OTA Dispatch Issue 2 2019

Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch A s I write this, OTA is in the midst of its busy event season. The schedule of annual events kicked off with the TMC Maintenance & Education Fair and SuperTech in March, followed by the Spring Safety Conference in April. The Truck Driving Championships happened in June and the Truck PAC golf tournament will be in July. We finally wrap things up with the Annual Leadership Convention in September. While each of these has a particular focus, there is often an underlying theme throughout—safety. All aspects of a carrier’s operations revolve around the concept of safety. Technicians keep vehicles and equipment running safely and smoothly. Safety personnel, obviously, are dedicated to ensuring the necessary processes and procedures are in place to provide a safe environment on the road, in the shop or warehouse and even in the office. Carriers rely on our allied partners to provide services and products that enhance safety programs and make it easier to comply with a bevy of rules and regulations. Of course, primary safety directives come straight from the top, with owners and department managers setting the tone for the entire team. OTA is the conduit that brings our shared safety goals into focus, offering a range of educational opportunities to help us meet those goals and the means to recognize and appreciate the safety successes as they happen. This issue of the Dispatch displays a few of the more notable achievements. At the Spring Safety Conference, we had the chance to congratulate the most recent graduates of the NW Fleet Safety Certification program. These dedicated individuals completed the year- long course designed to help them create or refine their own safety programs and discover methods to make them even more effective team leaders. The new Safety Management Council (SMC) board members were also elected during the event, with Jennifer King as chair. You can also read all about our 2018 Fleet Safety Grand Champion Winner, Terrain Tamers. Selected from the field of impressive companies in the individual categories, Terrain Tamers was recognized for their overall safety routines and over the road record, as well as their involvement with OTA, engagement within their community and ongoing contributions to the trucking industry as a whole. Congratulations to all of our 2018 Fleet Safety and Safety Professional award winners! By the time you read this, the 2019 Truck Driving Championships will have taken place. This event is where our drivers truly get to shine. It’s also the primary public event where OTA and Oregon’s trucking industry can showcase our dedication to safety. We all know that our drivers are well-trained and some of the safest on the road; however, we often find ourselves on the negative end of an accident or media coverage. This makes promoting and participating in these annual events that much more important. Presenting a united front consolidates our industry’s safety message so we can cut through the noise and change public perception. Of course, safety boils down to more than just annual events and awards. Safety is intentional. It’s a daily commitment that drivers make each time they get behind the wheel. It’s the attention to detail that our technicians put into maintaining the vehicles we depend on. It’s the programs that our safety professionals put in place to cover all operational areas. It’s the decisions that owners and managers make to adapt new technologies or set safety goals. It’s the ongoing education and training that safety professionals, technicians and others take on to keep informed and be aware. And, again, it’s OTA that can bring it all together, providing the tools and resources—and events— we all rely on!  2 2 Diane DeAutremont OTA Chair Safety Doesn’t Happen By Accident All aspects of a carrier’s operations revolve around the concept of safety.