Survey: Half of producers notice slowdown in parts, service

Although about half of all aggregate producers have experienced a slowdown in parts and service delivery, some say they have not seen any negative impacts with vendors through the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: P&Q Staff

One of the areas the coronavirus pandemic has impacted within aggregate operations is parts and service.

Pit & Quarry wrote about this topic on April 1 after connecting by phone with aggregate producers and equipment manufacturers. But P&Q pressed further on the topic with an April 1-8 survey of producers.

About 100 producers took the survey, providing anonymous feedback through multiple-choice questions and written comments. On parts and service, P&Q asked producers one specific question: In the midst of this pandemic, are you effectively able to get parts and service from your vendors?

More than half (51 percent) of producers tell P&Q they can still effectively get parts and service from vendors but that they’ve noticed a slowdown in parts and service delivery.

A pair (2 percent) of producers tells P&Q they are significantly challenged to access the parts and service they had prior to the pandemic, but a number (36 percent) say parts and service are still being provided as they usually are.

“We have just come off winter maintenance, so there is not a big need for a lot of parts and services yet,” one producer survey respondent writes.

Adds another: “All hotels and restaurants closed down, [meaning] only ‘daytrip’ vendors can assist in repairs. Repairs requiring overnight stays are postponed for now.”

A third producer details that most suppliers will only ship parts via freight or through UPS.

For additional P&Q coverage related to the coronavirus, visit our dedicated webpage.