Concrete trucks are a welcome sign
From the mid-1990s through 2008 concrete trucks from Lycon, PAC, Churchill and Beloit Redi-Mix were as common on the road as late-model Cavaliers. They were everywhere! The rumble of a concrete truck meant growth - growth in industry, residential and commercial. After the economic mess that started in late 2008 the rumble and roll of the concrete trucks were absent for quite some time.
Four years later and I don't need an expert on Wall Street or a talking head on CNBC to tell me that the economic cloud is having a hard time lifting. There is one bright spot. Maybe a break in the clouds? I'm starting to see a few more trucks rolling down the road. I hadn't seen a concrete truck in over a year on my lunch break. In the past month they have been a consistent sight. On a trip north yesterday I saw a number of Lycon trucks making deliveries. I spotted a Churchill Concrete and Stone making a Saturday delivery a few weeks ago. That was unheard of just a year ago. It's not a magic bullet but this is a good sign.
Will our area ever get back to 'the way it was'? No. I know one of the owners of the mentioned concrete companies. The owner had to purchase equipment in early 2000s to keep up with delivery requests. The majority of that equipment has been mothballed since there isn't much resale value in used concrete trucks right now. Still, his business is hanging in there.
Am I planning my 401K moves based on concrete truck traffic? Of course not, but the view of a front discharge heading down the road is sure a sight for sore eyes.
Steve Knox was born, raised and landed back in Janesville. He encourages you to participate as he writes on Janesville and beyond as this Generation X guy supports his Janesville mission, global vision. Steve is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of the The Gazette staff or management.
Jun 27, 2012 at 9:20 a.m.
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You got that right, oldtimer.
Jun 26, 2012 at 7:02 a.m.
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oldtimer - Exactly, people dont see enough cement trucks and create a blog about how bad the economy must be. Unreal. I think "over-reaction" best describes people who think its bad.
Jun 25, 2012 at 3:37 p.m.
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If you were born in the middle 1920's you would really know what down times were, if you were not then you will never understand it.
Jun 25, 2012 at 3:40 a.m.
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Well, Keynes said that in the long run, we are all dead.
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I'm not sure why the fact that there are ups and downs throughout history means we cannot talk about the ones affecting us. Maybe Sigma40 could just not click on articles like that.
Jun 24, 2012 at 10:01 p.m.
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This is a rare time that I agree with Sigma-40.
Jun 24, 2012 at 8:03 p.m.
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hongkongexpat - If you look at just today sure things might not be perfect. Look at the last 100 years.... the ups and downs we face has not changed... still the same. History repeats itself.
Jun 24, 2012 at 6:32 p.m.
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Sigma -
What the hell are you saying? Your post makes no sense whatsoever. 'We are doing well yet everything else is the same?' Do us a favor, lay off the beer before you begin typing.
Jun 24, 2012 at 2:28 p.m.
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Many people can only see life as it used to be. Those with real vision can see what life is, can be and will be. The future can only be better than the past if we make it that way. That is our job.
Jun 24, 2012 at 12:42 p.m.
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Looks to me its the same as it ever was. Seems if you look for doom and gloom you'll find it. If you look for growth you'll find it too.
Welcome to society, most people are brought up taught that the world is positive and the doom and gloom dont exist normally.... when you actually wake up one day and see that it does and always has, its not a new thing caused by a economical shift....it always has been. It just hasnt been the focal point of the media. Now that it is people really think its different? Its just another year, like many prior... do some research, its the same every decade. We are actually doing very well. The population has increased everything else is still the same.
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