PDCA CONTRACTOR MEMBER
“It’s better to have a 15-minute pause to deal
with a potential safety issue than to be down
for two or three days because of an accident.”
–Trey Ford, Ford Pile Foundations
In a project a couple of years ago for Old Dominion University
(ODU), in Norfolk, Va., for example, Ford proved its mettle,
completing its work in a demanding situation a week ahead
of schedule.
ODU’s football stadium, constructed in the 1920s, was due
for replacement.
“The tricky requirement,” as Trey described it, “was that the old
stadium had to be demolished starting after the final game in 2018
and the new stadium finished before the 2019 season.” Meeting the
rigid deadline involved “a lot of coordination and planning.”
“We were able to drive test piles in the summer of 2018, which
allowed all the material to be fabricated and ready for when we
could get on site,” said Trey.
The 85-foot-long prestressed concrete piles presented a
logistical issue; trucks with overlength loads are restricted as to
when they can be on the road in Virginia.
“We worked with the general contractor and the owner to
utilize spliced concrete piles, which allowed continuous delivery of
the piles to our rigs,” said Trey. “We were able to mobilize our two
pile driving rigs as demolition was ending, and installed our 350
piles in the space of just 18 days.”
Finishing jobs efficiently and well is more important to Trey
nowadays than getting the big jobs. The people part of the business
concerns him, too: building relationships and getting along, “no
matter what you do,” is key to good business.
Membership in PDCA
Relationships are the main reason that Ford Pile Foundations is a
member of the PDCA.
“Being able to talk with people about similar situations, sharing
stories, having people to bounce things off, and helping each
other out when necessary with equipment and people” – these
are the benefits of membership Trey most values. “The association
provides a framework to meet and communicate with each other.”
Trey sees the local interaction the association enables as a
contributor to his business success. t
CIVIL/GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Retaining Wall and Landslide Stabilization Systems
A Company You
Can Build On!
101 Bellevue Road – Suite 100
Pittsburgh, PA 15229
412‐931‐6393
earthincorp.com
Est.
1983
www.piledrivers.org PILEDRIVER | 73
/earthincorp.com
/www.piledrivers.org
