Safety Marking
Safety Marking is a Northeast US specialty contractor founded in 1973 that provides highway, bridge, and airport pavement marking services to state DOTs, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, and major airports, operating a 150+ vehicle fleet across four locations as a Highview Capital portfolio company.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersBridgeport, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Safety Marking does
Safety Marking is a specialty highway and roadway marking contractor founded in 1973 by Mark Kelly and headquartered in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The company applies pavement markings — including epoxy markings, traffic line striping, hydroblasting for surface preparation, and pavement marking removal — for state Departments of Transportation (Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island), the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ), and multiple airports including JFK, LGA, EWR, SWF, and TEB. It operates from four locations (Bridgeport CT, Richmond RI, Westbury NY, and the acquired Cohoes NY office) with a fleet of 150+ vehicles and 17+ specialized epoxy trucks, employing 101–250 people, and self-identifies as the largest independent pavement marking provider in the Northeast US.
The company's internal technology stack centers on the proprietary LifeMark GPS/RTK automated layout system (launched October 2021), the Grinder Hog pavement marking removal system (August 2022), hydroblasting equipment, and the Legacy Tool scheduling platform. It maintains 30-year supplier relationships with Sherwin-Williams and Epolex for raw materials and operates an in-house Learning Academy with a VR Training Simulator housed in a facility opened April 2025. Revenue is generated via quote-based bidding on multi-year government contracts (DOT, Port Authority, airports, and municipalities); the company does not disclose revenue.
Since August 2023, Safety Marking has been a portfolio company of the private equity firm Highview Capital. The company is executing an active growth and consolidation strategy, evidenced by the May 2025 acquisition of Straight Line Industries, ongoing fleet expansion, a planned $2.3M industrial building acquisition, and continued investment in proprietary equipment and training infrastructure.
Safety Marking firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Safety Marking
- Legal name
- Safety Marking LLC
- Website
- https://safetymarking.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Safety Marking is a Northeast US specialty contractor founded in 1973 that provides highway, bridge, and airport pavement marking services to state DOTs, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, and major airports, operating a 150+ vehicle fleet across four locations as a Highview Capital portfolio company.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Safety Marking industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pavement Marking Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Road Signage, Markings & Delineation (Regulatory/Warning/Guide Signs, Pavement Markings, Reflectors) (TLAJAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Temporary Pavement Markings & Delineation (Tape, Temporary Striping, Raised Markers) (TLAJALAE)
Keywords
Where Safety Marking is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bridgeport
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Safety Marking business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pavement Marking Services: One-time service contracts for pavement marking on highways, roadways, airports, and parking facilities. Revenue generated from government contracts with state DOTs, municipal agencies, and port authorities.
- Industrial Property Acquisition: Company plans to purchase industrial building in Bridgeport for $2.3 million after Connecticut Transfer Act sunsets, indicating potential vertical integration into property ownership.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quote-based pricing for pavement marking services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Safety Marking product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Safety Marking is a full-service pavement marking contractor that applies lane lines, edge lines, center lines, rumble strips, recessed/inlaid markings, and airport runway markings on highways, roadways, parking lots, and aviation facilities. Services are delivered using one of the largest epoxy truck fleets (17+) and 150+ specialized vehicles in the Northeastern US, using epoxy (3-5 year life, double drop bead wet-night reflectivity), thermoplastic, and paint systems. Customers are state Departments of Transportation, port authorities, and county/municipal public works departments that award work through competitive bids and multi-year contracts.
Product overview
Safety Marking (SMC) is a full-service pavement marking company offering a unified portfolio of road marking and safety services rather than a modular software platform. The core offering comprises pavement markings, airport markings, pavement marking removal, recessed markings, rumble strips, and special services, delivered using a fleet of specialized equipment including epoxy trucks, paint trucks, and grooving machines. The company has expanded into technology products such as the LifeMark Automated Layout System (GPS and machine vision-based automated striping) and the Legacy Tool digital scheduling system. Training is supported through the Learning Academy platform. Services are delivered across three Northeast US states (Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York) from three office locations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pavement Markings Highway, roadway, and parking lot line striping and pavement marking services delivered to state DOTs, municipalities, and private customers across CT, NY, and RI using epoxy, thermoplastic, and paint systems.
