OTA Dispatch Issue 4 2019

Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch WHILE OTA IS marking an impressive 80 years of advocating on behalf of and representing the interests of the Oregon trucking industry, this column marks my first as the chair of OTA’s board of directors. I was in high school when my dad bought our first truck, and I quickly learned where every grease fitting and loose bolt was on a ’65 Freightliner Cabover, but I’m pretty sure I wasn’t aware of just what an important role this industry would come to play in my life. Not just as what is now a multi-generational family business, but also through my growing participation with ATA, OTA, and the trucking community as a whole. I eased into my participation at OTA events, attending luncheons and taking advantage of the networking and social aspects of our association. I eventually took the opportunity to attend OTA’s annual events, such as the Annual Convention and Truck PAC golf tournament. These events furthered my understanding of the challenges our industry faces, and I saw up close how OTA operates on our behalf on all fronts. Because we all work in different parts of the state and in different sectors of the industry, these events—and OTA itself—give us the chance to explore our common goals, examine areas of concern and learn from each other. These gatherings got my OTA engine revved up, and I vowed to be more proactive in my endeavors, especially in my own backyard of Southern Oregon. Trucking advocacy, at its heart, can still be considered a grassroots effort. From the independent contractors all the way up to the large fleets, we stand together as we continue to educate the public on our outstanding safety records, actively promote a positive industry image and come together to inform and influence policy and laws. Trucking is not for the faint of heart. In fact, I’m not aware of another industry where one can invest so much and make so little. What we do is important. Communities, businesses and industries all across the country rely on the commodities we carry to sustain them. It’s up to us to be our own cheerleaders and biggest fans. As my involvement with OTA grew, so did my understanding of why each and every person in the trucking industry needs to stay educated and involved, and when I say involved, I mean vocally, physically and financially. Our operational playbook is filled with a huge number of rules and regulations, which can change at any time. It’s a delicate balance to remain flexible enough to respond to these changes, while at the same time operating under a rigid set of guidelines. That’s not even taking into account the staffing, HR, and safety/training protocols that are unique to the trucking industry. OTA has helped me address these areas and many others throughout my trucking career and this is just a small slice of what OTA does for us. What we, as members, can do for OTA is just as important. OTA as an association is its most effective when members are actively engaged. There’s a quote online that gets to the heart of it, “You only get out what you put in. Don’t expect more until you do more.” While these lines are more commonly heard from the drill sergeant personal trainer at your health club, they also speak to the wellbeing and impact of the only association in Oregon that focuses solely on the needs of the trucking industry—OTA. We can pay our dues. We can send employees to required training. We can attend a few events a year. But, I’ll ask you the same question I ask myself, what more can we do? Conveniently enough, OTA is the vehicle to make sure we’re not all just standing alongside the highway with a bullhorn in our hands, trying to be heard. OTA clears the path—we just need to step on it and begin the journey. Not to get quote happy, but, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a small step” (Lao Tzu). Trucking is a journey of way more than just a thousand miles, literally and figuratively. As I finished my education and got more involved in the family business, my journey didn’t initially include being chair of OTA’s board of directors—it wasn’t even on the radar. But, here I am because this is the something “more” that I can do for myself, for my company, for my industry and for OTA and its members. So, as my journey as chair begins, I want to share a saying that many of you have heard me say before; if everyone does a little, then no one has to do a lot … and so now I’ll ask you all again, what more can you do? 2 2 Andy Owens OTA Chair “You only get out what you put in. Don’t expect more until you do more.”