It’s my firm conviction that everything boils down to a matter of perception. Case in point: a half a glass of water.

An optimist thinks the glass is half full. A pessimist thinks the glass is half empty. A pragmatist thinks he’s halfway to the next drink. A defeatist thinks if he sticks around, he’ll have to wash the glass.

In their efforts to recruit and retain the best qualified technicians, more and more maintenance and service shops are treating them as true professionals, like part of the family, as valued members of the team and so on and so forth. And this is a good thing.

One area that I have found neglected is the "facilities" the technicians have to use?

What message does the appearance, cleanliness and amenities of bathrooms, locker rooms and break rooms send to technicians?

I attended the recent TMC SuperTech competition in Raleigh, NC. It was my first, and I was very impressed. When it came to commercial vehicle technicians, I saw professionalism every where.

Following that event, I had the occasion to visit some maintenance and repair shops and found a lack of professionalism when it came to the upkeep of bathrooms, locker rooms and break rooms.

A particular instance stands.

Upon entering one bathroom, I immediately saw that it was no comfort station. It obviously hadn’t been cleaned in recent history, and there was no toilet paper. I did an about face.

How do you think this makes your technicians feel?

Last week I got to visit the Richard Childress Racing organization - a championship NASCAR racing team - and had the opportunity to visit its affiliated Earnhardt-Childress Racing (ECR) Engines.

While it’s an old cliché, it fits: The ECR’s shop was so clean you could eat off the floor. The bathrooms were cleaner than those in my house, and my wife excels at keeping our home neat and clean.

How do you think ECR’s technicians feel about their workplace?

Competition for technicians being what it is nowadays, it’s those little things make the big difference. One huge differentiator is the technician’s perception of your operation. And you can control that.

Looking at things from a technician’s point of view can go a long way to making them more valuable members of your team.

Let me briefly introduce myself. I’m David A. Kolman, the new editor of Fleet Maintenance Magazine. I have assumed the reins of this outstanding publication from Mark O’Connell.

I’m very excited about this new opportunity and am thrilled to be working with its outstanding, dedicated staff.

I’m also energized for putting my efforts into the editorial mission of Fleet Maintenance: to provide the best practices for maintenance management to help you keep your fleets on the road with minimal loss of operating time.

A little about me. I have a strong background in transportation and communications with considerable diverse experience. That includes truck trade journalism, broadcasting, fleet and maintenance operations and truck owning, operating and driving.

I’m an award-winning business journalist and an actively involved member of the transportation industry.

I have maintained my commercial driver license and U.S. DOT medical card and truck occasionally to better keep my fingers on the pulse of the industry.

(If you’re interested, more detail on me can be found in the October issue.)

Be assured, Fleet Maintenance and its website - www.fleetmag.com - will continue to serve as the sustaining resource for maintenance managers, providing the vital information you need to more effectively perform your roles in purchasing and maintaining a safe, efficient and profitable fleet.

I welcome your thoughts and comments on how we might better service you.

I can be reached by phone at 800-547-7377 extension 2008 or by-mail at david@fleetmag.com.