OTA Dispatch Issue 2, 2021

16 Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch MIKE VALLERY Lead Technician/Service Manager—Oak Harbor Freight Lines Mike has been involved in maintenance for over 35 years, so he’s seen the evolution of safety technology, equipment, and practices when it comes to trucks. He also understands the need to keep learning and the value in developing consistent safety practices in the shop. To Mike, repeat training is important when it comes to changing habits or ingraining behavior. For this, Mike depends on both internal and external training opportunities. Technical training is obviously a large part of what his team focuses on, with Oak Harbor frequently engaging vendors for training on specific vehicle components. Safety training is also a priority, putting the focus on teamwork to accomplish specific tasks in the shop (e.g. lifting). Given the possibility of working around hazardous materials, Oak Harbor found an on-demand solution by working with an online MSDS (Manage Material Safety Data Sheets) provider. This approach provides a quick response if a vendor or employee brings a product into the shop. “It’s important they are given the tools and have the knowledge to do the work safely and properly,” Mike said, “They don’t know what they don’t know and you never know when you are going to need it.” Mike also makes sure he and his team take advantage of what OTA’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) has to offer, participating in monthly workshops, attending the TMC Maintenance & Education Fair and competing at the SuperTech skills competition. Full disclosure, Mike currently leads OTA’s TMC efforts. Mike’s long career in maintenance makes him the ideal representative for those who are just starting out, or who are industry veterans. MAINTAINING SAFETY STANDARDS By Christa Wendland, OTA Communications Consultant and Christine Logue, OTA VP of Operations IT’S A FREQUENTLY used phrase in trucking, “Safety is the cornerstone of our industry.” The concept of safety infiltrates all areas of the industry. One area that some may not automatically think of when it comes to safety in the strictest sense is fleet maintenance. Keeping vehicles and equipment in tip-top shape is certainly a safety priority. Drivers depend on their trucks not just to do their jobs, but also to keep them safe as they travel. Nobody wants the check engine light to turn on in the middle of a 1,000 mile road trip, or to find out that the brakes need replacing as the car in front of you makes a sudden stop. Fleet maintenance personnel, alongside their fleet safety counterparts, play a vital role in keeping drivers safe in their trucks and technicians safe in their shops. Over the years, OTA has expanded our educational offerings to include not just the industry-required classes, but also timely supplemental learning opportunities. We’ve connected technicians and safety personnel with experts through the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) and Safety Management Council (SMC). Through this process, some of our members have shown themselves to be “safety stars” with dedication to their own education, but also encouraging those on their team—and other OTA members—to keep on learning. Here’s a closer look at a few of these individuals and what safety means to them. Mike Vallery (right) in 2012 when he won the SuperTech skills competition.