OTA Dispatch Issue 2, 2021

6 Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch Mark Gibson, Chair OTA in Action Committee/ President, Siskiyou Transportation LEGISLATIVE UPDATE IN THE PAST YEAR, we’ve had plenty of time at home to catch up on all of those late night infomercials and “As-Seen-On-TV” promotions featuring items that someone, somewhere just knew that the world couldn’t live without. In the end, very few people give in to that midnight retail therapy because what seems like a brilliant idea in the insulated bubble of the family basement has plenty of flaws in the real world. Without research and input from the intended audience, failure is almost guaranteed. The same scenario often occurs with the rules and regulations that define the trucking industry’s safety policies and procedures. Mandates can quickly go from “it looks good on paper” to our operating reality. While OTA representatives consistently stand up for trucking’s interests, it’s the level of involvement from all of us in the industry that has the biggest impact on the outcome. I’ve recently been wrapped up in the world of roundabouts. They might seem good in theory as a less expensive option to fixing a problem intersection, and for cars and motorcycles, they are certainly manageable. It’s a different story for trucks. For larger vehicles, the science of going around in a tight circle is a much bigger challenge. The engineers in charge of developing various roundabouts are doing their best, but few of them have driven a truck—especially through a roundabout. Right now, I’m working with members to coordinate ride-a-longs and develop videos and simulations to help educate those who are tasked with the real-world creation of the roundabouts. If we can illustrate the struggle trucks face in navigating a busy roundabout and layout the parameters to consider—acceleration, length, etc.—the end result could be much more beneficial. Of course, to make that happen, we need member involvement and interaction. Education is a big part of what OTA does— educating decision makers and the public about trucks, drivers, and the industry itself. Given how OTA IN ACTION Your Input Has an Impact While OTA representatives consistently stand up for trucking’s interests, it’s the level of involvement from all of us in the industry that has the biggest impact on the outcome.