Working behind the scenes to keep our fleet running
By Joseph Calabro
Imagine you are one in every of our repairs crews. It's 20 ranges outdoor and also you are using a snow plow throughout this previous February's snow storm. And then, boom, a flat tire! Snow is constructing up, conditions are getting worse and also you have to get moving. Who do you call?
Our fine workforce of mechanics, of course.
Referred to internally as "TEF" (Transportation Equipment Fund), our mechanics are one in every of our true unsung heroes, highly throughout our most fresh winter storms.
Our mechanics sustain the tools our Incident Response Team (IRT) and upkeep crews use in nice working order. The crew also continues tools applied through way of our ferries, our visitors signs and road lighting.
Using 35 restore retailers and 130 gasoline stations statewide, workers is accessible 24/7 to sustain our tools up, working and in a position to reply to no matter climate comes our way. Yes, this even capacity the occasional call-out within the heart of a storm. This occurred a couple of occasions throughout February's storms.
Our mechanics hold approximately 14,000 tools items. This includes, amongst different things, 4,800 automobiles ranging from tractors to unload trucks, 1,300 tools attachments like sanders and plows, and 4,500 radios. Much of the tools was applied this winter.
The dating between our upkeep teams and mechanics is same to that of a lessee and lessor. Our upkeep places of work hire the tools and automobiles you notice out at the roads from TEF, and in turn, our mechanics do most of the restore work and caretaking. This is a essential technique that permits TEF, a non-appropriated program, to pay for tools replacement, fuel, worker wages and more.
By early November, the mechanics in each one store have already carried out a lot of the work that is going into getting ready for the winter. They've geared up vans with plows and hooked up hopper-sanders and tailgate sanders. End-of-summer inspections require mechanics to move by way of record after record evaluating each one inch of a sell off truck and sander. They encounter well-known points each one year. If it is not effectively cleaned after a winter operation, a truck with salt left in it could possibly see corrosion. Other equipment, like sanders and plows, acquire rust. The hydraulics related with the sanders also are evaluated so repairs crews do not ought to treat unresponsive tools within the field.
There can be the issue of latest equipment. Newer vans usually include a brand new computing system, adding an AVL (Automatic Vehicle Locator) that screens how a lot sand, salt or liquid was dropped and where. Even probably some of the foremost seasoned operators could have a tough time knowing find out find out easy methods to make use of a brand new system. Part of the tools technician's activity is to experiment the machine and cross alongside ideas to the upkeep edge on find out find out easy methods to make use of it.
It's been a really busy winter for our crews, adding our mechanics team. So the subsequent time you notice a snow plow on Stevens Pass, or a mower in a street median this summer, take a moment to have fun with the behind-the-scenes attempt it takes to make certain all of our tools remains moving.
Imagine you are one in every of our repairs crews. It's 20 ranges outdoor and also you are using a snow plow throughout this previous February's snow storm. And then, boom, a flat tire! Snow is constructing up, conditions are getting worse and also you have to get moving. Who do you call?
Our fine workforce of mechanics, of course.
Referred to internally as "TEF" (Transportation Equipment Fund), our mechanics are one in every of our true unsung heroes, highly throughout our most fresh winter storms.
 |
| A dump truck ready to be outfitted with a plow |
Our mechanics sustain the tools our Incident Response Team (IRT) and upkeep crews use in nice working order. The crew also continues tools applied through way of our ferries, our visitors signs and road lighting.
Using 35 restore retailers and 130 gasoline stations statewide, workers is accessible 24/7 to sustain our tools up, working and in a position to reply to no matter climate comes our way. Yes, this even capacity the occasional call-out within the heart of a storm. This occurred a couple of occasions throughout February's storms.
Our mechanics hold approximately 14,000 tools items. This includes, amongst different things, 4,800 automobiles ranging from tractors to unload trucks, 1,300 tools attachments like sanders and plows, and 4,500 radios. Much of the tools was applied this winter.
The dating between our upkeep teams and mechanics is same to that of a lessee and lessor. Our upkeep places of work hire the tools and automobiles you notice out at the roads from TEF, and in turn, our mechanics do most of the restore work and caretaking. This is a essential technique that permits TEF, a non-appropriated program, to pay for tools replacement, fuel, worker wages and more.
 |
| This truck is in the midst of engine repairs. |
By early November, the mechanics in each one store have already carried out a lot of the work that is going into getting ready for the winter. They've geared up vans with plows and hooked up hopper-sanders and tailgate sanders. End-of-summer inspections require mechanics to move by way of record after record evaluating each one inch of a sell off truck and sander. They encounter well-known points each one year. If it is not effectively cleaned after a winter operation, a truck with salt left in it could possibly see corrosion. Other equipment, like sanders and plows, acquire rust. The hydraulics related with the sanders also are evaluated so repairs crews do not ought to treat unresponsive tools within the field.
 |
| Rust and corrosion are more visible on vehicles that see a lot of action in the winter months. |
There can be the issue of latest equipment. Newer vans usually include a brand new computing system, adding an AVL (Automatic Vehicle Locator) that screens how a lot sand, salt or liquid was dropped and where. Even probably some of the foremost seasoned operators could have a tough time knowing find out find out easy methods to make use of a brand new system. Part of the tools technician's activity is to experiment the machine and cross alongside ideas to the upkeep edge on find out find out easy methods to make use of it.
 |
| Side-by-side comparison of an older application controller (left) and a new model put into service this year (right) |
It's been a really busy winter for our crews, adding our mechanics team. So the subsequent time you notice a snow plow on Stevens Pass, or a mower in a street median this summer, take a moment to have fun with the behind-the-scenes attempt it takes to make certain all of our tools remains moving.
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