OTA Dispatch Issue 1, 2019

Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch Y ou’ve seen the tag lines throughout the years—“If You Got It, a Truck Brought It” or “Trucks Bring It”—basically highlighting the fact that our communities depend on trucks to deliver the goods, especially for that all-important final mile. If you’ve ever explored some of OTA’s outreach literature, you’re also aware that well over 70 percent of Oregon communities rely solely on trucks to bring in the items they use every day. But, trucking delivers a lot more than just the goods that end up on your local store shelves. There’s a general term for everything that Oregon trucking companies haul—commodities. Small or large. Imports and exports. Raw materials and final products. Whatever Oregon companies produce, or the components needed to manufacture or build—it’s likely that some or all of it ends up on a truck. Even if it’s not produced here, goods make their way through the state by truck (and rail) for export to Asia and beyond. Trucking truly does keep Oregon’s economy moving. To understand the scope of what our trucks are hauling, take a look at Oregon’s top commodities and exports. Obviously, agriculture and forest products come to mind first. In fact, top agricultural products— greenhouse and nursery—have a production value of $947.7 million. But that’s small potatoes (another top Oregon agricultural commodity), when compared to the top export of semiconductors/electrical components (thank you, Intel) at $7.7 billion. Industrial machinery and motor vehicles (not manufactured in Oregon) round out the top three exports, both coming in above the $1 billion mark. Our featured member this month—Omega Morgan—represents one end of the freight hauling spectrum, providing and transporting large-scale equipment and machinery. Drive by a construction site and think about how all the materials and equipment got there. That crane that’s a temporary part of the skyline as another apartment or office building is constructed— how did it get there? Simple answer: A truck. So, size is one factor for freight. Other commodities come with additional risks— hazardous, flammable, perishable, etc.—and they also come with additional rules and regulations that trucking companies must follow. Even moving household goods comes with a different set of operational guidelines, over and above what other fleets are responsible for. It’s a lot to navigate, with multiple agencies and organizations putting out the rules and regulations that we all must fully understand and implement. Luckily, that’s where the value of OTA membership shines through. No matter your commodity, how many trucks you operate or what area of the state you primarily do business, OTA is here to help. Because OTA encompasses all aspects of trucking, our association has the knowledge and resources to keep your employees and company on the path to success. With a wide range of training opportunities, including special programs for fleet safety and fleet maintenance, along with knowledgeable and helpful staff to assist whenever needed, OTA members can stay a step ahead and be fully prepared when change happens—and it will. The meetings and events held by OTA and our TMC and SMC groups allow us to share our experiences and find avenues for improvement and growth. Because, no matter what we’re hauling, we’re all part of the same trucking community!  2 2 Diane DeAutremont OTA Chair HOT COMMODI T I ES Trucks Keep Oregon Goods Moving If you’ve ever explored some of OTA’s outreach literature, you’re also aware that well over 70 percent of Oregon communities rely solely on trucks to bring in the items they use every day.