Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/265903
MAINTENANCE MATTERS What is the key to running a suc- cessful maintenance program? Our technicians understand that our drivers are the primary customer in the MVT shop. We have a program we call Making a Diff erence, or MAD, which emphasizes fuel-effi cient driving, safety techniques, CSA regulations, e-logs and defensive driving. All shop personnel are trained in each category, helping them better understand what drivers endure on a daily basis. Also, many of our techni- cians are CDL endorsed, which helps them diagnose driver complaints and assist them with fuel-effi cient driving strategies. What is your personal philosophy? My personal philosophy is to lead by example. I believe it's my role to empower my employees and allow them to make decisions and assume ownership of their tasks. I believe in rewarding a job well done, praising those who go above and beyond and helping employees set achiev- able goals. Instead of looking at a task as diffi cult, I reframe obstacles as challenges. What is your biggest challenge? I would say the biggest challenge is not being able to spend as much time as I would like with each employee in all departments. In a perfect world I'd get to spend quality time with not only employees but also with our customers and drivers. How does Shell Rotella® help you run an effi cient maintenance program? In May 2013 we started using Shell Rotella T5 10W30 semi-synthetic en- gine oil for improved fuel economy and to extend our oil drain intervals. As a racecar driver and co-owner/promoter of South- ern New Mexico Speedway and El Paso Speedway Park, MVT's Owner Royal Jones is no stranger to the properties of a quality lubricant. MVT has been running Shell products for quite some time prior to using Rotella T5. We depend on the technology and customer support behind the Shell product line. A llan Dahringer, director of maintenance for Mesilla Valley Transportation, serving the area of Western Texas and Southern New Mexico, has been with the company for 34 years and supervises 145 employees with the majority of maintenance taking place at the main trucking terminal's 74,000-square-foot facility in El Paso, Texas. Dahringer says he relies on Shell Rotella products to run an effi cient maintenance program. "We know the importance of using a quality lubricant like Shell Rotella," he says. Mesilla Valley Transportation is recognized today as one of the largest full-service truckload transportation providers in the Southwest with more than 1,300 trucks, 4,600 trailers, 1,120 employees and annual revenue of more than $300 million. Sponsored information by Shell Rotella® Q&A WITH ALLAN DAHRINGER, DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE FOR MESILLA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION