May-June 2007, Vol. 73, No. 3
In this issue:
Home |
Commissioner's Column |
Tech Bytes |
News Briefs |
Virtual Visit |
Career Moves |
All in the Family |
Best Practices |
VDOTer in Profile
VDOTer in Profile
‘Weedwackers’ to Motorgraders;
He Fixes Almost Anything Broken
Bruce Nelson, the 2007 AEMP Technician of the Year,
has fixes for trucks to telephones
Bruce Nelson graduated from Nashville Auto Diesel College in 1980, but he never stopped learning. His persistence has paid off, as the equipment repair technician senior from VDOT’s Saluda shop has been named Technician of the Year by the Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP).
Nelson is honored by the association for his professionalism and performance and for exceeding the high standards prescribed by the AEMP. They include technical proficiency, innovation, ethics, community service, environmental safety and more.
Of course the judges did not forget experience—and Nelson has plenty of that.
Bruce Nelson in his element
He joined the VDOT team in 1998, but earlier, for 18 years, he was a technician at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock. He worked hard to keep a diverse assortment of equipment running, from forklifts to freighters and mobile cranes to passenger cars. Then, he followed his twin brother, Todd, who made his way from the shipyard to the Saluda shop.
Since coming to VDOT, the miscellany of mechanical challenges has continued. On one day he might repair weedwackers and motorgraders; on another, swing-span bridges and generators. It’s all done with care: Nelson has never had a chargeable accident or injury.
Continuing education is a strong prerequisite for the award, and here again Nelson is a star performer. He has 19 certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, as well as the status of “master” in three areas: automotive, medium and heavy-duty trucks, and truck equipment. He also is an advanced-level specialist in electronics and diesel engine diagnosis. Moreover, he is a certified welder. It all means a lifetime of dedication to improving his skills.
His knowledge extends beyond the obvious equipment you expect a technician to know. He installs and wires arrow boards, works on two-way radios and cellular phones, and services warning lights and distance-measuring instruments on new vehicles and equipment.
Asked why he makes such a serious commitment to his trade, Nelson refuses to take himself too seriously. “I just like pulling on wrenches, taking stuff apart and putting it back together.” But he’s far from solitary in his labor and he is known for enjoying people and being a team-oriented personality.
Nelson says he has had “fun” with this national award. His co-workers have also. They make good-natured jests the whole time he is being interviewed, showing obvious appreciation for him in the midst of the kidding. They made their own award presentation to him, too—a broken-down tool box and an old jacket with the words “I love duct tape” embroidered across the back.
“This group I work with is great,” Nelson quips and then becomes thoughtful. “About this award: You could have just changed a few of the statistics, and put anybody’s name on it. Anybody here could have done it.” Notwithstanding his humility, it would be difficult to keep Nelson from being outstanding in his field.
