AMS-Safety

From the Director: A year in review at ADOT

From the Director: A year in review at ADOT

From the Director: A year in review at ADOT

December 24, 2018

Estrella Roundabout

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

It is hard to believe that we are about to say goodbye to 2018 and ring-in 2019. But, before the calendar page turns to a new year, I want to take the opportunity to highlight just a few accomplishments our Arizona Department of Transportation employees have achieved so far. I am proud of the work we have done. It’s our “Connecting One ADOT” philosophy that exemplifies the true meaning of collaboration and that we work as a system to meet the needs of our customers every day.

So here is a snapshot of what we’ve accomplished in 2018:

Halfway through the building of the South Mountain Freeway, the first public-private partnership construction project (P3) and the most expensive in ADOT’s history.
Installed the first-in-the-nation wrong-way driver detection system on a 15-mile stretch of Interstate 17, garnering national attention and achieving the desired results of deterring wrong-way drivers from entering the freeway.
Received the Government Innovation Award and Best of Class by GCN, an information technology industry magazine, and a runner-up award in the National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) inaugural Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Awards for the wrong-way driver detection system.
Acknowledged by the National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) inaugural Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Awards as the winner for Best TSMO Project, Improving an Agency’s TSMO Capabilities, Major Incident or Special Event, and Public Communications for the re-striping and resigning effort on WB US 60.
Began installing the first-in-the-nation dust detection system on Interstate 10 between Casa Grande and Tucson.
Continuing the environmental study of the future Interstate 11 corridor.
Delivered safety campaigns in the form of the “Drive Aware, Get There” Public Service Announcement, and the http, along with another successful safety message contest that generated 2,200 entries and 2,500 votes statewide.
Established even shorter wait times at our Motor Vehicle Division offices than last year, expanded office hours and offered new services – Permit Test @ Home and ETitle – with more innovative solutions coming next year.
Recognized MVD with the “Improvement through Efficiencies Service” Award by the American Motor Vehicle Administrators Association (AMVAA).
Continued to be the national leader in facilitating the development of autonomous vehicle technologies.
Reduced inactive project balances by over $100 million by Financial Management Services so ADOT has money to commit to more projects.
Trained 1,750 Mexican commercial drivers by our Border Liaison Unit to meet our vehicle safety requirements at the ports of entry and graduated 523 drivers for the International Border Inspection Qualification (IBIQ) program, ensuring efficiency at border inspections.
Recovered $6.5 million to restore and repair state highways by our Insurance Recovery Unit.
Awarded Medals of Valor to eight employees for their heroic actions, along with 13 Director Pins and 13 Citation Awards for service.
Won two first place awards, Best Internal Newsletter and Best Twitter, at TransComm 2018 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials communications subcommittee.
Provided transportation logistics, law enforcement coverage and communication support for the late Senator John McCain’s funeral services.

I wish I had more space to list even more accomplishments. It is an honor to work alongside such dedicated public servants who make transportation personal and provide a safe and reliable transportation system for the citizens of Arizona and the traveling public.

This post originally appeared on ADOT Director John Halikowski's
LinkedIn page. He has led the agency since 2009.

Back To ADOT Blog

ADOT truck safety training expands to maquiladora industry

ADOT truck safety training expands to maquiladora industry

ADOT truck safety training expands to maquiladora industry

September 19, 2018

NOGALES – The Arizona Department of Transportation’s first-of-its-kind international truck safety training program is adding another innovation to its resume: focusing instruction on commercial truckers from the maquiladora industry.

At the request of operators of border-area plants in Mexico making goods for export, ADOT’s Border Liaison Unit recently offered its first International Border Inspection Qualification training session for the maquiladora industry in Hermosillo, capital of the Mexican state of Sonora.

“Expanding to maquiladoras demonstrates that our partners in Mexico see as much value in this safety training as we do,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Interest from the maquiladora industry also means the safety and economic benefits we have seen in this program’s first year will multiply.”

Maquiladora factories import certain material and equipment without duties or tariffs. Goods are assembled, processed or manufactured using that material and then returned to the U.S. The industry employs about 34,000 people in Sonora near the Arizona border.

ADOT’s Border Liaison Unit developed the International Border Inspection Qualification program to help make Arizona roads safer and to support international trade by training Mexican truck drivers and mechanics – in Mexico – about the safety regulations they must follow to drive on U.S. roads.

The 469 drivers who have completed the training since it began a little more than a year ago have crossed the border nearly 5,500 times but have had only 12 significant safety violations that required trucks to be stopped for repairs.

