Boxley News Archives

VTRC Chooses Boxley for Innovative Asphalt Research

Boxley, a company of Summit Materials, was chosen by the Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC) to test Gipave, a recycled plastic product that can reduce the amount of liquid asphalt required in roadway paving.

This trial is paving the way to a greener future for the asphalt industry.” – Ryan Kesler, Asphalt Operations Area Manager, Boxley Asphalt (Salem).

The recycled plastic pellets, Gipave, are a patented high-tech design developed by the Italian company Iterchimica. First used outside Rome in 2018, this innovative technology keeps non-reusable plastics out of landfills and gives them a purpose.

“For this trial, the plastic was an additive. But in the future, we’re looking at being able to cut down on the amount of liquid asphalt in our designs, lowering the amount of gases released into the atmosphere.” –Andre Royal, Quality Control Manager Boxley Asphalt (Salem)

Boxley Quality Control Technicians designed the asphalt mixture earlier this year and provided it to Iterchimica engineers, who determined the amount of pellets needed for the trial. To prove its ability to outlast other designs, increasing the time between repaves and patch jobs, the Gipave stretch is paved alongside a “normal” Boxley mixture.

Boxley team doing VTRC plastic trial — Left to right: Troy Deeds (VTRC), Derek Lister (VTRC), Luca Iterchimica (Interchimica), Daniel Wright (Boxley Asphalt), Andre Royal (Boxley Asphalt)

Iterchimica’s revolutionary product will be a more accessible and cost-effective option with the expansion of its operation to the States.

“Just few words are not enough to thank you for the opportunity and the experience of working together in order to pave the future. Suggestions on how to use this new technology based on recycled plastic were well accepted and put into practice, showing Boxley’s strongest characteristic which is a reliable, qualified and professional team, constantly working towards excellence through collaboration.” -Luca Iterchimica, Civil Engineer, Iterchimica

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to learn about our developing partnerships while looking for ways to decrease our ecological footprint.

Helping Virginia Stay Beautiful

Across Boxley, a company of Summit Materials, our employees organize and perform road and river cleanups to help keep the communities we live and work in clean and beautiful.

Our aggregate and slate team at Arvonia Quarry/Buckingham Slate adopted a two-mile stretch of Rt. 15 near our location.

Led by Frank Davis, the Lynchburg Asphalt Plant Crew adopted a portion of John Capron Road near our plant.

And we’re not stopping there.

Stay tuned as employees take to the water later this year for the first Craig’s Creek clean-up since COVID and the annual Smith River clean-up.

And stay up to date with what our employees are doing at work and in the community by following us on Facebook, Linked In, and Instagram!

Our 2022 A-Z Tour is a Wrap

Over the past year, we’ve been highlighting employees, opportunities, products, and more to expand your knowledge about Boxley, a Summit Materials Company, careers in construction, and the everyday functions of construction in our communities.

Check out the lists below and see what you may have missed.

It’s been a Wonderful eXtraordinary Year, and we are Zealously anticipating 2023!

Don’t miss out on what’s happening inside the company next year. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram!

Mechanics And Technicians Keep Asphalt Rolling Smoothly

Boxley’s Asphalt division puts safety and quality at the top of every job with the help of mobile equipment mechanics, like Michael Cordle, and density technicians utilizing nuclear gauges, overseen by Andre Royal, a quality control manager.

“When a piece of equipment needs repaired or a problem arises, we’re there to find the best solutions,” says Michael.

Since coming to Boxley, a Summit Materials Company, in 2018, Michael has been moving towards management by accepting and going after opportunities available. Having always enjoyed working on and fixing things, he finds freedom in his job since no two days are alike, including varying work times throughout the year. He credits his time management abilities to the eight years he spent as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician in the United States Air Force.

Density technicians, the rear of the paving operation process, are no strangers to varying workdays either. With company-provided training and certifications, they utilize nuclear gauges to ensure asphalt is compacted properly. Upon completion, additional density tests get completed along with roller patterns, control strips, and different VDOT methods of testing.

“I enjoy knowing the general public is traveling on some of the best roads in the country,” says Andre Royal, Asphalt Quality Control Manager.

With no prior experience, Andre entered the asphalt industry in 2000 as a density technician during the summers for Marvin V Templeton & Sons, which Boxley purchased in 2011. Throughout his time with us, he has worked in the lab designing and testing asphalt and at the plants at operation and supervisor levels.

If you think you’d find freedom in the construction industry and want to join a company that’ll set you up to succeed, please reach out to Manisha Hall at (540) 777-7613 to pursue a career within the Summit Materials family. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to stay up to date on what’s happening throughout the company.

Aggregate and Base Mix: Foundation for Everyday Life

Aggregate (also known as stone) production is an essential component of our daily lives. Since 1906, Boxley has proudly helped meet the regional demand for aggregate supply at our seven southwest and central Virginia locations. Aggregate is the foundation to build every facet needed for daily living. Homes, businesses, places of worship, roadways and bridges, wastewater management, and renewable energy development all require aggregate.

Ever wonder how a modern aggregate operation works?

