EP #165: Why the Next Generation Should Choose Ready Mix Concrete

Seth (00:01)And welcome to another episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast. And today I have Morgan and Scotch Nelson with SB Cox with me. what we're gonna tackle today is why would someone get into the Radiomix business after growing up around it? I mean, you know, theMorgan Nelson (00:14)YouSeth (00:15)early morning calls, the weather, the trucks, drivers not showing up, drivers are hard to get these days, I'm hearing. I I had a I had anotherMorgan Nelson (00:25)Very nice.Seth (00:26)Had a meeting with another Radio Mix producer this morning and they were telling us about that.Morgan Nelson (00:31)Yeah.Seth (00:32)but they have problem you know, on the Radiomix side, you have problems all the time. And Scotch he saw this as more as Morgan was w working in the business. he saw all the stress, but you know what? Scotch still picked the d be in the business. So I thoughtScotch Nelson (00:47)Yeah.Seth (00:47)it'd be great to have him come on the show with his dad, Morgan.And kind of share their story and and what motivated Scotch to follow his dad Morgan into the business. so that's what we're gonna talk about today. But before we get started, I just want to remind you all how you can support the show. the first way is if you enjoy the podcast, please share it with a colleague or a coworker or somebody that you think that would enjoy the show. That helps tremendously. the next way is if you go to the concrete logic podcast.podcast dot com website. There's a couple ways you can get a hold of me. the first way is at the top of the the web page there, there's a navigation bar and one of the options on the navigation bar says ask Seth. If you click on that, a email form pops up and you can type whatever you want in there. You can just say hi or whatever. But what I'm reallyMorgan Nelson (01:39)youSeth (01:40)looking for is topic or guest suggestions. A lotof our episodes. Many of our episodes are based are b are are ideas from folks that have reached out and say, Hey, you I really would like to hear from the certain guest or hey, I wanna learn about a certain topic. So that that is what we're looking for there. And if you d if you're like me, as you can see, I rather talk v you know, versus type out things.You can also get a hold of me on the same home page. there's a little microphone in the bottom right hand corner of that homepage. You click on that and it records your voice right over to the computer or or your cell phone, whatever you're using to get on that website. So that's what we're looking for. Guest or topic suggestions. The next way is on the same homepage on the concrete logic podcast dot com website, there's a donation button. 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Or if you just want to learn more about the topics, it's a great place to do to join others that are also wanting to learn more. So check that out as well. Concreteschool.co is that website. All right, Morgan and Scotch.Let's let's get into topic.Morgan Nelson (03:49)No.Seth (03:50)So Morgan, tell us tell us a little bit about S B Cox and and then we'll loop Scotch in and and and ask him what he was seeing.Morgan Nelson (03:58)I got you. Well, thank you very much for having us, Seth. I really do appreciate it. Yeah, SB Cox, we started SB Cox Ready Mix in 1996. I was working for SB Cox Demolition Company at the time. And Mr. Cox and I founded, know, wanted to get into doing my own thing and getting in the ready mix business and...We started with one plant out here on Broad Street. Had six used trucks and kind of got into it. it's just been a great, great experience for us. We learned a lot along the way and have grown. We've expanded to, we're building our 10th plant right now. Pretty much all focused in central Virginia.Chesapeake, Smithfield, Chesapeake. it's been what a great community and the people that we've met and the partnerships that we've had through the years. I love the fact that I want to hear what some of these answers that Scotch is going to give, you know, becauseSeth (05:05)Yeah.Morgan Nelson (05:07)he did grow up with it firsthand.But I think he saw how rewarding it was for me also with, you know, some, we got some lifelong friends that mean a lot to us. Bob Swope, Terry Crissbell, just a, just a many of them that Robert O'Brien, another family owned father, son business up in Lynchburg. And it just, it just is a very rewarding industry.very demanding for sure, but rewarding so that's kind of You know my take on where we are and what we're doing right nowSeth (05:38)Yeah. Yeah. I think your you'reYou're looking back at it now but and and saying how much you enjoyed it and everything, but I'm sure there were times when you're in the trenches you're like,Morgan Nelson (05:49)yeah.Seth (05:49)I don't know. I don't know if this is for meScotch Nelson (05:51)YouSeth (05:52)'cause you know, I you're being very humble, but I know it it it takes a lot to get a business like that going.Morgan Nelson (05:57)Well, it takes a team, no doubt about it. know that people say it, but like I said, Mr. Cox, Barbie Cox and I are partners and supported greatly. Billy Otley was a guy that really was a mentor of mine. He ran SB Cox operations for many years.those nights when it was 10 