Let me say this about that!
biloximike 03-10-2011
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First thanks to Todd for having the stamina to have his site for so long and for putting up with all of us and our rants.  I think the only reason any one will read further in this missive is I mention Brundage Bone.
 
In over 30 years in the concrete pumping industry I have had the opportunity to work with or for many people.  I have been in back room meetings, front rooms, secret meetings and watched and observed wheeling and dealings by a lot of the industry icons.  Most of the time I just hung around in the back ground watching and learning.
 
I made a lot of mistakes, did a lot of things wrong and some things right.   Everyone will have a different viewpoint and reasons they think the way they do but there are three people I Respect the most.  George Brock, Tom Anderson, and Jack Brundage.  All three had a tremendous impact on the industry.  I know that many of you will not agree with my selection and thats okay.,  It is just my view and perspective from my own personal expierences with them and a whole host of others,   There are many Icons that in MY opinion their actions are unethical at best and criminal at worst.   I have been hired by Jack Brundage and fired by him.  I was with him at the beginning in Hawaii and later as Brundage Bone grew - Jack Brundage would tell you up front what he thought.  Love him or hate him you knew where he stood.  The one thing most people don't know is he really cares about the people who work for him and their familes.  When there is an accident and someone is hurt or worse yet killed, Jack will suffer more then  any of us.
 
There is a lot of talk and speculation about the future of Brundage Bone - They have done some things I do not agree with and have certain people in positions that in MY opinion do not belong.  All that being said Brundage Bone has raised the level of concrete pumping professionalism accross the board.   Most of the negative posts by pond scum such as "yellow stain in my pants" are either compeition that could not compete or former employees that were let go for cause.  It is that way with every company.   That is real life!   The core of Brundage Bone is strong and remains so.  They will emerge from Bankruptcy and retain their industry leading role much to the chagrin of a lot of nay sayers.  It was and is the best Concrete Pumping Company in the Country.
 
What will happen to the Concrete Pumping Industry?  It will continue to feed on itself.  There are a few quality companies that will survive, and a few of the liars and cheats may exisit for a time.  Owners, pump operators, managers and mechanics are all being underpaid.  When you evaluate the risk exposure and factor in the stress level all are exposed to - it becomes a ticking time bomb.   Most of us understand how the market became glutted with concrete pumps.  Manufacturers putting people in business so they could sell their pumps.  Once the market became staturated with pumping services the manufactureres turned to ready mix companies as a new source to sell their products.  Their timing on this was problamatic since the economy began to spiral downward.  As the market begins to bottom out and there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel new pump manufacturers are entering the market and the cycle continues.  Contractors are laughing all the way to the bank.
 
Whats the answer?  If I knew I would be rich.  If you work for a good company then you need to be proactive and help that company every way you can.  Keep a clean pump.  Always show up for work on time and well dressed.  The image you project is how your company will be reflected in the eyes of the contractor.  If the pour goes well it will just be another day.  If it goes badly he will remember the dirty truck or greasy looking operator with a ring in his nose and will not give that company another chance.  Learn how and why your pump works.  Do your job safely always.  Never complain and always look for ways to save your company money.  It may sound old fashioned and corny but when you work for a company you are part of that team.  Your loyalty should be given 100% as long as you work there.  The life skills you can learn from running a concrete pump will help you no matter what job you may do in the future.
 
As for me - I now have a store with none of the headaches.  Somehow I don't miss those 3:00 am calls from a contractor screaming that the pump is late - or from the highway patrol telling me about a horriffic accident.
 

 
Laser 03-10-2011
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Great post
murf 03-10-2011
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well put  - you might run a store now, but you still got crete running thru ur veins to be on here !
BIG PAPA PUMP 03-10-2011
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  WELL SAID SIR!
northwest63 03-10-2011
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Verry well said.


Big Tobacco 03-10-2011
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Thank you, Mike Big T
Looking Forward 03-13-2011
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If people will realize the whole problem in the pumping industry never charged enough for pumping concrete. The manufactures gave pumps to end users that could not afford them ( including Brundage Bone. Until prices are raised it will never change. you can ship all our pumps off USA shores and the pump manufactures mainly the one that starts with P will do it again. If everybody tripped there prices we would be at 1978 prices. it is amazing to me people cannot afford to finance pick up truck but can buy 500,000.00 concrete pump

bignasty 03-14-2011
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Mike,

How are they gonna be leaders in a industry they were the so called leaders in before and theyre in bankruptcy now ? How are they leaders please explain in what ways have they displayed leadership qualities ? Because they have 800 pumps ? Because they say theyre the best , because they say there the leaders ? Leaders lead by example and look at where this industry is at, man dont think I'd be bragging about being the leaders in a industry that our equipment value has plummeted to where theyre just about as valuable as scrap iron as they are concrete pumps, now I'm not placing blame on them , but hey they are the leaders , rite ? I dont know Jack Brundage , but no doubt he has made great contributions to this industry individually, no doubt, lots have and I am thankful for that, but to say theyre so great and they will be the leader once again ,all I can say is we better pray that they are not , unless they have a complete new set of management, business morals and ethics. This is not BB bash its just my opinion, I would like to get a list of pump companies that actually turned a profit last year now in this economy thats who I want leading.
pumper chuck 03-20-2011
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in order to lead you have to have followers ,to have followers you have to be the best. to be the best you have to grow and improve daily and have morals that earn and deserve respect.you set standards above and beyond expectation,and dont give in to shortcuts,lying,cheating or stealing be strait forward,honest and predictable.problems can be fixed and lessons will be learned,one foot in front of the other on a long and profitable journey to the top.you lye, cheat and steal you will end up the like the ones that tryed to lead ,rite into the courts.maybe they had there morals and led the industrie for a while.some brilliant ideas that helped safety issues .somewhere along the way they forgot about people and let the allmighty dollar run there buisness and after that the end is inevitable,you cut everyone else everytime you can even if its free just to eliminate compitition ,you get what you earn and no more. so lead by example and be the best at being the best and you will have followers and dont ever ever forget the ones that helped you get where you are going.spread the wealth and be thankfull you are there.enuf said bout that