Small shop, big responsibilities
Truck It’s Roy Gambrell says predictive maintenance, flexibility and standardization with vendors are musts in a small shop
Growing the business
Mountain International’s Morris says apprentice technician program pairs mentors with new technicians to develop talent
Niche Applications
Price, reliability, warranty and functionality are the top four reasons for medium-duty truck purchases, say some fleet managers.
Engaging technicians
Schneider National’s Tom Culver says open communications, training and shared knowledge draw technicians closer to the business.
A Top 100 tale
You can’t have a high-performing fleet without high-performing technicians, according to George Baker, director of fleet management for Volusia County, Fla. He should know because his fleet was named one of the Top 100 Fleets in North America by Fleet Equipment magazine (Nov. 2006, page 32).
Keeping techs on board
Jeff Johnson says a clean shop, variety of assignments, and safety emphasis limit technician turnover at Hall’s Fast Motor Freight
Empowerment matters
Lew Flowers promotes self-directed work force concept to keep U.S. Postal Service’s Oklahoma District fleet running
Booking a strategy
Randy Book says quality systems, using data to probe processes and motivated employees are keys to effective best practices.
Foster champions teamwork
Southeastern Freight Lines VP says best practices start with people
Creature comfort, no idling
With the high cost of diesel fuel and the growing number of states and municipalities that are enacting anti-idling laws, auxiliary power units (APUs) are more popular than ever.
Stianche focuses on recruitment
Finding the right employees in a growing company and keeping up with the complexity of vehicles are two challenges that Joe Stianche, fleet manager of Sanderson Farms, faces at the vertically integrated producer of poultry products based in Laurel, Miss.
John Smucker touts technicians
Every employee in a fleet maintenance shop is important, and they need to be reminded of that fact periodically, according to John Smucker, director of fleet maintenance for Wooster Motor Ways Inc., a truckload carrier based in Wooster , Ohio.