The 2012 Truck & Trailer Specialties sponsored bus trip to Monroe, Wisconsin to tour the Monroe Truck Equipment plant is in the "history books".  We had over 90 customers participate in the trip, plant tour, and seminars.  There were excellent presenters including Travis Bartholomew; Superintendent of Kalamazoo County Road Commission, Dave Budd; 32 years MDOT Maintenance Superintendent now retired and representing Great Lakes Chloride, Mark Helbach;  Monroe Truck/Snow & Ice Equipment Division,  Dan Bouwman; President of Truck & Trailer Specialties, Bob Slocum; 30+ years as Fleet Manager at Barry County Road Commission now retired and employed by Truck & Trailer Specialties, myself, Mark Lester; 29 years MDOT Southwest Region Fleet Manager, now retired and employed by Truck & Trailer Specialties plus we were joined by Mark DeVries; Maintenance Superintendent of McHenry County, Illinois and very active in Clear Roads initiatives and APWA and recognized leader in liquid chloride blends anti-ice, prewet, and direct liquid applications.  Travis Bartholomew shared successful  effective cost cutting efficiencies developed and implemented at Kalamazoo County Road Commisssion involving better inventory control, some equipment innovations, use of liquid chlorides, more effective staffing and shift times, all resulting in substantial reduction in salt use and huge cost savings while maintaining service levels.  Dave shared liquid chloride products, use, application rates, testing, specification compliance assurance, and "do's" and don'ts" and then shared Clear Roads Direct Liquid Application initiative.  Mark DeVries shared his experience and his knowledge with liquids, equipment, etc.  Monroe Snow & Ice equipment offerings and technological advances were shared. I shared a presentation on acquisition of "Multi-Functional" trucks in public fleets to increase utilization and decrease "fleet creep".  We are in the process of providing access to PDF versions of the presentations on our website:  www.ttspec.com. under the "Education" header.  Please, take the opportunity to check them out.      

Just got back from APWA Snow & Ice Conference in Milwaukee.  Had a great time seeing old friends while exploring new technologies and some "old ones" recycled.  Highlight of my trip was visit to Harley Davidson museum and the opportunity to ride a Harley "soft tail".  Now I have the "fever".  ha ha   Robin was with me and unfortunately, she doesn't share my enthusiasm, unless she gets her own Harley, of course.
This week I travel to Monroe, Wisconsin on the Truck & Trailer charter bus for factory tour at Monroe Truck, plus we are conducting "educational" seminars.   Our focus this year is efficiencies with an emphasis on use of liquid chlorides as prewet, anti-ice, and direct liquid applications for de-icing.  We have two excellent presenters scheduled:  Dave Budd, MDOT maintenance superintendent retired and presently employed by Great Lakes Chloride plus Travis Barthlomew, Superintendent of Kalamazoo County Road Comission.  Travis is doing some really innovative things at the county involving equipment, operations, and increased use of liquids to increase efficiencies.   Kalamazoo County Road Commission has reduced salt usage down to an average of 150# per road mile without sacrificing service level.  We are also focusing on "hook loader" equipped trucks to increase fleet efficiencies by increasing utilization of individual trucks, reducing truck staffing, and putting the "brakes on fleet creep".   I heard a speaker from a city in North Carolina at APWA Snow & Ice Conference speak on "fleet creep" and how their city fleet incorporated "hook loader" equipped trucks in their city fleet to reduce "fleet creep".  They purchased 7 new trucks equipped with "hook loaders, Swaploader brand, and disposed of 10 older trucks.  They have 25 attachments and actually offer more services to city residents due to increased versatilty and functionality obtainable by different attachments that can be used on the hook trucks.  I recently submitted an article on "fleet creep" and how hook loader trucks can help reduce fleet size to the "The Bridge" publication from LTAP at Michigan Technological University which will be in either the June or September issue.  This article is similar to the one on this Blog except longer and includes more detail.
The "hook loader" concept is "picking up steam" in Michigan amongst various public agencies.  Truck & Trailer is currently setting up an F-550 equipped with Swaploader SL-105 hookloader for city of Coldwater, Livonia is bidding the same unit,  there is a larger unit for city of Walker at the shop awaiting installation, Wixom has one, as well as Traverse City and the city of Ludington.  There is a place for a "hook loader" equipped truck in every public fleet.  Stay tuned for more..................