OTA Dispatch Issue 1, 2019

20 Oregon Truck Dispatch Omega Morgan, cont. portfolio for Long Combination Vehicles, Omega Morgan was there to help. They’ve sponsored the OTA printed directory cover for many years. Plus, they plan to testify for Cap and Invest and assist OTA with other legislative efforts. CHANGES IN MACHINERY MOVING/RIGGING & TRUCKING INDUSTRIES The crane and rigging business differs from traditional trucking in some ways. Troy talks about the changes in the industry, “We’ve been noticing an increased number of certifications required to do business. Our safety team has been working on getting new hires trained and existing employees current to be qualified riggers, signalmen, and more. Something new pops up every few years. There’s a lot of training to keep up with in addition to trucking requirements!” Both Troy and Erik are seeing a trend for equipment getting larger. Everything is getting bigger, from power transformers to modular construction. They recently transported and installed a series of modular components for an 80-unit high- rise apartment building from the Port of Everett to downtown Seattle. Each unit, about the size of a mobile home, was built inside a controlled indoor environment because it’s more efficient without the rain and other elements, and Troy thinks this trend will continue to grow. Of course, that means an increase of regulations, too. Transportation is growing nationally but not much on the local level except some manufacturing of power/generation equipment for wind or repower projects or imported machinery coming through our ports. MOST INTERESTING HAUL One of Omega Morgan’s most interesting hauls was a three-piece vessel, titled the Dover Project, from Umatilla, Oregon to Fort McMurray, Alberta. Each vessel weighed about 350,000 lbs. and was 83 ft. long with a 16-foot diameter. Imagine using 385 ft. long trailers (about the length of a football field) with gross weights over 940,000 lbs.! The company was a pioneer for a high wide corridor and had to model every tight turn to prove they could move around with the trailer. The project required a lot preparation and community meetings, including parking spot arrangements and emergency response plans. The company assigned three full-time permitting staff to the project and traffic control personnel. Ambulance teams were set up on each side of the rig because the roads were closed during transit. It was the middle of winter, and drivers could only haul about 100 miles at a time before parking for the day. The move took about nine days each! A PEEK INSIDE OMEGA MORGAN Troy and Erik describe their company’s culture. “One of our strengths as a company is providing people with opportunities. A lot of people have been with us for a long time. Some have started in the shop while in high school, obtained their CDL, and are now in project management roles. Others have gone on to do great things like start their own transportation or rigging companies. We try to teach our employees everything about the business. We like to believe we have a good training program and that we’ve provided skills they can carry with them throughout their careers. We offer opportunities to grow, and if you work really hard and pay attention, you can make a good living. It’s the American dream here—the sky is the limit.” And they have the cranes to prove it. Troy spends significant time recruiting at the local high schools and, because Omega Morgan tends to promote from within, these young recruits can have long careers with the company if they choose to. “There are other businesses similar to ours, but our legacy is the people. That’s the truth. Really good people attract really good people, and we’ve been blessed in that sense. We don’t get calls from customers about having really great hauling equipment. But our customers often compliment the quality of service they receive from our employees.”  Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc.