|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
TA-4 gets a free ride home from HT-1
|
P. R. Parker Company, Inc. is a general
contracting firm performing work in the areas of: highway construction, roads
and streets construction, and municipal & public works
construction. The Company is headquartered in Correspondence may be mailed to us at:
We
may be reached by phone at:
Office(318) 525-0704
Fax (318) 798-1641 |
The Company's major customers are LADOTD (Louisiana
Dept. of Transportation and Development), TXDOT (Texas Dept. of
Transportation), City of
The Company's very first project was a small bridge replacement in
1998 for TXDOT near the town of
The largest contract the Company had completed through its first
three years of operation was for LADOTD. Since completing that first
LADOTD project, the Company has continued to pursue this work. The
Company’s first contract in excess of two million dollars was an LADOTD
project, and the Company’s largest contract to-date is an LADOTD project. The LADOTD projects that the Company had
completed through 2007 were all located north of Interstate 10, or within
approximately 200 miles of the Shreveport Office. Beginning in 2008, the
Company ventured farther south. The greatest distance the Company has
ventured from the home office to perform an LADOTD project was Vermilion Parish
south of
The City of
P. R. Parker Company rarely pursues work in
private markets or as a subcontractor. However, the company does on
occasion perform work for a few owners other than our usual state, city, county
and federal governmental customers. These other customers have met
certain financial requirements and have a favorable credit history. When
P. R. Parker Company does work as a subcontractor, the prime contractor must
meet these same financial requirements, and the prime contracts are normally for
bonded projects with state, federal or other governmental agencies.
Some of the Company’s primary purchases
include: liquid asphaltic cements and emulsions, crushed stone, concrete, pipe,
pre-cast concrete structures, reinforcing steel, diesel fuel, and lubricating
oils.
The Company uses equipment and vehicles (through purchase, rental,
and lease): pickup trucks, dump trucks, trailers, loaders, rollers, power
brooms, paving equipment, compactors, excavators, graders, bulldozers, other
heavy equipment, surveying instruments, computers, software, and other
miscellaneous construction-related items.
|
|
|
|
Q. |
What was it like working in |
|
A. |
The NDOR (Nebraska Department of Roads) specifications
are very clear and accurate. We worked
on two major highways in the Lincoln Area, and performed work at night on
some sections to avoid the typical delays associated with extremely high
volumes of traffic. All in all it was
a great experience for P. R. Parker Company, and we would like to return to |
|
|
|
|
Q. |
Did P. R. Parker Company perform an asphaltic surface
treatment at night? |
|
A. |
Yes. We applied a one-course asphaltic surface
treatment on Interstate-49 in Asphalt type is the main consideration when
contemplating night work. When
applying emulsions such as CRS-2 or CRS-2P, ideally you want temperatures
that are rising, a humidity level that is falling, and no expected
precipitation. But as nighttime falls
so does the temperature as it heads toward the dew point, which is unwanted
moisture. |
|
|
|
|
Q. |
What is Asphaltic Surface Treatment? |
|
A. |
Although the correct terminology is Asphaltic
Surface Treatment (AST), it is often referred to as "Chip Seal" in |
|
|
|
|
Q. |
Can I save money by chip sealing my parking lot instead
of overlaying it with hot-mixed asphalt? |
|
A. |
Absolutely.
Shopping centers, churches, and schools are great candidates for the
process. But first there are a few things that should be
considered: If a good stable base
still exists, an asphaltic surface treatment will protect it and provide
a good driving surface at less cost, and for a longer time than will a
hot-mixed overly. If your pavement
structure is already failing in some areas, those failures must be repaired
and patched prior to chip sealing. Either way - this is the most
economical and longest lasting method of resurfacing. Another popular
advantage is that existing drainage patterns are preserved. |
|
|
|
|
Q. |
How does the price of crude oil affect the cost of
asphalt paving? |
|
A. |
Since asphalt is derived from petroleum, its
cost fluctuates in relation to oil prices.
We have seen the cost of asphalt rise over 160 percent so far since
2007. An additional cost to the
material itself is the cost of freight.
