Trump's Plans for Infrastructure and What It Means for Construction & Equipment Industries

Regardless of your stance on the results of the 2016 presidential election, one thing is clear: there are big plans and opportunities in store for American construction and equipment companies in the coming years. With a greater focus on domestic infrastructure, Donald Trump hopes to invest up to $1 trillion in infrastructure improvements over the next ten years, meaning more work and jobs. But how?

The Current State of American Infrastructure

Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) releases a report grading the infrastructure of the entire United States as well as each state. With an A being Exceptional, a B being Good, a C being Mediocre, a D being Poor, and an F being Failing, the United States received the GPA of a D+ in 2013. States like Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri each received a C- for their infrastructure performance. This grade was calculated by assessing each state's as well as the country's overall current capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation, public safety, resilience, and innovation of every category that makes up our infrastructure, including:

• Energy 
• Parks
• Roads 
• Ports 
• Bridges 
• Wastewater 
• Levees
• Drinking water
• Schools
• Transportation
• Rail 
• Inland waterways
• Aviation
• Solid waste
• Hazardous waste
• Dams

Nearly 10 percent of America's bridges, about 60,000, are classified as deficient according to an analysis completed by the Federal Highway Administration. The American Society of Civil Engineers says 32 percent of our major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, which increases the risk of damaging cars and creating dangerous driving conditions. The Federal Aviation Administration estimated airport congestion and flight delays cost the country nearly $22 billion in 2012. We need all of these components to be working efficiently and effectively; however, receiving a poor grade for our daily needs is an issue our latest presidential candidates acknowledged. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump carried infrastructure improvements at the forefront of their political initiatives for a reason.

The Construction Industry in the Next Four Years

Now that Donald Trump is the president-elect t, one of his main goals during his term is to steer spending away from globalization efforts and focus it more toward our infrastructure. According to his platform, President-Elect Trump hopes to pursue an “America's Infrastructure First” approach that will encourage investments in transportation, clean water, a more modern and reliable electricity grid, telecommunications, and security. In turn, this would create thousands of new jobs in construction and manufacturing in order to sustain the building plans for new railways and bridges, new waterways, improved erosion control systems, and more expansive energy and telecommunication.

In order to enable the economic development that Trump is working toward, construction in the aforementioned areas is necessary. According to the infrastructure report card released by ASCE, the United States requires an estimated investment of $3.6 trillion by 2020 in order to reach a grade-A infrastructure. President-Elect Trump plans to invest up to $1 trillion in infrastructure alone over the next ten years. This may not meet the ASCE's timeline, but it's definitely a step toward it. This investment will not only pay for new infrastructure plans but also work to streamline the building permit and approval processes currently in place as well as improve project delivery and cut wasteful spending.

Trump plans to focus on steel manufacturing, making it the backbone of our economy. With the hopes of restoring the industrial age, that means the need for industrial equipment will be at an all-time high. Preparing your equipment fleet and workforce will be critical to keep up with the plans for growth.

Prepare Your Fleet with Rough Terrain Cranes from RTL Equipment

Whether these plans come into play during Trump's term as president or beyond, we at least know infrastructure has become and will likely remain a primary concern in politics and elections to come. We need to be ready and open-minded as new infrastructural needs arise and bring the best in equipment and expertise to every job. Now is the time to assess the condition of your cranes, excavators, and crawlers. If they're showing signs of wear, now is the time to start looking for replacement cranes for sale or rent in your area. If your equipment is in good condition, it would still be wise to find a certified equipment dealer and maintenance crew should your construction equipment need any repairs, especially as these infrastructure plans begin in full-swing. Finding a company that can provide emergency service should you need it will be crucial in keeping up with Trump's plans for our infrastructure. Learn more about the best equipment products for your application and how to maintain your equipment.