On October 24th., I participated in Snow & Ice Conference held in Summersville, West Virginia hosted by West Virginia LTAP. I spoke on two different subjects: "Reactive versus Proactive" plus "One Truck for All Seasons & All Reasons". Plus I was last minute stand-in for a pre/post trip inspection demonstration. Pre/post trip inspection process is a vital component of proactive fleet/equipment management so this was a suitable follow-up to my reactive versus proactive presentation. I was not particularly concerned with reviewing every individual inspection item on a truck but more concerned with the most efficient and effective process for completing a pre/post trip inspection. While I was at MDOT, our Kalamazoo Maintenance Equipment Evaluation team developed a guide which evolved into wall charts for pre/post trip inspections. The team identified and labelled the inspection points, but more importantly laid out a "road map" which guided the driver in a logical precise manner ensuring a thorough inspection. A sample of the wall chart is shown above. One point I emphasise is the actual inspection begins as you approach the truck; this is the opportune time to notice any oil spots underneath indicating a leak, any leaning indicating a spring or air bag issue, loose hanging wires & hoses, low tires, broken mirrors & lights, etc. Once you reach the truck, the inspection begins in the cab, to engine compartment, to driver's side wheel area and circling around the truck in a counter-clockwise rotation and culminating at the passenger's side wheel area. The chart in the photo details this process by numbering each inspection point. At first glance this might seem overwhelming, but once the habit is instilled it can be complete in about 10 minutes. MDOT, at one time, hosted snow plow roadeo's for their driver's which included in the competition a 10 minute test of truck driver pre/post trip skills whereby the driver's were required to locate defects which the judge had planted on the truck. I was he judge for this competition for several years. What I discovered was the competitors that used the format I just described would locate the defects almost 100% and complete the full inspection well within the 10 minute time limit. Frankly, this process is basically the same as process laid put in the CDL license study guide. In the shop we used the same pattern & process for performing preventative maintenance inspections on trucks. This process has proven itself to be the most efficient and the most effective. Trust me, I have been chastised by supervisors and driver's about their "need to get on their road right away and they could not devote time to a thorough inspection". My response has always been "and how much time can you devote to repairing a broken down truck on the road"? Worse yet, an unsafe truck involved in an accident?
All organisations have processes,some informal which just developed through habit and some formal which were developed by time studies and management. These processes should ensure efficiency, productivity, continuity (especially as people change) to enhance results. Results defined as better response and success in filling the needs of your customers. Of course, processes should be evaluated and adjusted as needed so as not to become a barrier to delivery of your product or service. What I have noticed in government, far too many times the culture is process driven, not results driven. This is backwards. In my almost 30 year career at MDOT, I worked under one results driven Chief Operations Officer. Ultimately, he was driven out by a "process driven" department director. I am not going to devote a lot of time to this, except to say; if your pre/post trip inspections are "process driven" rather than "results driven", you are wasting your time.
Example of process driven: A passer-by observed two workers; one was digging a hole and the other was following behind filling in the hole. The passer-by stopped and asked what they were doing. Their response; they were a tree planting crew. The guy that plants the trees was off sick and being dedicated employees they felt compelled to do their jobs anyway. Process remained mostly intact but the results were zero.
Have a fun Halloween!!!
