3 / 30
3
Fall | 2015
CHAIR’S MESSAGE
Bart Sherman
OTA Chair
To start, I want to thank the OTA membership
for their confidence in voting me in as your
new chairman. It is an honor for me, my family and my company to have the opportunity to
help lead such a great organization.
I’d like to start out by sharing my vision for the next two years of my chairmanship.
First, our committees are the cornerstones of our mission and goals as an organization. We
have several committees, along with the Technology & Maintenance and Safety Management
Councils that have been a long-standing and integral part of membership involvement.
Keeping these groups strong and building others to meet all our organizational needs is
essential to meeting OTA’s overall goals.
Second, several years ago we developed mission, vision and strategy statements. In 2014 we
updated these documents. It is important to revisit these in order to develop a road map for
the next ten years. As we’re all aware, our industry is constantly evolving, with new challenges
every year. It’s imperative that OTA maintains its relevancy in meeting the needs of members
as priorities shift.
Third, we need to develop sustainable revenue sources to meet and exceed our organizational
and operational goals. Member dues, permits, insurance, safety services and events make up
the majority of our current revenue. Few of these offer any consistency. What may seem like
simple regulatory or business environment changes could drastically impact these revenue
sources and lead to a negative effect on our organization.
Fourth, membership involvement in local, state and federal organizations that directly impact
us as an industry is vital to our mission. One of the primary reasons I threw my hat into the
chairmanship elections was that I got tired of sitting on the sidelines while others determined
the outcome of the game. I encourage all OTA members to suit up, get off the bench and get
into the game. Make OTA the winning team!
Fifth, I’d like to educate the membership and potential members on the value of our
organization. OTA offers many services and resources, both as an organization and indirectly
by working with our allied supplier members and others. When you wrap it all together, the
value of OTA membership is tremendous!
Sixth, we need to continue to enhance the image of the transportation industry. Trucking is a
vital part of the economy, one that is rarely considered as we pull items off store shelves that
are essential to everyday living. From delivering materials needed to manufacturing those
goods to taking them that final mile to the corner store, trucks make it happen. After all,
“If you bought it, a truck brought it!”
Finally, advocacy is a critical element of our organization. For those who have already read
Bob Russell’s letter in this
Dispatch
, you know what we’re up against when it comes to funding
our advocacy efforts. As it is now, our revenue sources cannot adequately support these
activities without direct donations to the Oregon Truck PAC fund. I encourage companies
and individuals to learn more about OTA’s advocacy efforts and consider joining myself,
OTA’s Truck PAC Chair Dale Lemmons with Interstate Wood Products and many others in
giving to the Truck PAC.
For over 60 years OTA has been on the frontlines, ensuring that those of us with a stake in
the trucking industry—from drivers to safety and service personnel to managers and
business owners—have a strong voice and a solid presence. I’m pleased to have the chance to
use my knowledge and experience to help shape the future of OTA.
◉