2009 Contractor’s Choice Award - Gold

 

Roads and Bridges awarded HCSS HeavyBid, HeavyJob, and The Dispatcher with the 2009 Contractor’s Choice Award in the Software category.

Awards are based on nationwide ballots from contractors voting on their favorite products and equipment.

WINNER: HCSS HeavyBid, HeavyJob, and The Dispatcher

Tractor to tracking

Growing outfit keeps sharp eye on action behind software

Durr Heavy Construction LLC started as a “mom-and-pop” operation with a single tractor. Today, Durr is one of the leading demolition and site preparation companies in Louisiana and the Gulf South.

Durr distinguishes itself as a company of reliable professionals with high standards of excellence, backed by a multimillion-dollar fleet of equipment and state-of-the-art technology. It is that technology that helps maintain their ability to offer excellent service by delivering projects on schedule and within budget.

Durr began using HCSS’s HeavyBid in 1997 and has since been able to decrease costs and time spent on bids.

“The ability to build a cost-code structure that suits our company cuts down on estimate entry,” said Durr Vice President Jason Manson. “Our estimators simply point and click to build the estimate. Time is money, so if you can estimate quicker you save out of the gate. We like the fact that multiple estimators can work on separate components within the same estimate. This allows us to divide larger estimates into logical parts and turn out the final estimate quickly.”

Twelve years later, Durr still relies on HeavyBid. “The main reason we stuck with HeavyBid isn’t just the software,” said Manson. “It’s the customer service HCSS provides. If a bid is due at 10 a.m. and there is a problem at 1 a.m., you can’t afford to wait until 8 a.m. You need the help now. HCSS was the only company to offer this service.”

Durr later purchased HeavyJob to have a more efficient way to report time and production. Previously, foremen were filling out daily reports and sending them to the office where someone else would transfer it to a time card and then manually enter it into payroll. Since 2007, foremen now enter their information into HeavyJob via laptops and submit it electronically to accounting.

“Foremen can spend more time watching the work, and accounting needs half the time for processing. Plus, project managers can focus on ways to cut costs and improve means and methods,” said Wayne Pontiff, Durr project manager.

By tracking their time and quantities through HeavyJob, foremen can compare production to the estimate to see if they are profitable. If not, they can make adjustments. They made adjustments on a project involving 15 acres of mass earthwork. The estimate utilized backhoes and onsite trucks to move the material. Because of the hike in fuel costs and extensive rain, the project was running over budget.

“With the information from HeavyJob, we saw this issue immediately,” said Pontiff. “We changed the type of equipment, bringing in tractors and pans, and were able to complete the project below budget and ahead of schedule.”

The information in HeavyJob lets operations managers easily run reports, such as cost analysis, productivity and production analysis. The reports allow them to easily keep track of materials used, problems occurring and reasons for increased or lack in production.

“With this knowledge, we are able to correct issues before they become problems,” said Pontiff. “The cost of issues is minor but the cost of problems can put you out of business.”

 

Back to Top