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Maintenance Inc . office in Wooster , Ohio .
and beyond . We asked Mark to give us his thoughts on various issues that may affect his business , and yours .
Allied Paving Equipment : As you have stated in your previous articles in APE magazine over the years , the pavement maintenance industry has always been resilient and able to weather product supply shortages and rising fuel costs . As it kicks off , what about this season , if anything , seems different to you ?
Mark McLeod : The war and turmoil with Ukraine is making a huge difference . Russia has had an impact on the USA , for sure . The squabbling over oil and territory , pandemic hangover , leadership at home and abroad has to be questioned . It has hit a low , and we all could suffer from this power struggle through increased price of crude oil and fuel . We will see shortages from the logistics side because companies will be unable to deliver goods if the fuel price is too high to roll their trucks . Increased fuel costs will lead to new fuel surcharges that once again fall on the American consumer ’ s shoulders .
APE : Has Maintenance Inc . felt the pressure of shortages yet in 2022 ? Do you see any difference from the 2021 supply chain and deliveries so far ?
MM : That ’ s a great question . Typically , in spring most manufacturers are stocked with inventory from the previous season ’ s unsold finished goods and new deliveries from early orders . This might not be the case in 2022 for many manufacturers of liquid products and accessories . If you
Mark McLeod says the new startups are the lifeblood of our industry .
chat with contractors they will tell you they had a bumper year and could not get all of their 2021 work done ! However , the supplier side is a different story . Most , if not all , products were in very high demand and the wait times were maddening . I was very lucky to offer a variety of additives that contractors could incorporate into their mix designs . We found new customers that tried our additives for the first time and want pricing for 2022 already . That in itself is a big benefit to our growth .
APE : What have you heard regarding contractors ’ concerns for 2022 ?
MM : Brad Eagle , our national sales director , and I talk about this topic a lot . In his conversations with contractors , Brad says he ’ s gotten great feedback on the contractors ’ ability to fill their job boards , but they are concerned about manufacturers not having their traditional products available . Product wait times , new product information and what ’ s hard to find seem to be the biggest issues for contractors . Right now , price doesn ’ t matter as much as availability does !
APE : Can you elaborate on what happens when a shortage of raw materials occurs so our readers can better understand what manufacturers , including Maintenance Inc ., might experience ?
MM : First off , if you go to Home Depot , Lowes , Menards , or your grocery store you might see a boatload of what you are looking for , but the next week the shelves may be bare . Why ? Well , the
Teaching contractors the proper application procedures and product knowledge is the most important service we can provide .
supply chains are interrupted by a variety of things . Logistics is the top culprit because there are not enough long-haul truck drivers and local delivery drivers to satisfy the demand . Warehouses get backed up and freight sits there until it can be moved . Labor issues in manufacturing have become a real problem for many , including contractors .
APE : What is your company doing to help out the situation with supply and demand ? And how are you planning to bring in new pavement maintenance startup businesses while still servicing the veteran pavement maintenance professionals in 2022 ?
MM : Maintenance Inc . has always been the contractor ’ s friend , from educating the newbie to assisting the seasoned vet with application tips , product quality and consistency in pricing . Brad Eagle has been training and educating new startups for the last few decades . He ’ s always been willing to work through our customers ’ issues with cost effective solutions and guidance catered to their type of sealer . He likes to say that if you train them to do it right the first time , they will stick by you forever . That ’ s it in a nutshell .
APE : Are you saying most manufacturers are stocked up right now and ready to kick off the season ? Do supply chains become less important when product is available ?
MM : It is so important for the contractor to be talking with their supplier reps about where they stand on products , especially early in the season . When
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