The cost of Hot-Mixed Asphalt Paving however, rises
proportionally more rapidly as compared to Asphaltic Surface Treatment. There are a few reasons for this. The hot-mix process requires transporting
liquid asphalt and aggregate to a plant, then the plant must be fired to
produce the mix. This means a lot of
diesel for freight and a lot of natural gas or other fuel to fire the mixing
plant. And then after the mix is made,
it has to be once again loaded onto trucks and hauled to the paving
site. With asphaltic surface
treatment, the liquid asphalt and the aggregate are hauled directly to the
paving site and applied as the final product, so obviously less fuel is required,
which means proportionally less cost than hot-mix. So in accordance with Al Gore’s deranged
thinking, it is also a “greener” method of paving. |
|
|
|
|
Q. |
How do you know when to adjust the asphalt and aggregate
rates on a Chip Seal? |
|
A. |
Try to think of an Asphaltic Surface Treatment
as a saucer partially filled with water and some marbles. If the saucer
starts out with 1/2 inch of water in it, and a 1 inch marble is dropped into
the saucer, the water will reach up 1/2 inch on that first marble. If
more marbles are dropped in, the water level will rise nearer to the top with
each additional marble. Just as the level of water will rise nearer to
the top of the marbles, so will the liquid asphalt rise nearer to the top of
the aggregate as aggregate rates are increased. If the level of the
liquid asphalt rises near enough to the surface, it could come in contact
with the tires of vehicles traveling over the surface. Never add rock when tires are already starting to pick up oil -
you must cut back on the oil and/or the rock, but never increase the
rock. Adding rock will only force more oil to the surface and worsen
the situation. TOO MUCH LIQUID ASPHALT CAN NEVER BE CORRECTED WITH ANY
AMOUNT OF ROCK! This is why experienced engineers will start out
lighter on the liquid and work their way up. A good chip seal will have
plenty of area showing between the aggregate chips. An older, and very experienced TXDOT Engineer once told me
that a quarter should easily fit between the rock chips when laid flat on the
oil. If you do want to add rock to have more rock coverage on the
surface, you must cut back on the oil rate (refer back to the saucer).
But try not to forget that the purpose of a chip seal (or any resurfacing) is
to seal out moisture, so more oil is better. The chief purpose of the
chips is to keep tires from picking up the oil. When the liquid asphalt or "oil",
does come in contact with tire traffic: The least harm this can produce is
"Tracking" in the wheel-paths, where they become darker from the
oil being tracked onto the top of the aggregate by tire traffic - this will
always polish off in time. The worst harm it can produce is too
horrible to discuss - wild terms like "snowball" and "seized
up 18-wheeler" could enter the imagination |
|
|
|
|
Q. |
I accidentally drove through the cones on your road
project. Now, how can I get the tar off of my car? |
|
A. |
The "tar", which is actually oil will not harm vehicles or paint, but the sooner it is
removed, the easier it is to remove. Try some WD-40 or rubbing alcohol and
a rag for a quick-fix. GoJo and similar
products, when smeared over the affected area and left for a while then wiped
off, usually do the trick as well (method for carpet). Also a number of
cleaning products are available from your local automotive store. Any
product that claims to remove tar and bugs should work. |
|
|
|
|
Q. |
My windshield was broken while driving through your
construction zone. What is the procedure for having your company repair
or replace it? |
|
A. |
We do not replace windshields on vehicles
that we do not own. We are required by DOT (Department of
Transportation) to install signs that say, "Loose Gravel" and " Fresh Oil" to warn motorists. We are not
allowed by DOT to begin work until the specified signs are in place. An
unfortunate fact is that most windshields that are struck (whether in a
construction zone or not), are struck by material thrown up by a vehicle
traveling in the opposite direction at an irresponsible speed. While
driving through loose gravel, speeds of 25 MPH or less (regardless of the
posted speed limit) are usually sufficient to insure that you will not throw
up material that could damage other vehicles, or your own. Most States
classify it a road hazard when material is thrown up from the pavement and
strikes a vehicle (regardless of what threw it up or how it got on the
pavement). Your best remedy for windshield damage is through your own
insurance company. When we have chips repaired on our vehicles, we
usually pay around $35.00 for the first chip that is repaired and about
$10.00 for each additional chip. We pay around $185.00 to have a
typical windshield replaced on one of our full-sized pickup trucks. Try Gamble Quality Glass or Novus for chip repairs and windshield replacements.
|
|
|
|
|
Q. |
Did P. R. Parker Company Chip Seal a road in December,
out of asphalt season? |
|
A. |
Yes. We were involved in an experiment
that LADOTD is pursuing to re-use old hot-mixed asphalt that has been milled
from We also applied nearly 200,000 gallons of hot AC-12-5TR in |
|
|
|
|
Q. |
What is the difference between a Box Culvert and a
Bridge? |
|
A. |
Bridges are usually thought of as structures
that span above the ground over some obstacle .
