Building Trust, Expanding Service: How AWP Safety is Raising the Bar in Colorado
AWP Safety’s strong presence in Colorado has been built through strategic acquisitions — most recently with the additions of WS Barricade and Integrity Traffic. These acquisitions have elevated customer service and expanded customer access to comprehensive traffic control and field safety services in the Centennial State. Tyler Smits, previously general manager of WS Barricade who now serves as AWP Safety’s general manager of Colorado operations, explains.
Key Takeaways
- AWP Safety’s acquisitions of WS Barricade and Integrity Traffic have strengthened its Colorado operations by combining local expertise with national scale, offering more comprehensive and responsive service.
- A deliberate, customer-first integration strategy led by local leaders like Tyler Smits has preserved trusted relationships, improved operational standards and enhanced billing accuracy across all Colorado locations.
- Through initiatives like rapid billing for customers and a state-accredited training program for employees, AWP Safety is raising industry standards and delivering greater service in Colorado.
Local Relationships, National Strength.
AWP Safety combines the technology and scale of a national leader with the personal service and relationships of local traffic control companies to deliver some of the safest worksites in North America. With the 2024 acquisitions of WS Barricade and Integrity Traffic, AWP Safety is doubling down on its commitment to deliver worksite safety, outstanding service and accurate billing to customers throughout Colorado.
Leading the integration of these companies is industry veteran Tyler Smits, who has helped start and successfully scale multiple businesses in the utility and infrastructure space. His transition from WS Barricade manager to leader of all AWP Safety Colorado operations speaks to his customer commitment — and AWP Safety’s customer-focused culture.
“Our WS Barricade team built something of real value, and AWP Safety recognizes how our local approach contributes to our customers’ success,” says Smits. “It’s a lot of fun to stick around and help meld our local capabilities with what AWP Safety brings to the table so customers get the best of both worlds.”
WS Barricade and Integrity Traffic both have strong reputations for on-time service, excellent responsiveness and accurate, streamlined billing. AWP Safety brings additional scale and technology like Smart Work Zones and a soon-to-be more digital customer experience.
Together, the three companies offer unmatched coverage across Colorado, with six locations and the resources to deploy anywhere in the state, for one day or several weeks.
“We collaborate across locations,” Smits notes. “It’s all about serving customers where and when they need us, no matter what.”
Rebuilding Trust Through Operational Excellence.
In any industry, integrating acquisitions can sometimes create challenges. To eliminate those kinds of disruptions for customers, AWP Safety approaches a slow, gradual integration approach, relying on local teams to continue doing what they already do well.
Smits says his team has risen to the occasion. Their expertise and service excellence has helped improve operations and rebuild customer trust at other AWP Safety locations throughout Colorado. For example, all Colorado operations have adopted WS Barricade’s legacy billing process.
“We bill within 24 hours,” Smits says. “It’s fast and accurate, giving customers confidence that they are paying only for services they received. It saves everyone time.”
It’s all about standards. We’ve taken our best people from across all three companies, cross-trained our teams and instilled the same high expectations everywhere.
Speaking of standards, WS Barricade built a rigorous, eight-week internal Traffic Control Supervisor training program that is now state-accredited and considered a state-wide model. The program includes mutual assessments between trainees and trainers to ensure quality. In an ever-changing, highly regulated industry like traffic control, this means customers get a team that knows how to keep their projects moving forward – compliantly, on time and on budget.
A Model for Customer Value
With the successful ongoing integration of AWP Safety’s Colorado operations, there’s no doubt that the company’s acquisition strategy works — for everyone.
“I think AWP Safety’s enterprise integration team deserves a lot of credit,” Smits says. “Within weeks of the acquisition it was clear that they care about making this work for our local teams and, most importantly, our customers. That’s a perspective we all share.”
Learn more about how AWP Safety’s approach to local acquisitions is improving customer experiences in Colorado and Texas.
