On this episode of “Drilling Deeper,” P&Q managing editor Jack Kopanski sits down with Christian Kurasek, CFO of Pronto.ai, to discuss the company’s partnership with Heidelberg Materials and the producer’s recent milestone of 2 million tons hauled autonomously at a Texas quarry.

Pronto and Heidelberg began their partnership in 2023 when Heidelberg began using Pronto’s autonomous haulage system (AHS) at its Bridgeport Quarry in Bridgeport, Texas. Then, in 2024, the producer deployed the AHS at its Lake Bridgeport Quarry in the same city. In early 2025, Heidelberg announced it was automating more than 100 trucks across its sites worldwide. Finally, at the start of this year, Heidelberg shared that in less than eight months, it had hauled 2 million tons autonomously at its Lake Bridgeport Quarry.

In this interview, Kurasek discusses how Heidelberg came to partner with Pronto, what the collaboration has been like to this point and what this milestone means for the greater aggregates industry and future autonomous solutions. Additionally, Kurasek provides insights into the tech behind Pronto’s AHS, saying the company took a ground-up approach rather than attempting to scale down larger tech, and prioritized being “OEM agnostic” to fit into a wider variety of fleets.

Kurasek goes on to talk about the future of autonomy in aggregates, touching on common misconceptions that remain about the technology, the barriers for small- to mid-size producers in utilizing the technology and what other pieces of equipment could be made autonomous moving forward.

There’s so much more to find in this episode. You won’t want to miss it!

For 108 years, Pit & Quarry magazine has been the premier monthly aggregate processing information source. Through multiple platforms, we deliver the very latest in equipment and technology news and information that is critical for safely achieving the highest level of efficiency and profitability. Editors Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski cover the market in print, online and through e-newsletters. As respected industry insiders, they moderate the annual Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference and speak at industry conferences and meetings.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Also, follow us on YouTube to see full-length episodes of the podcast, watch our Road to Prosperity videos and see other clips from our travels and events.

In the very first Drilling Deeper episode of 2026, Pit & Quarry editorial director Kevin Yanik and managing editor Jack Kopanski lay out 10 trends they’ll be watching closely in aggregates throughout 2026. Among the topics explored this episode are:

• Autonomy. How it moves from pilot programs to commercial-ready systems

• AI and connectivity. How AI, automation and telematics further take hold

• Mergers and acquisitions. Who’s poised to buy this year, and what’s ahead for producer and manufacturer dealmaking

• Construction’s key markets. What infrastructure, housing and data centers mean for demand

• Safety and MSHA. What a higher fatality count in 2025 could signal for enforcement and prevention this year

• Aggregate pricing and volumes. Whether pricing gains continue if volumes wobble

• Mega-dealer growth. The ongoing push toward larger dealer footprints, with expanding territories and consolidation changing how equipment is sold and supported

• Used equipment and rental. Why the secondary market becomes a shock absorber in uncertain conditions

• Sustainability and electrification. What’s real, what’s marketing and what changes may be ahead

• Workforce. How labor challenges evolve, and what it means for training, retention and safety

Recorded Jan. 8 and released Jan. 13, the episode sets the agenda for the year ahead and tees up deeper conversations to come.

For 108 years, Pit & Quarry magazine has been the premier monthly aggregate processing information source. Through multiple platforms, we deliver the very latest in equipment and technology news and information that is critical for safely achieving the highest level of efficiency and profitability. Editors Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski cover the market in print, online and through e-newsletters. As respected industry insiders, they moderate the annual Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference and speak at industry conferences and meetings.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Also, follow us on YouTube to see full-length episodes of the podcast, watch our Road to Prosperity videos and see other clips from our travels and events.

As 2025 comes to a close, Drilling Deeper wraps up the year with one final episode that reflects on what shaped the aggregate industry over the past 12 months – and what’s already building momentum for 2026.

Editorial director Kevin Yanik and managing editor Jack Kopanski open the show with year-end banter before diving into Pit & Quarry’s 16 most-read stories of 2025. From major equipment launches and autonomous equipment advancements to mergers and acquisitions, this episode revisits the headlines and trends that captured the industry’s attention and defined the year.

Kevin and Jack also recap a busy fourth quarter that included a pair of state association meetings. The episode features insights from Matt Konjevich of Melvin Stone and Elliott Archibald of LJ Inc. and Supreme Manufacturing, who both share perspectives on market conditions, data center-driven demand and expectations for 2026.

The episode closes with a look ahead to the year to come – including major industry events such as ConExpo-Con/Agg and a packed first-quarter travel schedule. Kevin and Jack also outline what listeners can expect from Drilling Deeper in the new year.

For 108 years, Pit & Quarry magazine has been the premier monthly aggregate processing information source. Through multiple platforms, we deliver the very latest in equipment and technology news and information that is critical for safely achieving the highest level of efficiency and profitability. Editors Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski cover the market in print, online and through e-newsletters. As respected industry insiders, they moderate the annual Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference and speak at industry conferences and meetings.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Also, follow us on YouTube to see full-length episodes of the podcast, watch our Road to Prosperity videos and see other clips from our travels and events.