A culvert is merely a large conduit or pipe. The prefix or word
"box" explains that it is rectangular. A Box
Culvert is constructed on the ground as opposed to bridges which are
normally constructed overhead. |
|
|
|
|
Q. |
Does P. R. Parker Company bid on commercial buildings? |
|
A. |
No. But it is possible that a project on
which we bid could involve some building work as a portion of the total
project. This is most likely to occur on an industrial-type site and
might come in the form of a small guardhouse, storage shed, or control
building. |
|
|
|
|
Q. |
Why doesn't P. R. Parker mark up subcontractor's bid
prices? |
|
A. |
The Company takes pride in the fact that it awards
to the subcontractor or supplier with the lowest responsive quote on
bid-day. By showing the exact unit bids in the proposal, anyone can
immediately see whether or not we used their quote. |
|
|
|
|
Q. |
Does P. R. Parker Company build custom homes? |
|
A. |
No. But the Company often clears land,
performs rough grading, and installs streets, drives or utilities where
residential structures are to be built. |
|
|
|
|
Q. |
How can a subcontractor get established with P. R.
Parker Company? |
|
A. |
Many of the Company's highly valued
subcontractor relationships have developed over time, but they all began the
same way - with the lowest bid on bid-day. So the short answer is,
quote on our work. Always quote in writing 24 hours or more prior to
bid time. Quotes may be faxed to (318) 798-1641. |
|
|
|
SUBCONTRACTING - P. R. Parker Company has a variety of subcontractors working with
it on many projects. Some of the work that has been performed by
subcontractors includes: trucking, guardrail, signs, erosion control, seeding
& landscaping, pavement marking & striping, electrical, utilities &
pipe, asphalt paving, concrete paving, demolition, drilled shafts, and building
construction.
Subcontractors are required by written agreement to adhere to the
safety requirements and practices of P. R. Parker Company, Inc. while on the
Company's projects as well as to any additional requirements that the project
owner may require. Subcontractors are required to maintain certain
insurance including General Liability and Worker's Compensation.
Subcontractors interested in working with P. R. Parker Company may
contact us by faxing information about them to (318) 798-1641. The
minimum information should include: company name, address, contact person,
phone and fax numbers, type of work usually performed, and preferred
geographical regions of operation.
Price quotes from Subcontractors should be received in our office by
fax, email, or US Mail 24 hours before bid-time. Price quotes and
proposals should be faxed to (318) 798-1641.
INSURANCE - P. R. Parker Company has an excellent loss history that was
recently described by one insurance professional as, "an underwriters
dream". The company employs some key practices in its quest to
maintain this status. Some of these practices include: an effective
safety policy, an effective subcontract indemnity clause, site security,
insured subcontractors, and most of all - a careful choice of targeted work.
Our insurance coverage and limits meets or exceeds our regular customer's
requirements. Potential customers and certain vendors may request an
insurance certificate on an ACCORD form by calling, faxing, or mailing a
request. The Company's insurance renewal date is October 22.
Additional information regarding insurance may be acquired by written
request.
BONDING - P. R. Parker Company has sufficient
bonding credit with an A+ rated bonding company in an amount exceeding its
usual volume. The Company has never defaulted on a project nor has it
experienced a claim on a bond. The company has consistently grown its
bonding capacity each year through steady conservative growth while obtaining a
stable percentage of retained earnings. Additional information may be
obtained through our bonding agent. Call or write for contact
information.
FINANCIAL - P. R. Parker Company, Inc. was incorporated in
Gamble Quality Glass -
Novus Auto Glass Repair -
|
|
|
|
Double-Barrel Box Culvert |
4 - Barrel Box Culvert |
|
s |
|
|
s |
|
|
|
|
|
Triple-Barrel with Concrete Rails |
Box Culvert with Metal Rails |
|
s |
|
|
s |
|
|
s |
|
|
s |
|