o'clock at night and I was underneath the truck and really trying to figure out how to get that truck running for the next morning and Billy would always be there to give me some support. I mentioned Bob Swope. mean he is, everybody in the, definitely in the mid-Atlantic knows who Swope and Associates is and Bob was.really tremendous in helping me learn concrete. You mentioned a little earlier that you just really wanted to learn more about concrete. It is a scientific chemical reaction that when you really get into it, it's a lot more to it. And he really guided me a lot and helped our company more than I can even ever say.and became really close, close friends. know, and it's kind of ironic now, Bob's son Matthew's in it and Scotch and Matthew are really close and those things are priceless. so you mentioned earlier, Glenn Webb, know, and Hank Neil was first guy that we started with. was he and I kind of starting out and Glenn Webb and...I had a guy, Mike Pereira, that really helped us a lot through the years. And those things evolve. Nowadays, I know you've dealt with Matt. And Matt's my vice president and just been just a fantastic addition to our company. some of that really has helped and moved.moved us in some positive ways for sure. So there's a lot of people along the way that put up with us and really helped me get through this for sure.Seth (07:53)Yeah. So Scotch, can you can you talk about your f you know, you you you were saying before we hit record that as a kid you really don't know what your what your dad is doing. He g you know, you he leaves and he comes backScotch Nelson (08:07)yeah.Seth (08:08)you know, maybe maybe before dinner.Morgan Nelson (08:10)YouSeth (08:11)and you're like, what'd you do? You don't you know, e even with my kids, I was sharing with you guys, I got my kids, I mean, they ha I don't think they have a full understanding of what I do. I've I've taken my oldest boy to a job site and showed him and he's like tower crane. He's like, Wow, that's cool.Morgan Nelson (08:24)Yeah.Scotch Nelson (08:24)Yeah.Seth (08:25)So can you talk about a little bit about you know, your your I guess your first introduction to the ready mix business?Scotch Nelson (08:32)Yeah, definitely. you know, like we kind of touched on earlier, you know, you asked, why would I follow into this business? And I've heard that question asked so many times from people and, know, seeing my dad go up early mornings and come home late and working on the weekends. it's definitely, like I was saying earlier, as a kid, you don't really understand that. and you're just kind of curious. And so,getting more involved in the business now, I do understand what he was doing and that sacrifice he was making to grow this business and provide for his family. it's definitely reassuring that, you know, he did it and it's helped us out. you know, he said he started with Mr. Cox and then with one plant and, you know, being a kid and seeing that and seeing this business grow and grow growing up.expiring so yeah it's been great.Seth (09:24)Yeah. Yeah, it was I was more I was curious, Scotch, 'cause I think we we you know, everybody says, Hey, we need we need more folks. We're struggling with labor and it's you know, it's a dynamic that we're all dealing with right now because of the demand, you know, the the the demand in in Virginia for construction is off the charts to say the least. And we're always trying to figure out the way to recruit the next generation. you know, I we're alwaysWe're well everyone's right now is worried about about hiring folks that can work tomorrow. ButMorgan Nelson (09:55)Yeah.Seth (09:55)we really gotta start looking as as you know, as a industry w you know, ten, fifteen, twenty years down the road, where where are those where are those folks coming from? So I know personally I've I've tried different things at you know, w work with different you know, ages for kids and try to introduce them to the industry.And I think that might be something that you can speak to is like when were you like introduced to it and you're like, hey, this might be something I wanna look into more and and see what dad's been spending all of his time doing.Scotch Nelson (10:33)Well, yeah, well growing up, you know, just being around the plants at a young age and the trucks, seeing it and, you know, what we said earlier, what 10 year old doesn't love trucks and plants and loaders. And, you know, I grew up on the weekends working here and summer breaks and winter breaks and just kind of showed me that this is a great opportunity for someone who's young and can get in and learn this business.it can be a great career and I think we do need to attract more younger people to it and that might be, you know, just getting it out there. We have a marketing girl that has done a great job now of kind of putting us out on social media, you know, the younger generation be included. We're addicted to social media. So getting the word out there about it and just showing the benefits of what this can do. you know, I became a member of theBMRCA and when I first got there I was definitely the youngest one there, one of them and over the past couple years we've definitely seen more people my age getting into the industry and it's great and you know if we can build those relationships at this