Tucker Paving Celebrates 30 Years in Business, Focusing on Safety and Continued Improvement
Safety is at the heart of everything Tucker Paving does, and as the company celebrates its 30th anniversary it continues to focus on ways to keep its employees safe.
“Our safety program is something we take great pride in,” said Tucker Paving CEO Larry “Chip” Tucker. “Currently we’ve achieved 3.8 million hours without a lost-time accident, which equates to nearly five years and four months of keeping our team safe on the job.”
The industry has seen significant safety improvements in the last 30 years, Tucker said. Other outside factors also contribute to safety.
“Another key change has been the emphasis on qualifying contractors financially through the availability of bonding projects,” he said. “This has been crucial in ensuring that qualified contractors are brought on board, which ultimately helps get projects done efficiently and correctly.”
The Creation of Tucker Paving
Tucker Paving was started in 1994 after Chip Tucker borrowed money to break away from his father’s company, Tucker Construction. That company was founded in 1965.
Tucker Paving moved into a new $3.6 million headquarters at 5658 Lucerne Park Road in Winter Haven Winter in 2022.
They provide a variety of services, including:
- Construction layout
- Site clearing and demolition.
- Concrete curbing, paving, sidewalks, foundations, and slabs.
- Site excavation.
- Facility maintenance with asphalt patching, resurfacing and sealing.
Along with adding services, the company also added employees, Tucker said. “Over the last two years, we are especially proud of our people because without the people, there is no company.”
Adding Services
Tucker Paving is a company that evolves with the times.
“In the last two years, we have added services and automation that have enhanced our operations, particularly through construction modeling and GPS grade control systems on heavy equipment,” Tucker said. “GPS technology allows for precise positioning and grading, which improves accuracy, reduces material waste and increases overall efficiency in job sites.”
Its new headquarters has also allowed it to keep looking to the future.
“Moving into our new facility has been a significant step forward for our business,” Tucker said. “Our previous location simply could not accommodate the growth we were experiencing. The new facility not only provides the space we need but also allows us to market more effectively to new team members and clients.”
It has also improved efficiencies, he said, “supporting smoother operations as we continue to grow.”
Big Projects
The company has worked on some big projects in Polk County, including:
- Bonnet Springs Park, a 168-acre park in downtown Lakeland that once was a railyard. It opened in October 2022.
- The Niagara Bottling facility at the Florida Intermodal Logistics Center in Winter Haven. The California-based company is building a 1.45 million-square-foot manufacturing plant and, when opened, will hire at least 100 full-time jobs.
- The Lake Deer Subdivision, which is being developed by Southern Homes in Winter Haven.
“Bonnet Springs was a high-profile project,” Tucker said. “Beyond the remediation work during the mass grading phase, the site presented 100 feet of elevation change, which is quite unique for this area. Managing the typical sandy Florida soils was a challenge, especially when it came to erosion control during the summer months and through a couple major storms. This project was exceptional in many ways, and it’s easy to be passionate about it because of the lasting positive impact it will have on the community for years to come.”
Tackling Challenges
Tucker Paving faces challenges beyond sandy soils.
“One of the significant challenges we’ve always faced, and will likely continue to face, is finding qualified equipment operators,” Tucker said. “To address this, we’ve implemented a new training program that provides technical and safety in-house training for our team members. This initiative helps us develop skilled operators from within, ensuring that we have the talent we need while also investing in the growth and development of our people.”
The Future
The company generally works within 80 miles of Polk County, but it is willing to travel when needed. It has “the team members, equipment and bonding capacity in excess of $50 million to complete projects,” according to its website.
“The future for Tucker Paving looks like continued organic growth,” Tucker said. “We plan to build on our existing safety culture, further improving internal training programs, and expand our presence by providing more projects in adjacent counties to Polk County. By staying focused on these areas, we aim to strengthen our position in the market and continue delivering high-quality results.”
