Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/357935
MAINTENANCE MATTERS What changes did you implement when you took over as director of maintenance? When I started, there were 15 truck shops and were independently run and used a wide range of products and vendors. After consolidating, instead of 16 diff erent tire vendors and 11 diff erent providers of fl uid, we have set consistent standards and streamlined products across the board. Other changes included chang- ing the PM intervals and implementing oil sampling. We make all of our maintenance decisions based on data and continue to monitor the results. By going with Shell as our sole provider, we have been able to test and evaluate products such as Rotella T5 10W-30 and have seen signifi cant fuel economy gains. By bringing standard- ized practices to our shops, we are more effi cient and better able to manage our maintenance programs. How does Shell Rotella help you run an effi cient operation? We have a unique situation due to the diff erent truck operations. For our over-the-road trucks, we use a standard PM program. But for our low mileage/severe duty trucks, it's a diff erent story. Those trucks may idle at a very high RPM for up to eight hours per day in order to operate the pumps that collect the restaurant grease. The wear and tear on the engine can't be evaluated by mileage alone. In fact, it's the unseen mile- age that goes into the trucks that we have to consider. We also did not want to run dif- ferent PM programs for both over-the-road trucks and low mileage/extreme duty. The Shell Rotella T5 10W-30 fi t that profi le. What are your biggest challenges? Achieving maximum fuel economy and preventing breakdowns. We make our decisions based on data and manage by the numbers. Numbers don't tell you everything, though, so we always verify. A truck navigating a Baltimore winter is going to have diff erent numbers than one driving through Texas. I will say that since we have gone to Shell products, we've not had any breakdowns. How do you motivate drivers to drive effi ciently? I believe that drivers will change behaviors if they feel welcome in the maintenance shop. They are the ones who hear a rattle or observe a problem before it turns into a big deal. When they feel wel- come in the shop, there is a culture of col- laboration that leads to better maintenance practices. We off er the drivers a customer service mentality. We are only as good as the people who work for us. Valley Proteins off ers top pay and benefi ts, but when there's a culture of acceptance and communication, everyone wins. J ames Shaver, the director of maintenance for Valley Proteins located in Winchester, Va., has been leading Valley Proteins' maintenance department for the past three years. He manages the 500 trucks, 17 truck shops, 10 satellite offi ces and 110 mechanics for the family- owned company based on the recovery, rendering and recycling of inedible animal by-products from the food industry. The collection process requires severe duty from the trucks, and Shaver relies on Shell's expertise, tech support and customer service to keep his equip- ment in top running condition. "Our operation is unique because of the low mileage but extreme idling time on our trucks. The Shell line of products was the ideal fi t for our maintenance program," Shaver says. Sponsored information by Shell Rotella® Q&A WITH DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE FOR VALLEY PROTEINS James Shaver