OTA Dispatch Issue 1 2020

20 Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch wherever they can, electric trucks will likely never be part of the equation. Southern Oregon’s terrain is a little too rugged and the hills a bit too steep for an electric vehicle hauling over 100,000 pounds. Natural gas powered trucks also don’t have the power or efficiency needed to meet payload needs. Diesel vehicles with more torque and power can easily conquer the Siskiyous, Hwy 140, and I-5 while hauling the loads customers require. The technician shortage is also having an impact. Stew explains, “New trucks themselves are expensive, and the built-in technology requires new, expensive tools just to make repairs. Because of that, and the technician shortage, we outsource some truck maintenance.” Technology does, however, have its place at F.V. Martin. They participated in a pilot for EROAD’s ELD technology and found it was an easy transition for most. They’ve also experimented with cameras, but received mixed opinions and heard concerns about the lack of privacy. When it comes to recruiting new employees, the company doesn’t believe it’s fair to seasoned employees to offer a signing bonus for new drivers. Referrals are their preferred method. If an employee brings on a new driver who stays on board for 180 days, they will receive a $1,000 bonus. This encourages mentorship and helps with accountability and retention. In addition to treating their drivers right all year, they also host an annual driver appreciation barbecue. As far as growth, Ryan points out, “We don’t want to have our trucks sit in the yard if we can’t find new drivers.” SETTING THE SAFETY STANDARD Working with mills and their related compliance requirements has made safety an engrained part of the company’s culture. Both parties must remain proactive with their safety procedures and respond quickly to make improvements if an incident occurs. Drivers decked out in high-visibility vests during mill visits is just one of the basic requirements. Stew chimes in, “Safety is an expectation and simply part of the rules. Our motto is, ‘Safety works here.’” “We have no forced dispatch. Safety and honesty are the most important attributes of our company, and we realize trucks can only go so fast. They’ll get there when they get there and, with GPS tracking, we can nearly pinpoint where our trucks are located. With the commodities we haul, we haven’t seen an increase in demand for faster shipping like some of the other products,” Ryan and Stew share. F.V. Martin’s success can be attributed to on- time delivery and spectacular service. “We go the extra mile to make sure you’re covered,” explains Stew, “which means management helps out drivers and other employees when needed, even across the different divisions.” Communication is important. They’re also one of the few logging companies that will put a 5th wheel on a truck if it’s slow because their log trucks have removable log bunks that can be taken off to haul a flatbed trailer. The team is adaptable and everyone works very closely together. DELIVERING THE GOODS Clearly, F.V. Martin stands out with a strong commitment to both customers and employees, along with a strong safety culture. They, like all Oregon trucking companies, help supply almost everything in our state. Based on their calculations, Stew was surprised to find out the plywood F.V. Martin hauls has been on their trucks up to seven times before the finished product gets in a customer’s hands! “We’ve transported the raw material—freshly cut logs to the mill, then from the mill to the green veneer plant, to the drying facility, to the plywood plant, then to the beam plant to rail car, and finally to the local home store or job site.” That’s the reality of trucking.  F.V. Martin, cont.