young age it's going to help me in this industry and SB Cox in the long run building just from the ground up at a young age and so.Morgan Nelson (11:49)meeting those right people. And I'll get getting excited. I think he got hooked one time. Like you said, Scotch grew up, you know, underneath the plant shoveling and working on weekend some. And he had, I think his first truck was a old 250 we had here at 400, 500,000 miles on it. And, you know, he was 16 years old. We were building a new plant here. And, you know, I was like.Hey, go hook up on that tag trailer and take that skid steer up to the new plant. you know, I think by the time he drove up the road, I think he got a sense of accomplishment. And I really think that was a thing that sparked him when he really wanted to get into this business. It's crazy. Yep.Seth (12:31)Yeah. Give some give some ownership of beingpart of something. Yeah.Morgan Nelson (12:38)Mm-hmm.Seth (12:39)Yeah, I was gonna ask you if you if if if looking back and if you were trying to if you you were gonna almost like a not like a like a curriculum almost, I would say. So yeah, it sounds like Scotch got on it got a look atwhat was going on at the at the plant at like sounds like ten, eleven years oldMorgan Nelson (13:02)Yeah.Seth (13:03)and startedScotch Nelson (13:03)Mm-hmm.Seth (13:04)doing that. So can you talk about a little it and and you you skipped up to sixteen. So between ten and sixteen,Morgan Nelson (13:09)Yeah.Seth (13:11)how do you how did you keep that interest going? I you might have notMorgan Nelson (13:15)Well...Seth (13:16)done it on purpose, but if you lookScotch Nelson (13:17)Yes.Seth (13:18)back, how did you keep feeding feeding him to get keep interested or did youMorgan Nelson (13:23)I don't know if he was real interestedin coming pulling weeds andSeth (13:27)Uh-huh.Morgan Nelson (13:28)cutting grass, yeah,Scotch Nelson (13:29)in wash racks and...Morgan Nelson (13:31)he definitely did a lot of that through the years. when Scotch came full time, I was pretty adamant that he needed to prove himself and he started.Scott's where he drove a truck for over a year, he was in the shop for a year, he ran a plant for a couple years. that was something that I felt very strongly that he needed to really learn from the ground up. And I was always preaching to him that you need to earn the respect and you need to work harder.And he did, he very much did. So we had an opportunity, we were building a new plant. And so he went down to Gloucester and pretty much worked with our team from digging the footings to erecting the plant and running that plant for a while. mean, Scotch can speak, I think itScotch Nelson (14:22)Yeah.Morgan Nelson (14:23)really gave him a great foundation of everything we do.Scotch Nelson (14:26)Yeah, I definitely think the way I came into this business, thought was great for me is, you know, like you said, I started down there in Gloucester, watched the plant go up top to bottom and, you know, started by working on the plants and understanding how they work. And that was huge for me later in my career when we do have issues seeing how the plants work and operate and how to change parts on them. And then was there and then ran a loader for the plant for a long time and ended up moving into batching for a little bit.running the plant and then it was for about a year or so I drove a mixer and then got out of that and came did some sales and then just kind of bounced all the way around to get a good understanding of every aspect of the company.Seth (15:10)Yeah. So it sounds like you got a taste a little bit of everything, which kinda reminds me a lot of of what we do over at Baker's. We have this five quarter system where we folks that first join us, they they do a little bit of everything, you know, labor, place and finish, carpenter, you know, field engineering or lining grade and and you know, they get a little taste of everything 'cause the big thing for for us was toif you're gonna lead people, you should understand what you're asking them to do. And I think that that's what you y ended up doingMorgan Nelson (15:42)Absolutely.Seth (15:43)over there. So more you know, Scotch has got the benefit of his dad works at the company. Do you d do you think this is something that we could as an industry r replicate? I mean, is there is this something like that I don't I don't know. I know Baker we we ti weI I'm pretty sure we don't hire anybody younger than eighteen and that that's a that's a struggle. But with you having a a plant, could you hire sixteen year olds to have them do like it might be pulling weeds, it might beMorgan Nelson (16:13)Heh.Seth (16:14)cutting grass, it might be washing racks, it might be washing trucks or whatever to get them in introduced to the program. 