“Arizona is leading the nation in developing innovative ways to make our ports of entry safer and more efficient - it's been a priority for Governor Ducey since day one,” said Juan Ciscomani, Senior Advisor for Regional and International Affairs to Governor Doug Ducey. “This kind of proactive approach implemented by ADOT and supported by the Arizona-Mexico Commission, under Governor Ducey's leadership, drives Arizona's border to move at the speed of business and supports international commerce in the state."

Following Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance guidelines, which are the standard across the U.S., this training stems from ADOT’s use of the Arizona Management System championed by Governor Ducey to have all employees continuously improve state agencies’ value to their customers.

The Hermosillo session was the 18th held in Mexico since International Border Inspection Qualification training began in summer 2017.

The program also has expanded beyond locations near the Arizona border and Hermosillo, with training offered in Mexicali and Ensenada in Baja California and in Caborca, Sonora, at the request of trucking companies in those areas.

To learn more about ADOT’s Border Liaison Unit and International Border Inspection Qualification training, visit azdot.gov/BLU.

Our director gets on-the-job training in ADOT's vehicle maintenance shop

Our director gets on-the-job training in ADOT's vehicle maintenance shop

Our director gets on-the-job training in ADOT's vehicle maintenance shop

September 4, 2018

By Angela DeWelles / ADOT Communications

Under the Arizona Management System, Director John Halikowski joins other ADOT leaders by going where work is done in what are known as Gemba walks.

It's led to a popular series of videos for ADOT employees called Direct Connect, which has developed into a cross between “Dirty Jobs” and “Undercover Boss.” Through Direct Connect, the ADOT Blog has already followed Halikowski to the Topock Port of Entry, the ADOT sign shop and one of our freeway pump stations. This time around he’s on the job with employees from Equipment Services who make sure vehicles are ready to roll.

The episode above shows Halikowski learning how to prep a snowplow, weld and complete some routine vehicle maintenance – all under the supervision of Equipment Services technicians, of course!

After his workday is over, Halikowski wraps up his experience by sharing his thoughts on the role each employee has at ADOT.

“Everybody’s job is important at ADOT. I don’t care where you’re working at or what you’re working on,” he says. “We’re an incredibly complex and diverse agency and, as you can see from my travels ... we all have to rely on each other to make sure that we are safe and we get home safely to our loved ones at night.”

Back To ADOT Blog

From the Director: Success means safer roads and expanding economy

From the Director: Success means safer roads and expanding economy

From the Director: Success means safer roads and expanding economy

August 7, 2018

ECD Truck Inspection

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Enforcement and Compliance Division is celebrating the first year of training Mexican truck drivers and mechanics. This effort has resulted in safer Arizona roads and a boost to the state’s economy. Our International Border Inspection Qualification (IBIQ) program has made a dramatic difference in the number of violations found during safety inspections, number of trucks pulled off the roads for significant repairs and the amount of time drivers spend waiting at the border before they can deliver their products to U.S. markets.

This collaboration with the Mexican trucking industry makes crossing the border safer to everyone. It also supports the growth of Arizona’s economy and makes crossing the border more efficient for commercial trucking. The dramatic improvements we have seen in just one year show the commitment of our officers and the trucking community to this important program.

Our training program follows Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance guidelines which are the standard for commercial motor vehicles across the U.S. Through this training, Mexican truck drivers and mechanics learn about safety regulations they must follow to drive on U.S. roads.

Here is just a snapshot of the success we have achieved so far:

More than 400 drivers have taken the program
Achieved a 97 percent exam passing rate
Offered 16 two-day training presentations
Calculated more than 5,200 border crossings
Recorded 141 violations
Removed 11 vehicles from service for significant safety concerns

In addition, drivers who have completed and passed written and field exams are able to communicate with inspectors using WhatsApp. This new process has been used 118 times. It allows drivers to ask questions and make repairs before approaching the border, saving time and money. By embracing the principles behind Governor Ducey’s Arizona Management System initiative, our employees have found ways to add value to the services we offer our customers.

I commend our ECD officers and training staff for making our IBIQ program such a success in the first year of operation. We are indeed making sure commercial truck traffic is safe on our roads while ensuring Arizona’s economy continues to expand into the future.

This post originally appeared on ADOT Director John Halikowski's
LinkedIn page. He has led the agency since 2009.

Back To ADOT Blog

Director's visit shows what keeps freeway pumps working

Director's visit shows what keeps freeway pumps working

Director's visit shows what keeps freeway pumps working

August 3, 2018

By David Rookhuyzen / ADOT Communications

What does it take to keep Valley freeways from flooding?

As our director, John Halikowski, found out in this video of a recent inspection of a freeway pump station, the answer is 247 pumps, 161 industrial engines, a variety of certifications and dedicated Arizona Department of Transportation employees. And that doesn't get into the vast network of drainage systems that don't involve pumps.

The station he toured is just one of the 59 along all freeways in the Phoenix metro area to remove water from low-lying areas.]

