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You Can’t Make It Up on the Freeway: Why Rushing in Construction Doesn’t Work

We’ve all done it running late, hoping we can “make up time” by pushing the gas a little harder, weaving through traffic, and catching every green light. That’s exactly what I tried to do recently when I was late picking up a replacement CPAP machine. It was important. I needed it for my health. So naturally, I hit the gas.

I sped up. Changed lanes. Tried to time everything perfectly.

But guess what?

I arrived at 4:03 PM no earlier than if I’d just driven normally. I didn’t save a single minute. I just stressed myself out. And that’s when it hit me: this is exactly what we do in construction all the time.

Construction Is Like Driving on the Freeway

Let’s break this down:

Driving Late to an Appointment

Rushing in Construction

Leaving late

Starting without a solid plan

Speeding to “make up time”

Overtime, weekends, and last-minute pushes

Risking a crash

Injuries, burnout, quality issues

Still arriving late

Still missing the deadline

We tell ourselves that by working harder or faster, we’ll make up time. But it doesn’t work like that. What we’re really doing is masking poor planning and inefficiencies with raw effort and that’s a dangerous game.

If You Mask Waste With Hours…

This is one of the core truths we live by at Elevate:

“If you mask waste with hours, there’s never a motivation to improve.”

When we let poor planning slide by throwing more hours or people at the problem, we’re not solving anything. We’re just delaying the inevitable.

I’ve seen it over and over again—projects that are constantly “pushing” just to keep up. Crews exhausted. Schedules slipping. Quality suffering. And leadership in panic mode, wondering why things aren’t clicking.

The truth? Speed isn’t the answer.

So What Is?

Let’s go back to the driving analogy:

  • Leave earlier → Start with a solid preconstruction plan.
  • Stick to the speed limit → Maintain a consistent, predictable production rhythm.
  • Stop switching lanes → Follow the plan. Avoid unnecessary changes and disruptions.
  • Don’t panic → Trust your system. Trust your people.

That’s how you get results not with chaos, but with calm, consistent action.

Final Thought: Busy ≠ Productive

Rushing looks productive. It feels intense. But it’s often just a dressed-up version of dysfunction.

It’s the illusion of urgency masking the absence of strategy.

So don’t fall for it.

Don’t mistake effort for effectiveness.

Don’t try to “make it up on the freeway.”

Instead, plan better. Start earlier. Flow steady. Finish strong.

Key Takeaway:
You can’t make up time by rushing not on the freeway, and definitely not on your project. Calm, consistent planning and flow will beat panic every single time.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

On we go