There are many jobs to fill in an aggregate operation drawing on the skills and expertise of each person. It starts with a responsible and effective site and plant design by an engineer that meets all regulatory and environmental requirements. Then, under the supervision of foremen, supervisors, managers, and our safety department, we develop the site. Quarry benches (ledges that serve as roadways to access and transport the stone) are created by strategically drilling and blasting rock away per state and industry laws and regulations with the required state-certified blaster-in-charge present.

Once the rock has been blasted, we are on our way. Heavy equipment operators utilize a variation of heavy equipment machines to load and haul the rock to crushers where a primary operator, or plant operator, controls the machines to crush and screen the stone according to the size and specification needed for the customer.

Our asphalt division uses aggregate in all mix designs (Base, Intermediate, or surface mix. Base mix, the first layer laid, is the foundation for the load-bearing portion of a pavement structure. Included in all asphalt projects, it is an important part of our daily lives, from the roadways we drive to the tracks at the local high school.

Project managers assist the customer in determining which of the three base mixes will work best for their project. Then, plant technicians sample the base mix before it is applied to ensure it meets the required standards.

Dispatchers then ensure dump truck and distributor drivers (CDL) have the product out to the foreman, skilled laborers, laborers, roller operator, and paver operator— allowing them to begin work with the asphalt distributor, tractor broom, skid steer and paving machine.

If you have interest or questions about pursuing a career within the Summit Materials family, please reach out to Manisha Hall at (540) 777-7613. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to follow our A-Z tour for the remainder of the year.

Boxley’s Safety Director Is A Driving Force Behind A World-Class Safety Culture

At Boxley, safety is set in stone, held as the highest value, and emphasized daily. Creating an outstanding safety culture is more than words; it requires actions, like those taken by our Safety Director, Andy Vassar.

He says, “Safety is our first job every day. It doesn’t take breaks. We must value the safety of ourselves and our coworkers to make sure everyone goes home to their families.”

With almost 29 years at Boxley, Andy has been trained and worked in every position in the aggregate division. This, along with multiple state certifications and completion of a company-backed development program, provides the necessary awareness and knowledge to always be on the lookout for what can be improved.

Andy spends his day out in the field, focusing on our locations across southwest Virginia, as often as possible. Adhering to MSHA and OSHA regulations means there is always a plant or piece of equipment that needs to be inspected or an employee who needs to be trained, whether it’s their first time or an annual refresher.

Leading by example, Andy lives Boxley’s safety culture and encourages collaborative ideas from all employees to continue building a world-class safety culture of zero accidents. He says, “I find it gratifying to serve all the employees of Boxley. We have great people across the board.”

To read some of the achievements Boxley has received with Andy’s safety guidance, check out:

To learn more about Boxley’s commitment to safety, visit our new website. Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram

Boxley Cultivates Safety Leadership

In recognition of National Construction Safety Week, we’re going to dive into Isaiah Christian’s role as our Safety Manager for Asphalt and Construction to find out how his leadership impacts our asphalt crews.

How does Isaiah support a high prioritized safety culture that exemplifies this year’s theme of Connected. Supported. Safe.?

Connected: His day starts by checking in on the road crews, shops, and asphalt plants.

Supported: He listens to and addresses any safety concerns employees share with him and keeps an eye out for improvement opportunities while in the field.

Safe: He proactively works to ensure our crews have the necessary tools and training.

Each crew in our market participated in the following courses this year:

Work Zone Training
Annual Refresher Training
Smith System Driver Training
Task Training

“Being a part of Boxley’s safety culture has completely changed my mindset. I was 19 years old when I came into the industry and still had a sense of immortality. However, the positions I’ve held, especially transitioning into the safety manager position, have exposed me to the real dangers we face daily,” Isaiah points out.

Isaiah’s Path to Safety Leadership

Boxley provides opportunities for career advancement, no matter what position you start in. Isaiah initially joined our asphalt division part-time as a laborer while attending college. Upon graduation, he came on board full-time as a Management Trainee. Through internal promotions, we had a vacancy in our Safety Department and Isaiah stepped up to the challenge.

Since joining Boxley’s team, Isaiah has become trained in OSHA 10, VDOT Sediment and Control, and state-certified for Virginia & North Carolina as a Traffic Control Supervisor. He is currently working on obtaining his CHSP (Certified Health and Safety Professional) certification.

If you have interest or questions about pursuing a career within the Summit Materials family, please reach out to Manisha Hall at (540) 777-7613.

To learn more about Boxley’s commitment to safety, visit our new website. Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram

Boxley Employees Can Provide Modern Solutions to Asphalt Customers’ Needs

Since the early 2000s, Boxley has played a part in installing porous asphalt, a green alternative to asphalt construction projects, in our communities. Boxley was recently awarded the Green Paving Award from the Virginia Asphalt Association in 2020 for their work on the Garden City Greenway in Roanoke, VA. Ken Arthur, Boxley’s Director of Asphalt Plants and Development was heavily involved in the project.

How does it work?