The director's visit featured in this video is a Gemba walk, a term derived from the Japanese term for going where work is done. It’s part of the Arizona Management System, a results-driven system championed by Governor Doug Ducey that focuses on improving productivity and better serving customers.

As our director says in the video, "If you're the owner of a business, you want to know how your business is running and you want to be running it as efficiently as possible. For me it's the same way. ADOT really is my business, and so I want to make sure my employees have what they need (and) that they understand the direction were moving in."

To learn more about how the Arizona Management System works at ADOT, please visit azdot.gov/AMS.

Back To ADOT Blog

Crawling under semis in the name of continuous improvement

Crawling under semis in the name of continuous improvement

Crawling under semis in the name of continuous improvement

June 15, 2018

By David Rookhuyzen / ADOT Communications

Using the Arizona Management System championed by Governor Doug Ducey, leaders learn by routinely going where work is done in what's known as a Gemba walk.

For our director, John Halikowski, this can include heading to our I-40 port of entry in Topock and rolling under a parked semitrailer. That's so he can learn how ADOT's Enforcement and Compliance Division conducts safety inspections on commercial vehicles. This particular Gemba walk also included riding shotgun when one of these state-certified peace officers takes off after a commercial vehicle that failed to stop at the port.

Gemba walks give the director and other ADOT leaders a chance to experience what employees do every day in the name of improving quality, safety and customer service.

The video above, produced for ADOT employees as part of our continuous improvement efforts, focuses on the police officers who concentrate on commercial vehicle safety and other transportation issues. These officers work at ports of entry and on state highways to make sure commercial vehicles are in compliance with permitting rules and regulations, size restrictions, and registration and equipment safety requirements.

Enforcement and Compliance Division officers also investigate title, registration and driver’s license fraud and unlicensed auto dealers, among other law enforcement duties.

You can learn more about how the Arizona Management System works at ADOT, including our many success stories, by visiting azdot.gov/AMS.

Back To ADOT Blog

ADOT’s commercial truck safety course boosting efficiency and safety

ADOT’s commercial truck safety course boosting efficiency and safety

ADOT’s commercial truck safety course boosting efficiency and safety

January 25, 2018

NOGALES – Drivers in Mexico who have completed innovative safety instruction offered by the Arizona Department of Transportation are proving far less likely to be flagged for safety violations when their vehicles arrive at international ports of entry.

It’s a dramatic improvement that’s saving international carriers time and money, making Arizona roads safer and helping Arizona better appeal to drivers who might otherwise use ports in California or Texas.

In December, the 106 drivers with International Border Inspection Qualification training who entered the U.S. through commercial ports operated by ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division did so without a safety violation that required taking their trucks out of service for repairs.

Since August when the program began training drivers in Mexico, just two of 667 qualified drivers – 0.3 percent – have entered Arizona with a violation that required immediate repairs. The rate is about 5 percent among other commercial drivers using ADOT’s international ports.

Through ADOT’s International Border Inspection Qualification, the first such program in the U.S., Enforcement and Compliance Division inspectors made eight trips into Mexico in 2017 to educate international truck drivers and company leaders about safety requirements for trucks driving on Arizona roads. More training is scheduled in Mexico for 2018, including three sessions in February.

“This outstanding program has been great both for Arizona and for our neighbors in Sonora,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “In addition to making roads across Arizona safer, we are reducing inspection times and making Arizona’s international ports more appealing to commercial carriers.”

The class has the support of Sonora Gov. Claudia Pavlovich and Mexican trucking leaders.

ADOT inspectors check every commercial truck entering the U.S. at Nogales, Douglas and San Luis for safety violations. The most serious violations require that trucks remain at the port of entry until repairs can be made, a costly process that can cause significant delays for commercial carriers.

In addition, drivers who complete the International Border Inspection Qualification can use the Whats App smartphone app to contact inspectors with questions before they approach the border. That allows companies to make needed repairs more economically before drivers get on the road.

Another benefit of the program: More drivers are choosing to enter the U.S. through Arizona’s ports instead of those in other states. Meanwhile, being able to focus on higher-risk vehicles has allowed ADOT officers to find more violations despite needing to conduct fewer high-level inspections.

“More trucks entering the country in Arizona means an even greater boost to our economy,” Halikowski said. “Those drivers use more services and buy more items in our state, which helps not only border communities but all of Arizona.”

The International Border Inspection Qualification program stems from ADOT’s use of the Arizona Management System championed by Gov. Doug Ducey. This approach to continuous improvement empowers employees at state agencies to come up with innovative ways to better serve customers.

