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The year 2025 sees businesses across industries grappling with a persistent workforce shortage. Finding and retaining qualified employees is a major challenge, impacting productivity and growth. However, technology offers a powerful solution, and equipment financing can make it more accessible...

Truss manufacturers looking to attract younger truss designers might want to think outside of the box. We have found one key issue affecting many Gen-Z truss designers and have a solution that may help entice them to your company—offering a Gen-Z-preferred workweek. Consider this: Gen-Z...

For many years, there has been a great deal of discussion at industry events, in component industry board rooms, and even in this publication about a looming shortage of design technicians. So, what is behind the wood truss designer shortage and why is it such a pressing issue? And, how can we...

The ANSI/TPI 1 standard is a critical document that governs the design and quality criteria for metal plate-connected wood trusses. It serves as a guideline for truss manufacturers and engineers alike, providing the technical framework to design and construct reliable and code-compliant trusses...

A common denominator for deck collapses is a special family event, such as a graduation, wedding, birthday party, or family reunion. A properly designed and constructed 14-ft x 24-ft residential deck floor, designed for a 40 psf uniform live load, should safely support 84 occupants based on an...

In 1995, the MSR Workshop was born out of one man’s commitment to fulfilling what he saw as a real need to bring together those who produce MSR lumber, those who sell MSR lumber, and those who use MSR lumber, in order to develop a better understanding of each other’s challenges and...

One deal did all the difference in construction supply’s M&A world in 2024. The Home Depot’s purchase of SRS Distribution’s 769 locations turned last year into the most active year for LBM facilities acquired since at least 2018. But when you exclude that buy, 2024 turns...

In 2024, the MiTek Building & Product Regulations team completed a tri-annual project to update all MiTek structural product evaluation reports to establish compliance with the new 2024 I-Codes. Building codes in the U.S., also known as the I-Codes, are developed on a 3-year cycle. Each...

Uplift reactions are the result of a set of conditions that generally includes load types, load combinations, bearing locations, and web patterns. In most cases, especially those involving wind load combinations, uplift reactions are relatively small and can easily be resolved through the...

A contract hauler drives in on a six-lane roadway, stops at predetermined locations, receives a full load of lumber and building supplies, and then heads out to a nearby jobsite. That driver has just passed through a warehouse that mimics the efficiency and abundant stocks of an Amazon.com...