OTA Dispatch Issue 2, 2021

17 www.ortrucking.org Issue 2 | 2021 Mike isn’t the only one keeping an eye on the shop’s safety procedures. Oak Harbor’s safety department visits the shop each month to perform inspections and review relevant records. Technicians also get unannounced visits from the insurance company when a representatives stop by for a surprise walkthrough. Mike and his team take these in stride, saying it’s a good thing for a different set of eyes to take a look to what may become routine to them. When it comes to the work that they do, Mike knows that vehicle safety and the role of maintenance is a critical part of overall safety. It also helps the bottom line. “Preventative maintenance is backbone of what we do,” Mike commented, “We look for issues before they become bigger, more expensive problems.” While a Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) is a requirement and obviously important in the overall maintenance and safety of a vehicle, Mike looks at these as a driver concern. While DVIR’s identify a driver’s issue or complaints, they often only touch the surface of the full safety picture. For a more in-depth look at a vehicle, Mike schedules regular Preventative Maintenance (PM) inspections. “PM inspections help identify issues that drivers might miss. A closer look not only means having safe trucks on the road, it improves the longevity of the equipment.” Mike doesn’t trust the safety of Oak Harbor’s fleet to just anyone, “These are our vehicles, so we’re ultimately responsible for them—an extra bit of quality control is just something we do.” While they don’t typically find any problems with work done outside their own shop, they do review any outside work before a truck goes back into service. “Never turn down training. You can always learn something new, whether it’s a simple refresher or finding an easier way to accomplish a routine task.” MIKE’S ADVICE BOB PHIPPS Maintenance Director—Bettendorf Trucking Bob has been in the trucking industry for 43 years, 38 of which have been with Bettendorf Trucking where he started as a technician and is now Maintenance Director. With Bettendorf ’s strong commitment to maintenance, Bob’s approach to vehicle safety has a lot to do with keeping equipment running smoothly (and safely) for as long as possible. “After more than 40 years in this industry, I know that just because something is old doesn’t mean that it’s not up to the job,” Bob joked. Bettendorf ’s business model was to keep equipment already paid for in use for as long as possible to manage the ebb and flow of business in chip hauling. As a result, Bob was tasked with keeping older equipment operational, leading to an active and extensive maintenance program for their fleet. Top priorities include brakes, tires, and lights. “I’m a big believer in having a formal plan and usable checklists to keep us all on the same page,” Bob said, “That way we can easily identify levels of service and track all inspected items.” Bob and his Bettendorf team also work closely with drivers, focusing a lot of time on pre-trip inspections, making sure drivers can recognize issues, and determine the best way to report them. They use CSA reports for training and benchmarking, as well as setting goals and priorities. “Driver safety includes what you do before you get behind the wheel of a truck,” Bob commented. “Drivers should know how to inspect and look for potential problems. Drivers and their interaction on the maintenance side of operating a vehicle plays a critical role in our safety routines.” While carriers consistently list tires as one of their biggest operational costs, Bettendorf ’s tire program has been successful in keeping costs down. Bob Phipps (left) making the rounds at the 2015 TMC Maintenance & Education Fair.