Asphalt Recycling

With the Word: Gary Hobby Heavy Equipment Operator

I’ve been at Banks for over 15 years. I spent the first 7 years in grading on Phil Whitaker’s team, then moved over to do shoulder work with Mark Henderson. From there, we transitioned into some small paving jobs. Toward the end of that—about 3 to 4 years ago—I came over to the plant. Between Charleston and Summerville, I’ve done everything from feeding the plant, helping on the ground, assisting with maintenance, stockpiling material, and feeding Martin Marietta—in between crushing asphalt and concrete. Right now, I’m mainly focused on crushing. My favorite thing about working at the plant is knowing where I’ll be every day and joking around with the team. I really enjoy the independence of feeding the crusher and moving material to get it ready for processing. If someone is looking to come over to the plant, they need to be willing to learn multiple things, not just one area. Since being here, I’ve picked up more mechanical skills and gained a better understanding of how asphalt is actually made. You also have to be ready to operate equipment in the tight space we have—it takes focus and adaptability.