Porous asphalt is an asphalt mix that provides water the ability to drain through the pavement, a rock-filled bed, and finally back into nature either unassisted or through a drainage system. Allowing minimal impact on the surrounding environment and prolonging the life of the paved area, making it a great option for parking lots, recreational ballfields, pathways, and certain roadways.

“It’s a unique application that definitely has its place.” Says Ken.

Invented ahead of its time, porous asphalt has gained traction in modern construction as a more environmentally friendly option for our community’s needs. By allowing stormwater to store underneath in a reservoir, developers can forgo disturbing additional property for a retention pond. Leaving the area free for conservation, recreation, or further development.

Why is Ken important to the process?

Ken’s highest priority is managing our four asphalt plants and Front of Business (FOB) asphalt sales in his current position. He boasts, “We have a strong, experienced team of talented personnel at our asphalt plants and laboratories.”

Ken also has responsibilities within Boxley’s contracting division with estimating, project management and building work-scopes for customers. He explains, “There is non-stop ‘connecting’ behind the scenes to keep operations running smoothly between Asphalt Ops, Field Ops, FOB customers and estimating.”

With over 25 years of industry experience and a bachelor’s degree in Biology accompanied by a Chemistry Minor from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Ken finds satisfaction in being challenged daily.

He says, “The variety of work and the people of the roadbuilding industry are what I like best. Anyone willing to apply themselves can be trained on the job and be provided all accreditations needed for a successful career.”

If you have interest or questions about pursuing a prosperous career within the Summit Materials family or would like to learn more about the Management Trainee Program, please reach out to Manisha Hall at (540) 777-7613. And don’t forget to follow along on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to grow your knowledge of careers and topics inside the construction industry.

Boxley’s Asphalt Crew Assists First Responders in Action

Boxley’s asphalt milling crew, led by James Phillips, was ending their workday on Monday, April 11, 2022, on Chestnut Ave NW, Roanoke, VA, when Lt. Adam L. Fleming and his crew from Roanoke Fire-EMS Station 1-C received a call for a house fire on the same road.

As the firefighters sprang into action, so did our employees by utilizing one of our trucks and orange cones to block the road from traffic, ensuring the supply line from the hydrant to the house did not get compromised. Employees also provided a hydrant tool allowing firefighters to save time in their effort to save the house.

“It’s not that often we get help from the public. I would like to recognize James and his crew for helping this day,” says Lt. Fleming. “Thanks again for Boxley having employees that will go beyond their normal workday assignments and lend a helping hand.”

Left to right: Firefighters Troy Mann, Lt. Andrew Watkins, Capt. Chris Decker, and Lt. Adam Fleming and Boxley crew James Phillips, Doug Fink, Johnny Hall, Drake Vaughn, Timothy Locklear, and Richard Simmons

“We would like to personally thank our crew on the scene that day for exemplifying the characteristics we look for. Additionally, thank you to the fire and EMS personnel in our communities. Your tireless, and sometimes thankless, work does not go unnoticed, and we are proud of our employees who took the initiative to give back to you that day,” says Charles Craddock, Boxley’s Vice President of Asphalt & Construction.

If you would like to learn more about Roanoke’s Fire-EMS and what you can do to prevent house fires, click here.

Boxley’s Safety Scorecard

Boxley’s world-class safety program is the cornerstone of the Boxley Way. Our safety culture underpins every facet of our operation, from driver safety to safety-first policies and procedures throughout our operations.

Safety is a value, it’s our first job and how we work.

Each year, we set safety goals and track our performance, emphasizing continuous improvement year over year through our safety mindset and practices. The numbers speak for themselves—our employees take safety seriously. In 2021, Boxley employees worked an outstanding 950,700 hours, during which our fleet drivers drove 2,763,465 miles without a single accident. In addition, our locations underwent their regular inspections, 20 of which were citation-free.

Our work was recently recognized by our parent company Summit Materials. We’re thrilled to add 2021 Top Safety Performer, 2021 World Class Preventable Vehicle Accidents, and 2021 Top 5S Performance to our award collection from previous years.

“Our employees show up every day and put in 100%. This past year we began to see the safety culture we’ve been working hard towards implementing. We know this isn’t the time to let off the gas; we’re looking at 2022 as another year to maintain and improve our safety performance,” said Boxley Safety Director Andy Vassar.

We work hard to keep employees informed on safety events inside the company and across the country. Every incident, good catch, and citation is a learning experience that could prevent another person from getting injured. We incentivize our employees to stay aware of safety hazards and look for ways to improve the work environment for everyone. Our safety culture is an individual and team effort.

Our managers regularly conduct toolbox talks on relevant topics to keep in mind, such as extreme temperature exposure, Boxley’s 10 Safety Principles, unfortunate incidents in the industry, and more. Safety stand-downs are also performed when necessary to really drill home the importance of the safety topic.

“Our employees know that when they have an idea how to make something better, they’re going to be heard,” said Vassar, “We encourage reporting anything an employee has an issue with and promote brainstorming to find the best solution. We want people to feel safe coming to work every day, and most importantly, we want them to go home when they’re done.”

To learn more about Boxley’s commitment to safety, visit our new website (link: ). Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram