How technology transforms modern job sites

This week on Pave It Black, we explore how the intersection of technology, leadership, and culture is reshaping modern asphalt job sites. Guests Adam Harshman, President of FleetWatcher, and Tyler Hackman, Director of Sales, share their decade-long perspective on why true innovation in the asphalt industry doesn’t start in the boardroom; it starts with the boots on the ground navigating the complexities of daily operations.

We discuss how digital tools and construction technology are doing more than improving efficiency; they’re building a culture of transparency and accountability across asphalt plants, trucking operations, and paving crews. From real-time data tracking to connected job site communication, technology is transforming how teams collaborate and solve problems in the field. If you’re interested in asphalt innovation, job site technology, fleet management, or leadership in construction, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

Here’s a sneak peek into this week’s conversation but be sure to tune in to the full episode for all the insights. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.

B: Adam, you mentioned that what drew you in was the growth opportunity and entering an industry outside of your experience. I’m curious if you could share more about what opportunity presented to you. Could you also provide more detail on your progression from sales into the president role?

AH: I realized quickly from listening to customers that the market had been underserved by technology. There were providers offering “blanket” solutions that worked in plumbing or HVAC and assuming they would work in construction or asphalt. These weren’t solutions built by the people laying the roads; people were forcing solutions on them instead of listening to them.

When I got “boots on the ground” and stood on job sites with folks, the leaders were very vocal about their pain points and what could solve them. They wanted someone to sit down with them and help develop a solution. That’s what we did, and I attribute a lot of my success over the last 10 years to that. I became a subject matter expert, not just on FleetWatcher, but on asphalt paving and the pain points of those customers. 

We built solutions based on that. It wasn’t a group of us sitting around a boardroom table thinking of ideas to sell; it was sitting with contractors asking what their pain points were and how we could help. We developed and improved the product over time to meet those needs. From day one, it was a partnership and collaboration rather than a transaction.

Season 10 of Pave It Black is sponsored by FleetWatcher by AlignOps.