Another sermon on safety!

After I got the press release from Boydstun, I decided to check out their new website. The thing that really caught my eye was the safety bulletin, which had some information on it that folks really need to pay attention to, especially if they're new to the auto transport business. The following are a few excerpts (plus my comments):

*WARNING* Exceeding 50 lbs. of force can result in significant property damage and serious injury. Under no circumstances should any driver ever apply more than 50 lbs of force to a tie down bar in order to secure a vehicle, nor should it ever be necessary to do so in order to properly secure a vehicle.

And here is another important warning:

*WARNING* Never push on the tie down bar—always pull. Pushing on the bar may cause you to fall or otherwise incur serious injury if you slip or if the chain or some other part of the tie down system breaks or comes unhooked while you are pushing.

To see Boydstun's complete safety bulletin on this issue, go here.

Here is something you really need to consider if you're a young guy getting started in your business-- carhauling is no path to "easy money". Auto transport has a pretty long learning curve, and it can be just as steep as the incline of one of those decks in a stack trailer. If you've chosen this industry as a career, learn everything you can, and respect the boundaries of the possible. Part of your work is to know when something can't be done safely. Sometimes, you just WON'T be able to make a load work, and you'll have to leave a car. I'm all for keeping customers happy, but if you injury yourself trying to crank down a car to make load height, or (God forbid) slip off the upper deck on a wet, rainy night, it's just not worth it. You've got to take this stuff seriously, because there could be really serious consequences if you don't. I'm glad that manufacturers like Cottrell and Boydstun are doing their part to design safer trailers, but safety is a shared responsibility. The dispatcher needs to be able to flex and adapt if a driver can't load a car safely. The driver needs to become an expert on his or her trailer. The maintenance department needs to do their part to anticipate a problem that might potentially cause an unsafe situation down the road. Ownership needs to be fully committed to safety and driver training. If you're an owner-operator all of these different aspects of the job yourself, you've still got to do them. (Ah, the joy of being in business for yourself!)
Well, that's the end of my sermon. You might want to check with your car hauler's manufacturer and see if there are any safety bulletins like this on the chain ratchets. And always remember: "Safety is no accident."

Boydstun Metal Works Names Bob McTernan Vice President

Portland, Or. – January 5, 2007 – Boydstun Metal Works recently announced that Bob McTernan has been named Vice President of the company. McTernan is responsible for all sales and marketing functions as well as operations at the company’s North American facilities. He reports to Rob Boydstun, President and CEO of Boydstun Metal Works.

“We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Bob McTernan to our executive staff at Boydstun,” said Rob Boydstun, President and CEO of Boydstun Metal Works. “Bob brings with him a very broad range of industry knowledge and will prove to be a great asset as we continue to grow our business in North America and provide our customers with the best auto hauling solutions available.”

McTernan is a 32-year trucking industry veteran, holding management positions in the heavy truck industry. Most recently McTernan held several management positions at Freightliner LLC including Director of Unimog North America. McTernan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.

“Auto hauling is a unique niche of the transportation industry and Boydstun has had great success over the years in bringing safer, more versatile and more productive vehicles to the auto transport business,” said McTernan. “I’m proud to be a part of the Boydstun team and look forward to working with our employees and customers while maintaining the hallmarks of our company: innovation, quality and customer service.”

Boydstun Metal Works is a privately-held company headquartered in Portland, Oregon with additional offices in Jacksonville, Florida. Boydstun is a leading manufacturer of auto transport equipment in the United States. In operation since 1987, Boydstun produces and markets high-quality, technically innovative auto transport equipment and services to fleet carriers as well as owner-operators across the United States.

Integrity in Business

in·teg·ri·ty /ɪnˈtɛgrɪti/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[in-teg-ri-tee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
2. the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire.
3. a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition: the integrity of a ship's hull.
[Origin: 1400–50; late ME integrite < L integritās. See integer, -ity]

—Synonyms 1. rectitude, probity, virtue. See honor.
—Antonyms 1. dishonesty.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.