Grading

• Heavy commercial equipment such as road graders, excavators, tractors, dozers, crushers and rollers are utilized by grading contractors to prepare surfaces for road building, paving projects, construction sites, golf course installation and land reclamation. Grading contractors move soil and fill material to level and contour land surface to engineering specifications that promote drainage, erosion control, safety and ease of surface maintenance.
  
  

Paving

• Paving contractors prepare and pave surfaces with asphalt and concrete. Some paving contractors specialize in road maintenance and repair while others engineer and install roads, runways, speedways, parking lots and driveways.
  
  

Federal Projects

• Paving and grading contractors and subcontractors working on federal projects are required to take affirmative action to recruit and advance qualified women, persons with disabilities, minorities and veterans. Affirmative action procedures should be incorporated into the company's written personnel policy. Employers with a written policy must implement their policy, retain accurate files and records, and update the policy annually.
  
  

National Associations

• Many paving and grading contractors belong to national organizations that represent their craft and areas of expertise. The National Pavement Contractors Association, the National Asphalt Pavement Association and the American Concrete Pavement Association represents paving contractors and paving equipment manufacturers. Many grading contractors belong to the American Association of General Contractors.