Products & Expertise: A Dynamic Duo for Work Zone Needs

AWP Safety offers utility, broadband and road infrastructure customers the broadest product portfolio in traffic control, for sale and rental. The portfolio includes about 1,000 in-stock items with special-order access to an additional 13,000 choices.

Jon Lang, vice president of product strategy, shares how AWP Safety connects customers with high-quality equipment that saves lives, endures the test of time and is a good investment.

Q: Jon, what’s your background? How does it inform your product role at AWP Safety?

I have a unique mix of experience in retail and traffic control operations. Early in my career, I managed big box retail stores and later joined Statewide Safety Systems, which became a part of AWP Safety in 2021. I managed operations with hundreds of traffic control technicians and learned a lot about the role of equipment in worksite setups. That combination of retail and traffic safety experience has given me a very specific mindset for choosing the right products customers want and need.

Q: What makes customers choose to buy and rent equipment from AWP Safety rather than your competitors?

It’s our knowledge and what we do with it. We’re always participating in equipment demos with manufacturers to learn more, and testing those products before we ever add them to our portfolio. We pass what we learn along to our customers so they can make more informed buying decisions. For instance, a cone isn’t just a cone. We only offer the highest-quality cones from qualified companies. So, we can tell a customer, “Hey, this might cost a little more, but it will last you 10 years instead of two.”

We also carefully manage our inventory, keeping the most in-demand items in stock while offering more unique solutions as special orders. Many customers need equipment the same day they ask for it. For instance, we carry Class 3 safety vests that we know meets construction site requirements. That way, a crew member can get back to work as soon as possible after visiting one of our physical retail stores.

Q: What about trends? What innovations are you seeing that inspire additions to the
AWP Safety portfolio?

We monitor trends by attending American Traffic Safety Services Association conferences and meeting with equipment manufacturers and distributors regularly. Digitalization is a trend that’s going to be transformative for our industry, even at the product level. We’re all used to message boards, but they are evolving into smart systems that can automatically update based on real-time data. A board that says “25 minutes to Exit A” can automatically update to “14 minutes to Exit A” once traffic flow is lighter, without human intervention. That capability keeps motorists more informed.

Manufacturers are also working with GPS systems like Waze to route motorists around worksites, vastly reducing the chance of an accident. And detection devices are showing up on guardrails to alert DOT crews when a vehicle hits one. This technology means that crews can fix or replace the equipment sooner, but in the future it could be used to alert first responders to an accident instead of relying on passersby to do so. Our industry is making huge advancements in technology every year to improve public safety.

Q: How does your product expertise help customers stay safer and more compliant?

We listen to what our customers want, but we also educate them on what they need when they aren’t sure about new innovations or regulatory requirements. In California, Caltrans has updated its requirements for gawk screens. These are placed on top of barrier walls so motorists can’t see into construction zones and become distracted. Many gawk screens are made of wood and deteriorate easily, which is a maintenance headache and safety hazard. Caltrans has standardized the use of special plastics in gawk screens that make them more durable and safer. It’s likely the rest of North America will follow their lead in the coming years. Knowing that, we can help customers make the transition sooner and more seamlessly.

Learn more about AWP Safety’s unique size, scale, and capabilities in this Q&A with Brian Foster, general manager in Hawaii.

Interested in leveraging AWP Safety for your traffic control equipment needs? View our Traffic Control Equipment, and contact us for information regarding sales and rentals.