Ben Thorpe, Equipment World Journalist Profile

Articles

Oregon DOT faces unflattering independent review

1 week ago | equipmentworld.com | Ben Thorpe

The Oregon Department of Transportation has landed in the political spotlight after an independent audit claimed it lacks sound procedures, organization and up-to-date financial software. The Oregon Legislative Assembly recently commissioned an independent managerial review of ODOT from engineering and construction firms AtkinsRĂ©alis and Horrocks to examine its delivery on major projects and its organizational structure.
Video: Dynapac unveils new DT2000 distributor truck

1 week ago | equipmentworld.com | Ben Thorpe |Lawson Rudisill

At this yearâ€™s World of Asphalt tradeshow, Dynapac had its new DT2000 distributor truck on display, complete with an air pressure cleaning system and operator platform. In the video above, we get a walk-around tour of the 2,000-gallon AC (asphalt concrete) and bitumen distributing machine. The truck comes with a 15.7-foot telescopic spray bar that operators can activate through the same interface that controls the spray tips. The DT2000 has a spray width of 8 to 16 feet.
Fayat Group completes acquisition of Mecalac

1 week ago | equipmentworld.com | Ben Thorpe

BOMAG and Dynapacâ€™s parent company, Fayat Group, has completed its acquisition of fellow French construction equipment manufacturer Mecalac Group. The deal, which was announced in March, has Fayat Group owning a 100% stake in Mecalac, which will join Fayatâ€™s Road Equipment Division and expand it to 29 production sites worldwide.
RIDOT names contractor for building new Washington Bridge

1 week ago | equipmentworld.com | Ben Thorpe

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation has awarded Walsh Construction Company a $427 million contract for building a new Washington Bridge in Providence, Rhode Island. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee said the cost of the new bridge, which is planned to last 100 years and designed for easier maintenance and inspection, was within budget. The bridge on I-195 has been closed since December 2023 due to safety concerns.
DJI launches new Matrice 400 drone

2 weeks ago | equipmentworld.com | Ben Thorpe

The newest enterprise flagship drone platform from DJI, the Matrice 400, offers improved flight time and payload capacity from its predecessors, as well as new technology, the company says. Designed for many industries, including large-scale mapping, engineering and construction, the Matrice 400 offers contractors up to 59 minutes of forward flight time and up to 53 minutes of hovering.
White House weighs in on USDOT's frozen EV charger funds

2 weeks ago | equipmentworld.com | Ben Thorpe

Only one week after the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report claiming the Department of Transportation has no authority to freeze certain electric vehicle charger funds, the White House has sent a memo stating the opposite.
Sublime Systems to expand low-carbon cement production

2 weeks ago | equipmentworld.com | Ben Thorpe

A low-emission cement startup born out of MIT has big plans to expand its production capacity and begin working with state transportation departments across the country. Sublime Systems, based in Somerville, Massachusetts, manufactures Sublime Cement, a low-carbon alternative to Portland cement created through an electrified process. The company was co-founded by former MIT postdoctoral fellow and its current CEO Leah Ellis, PhD., in March 2020.
Herc Rentals completes H&E Rentals acquisition

2 weeks ago | equipmentworld.com | Ben Thorpe

Four months after swooping in on a deal offered by United Rentals, Herc Rentals has officially completed its acquisition of H&E Rentals. Herc Rentals acquired all shares of H&E Rentalsâ€™ stock in exchange for, per share, $78.75 in cash and 0.1287 shares of its own stock. The total purchase amounts to about $5.3 billion including $1.5 billion in debt.
Volvo CE to expand U.S. manufacturing in 2026

2 weeks ago | equipmentworld.com | Ben Thorpe

Volvo Construction Equipmentâ€™s sole U.S. manufacturing facility will add new production lines in the first half of 2026 through a $261 million global production investment. The Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, plant will be expanded to produce midsize and large crawler excavators, as well as four new wheel loader models. The expansion will include new assembly lines and more automation technology.
USDOT releases $1.5B for road and bridge repairs

2 weeks ago | equipmentworld.com | Ben Thorpe

Only a few weeks after approving over $1 billion in grants for its Bridge Investment Program, the U.S. Department of Transportation has approved another $1.5 billion for repairing roads and bridges affected by natural disasters. This new round of funding â€“ which includes over $683 million to repair damage from Hurricane Helene â€“ aims to assist communities impacted by storms, wildfires, flooding and other catastrophic events, as well as support national hurricane preparedness.