Founded in 1973 in Colorado, HEI Civil has evolved from a basement excavating company to a heavy civil general contractor with locations in Austin, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Denver, Colorado. A commitment to excellence has fueled our journey, and at its heart is our exceptional fleet and the dedicated team that maintains it. From the very beginning, our founders recognized the importance of caring for our equipment, enshrining it as a critical success factor. We’re proud to say that our fleet is among the best in the industry, having recently been awarded 4th place in NAFA’s 2025 100 Best Fleets, a testament to our continuous innovation and drive to exceed expectations.
Raising the Bar: Continuous Improvement in Fleet Management
At HEI Civil, we don’t just meet expectations; we surpass them. Our commitment to continuous improvement is evident in our track record of achieving ambitious goals. After successfully implementing initiatives like fueling 70% of our fleet before 7 am daily and significantly reducing shop time for repairs, we set our sights on a new challenge for 2024: minimizing field repair downtime. Our goal was to decrease downtime from 4.79 days to 3.25 days.
To achieve this, we implemented a new maintenance request system through HCSS across all three locations. This streamlined system empowers foremen to submit service requests quickly and easily, receiving real-time updates from our mechanics. The result? We not only met our goal, but exceeded it, slashing field repair downtime to an impressive 2.96 days!
Strategic Investments: Maximizing Efficiency and Productivity
Fiscal responsibility and strategic asset management are cornerstones of our operations. While we consistently review our scope of work to inform purchasing and sales decisions, we took a unique approach in 2024 at our Colorado location. To minimize downtime and upgrade our aging fleet of water trucks, we undertook the ambitious project of restoring three water truck tanks on CAT 745 articulated dump trucks. This intensive project, requiring 300 man-hours per unit, proved to be a worthwhile investment. The 745 models feature a more efficient hydraulic system, which powers the water pumps more effectively and enhances our operations team’s productivity.
Safety and Compliance: A Top Priority
We’ve always maintained strong relationships with our vendors, state law enforcement, and industry networks. Over the past two years, we’ve amplified our focus on business management, particularly in safety and compliance. In 2023, our Texas division initiated annual Texas Department of Transportation (TX DOT) compliance training with state troopers, achieving a flawless Level 2 DOT inspection. This dedication to safety and compliance culminated in an outstanding FMCSA SAFER Rating of 2.5 out of 100 in 2024, placing us in the top 2.5% of similar-sized companies nationwide. This achievement reflects our commitment to ensuring safe and roadworthy DOT vehicles, as well as the collaborative partnership between our drivers and the state patrol on training initiatives.
Investing in Our Team and Infrastructure
We understand that our fleet is only as good as the team that supports it. That’s why we’re committed to investing in both our infrastructure and our people. Over the past three years, we’ve expanded our shop facilities in Austin, Castle Rock, and Charlotte, enhancing our maintenance capabilities and productivity. Our Texas shop even features an expansive plot of land that has allowed us to host NUCA trench training for the past two years, sharing our expertise and promoting safety throughout the industry.
Professional development is another area where we prioritize investment. We recognize that our team is our greatest asset, and their success is one of our critical success factors. Over the last three years, we’ve provided 269.65 hours of technical, safety, and human resources training through our online learning management system. In 2024 alone, our team members participated in over 700 hours of training, covering everything from new software and refresher courses to annual DOT training, hydraulic classes, vendor-led sessions, new equipment walkarounds, preventive maintenance training, welding instruction for entry-level technicians, contractor business boot camps, and AEMP ignite training for our managers.
At HEI Civil, our fleet isn’t just a collection of machines; it’s a symbol of our commitment to excellence. Through continuous improvement, strategic investment, and a focus on our team, we’re driving progress and building a better future for our company, our clients, and our community.