- Airport Markings Runway, taxiway, and apron re-striping and marking services for commercial and regional airports (e.g., JFK, LGA, EWR, SWF, TEB) using FAA-compliant materials and Hog Technologies hydroblasting surface prep.
- Pavement Marking Removal Removal of deteriorated or outdated pavement markings using ultra-high-pressure water (hydroblasting) from Hog Technologies, designed to clean without damaging the underlying pavement surface.
- Recessed Markings Installation of inlaid (recessed) pavement markings below the road surface to extend service life and improve durability against plowing and traffic wear.
- Rumble Strips Installation of rumble strips on roadways to alert drivers through vibration and sound when vehicles leave travel lanes, supporting lane-departure safety programs.
- Special Services Specialized and custom pavement marking and road safety services beyond standard line striping, including specialty items and stage construction.
- Epoxy Pavement Markings Premium high-performance epoxy pavement markings using a double drop bead system that delivers the highest level of wet-night reflectivity, a 3-5 year useful life, and up to six times the longevity of traditional paint striping.
- Thermoplastic Pavement Markings Durable thermoplastic pavement marking applications applied via heated extrusion for long-lasting road markings.
- Parking Lot Striping Pavement marking and striping services for commercial, retail, and private parking facilities.
- Hydroblasting Services Ultra-high-pressure hydroblasting surface preparation for airport runways and pavement surfaces, using equipment designed by Hog Technologies, prior to the application of new markings.
Quantifiable outcome
- Epoxy markings last 3-5 years with wet-night visibility, compared to annual re-striping for paint
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Safety Marking
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Safety Marking technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature5 records
Safety Marking partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Straight Line IndustriescoreSafety Marking acquired Straight Line Industries in May 2025. This acquisition expanded Safety Marking's operations to include a fourth location at 5 Arrowhead Lane, Cohoes, NY. Straight Line operated as a pavement marking company prior to acquisition.
- Sherwin-Williamscore30-year partnership with Sherwin-Williams as a key supplier of pavement marking coatings. Bob Groundwater, Account Executive at Sherwin-Williams, noted Safety Marking's professional operations and quality-driven approach. Sherwin-Williams products are used by Safety Marking for epoxy and other pavement marking applications.
- Epolexcore30-year partnership with Epolex as a pavement marking materials supplier. Long-term relationship part of Safety Marking's supplier network for over three decades.
- Thomas Merton Centerminor23+ year community partnership with Catholic Charities' Thomas Merton Center in Bridgeport. Mark Kelly serves on Advisory Board for 20+ years. Safety Marking sponsors annual Celebrity Breakfast events, coat drives, food drives, and contributed to Project Warm during COVID. Raised over $300,000 for virtual fundraiser A Day in the Life of The Thomas Merton Center.
- Wakeman Boys & Girls Clubminor40+ year partnership with Wakeman Boys & Girls Club of Fairfield. Mark Kelly and his children are alumni. Safety Marking sponsors Youth of the Year program, Over the Edge rappelling events, and college tour programs. Donations provide teen memberships and support club programs serving 3,500 youth annually.
- Connecticut Construction Industries Association (CCIA)coreCCIA membership provides Safety Marking with federal/state legislative lobbying, certificate programs, training, meetings, seminars, conferences, industry-specific publications, and access to National Industry Association partnerships. CCIA award programs include Build CT, Industry Recognition Awards, Safety Recognition Awards, and Community Service Awards.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Safety Marking competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- 3M: Diversified manufacturer supplying pavement marking tapes, retroreflective materials, and road safety products used by Safety Marking and competing indirectly through proprietary durable marking systems.
- Sherwin-Williams: Major coatings supplier with a highway/pavement marking product line and a 30-year supplier relationship with Safety Marking. Serves the same DOT customer base through material sales and adjacent field services.
- Ennis-Flint (PPG Traffic Solutions): Largest North American manufacturer and supplier of pavement marking materials (thermoplastic, epoxy, paint, glass beads) acquired by PPG. Functions as a key supplier to Safety Marking and competes indirectly by offering turnkey marking services in select markets.
- Swarco: European-headquartered road marking materials and traffic systems provider with North American presence. Comparable as a materials supplier in Safety Marking's supply chain and as a broad incumbent offering road marking systems to DOTs.
Direct peers
- Stripe-A-Zone: National pavement marking and traffic control services contractor serving state DOTs, airports, and commercial customers. Comparable service portfolio including epoxy, thermoplastic, and pavement marking removal, with similar competitive-bid GTM motion.
- A&A Striping & Sealcoating: Mid-Atlantic pavement marking and sealcoating contractor serving DOTs, municipalities, and commercial customers. Comparable in core striping services and government contract bidding, though smaller in scale.
- All States Materials Group: Northeast-based pavement marking, signage, and high-friction surface treatment contractor serving state DOTs and airports. Directly comparable in regional concentration, product mix, and government customer base.
- Roadsafe Traffic Systems: One of the largest pavement marking and traffic control contractors in the US, also PE-backed and operating across multiple regions. Directly comparable in service mix (highway striping, pavement marking removal, recessed markings) and customer base (state DOTs and municipalities).
- North American Striping: Pavement marking contractor serving Mid-Atlantic and Southeast DOTs with highway striping, airport markings, and pavement marking removal services. Directly comparable in service offering and customer type.
Emerging players
- Catseye Pavement Markings: Regional pavement marking contractor specializing in parking lot and roadway striping with emerging capabilities in thermoplastic and specialty markings. Comparable service offering at smaller scale, illustrating the type of regional roll-up target for Safety Marking.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Safety Marking social profiles
Digital presenceSafety Marking financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Safety Marking leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Safety Marking subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Safety Marking funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Safety Marking M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Safety Marking
What does Safety Marking do?
Safety Marking is a full-service pavement marking contractor that applies lane lines, edge lines, center lines, rumble strips, recessed/inlaid markings, and airport runway markings on highways, roadways, parking lots, and aviation facilities. Services are delivered using one of the largest epoxy truck fleets (17+) and 150+ specialized vehicles in the Northeastern US, using epoxy (3-5 year life, double drop bead wet-night reflectivity), thermoplastic, and paint systems. Customers are state Departments of Transportation, port authorities, and county/municipal public works departments that award work through competitive bids and multi-year contracts.
Is Safety Marking a public or private company?
Safety Marking is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Safety Marking founded?
Safety Marking was founded in 1973. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Safety Marking based?
Safety Marking is headquartered in Bridgeport, United States, in the North America region.
How does Safety Marking make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Pavement Marking Services are the primary driver. The others are industrial Property Acquisition.
Who are Safety Marking's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are 3M, Sherwin-Williams, Ennis-Flint (PPG Traffic Solutions) and Swarco. Direct peers are Stripe-A-Zone, A&A Striping & Sealcoating, All States Materials Group, Roadsafe Traffic Systems and North American Striping. Catseye Pavement Markings is listed as an emerging player.
Does Safety Marking have an API?
No public API is recorded for Safety Marking.
What industry is Safety Marking in?
Safety Marking's product category is Pavement Marking Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAJAGAB, Road Signage, Markings & Delineation (Regulatory/Warning/Guide Signs, Pavement Markings, Reflectors), with a secondary code of TLAJALAE, Temporary Pavement Markings & Delineation (Tape, Temporary Striping, Raised Markers).