Year in Review

2006 proved to be a successful year for both SC&RA and the industry it serves. Here are a few of the association's highlights.

The SC&RA fully expects to reach a new membership high of 1,200-plus members in at least 46 nations by the close of 2006, surpassing the previous year-end total of 1,132 members in 2005.

Based on SC&RA member companies' responses to a questionnaire, the new 79 pp Financial Benchmarking Study contains statistics and analyses for three service types -specialized transport, crane rental and rigging.

Participants receive a free copy of this powerful management tool for improving profit and cash flow, plus an individualized Consulting Report; other companies may purchase the study for $495.

SC&RA became one of 13 contractor associations and unions participating in the Drug-Free Workplace Alliance, a cooperative agreement organized by the US Labor Department to focus on improving workplace safety and health in the construction industry through substance abuse prevention and intervention. The Alliance was responsible for the inaugural Drug-Free Work Week from October 16 to 22.

The SC&R Foundation awarded $21,000 in scholarships for 2006-2007 to seven students preparing for a career related to transportation or construction management. The foundation has awarded more than $150,000 in scholarships over twenty years.

NBIS, the exclusive administrator of SC&RA's insurance program, has begun offering SC&RA members a captive program for workers' comp, auto liability and auto physical damage coverage. These new lines of coverage will not adversely affect the collective loss experience and/or rates within the existing SC&RA member program.

SC&RA continued to enjoy success with its Crane-Rigging Specialized Insurance program, which included coverages for general liability, property/inland marine, commercial auto, contractors' pollution liability and umbrella liability.

SC&RA's comprehensive Pilot Car Best Practices Training Program, prepared in co-operation with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance under a grant from the Federal Highway Administration, was adopted by Arizona, and over a dozen other states plan to use the program in part, or in its entirety, for programs being established or refined. The program was named to the 2006 Associations Advance America Honor Roll, a national awards competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives.

SC&RA continues to support the efforts of the US Chamber of Commerce and the American Trucking Associations to reform the nation's tort system. Both organizations have committed significant resources to these activities. Such efforts have the potential to deliver tremendous benefits to SC&RA members with liability exposures.

The Crane & Rigging Group's Safety Education & Training Committee produced the second set of videos in its safety series. Topics for the five-minute videos include Back Injury Prevention, Fire Watch, Housekeeping, and Liquid Propane Gas.

The SC&R Foundation is funding a study to address the way in which the lack of uniformity in state, county and municipal permit requirements hinders the specialized transportation industry. Thousands of munici-palities in the US now require separate permits, causing SC&RA members to lose time and money and risk noncompliance. The resulting fines and restrictions amount to millions of lost dollars annually for the industry.

SC&RA remained very active in efforts to update the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Cranes & Derricks Standard, which was last revised in 1971. This year, the Association provided testimonial to support the revision, and members served on a panel to consider how to make the regulation less costly and burdensome to small businesses.

SC&RA participated in more than a dozen key meetings with transportation and permitting officials to advance the Association's permit uniformity agenda. The Association's efforts in Western states helped lead to very meaningful changes for member companies.