Official Magazine of the Motor Carriers of Montana


Roadwise is owned by the Motor Carriers


of Montana and is published bimonthly by Matthews PublishingGroup. For additional


copies, to order reprints of individual articles or to become a subscriber to Roadwise, contact Katie Bowlds at 406-442-6600.


publisher JENNIFER MATTHEWS KIDD jennifer@matthewspublishing.com


communications director & managing editor KELLY CARGILL CROW


kelly@matthewspublishing.com executive editor


BARRY “SPOOK”STANG spook@mttrucking.org


art director JON D. KENNEDY


freelanceco@comcast.net contributing writers


STEVE BRAWNER, SAM EIFLING,


J.K. JONES, JOHN SCHULZ, TODD TRAUB illustrator


BRENT BENNETT brentdraw@cox.net


photographers MARK BRYANT


TOMBURTCHAELL ad production


DUSTY TOWNSEND DEAH CHISENHALL


printer


TCPrint Solutions www.tcprint.com


Meet Kevin Ernst, Safety Director for MCM:


HelloMCMMembers: I have lived all overMontana for many years including Billings, Butte, Helena,Missoula


and Hamilton. After my honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, I went to Anoka Tech in Minnesota and completed an education in the optical industry. It was through this area of work that I began my introduction into the field of safety. It started with the fabrication of industrial safety eyewear and grew into other venues of personal protection needs. Along with the promotion and sales, I began working with industry in the broader areas of safety program development. By the way, I maintain a Class A CDL with all endorsements including Hazmat. My work experience also includes driving a propane tuck, an attenuator truck for


executive vice president BARRY “SPOOK”STANG spook@mttrucking.org


administrative assistant KATIE BOWLDS


katie@mttrucking.org


safety diretor KEVIN ERNST


kevin@mttrucking.org


safety transportation consultant AL CALKIN


al@mttrucking.org


highway striping, commercial and residential construction, and a quality transportation construction materials control technician through the WAQTC for asphalt, plus aggregate compaction and concrete lab testing. I hope to use this experience to relate to the reality of real world work needs and expectations relevant to safety.My last position was with SunMountain Lumber in Deer Lodge, as their safety and human resources director. While I was there, the incident rate steadily declined. My approach to safety isn’t just adding more rules and regulations. Our goal through


MCM is to constantly pursue a safe environment coupled with self-disciplined behavior that will yield rewards for all the stakeholders: the boots-on-the-ground… or, rather on the pedal; co-workers; employers;MCM members; the insured and insurer; industry vendors and those we simply drive by. All of these are links in a chain and the actions of any of those affect all the others. I don’t want to complicate things—I simply want to work with you and offer insights to both strengthen and better your business. I thankMCM for allowing me this opportunity to participate in this association’s commitment toward a better, safer future for the transportation industry. I met my wife Karen during my initial work in Butte where she was born and raised. We


An affiliate of the American Trucking Associations


Motor Carriers of Montana (MCM) has served as the voice for Montana’s trucking industry since 1939. MCM is a trade association dedicated to the furtherance of the trucking industry’s goals and interests in Montana and the United States. Our membership is a very diverse group comprised of trucking companies, passenger carriers, garbage haulers, construction & excavation companies, and companies providing products and services to the industry. MCM serves these companies as a governmental affairs representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of government on issues that affect the trucking industry. The organization also provides public relations services, operation services and serves as a forum for industry meetings and membership relations.


Phone 406-442-6600 Facsimile 406-443-4281 www.mttrucking.org


For more information, contact MCM at: Motor Carriers of Montana 501N. Sanders, Suite 201 Helena, MT 59601


have four children; two daughters and two sons, but sadly we lost our first son.My oldest daughter lives inMissoula and has given us two grandchildren.My youngest daughter works in New Jersey in financial investment/management; and my youngest son is currently going to culinary arts school to become a chef. He has promised I will never be hungry—sounds good to me. Currently, we live in Hamilton, but now that I am working out of Helena withMCM, we will need to decide when and where our next move will be. —Kevin Ernst


When you get a minute, e-mail Kevin, k.ernst@mttrucking.org, to find out more about how we can help you save money and make sure that you and your employees get home safely to your families every day.


Barry “Spook” Stang


Executive Vice President, Motor Carriers of Montana spook@mttrucking.org


ROADWISE | ISSUE 1, 2012 | www.mttrucking.org 5


From the Executive VP


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20