OTA Dispatch Issue 3, 2020

14 Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch JDT INC. James Davis, President One OTA member, JDT, Inc. has been lucky to stay busy and safe during the pandemic and protests, and their truck drivers have been working as hard as ever. “I’ve been out on the road just to see what it’s like, and it’s difficult to make deliveries right now,” says President James Davis. “So many businesses are closed—especially in California. You might be able to get food to go, but then restrooms may not be open… so then the driver has to go on another search to find one. We’ve had to plan routes to avoid freeways, like in Los Angeles, that were obstructed with protesters. Tracking our trucks and increasing communication was key to keeping our freight moving. Some of our drivers are still scared, but we still haven’t had much turnover. We’re trying to be as empathetic as possible.” One way they’ve thanked drivers for their service is by offering a pandemic bonus. “We know what they (the drivers) are up against, and it’s not easy.” JDT is dedicated to safety, and James encourages employees to stay proactive with sanitizer and of course follow face mask and social distancing guidelines. “We had a handful of customers delay shipment because of COVID-19 cases, luckily before our drivers came in contact with the loads.” Some of their customers even had to lay off employees, and though the increased wait times have been frustrating for drivers, James has noticed better communication overall. “Our customers have been helpful in alleviating some of the would-be challenges by streamlining the delivery process. Now our driver will call the receiver to let them know they’re a block away, and they’ll get clearance to pull up to the dock almost immediately. I think this trend is here to stay, even when the pandemic is over.” In the meantime, it’s business as usual.  Overcoming Challenges, cont.