Market Research | Workforce Development

It is imperative that the asphalt pavement industry attract the next generation of workers in this shifting economy. Over the past year, NAPA conducted three phases of market research through the Workforce Development Communications Task Group. The research phases included an initial survey, 10 focus groups, and a large-scale national survey. Through the focus groups, we identified the educator audience as the most willing to listen to the industry. However, this group needed a fair amount of education about the industry as well in order to knowledgeably talk to students and parents. One key finding was that if the industry uses educators as advocates, we must make it easy for them to learn about road construction. The full research findings, along with some recommendations, are provided in a new special report available here.

Help Us Track Asphalt's Sustainability

Every asphalt mix producer in the United States is encouraged to participate in the National Asphalt Pavement Association's annual survey on the use of recycled materials and warm-mix asphalt. This survey is conducted by NAPA under contract with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and is an important tool for tracking the use of sustainable practices by the asphalt pavement industry.

The confidential survey gathers information about the use of these materials during the 2019 construction season. Responses are sought from producers of all sizes and from every community in all 50 U.S. states, as well as all U.S. territories. A short supplemental survey asks questions about the use of in-place recycling technologies. To participate in the survey, click here.

Build Sustainability Into Your Asphalt Pavements

Asphalt pavements by their very nature are a sustainable product. They are 100% recyclable, provide a smooth driving surface, and are quick and easy to maintain and repair. To help asphalt mixture producers and road owners recognize, quantify, and document the sustainability of their operations and their products, NAPA produced over the course of 2019 Sustainable Asphalt Pavements: A Practical Guide, a series of publications focused on what an asphalt producer or asphalt project can do now to address sustainability within the confines of good business practice. The Guide helps readers understand the economic, environmental, and social aspects of sustainability, as well as shows how to recognize and document them in operations and projects.

The four publications in the series are available for free, individually or as a single document, from www.AsphaltPavement.org/PracticalGuide. Webinars discussing each of the publications are available from the same link.

NAPA Moves to New Headquarters

As of September 13, 2019, the National Asphalt Pavement Association has relocated its headquarters. The new address is 6406 Ivy Lane, Suite 350, Greenbelt, MD 20770-1441. Telephone and fax numbers are unchanged. Click here for directions.

NAPA's new home is a modern, dynamic space that will allow the association to better serve its national membership. With expanded meeting spaces and advanced teleconferencing capabilities, the new headquarters were designed to support greater collaboration between NAPA staff and member committees and task groups, as well as to enhance the quality of NAPA webinars and educational activities.

"This state-of-the-art facility is built with the industry in mind," said NAPA Chairman John Harper, Senior Vice President of Construction Partners Inc. in Dothan, Alabama. "The improved technological infrastructure, as well as the convenient location, will boost how NAPA staff connects with the association’s members nationwide."