AWP Safety Leads the Traffic Safety Solutions Market in Delivering Customer Value
AWP Safety works closely with utility, broadband and road construction infrastructure customers to keep their work crews safe and help advance infrastructure projects that keep communities moving forward.
Q: Josh, infrastructure is growing. The companies that build and maintain it need to work more quickly than ever while ensuring worker safety. How does AWP Safety anticipate customer needs in such a dynamic environment?
We stay on top of industry trends in two ways: by constantly listening to customer feedback, and by following intensive market research that tells us what customers say they want even when they’re NOT speaking directly to us. Recently, an independent survey conducted by Kearney, a global management consulting firm, gave us insights into the state of our industry, current trends and what’s top-of-mind for current and potential customers. Companies throughout the infrastructure value chain say that ease of doing business, availability of resources, and billing accuracy and transparency are their top priorities when making procurement decisions about worksite safety services. That’s consistent with what we hear directly in daily conversations with current customers.
Q: The traffic control space is highly fragmented and there are many providers. What makes your customers choose AWP Safety?
The Kearney survey revealed that 69% of AWP Safety customers rate us as best-in-class and are likely to recommend us to a colleague. What was really exciting was our reputation among companies that are not AWP Safety customers – 23% of them also rated us best-in-class. That speaks to our reputation in the marketplace for delivering excellent safety performance and customer service. We also lead the industry in next-generation traffic control solutions like Automated Flagger Assistance Devices (AFADs) and Intelligent Transportation Systems. Customers that utilize these and other AWP Safety Smart Work Zone solutions can improve many of their safety key performance indicators (KPIs) up to 70%. I think it’s a combination of those kinds of truly measurable results, and our strong relationships, which keep customers coming back time and time again.
Q: How is AWP Safety elevating the customer experience in the traffic control services industry?
We often say traffic control should be the first call a company makes, not the last. It’s about your provider having intimate knowledge of your safety needs, business processes and work schedules to deliver the best service. We’re the first in the industry to set up a Traffic Management Office (TMO) that delivers enterprise-level service to customers operating across multiple states and regions, reinforced with local crews and support. It takes the relationship from the local level to the enterprise level, so we both get a bird’s eye view of safety needs. Together, we can make real-time adjustments in scheduling, processes, and what solutions are provided to enhance customer safety and operational excellence. Customers like Ervin Cable and EC Source have already seen the advantages of utilizing our TMO.
Q: Every infrastructure-related market is expected to grow between 2025-2029, with electric utilities expected to grow at 11% CAGR. How will AWP Safety’s broad footprint help customers stay on schedule as work ramps up?
About 16% of companies who need traffic safety solutions say their biggest pain point is a “lack of availability.” It’s the second biggest pain point behind price increases. That points to potential issues with providers not having enough coverage due to a limited footprint.
Through organic growth and acquisitions, AWP Safety now has 160+ locations doing business in 33 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. This footprint gives customers the convenience of using one provider for projects across jurisdictions, with enough staffing, equipment, and additional resources to cover all their worksites. As infrastructure grows, size is definitely going to matter for large scale projects. We have it, and it’s something that can help customers complete work on time and reach their own performance and growth goals.
Beyond traffic control planning and worksite safety services, AWP Safety offers safety product sales and rentals for companies that choose to manage safety on their own. Learn more in this interview with Jon Lang, AWP Safety’s vice president of product strategy.
