AMIGUARD™ RPE is specially formulated to penetrate pavement quickly and thoroughly. The penetrating nature of RPE means asphalt residue gets “in” the pavement rather than “on” the pavement, and the emulsion’s reduced surface tension allows it to seep into the pavement voids quickly. Proactively reducing pavement permeability extends pavement life.
The AMI team worked with the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) to support an RPE application on the Indianapolis International Airport’s (IND) Economy Parking Lot.
The holiday season is upon us, which means sitting for prolonged periods in the car. Whether it is traveling to visit loved ones or attend a festive event, safety behind the wheel should be a priority. During the holiday season, adverse weather conditions, heightened traffic, and various distractions can call for challenges on the road. Holiday events and celebrations should be a joyous time for friends and family, but these celebrations can quickly turn into a tragic event if we are not being mindful. AAA predicts there will be 55.4 million people traveling (including more than 49 million Americans driving) between the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (November 23) and the Sunday after the holiday — making this the third-busiest Thanksgiving travel period in more than two decades. This season lets us make a commitment to road safety, the wellbeing of ourselves, our passengers, our hard-working road crews and fellow motorists.
Here are simple ways you can stay safe on the roads this holiday season:
Do not drink and drive. Do not drive when you are impaired, and do not allow your family members or friends to drive while impaired either. Designate a sober driver, call a taxi, or use a ride share service to protect yourself and others on the road.
Inspect your vehicle. Take the time to ensure all of your lights are working and all fluid levels are normal. Check your tires, tire pressure, headlights, taillights, brake lights, and tag lights.
Map out the route. Plan your route ahead of time and be aware of how projected weather conditions may affect your travels.
Click it or ticket! Ensure you and your passengers are properly restrained in seat belts and car safety seats.
Avoid fatigue. Ensure you receive a good night’s rest before driving, take breaks. If you begin to feel tired, share the driving or pull off the road to a rest area.
Have an emergency plan. It is important to have a cell phone and charger with you in case of emergency situations. Keep emergency roadside assistance information on hand.
Do not text and drive. Keeping your full attention on the road is important to ensure your and other motorists’ safety. If you need to use your cellphone, utilize a hands-free device.
Keep a safe driving distance. A safe driving distance allows for ample time to react to traffic around you. If someone is tailgating you, allow them to pass and do not try to compete with impatient, aggressive drivers.
Watch your speed. Do not go over the speed limit (especially in work zones) and give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your location.
Remain calm. If you begin to feel stressed or irritable, take deep breaths and maintain your patience. If you drive with road rage, it compromises the safety of yourself and fellow drivers.
Happy holidays, and safe travels from the AMI team!
United for Service is an opportunity for you to volunteer side-by-side with fellow Heritage family from November 13-17. This experience is all about building a sense of community among the Heritage family while also giving back in a meaningful way to the communities we live and work in.
History of United for Service
In 2014, the Fehsenfeld Family Council decided it was time to refocus their family retreats, family members wanted to become more involved surrounding their gatherings and wanted a way to connect and give back to the community. Together they decided learning and giving back as a group was the best way to move forward. The family established two models for their retreats, United for Learning and United for Service. The goal is to gather and learn something new and take on a community service project.
The family chose November 17 for its day of service because November 17 holds a special day for The Heritage Group – it is the day that the company was founded. In 1930, during the Great Depression, John E. Fehsenfeld met a need in his community, delivering home heating oil. From this beginning, the family business has grown to more than 30 operating companies, 5,000 employees, in 47 states and four countries.
Together through United for Service, we can all help meet another need – putting food on families’ tables. Because of our size and footprint, we have the power to make an impact within our communities.
Why Focus on Food Scarcity?
The need for food is key to our existence, it is a part of our culture. But for some, putting food on the table is a struggle.
According to the USDA, more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the U.S. are food insecure. Every community is home to families who face hunger, and this is even more true in rural communities where there are limited job opportunities and limited transportation options to reach grocery stores or pantries.
Thankfully, there are many community-based organizations that help address this issue. You can support those causes by volunteering with food pantries, soup kitchens, and meal providers during United for Service Week.
How to Participate
Sign up with your team
In our largest markets, members of the Social Impact Task Force are working to create impactful volunteer experiences to fit each location’s employee base, schedule, and space. There might be an on-site event as well as options that get you offsite to see what the fight against hunger looks like in the community. Whatever time you can give to this cause is appreciated. Check the volunteer sign-up for opportunities in your area.
To sign up for a volunteer shift, click here. You can search for volunteer opportunities within your area by typing in your location in the search criteria box.
Other locations/remote employees
The opportunities to amplify our impact are endless. Use our Remote Volunteer Guide to plan your own experience in your community or set up a food drive or a snack bag packing event.
Have a question to ask or a story/photo to share? Be sure to contact socialimpact@thgrp.com.
Asphalt Materials, Inc.’s J-Band product has advanced to Round 3 of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s Coolest Thing Made in Indiana contest!
The competition celebrates the state’s long manufacturing history, and this year’s contest features 47 Hoosier companies that make both well-known and up-and-coming products. Entered companies face off in a single-elimination bracket format with winners chosen through public fan voting.
We need your votes to advance to Round 4! Voting for Round 3 closes Monday, November 13, at 9 p.m. EST.
Vote for Heritage Construction + Materials in the bracket matchup.
About J-Band
J-Band is AMI’s void reducing asphalt membrane (VRAM). It is applied before the asphalt mix is laid down, and when the asphalt mix is placed on top of the J-Band, it migrates into the asphalt mix from the bottom up. The product significantly reduces air voids within the longitudinal joint, which prevents deterioration and preserves the pavement.
As voids are reduced, density increases, and permeability decreases. This extends the life of the joint, which improves the performance of the entire pavement and extends the life of the pavement by up to five years. J-Band was developed to help create longer-lasting, safer roads through a collaboration between state transportation agencies, industry experts and the laboratories of The Heritage Research Group.
Rapid Penetrating Emulsion (RPE) is an asphalt-based emulsion designed to penetrate surface voids of a pavement. The penetrating ability of Asphalt Materials Inc.’s (AMI) AMIGUARD™ RPE allows the pavement to be sealed just below the surface of the pavement, reducing air and water intrusion while maintaining the pavement macrotexture.
Did you know that asphalt pavement is one of America’s most recycled materials? Pavement conditions can be significantly improved when recycling processes like Cold in Place Recycling (CIR), Cold Central Plant Recycling (CCPR), and Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) are applied at the right time. Recycling can successfully mitigate cracking in existing asphalt pavement structures with the application of up-front pavement investigation and training on the specific recycling technique.
Our very own Megan Yount from Heritage Research Group (HRG) was able to speak about Pavement Recycling and its benefits in a recent conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, as a co-presentation with a local agency. This presentation highlighted a successful recycling workshop which partnered with local associations and led to a strong recycling program in Lake County, Indiana.
Electricity is widely recognized as a serious workplace hazard, exposing employees to electric shock, burns, fire, and explosions. It is known that the human body conducts electricity and if direct body contact is made with an electrically charged part, serious injury can occur.
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