News & Guides
Practical guides and industry news for GC estimators — covering subcontractor management, bid management, prequalification, and construction communications.
Construction Materials Up 4.8%: Diesel and Metals Lead March Surge
Construction materials prices posted their biggest one-month jump in four years in March. Here's what's driving it and what estimators should do now.
Via AGC News
Energy Price Shock Is Hitting Residential Construction Costs Hard
Energy input prices rose at their fastest pace since 2020 in March. For estimators pricing residential work, the compounding effect on material costs is real.
Via NAHB Eye on Housing
The Real Cost of Bidding Jobs You Were Never Going to Win
Losing 20 bids isn't just a miss, it's a measurable dollar loss. Here's why bid selectivity isn't discipline for GCs, it's basic math.
By Zachary Norman
USDOT Opens $1B in Safe Streets Grants for 2026 Infrastructure Work
USDOT's $1B Safe Streets for All grant round funds safety infrastructure projects nationwide. GCs tracking public civil work should know what's moving.
Via Equipment World
AGC Names New President as Construction Industry Watches
Rick Andritsch of VJS Construction Services takes the helm at AGC. Here's what GC estimators and PMs should know about the leadership shift.
Via AGC News
Kiewit's Cass Sobek Wins 2026 AGC Bowen Prize for Great Builders
The AGC Education and Research Foundation named Cass Sobek of Kiewit Infrastructure the 2026 Bowen Prize winner. What the recognition reflects about field leadership.
Via AGC News
Dynapac CC7000 VI: What a 16-Ton Roller Means for Bids
Dynapac's new 32,000-lb CC7000 VI asphalt roller targets large-scale highway work. Here's what GC estimators should know about equipment like this on bids.
Via Equipment World
The Subcontractor Prequalification Process for GC Estimators
A step-by-step walkthrough of the subcontractor prequalification process, from database setup to bid day decisions, built for GC estimating teams.
By Zachary Norman
Construction Jobs Up in 38 States Year-Over-Year
Construction employment grew in 38 states from Jan 2025 to Jan 2026. Here's what the geographic split means for GC labor costs and sub availability.
Via AGC News
How Labor Escalation Is Changing What Goes Into a GC Bid
Labor costs are climbing faster than most GC bids account for. Here's how estimators are adjusting for escalation before it eats the job.
By Zachary Norman
CES 2026 Spotlighted Autonomy and AI in Construction
Construction tech took center stage at CES 2026, with autonomous equipment and AI tools drawing attention. Here's what GC estimators should and shouldn't read into it.
Via Construction Executive
Immigrant Workers Are One-Third of U.S. Construction Trades
Foreign-born workers hit a record 26.3% of the construction workforce in 2024. Here's what that means for GC labor planning and subcontractor capacity.
Via NAHB Eye on Housing