OTA Dispatch Issue 2 2020

25 www.ortrucking.org Issue 2 | 2020 Digital Training & Meetings OTA continues to be the primary go-to for training in the industry, especially with all the regulatory changes and an influx of information coming from all angles during the pandemic. We had changed all classes and meetings to a digital format, and this trend is likely to stay—even if in a small capacity. Many individuals that were not previously tech savvy, now have basic webinar and conference call skills! Like many other organizations, we plan to host more remote options for our members in the future. You’ll see these changes reflected in our event calendar, meeting invitations, and in our digital publications. Visit www.ortrucking.org/events for training opportunities. It was incredibly beneficial for our members and staff to hear perspectives from different industries, legislators, members, and partner groups. Thank you to all our guest presenters for our COVID-19 Status Update and COVID-19’s Impact on Trucking Regulations & Practices digital meetings (see page 10 for a full list of companies and individuals)! OTA Events Postponed or Cancelled With all the uncertainty regarding the pandemic and Oregon’s rules regarding social gatherings, OTA’s annual events might be subject to change. Please check the event calendar or contact us for any updates. American Trucking Associations cancelled the National Truck Driving Championships (TDC), one of the most exciting events and public showcase of our industry’s safety efforts, because many states were unable to push their events into excruciatingly hot summer weather. They had also cancelled the National SuperTech competition due to the pandemic. On a positive note, it gives drivers and technicians extra time to prepare for next year, and managers more time to recruit participants! Questions? Email info@ortrucking.org . Next Steps for OTA Office After COVID-19 Although the OTA office has been fully operational during the pandemic, we have increased our digital communication efforts, and classes were switched to a webinar format. As we move forward, we’d like everyone to know we will be taking extra steps to keep any visitors and staff safe. That may mean limiting class sizes to maintain social distancing, increasing cleaning protocols, limiting the amount of physical contact with our spaces, having sanitizer available, and encouraging the use of personal protective gear. If you have any questions, please contact Christine Logue at christine@ortrucking.org.