'cause we're c we're competing against these electricians and these HVAC guys and likeHey, you're working inside. It'sMorgan Nelson (16:28)Yeah.Seth (16:29)a air conditioned and work and you're gonna get paid a ton of money to put w wires together, you know? It's like it's har it'sMorgan Nelson (16:38)Well, think it's always been a challenge to hire people and get people in this industry. There's no doubt about it, especially CDL drivers and that type of stuff. But we really are trying to do some of that stuff to bring in some new people.I think some of your questions that you had, sample questions is how do we attract these people and what are we doing? it is tough and I think that's where Scotch and the younger, our industry has changed a lot. I tell people sometimes.15, 20 years ago, if we gave a truck driver 50 hours a week, he was kind of upset typically. You know, they wanted 70 hours a week. They wanted that over time. Nowadays, you know, it's a little bit more focused on work-life balance and, and, you know, there's some, definitely some positive to that for sure. And I think that does bring in some new people. But there's a never...challenged to get CDL, you know, it's harder to get a CDL. Scotch and I were talking about it. When we first started, we could hire somebody, a younger person, and get them in a truck and train them and work them up through there. Nowadays, we can't do that. They have to go to school, you know?And these schools are $5,000, $7,000, know, some things that we're trying to do. And so, you know, a lot of people, know, tuition reimbursements and to get them in there. So it is challenging. Mechanics is, I mean, everybody needs mechanics. You know, that's a very challenging position to find. So.It's interesting to hear Scotch has really brought some different ways of thinking, you know, and it helps us do that or social media, you know. In my day, you didn't have social media. You put an ad in a paper and he prayedSeth (18:33)Right.Morgan Nelson (18:34)that somebody came and, you know, we're doing some of that, you know, focusing on that.are trying to develop leaders within. We're very adamant about promoting within if we find that.One of the things that we're very excited about here at SB Cox is we are working with a leadership inter-will, a lockstone inter-will leadership program that we've been in for a little over a year,Scotch Nelson (18:57)Yep.Morgan Nelson (18:58)and to help us be better leaders. And a lot of that is developing people in your company, and that's, we're hoping is going to really bring a lot of light to it.Seth (19:10)Gotcha. Well good. Scotch, what are some of your ideas, you know, maybe us older guys aren'tMorgan Nelson (19:17)Haha.Seth (19:17)thinking of thatScotch Nelson (19:18)youSeth (19:18)the to encourage folks to join the industry? What are what are some things that you you think we should do better?Scotch Nelson (19:26)What I've definitely noticed about the industry, like watching it grow, times change a lot and people have to adapt to the times. Some of the stuff we have done adapting was we just switched to a new cloud-based batching program and I kind of headed that up and just the technology behind that of how much has changed from using, pulling levers to the right amount to the scale to just clicking buttons.is a huge help and when we have issues, I can open my laptop and figure out the problem immediately and I think that the technology that we have now has been a huge help in growing and you know it sometimes it's we need to get the younger generation that understand it a little bit better than some of the olderMorgan Nelson (20:12)YouScotch Nelson (20:13)generations and I think that's going to be a huge help to growingand for this industry.Seth (20:19)Yeah. So we're need to get further along with technology, sounds like. what about is social media the the where where we need to spend our time to attract them? Is that where their attention is?Scotch Nelson (20:34)I mean social mediaMorgan Nelson (20:34)YouScotch Nelson (20:35)is just very informative now. Like he was saying, you put an ad on the paper and hope people came in. It just opens up a whole different type of networking where you can communicate with people and get them in and show them what we're doing and I think that's a big help.Seth (20:49)Yeah. What what about what y since you're a younger guy, I'll ask you this. What a w what's the older guy saying? Y'all y'all don't have a work ethic like us older guys.Morgan Nelson (20:59)Hehehe.Seth (21:00)What what is your response to that orScotch Nelson (21:04)I definitely our generation has lost some of work ethic. But I think that we need to rebuild it and get it out there that we want to work and want to do. And people that have that good work ethic will succeed. SoMorgan Nelson (21:17)Yeah.Scotch Nelson (21:17)we definitely are hunting for some of those people that have it. And we're always hiring and trying to get people in the door and showing this industry.Seth (21:26)Yeah. I think maybe a lot of it has to do with, you know, you get you get, you know, when you're younger, you you might get tied into a a a type of industry that you don't actually see the the output of of your your efforts. So I guess that's one thing, you know, I've taken for granted being in the construction industry is thatwhen you're part of a project, you can actually see your output for the day. So yourMorgan Nelson (21:54)Yeah. Yeah.Seth (21:56)efforts resulted in something. And I I I would I I would I don't know the statistics of this or whatever, but I think a lot of f folks might have went, you know, they went, you know, went through high school and they were told to go to college and they and they studied whatever the you knowschool counselor told them to go study based on the salary list that they showedMorgan Nelson (22:21)Yeah.Seth (22:21)them. So, hey, look, you can make a ton of money being in finance or you know, some other IT related job or something like that. And they go into that business and they're like, I've been working my butt all day and I still don't know what I what I accomplished.Morgan Nelson (22:35)YeahSeth (22:36)Versus in this industry, in the concrete business, you'll you get to see what you you know what you accomplish. YouScotch Nelson (22:42)It's rewarding.Morgan Nelson (22:43)and be a part of it.Sure.Seth (22:44)pour you pour poursome concrete, you get you see the concrete, right? And you'reMorgan Nelson (22:47)Exactly.Seth (22:48)part of something bigger. So I I'm I'm wondering if if if if it's un unfair to say that the younger generation doesn't have a work ethic. They just haven't found the right thing that motivates them yet.Scotch Nelson (22:59)Yep.Morgan Nelson (23:00)Yeah,exactly. You ride down the road and say I was a part of that building or, you know, we, we, the center state road, you know, all that is definitely rewarding. It definitely was motivation for me going through it for sure.Seth (23:13)Yeah. All right. Well, Iwe're g we're getting near the end here, so I I w I ask it some when I remember to ask people this, Morgan, what what's one thing you want folks to remember from today's today's discussion?Morgan Nelson (23:28)Well, mean, I think that's a great question. thing, I you get a little heads up.Seth (23:31)And Scotch and Scotch, I'm gonna ask you next, so start thinking about it.Scotch Nelson (23:34)Yeah.Morgan Nelson (23:36)I think what you're doing as far as trying to get the word out that this is a great industry and...There's a lot of opportunity for bringing people in and younger people into this industry. there's a lot of, Scott's like he was saying, the technology that's coming that, I really feel that.Concrete has been being made really the same way it's been made for many years. mean, whether you pull a lever or push a button, it came out of the plant and went into a mixer and you deliver it to the job site. there's a, I think we were on the really verge of the whole buzzword of AI. AI is getting into our industry and getting into optimizing mixes.autonomous vehicles are really out there, you know, on the cuffs of that. And, you know, we can have autonomous loaders right now. so there's a lot of support positions that I think would interest some younger people getting in. And I think that that would be something that...that to really take away that this is a great industry with meeting a lot of good peers and people and challenges to build and have that reward of seeing that building that we've built to help build and go for would be it.Seth (24:55)Yeah. Scott,what what would you say? What do you want everybody to remember from today?Scotch Nelson (25:01)Well, he covered a lot of it, but IMorgan Nelson (25:02)Hahaha.Seth (25:03)Yeah.Scotch Nelson (25:04)would say, you know, I think the whole kind of idea of this was how to get younger people involved. And I think it's a discussion that just needs to continue to go on until we get people really into it. There's a lot of different ways. And I know we've covered some, but I'm sure there's plenty that we haven't discussed yet. And I think just getting awareness to it and getting it out there will help.Seth (25:25)Yeah. I IMorgan Nelson (25:26)And like yousaid earlier, the VRMCA has really, they've seenScotch Nelson (25:29)It really is.Morgan Nelson (25:30)some changes in that to where there are some, you know, younger people, they have the leadership, you know, program through the VRMCA, you know, and trying to work there. And I've always stressed to Scotch that, you know, go out there and network and meet people and get to talking to them and build that, peers that you really can count on to help you through your career.you know, and it's important.Scotch Nelson (25:51)And it is easier toin any industry that, you know, the VMRCA does great with networking and connecting everybody, but it's a whole lot easier to talk to someone that's around your same age and understanding it and to approach them about some of your problems. So getting in and having that young group where we can talk about it is huge. So I hope that continues and it grows and continues to grow.Morgan Nelson (26:17)Yep.Seth (26:18)Yeah. Yeah, that's awesome. Awesome way to close today. Hey Scotch, if if folks wanna listen or to get a hold of you and wanna come to work for S B Cox 'cause you're 'cause of what you said today,Morgan Nelson (26:31)Yeah.Seth (26:32)what what's the best way to reach out to you?Scotch Nelson (26:35)The best way is you can contact us through our website. I believe all of our emails are on our website. If it's not on there, it's snelson at coxreadymix.com. You can contact me that way. I'll be happy to get in touch with you.Seth (26:47)All right. Morgan and Scotch, thank you for coming on the episode today. This was great, great conversation. I think w what y'all are building is awesome. I've been a big fan of your company for a long time. So guys keep on doing what you're doing.Morgan Nelson (27:00)Thank you very much for having us, Seth. We really appreciate it.Scotch Nelson (27:02)Yeah, thank you very much.Seth (27:03)Yeah. And folks until next time, let's keep it concrete.