Asphalt Contractor Magazine

06/18/2026

Where you pave this summer determines what you pay. New data from nine state DOT indexes showed the Iran war hit U.S. asphalt markets very differently by region. We broke down all five regional bands, verified the data directly from state DOT publications, and built an interactive map so you can see exactly where the disruption is hitting hardest.

The war may have officially ended, but the downstream effects on the asphalt binder market won't reverse course over night. How is your region weathering the shock?

05/21/2026

The House Markup day the BUILD America 250 Act is today! This bipartisan five-year surface transportation reauthorization is meant to replace the IIJA when current authorization expires September 30.

There's already been some great coverage by the National Asphalt Pavement Associationn, Eno Center for Transportation, and here are a few items contractors should know:

→ The bill authorized roughly $60B per year in core Federal-aid highway funding by FY2031.

→ $474.4B came through Highway Trust Fund contract authority. The remaining ~$106B is subject to annual appropriations, with no General Fund advance appropriations to backstop it.

→ The bridge program grew from roughly $40B under IIJA to $56B under BA250, the largest formula-driven federal bridge investment in U.S. history.

→ Section 1129 imposed a $130 annual federal registration fee on EVs and $35 on plug-in hybrids, the first new HTF revenue stream since the 1993 gas tax increase.

→ The Carbon Reduction Program and the PROTECT formula program both ended. The Surface Transportation Accelerator Grant Program replaced the Rural program at $2.4B per year.

Full comparative analysis here: https://www.forconstructionpros.com/asphalt/application/policy-matters/article/22967226/build-america-250-vs-iija-how-the-two-bills-measure-up

The BUILD America 250 Act authorized $580B over five years. Here's how it compared to the IIJA on bridges, HTF revenue, and the federal funding pipeline.

05/20/2026

There's been a lot of discussion lately about suspending the gas tax. The Highway Trust Fund is in crisis, and suspending the gas tax could spell disaster. These days it covers just 60-cents of every dollar it spends, and time is running out to fix the problem.

Asphalt Contractor spoke with Jeff Davis and Rebecca Higgins of the ENO Center for Transportation and AGC's Brian Turmail to break down what each path forward — spending cuts, a gas tax hike, devolution — actually means for project pipelines, fleet costs, and contractor planning.

The September reauthorization deadline matters more than 2028. Here's why:

The Highway Trust Fund goes negative in 2028. Eno Center researchers and AGC break down what spending cuts, a gas tax hike, or devolution would mean for federal project pipelines, and the road building industry.

05/13/2026

The top new, improved, and legacy products for the asphalt and road building industry professional in-mind.

05/12/2026

Three acquisitions in 18 months. A new $13.7M parts hub in South Carolina. Roughly 30% of the U.S. asphalt paver market now under one roof. The Fayat Group's North American footprint has changed significantly over the last few years.

We sat down with the head of one of the world's largest road-building manufacturers to talk about what's driving the moves: where digitization actually changes contractor economics, how global trade pressure is reshaping equipment sourcing, and where he sees the next decade of paving headed.

FAYAT Group + BOMAG worldwide + Dynapac North America + LeeBoy + Mecalac + ADM - Asphalt Drum Mixers Inc.

Jean-Claude Fayat breaks down FAYAT's North American strategy, why equipment prices won't normalize, and what separates a good business decision from a great one.

05/06/2026

ALL-NEW EPISODE ⚠️ Did you know that it can rain in the desert? It doesn't often, but when editor-in-chief Brandon Noel arrived in Chandler, AZ, to work with Dehart Asphalt Maintenance, LLC it was almost a non-stop downpour ⛈️ . But despite the less-than-ideal learning conditions, they still managed to get things done! Thanks to the team at Crafco, Inc.for making this possible!

Watch here 👉 https://youtu.be/oHclk12a3fo?si=0pf57Qt8gqTRxMOD

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I flew out to Phoenix to learn more about crack sealing. The extreme heat and temperatures swings test the limits of asphalt's flexibility. And whoever said ...

04/17/2026

Meet Abbigail "Ms. Abby" Kenner, asphalt roller operator for C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc. She taught herself everything she needed to know about rolling, and she's been perfecting her craft ever since. Her message to women considering a career in construction? "Come in and give it your all. Ask questions, work hard and show them you're here to work."

Read her story: https://www.forconstructionpros.com/asphalt/article/22961024/cw-matthews-contracting-nearly-40-years-on-the-roller-a-career-built-on-asphalt-precision-and-pride

With decades of experience as a woman in asphalt construction, one roller operator reflects on craft pride, career growth and encouraging more women into the industry.

03/27/2026

Paving season is here. So is the biggest oil supply shock in history. The Iran war has closed the Strait of Hormuz and taken roughly 20% of global crude supply offline. In 2022, a disruption half this size sent asphalt binder prices up 56% in eight months. This time there's no spare capacity to absorb the hit.
The catch: state DOT price indexes won't reflect the shock for another month or two. Contractors bidding work right now are pricing into a market that hasn't shown its hand yet.
We broke down what the data shows, what it doesn't show yet, and what the numbers could look like by mid-summer. Interactive charts included. Full story link in comments 👇

03/24/2026

We’re proud to have our equipment featured as the cover story in the February/March print edition of Asphalt Contractor Magazine.

This story highlights how Black Gold Transport, Inc made the decision to invest in their first asphalt plant—choosing a high-capacity ALmix system to take control of quality, scale production, and position themselves for larger opportunities.

It’s a great example of what happens when a contractor becomes a partner, not just a customer, in the plant specification process. At ALmix, we’re not focused on building the cheapest plant—we’re focused on building and scaling your business with the right equipment. Our sales consultants and team of experts prioritize what you will need now, and in the years and decades to come, while our service team supports our partners every step of the way through their growth.

Take a look at the full feature story below:
https://www.asphalt.com/production/plants/article/22958759/almix-how-black-gold-built-its-first-asphalt-plant-to-control-quality-scale-production-and-win-bigger-work

03/20/2026

No Edge Lines returns with our BEST EPISODE EVER! We took a trip to Ellensburg, WA, to visit Central Paving, LLC to learn a little bit about paving on a live, active roadway. Our editor-in-chief got the chance to drive the paver, but not before he experienced the joys of Goat Yoga (has to be seen to be believed) as well as homemade Ellensburg chicken teriyaki. 👇 VIDEO LINK IN COMMENTS! Thanks to Dynapac North America for making this video possible.