Continuous improvement: Safety training program benefits both sides of the border

Continuous improvement: Safety training program benefits both sides of the border

Continuous improvement: Safety training program benefits both sides of the border

September 15, 2017

By Tom Herrmann / ADOT Communications

On Aug. 1, 20 truck drivers who carry products and produce from Mexican into the United States sat in a room San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico, to learn about ADOT safety inspections required for trucks entering Arizona from Mexico.

Just six weeks after that, ADOT’s Border Liaison Unit almost can’t schedule classes fast enough for all of the drivers in Mexico who want to learn more about what happens when inspectors from ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division take a close look at their trucks.

ADOT's International Border Inspection Qualification training program grows from the Arizona Management System championed by Governor Doug Ducey. Here’s what this innovative program does:

It takes training into Mexico – the first time any state department of transportation has done that – in order to reach as many drivers as possible.
It removes the mystery from the inspection process. Drivers and mechanics know what is expected during safety inspections, and they can reduce delays by having their trucks ready for those inspections before they approach the border.
It speeds up the inspection process for qualifying drivers.
It takes advantage of technology by allowing drivers to use a smartphone application, WhatsApp, to communicate with inspectors and make needed repairs.

That’s what it does for drivers. The benefits are just as important for Arizona.

Improving the inspection process has meant more traffic coming to Arizona ports of entry. That strengthens the state’s economy and supports jobs, many of them in border communities. The port at San Luis already has seen an increase in commercial traffic.

It also means safer roads. Qualifying drivers have a better understanding of safety requirements. And by focusing on trucks that may have a higher risk for safety concerns, inspectors have found more violations despite conducting fewer 37-point Level 1 inspections.

Another 40 drivers will meet with inspectors in Nogales, Sonora, next week. Future classes are scheduled deeper into Mexico, in Hermosillo, Sonora, and Culiacán, Sinaloa. By Thanksgiving, inspectors will have held eight two-day sessions – twice the original plan – and may qualify as many as 250 drivers.

That's long way from those seemingly humble beginnings just six weeks ago.

Back To ADOT Blog

ADOT’s commercial truck safety course a hit in Mexico

ADOT’s commercial truck safety course a hit in Mexico

ADOT’s commercial truck safety course a hit in Mexico

September 12, 2017

PHOENIX – An Arizona Department of Transportation safety training program for commercial vehicle drivers using international ports of entry is proving so popular with trucking companies and government officials in Mexico that ADOT has doubled the number of training sessions planned for this fall.

“Trade with Mexico is one way our highways are Key Commerce Corridors that drive Arizona’s economy,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “With the support of officials in Sonora, Mexico, we are expanding a program that’s boosting international commerce while ensuring that commercial vehicles are safe.

Tim Lane, director of ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division, which conducts truck safety inspections at commercial ports of entry, said 46 commercial vehicle drivers attended the International Border Inspection Qualification program in the Sonoran capital of Hermosillo on Aug. 22 and 23.

Representatives from the Sonora governor’s office attended the event in Hermosillo, including Natalia Rivera Grijalva, chief of staff for Governor Claudia Artemiza Pavlovich Arellano, and Secretary Ricardo Martínez Terrazas for the Department of Infrastructure and Urban Development of Sonora. The event was covered by local newspapers, television and radio.

The program teaches commercial vehicle drivers what to expect during safety inspections when they enter Arizona through ports at San Luis, Nogales and Douglas. Including sessions in San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico, and Douglas, 89 drivers have completed training and testing in the program’s first six weeks.

Commercial vehicle drivers who pass examinations at the end of the program are able to communicate with ADOT safety inspectors using WhatsApp, a popular smartphone messaging app. Qualified drivers can send photos of potential safety issues to inspectors, who tell them whether the photos show violations and, if so, how to correct them. Commercial vehicle drivers who have participated in IBIQ training can use WhatsApp at the border ports of entry in Nogales, San Luis and Douglas.

The International Border Inspection Qualification program is part of ADOT’s Border Liaison Unit launched last fall to train commercial vehicle drivers and mechanics on safety inspections at the border. The goal is for trucking companies to make any needed repairs before they approach the border, saving the companies time and money and allowing ADOT inspectors to focus on trucks that are more likely to have safety concerns.

The program is working: ADOT inspectors have conducted fewer border inspections over the past year but have found more violations, increasing safety on Arizona roads. Those improvements have led to more trucks crossing in Arizona instead of elsewhere, boosting the state’s economy.

The International Border Inspection Qualification program stems from ADOT’s use of the Arizona Management System championed by Governor Doug Ducey. This approach to continuous improvement empowers employees at state agencies to come up with innovative ways to better serve customers.

The program initially scheduled four training sessions this fall but has added four more at the request of Mexican trucking officials, including one held last week in Douglas, Arizona. The remaining schedule:

Sept. 19-20 in Nogales, Sonora
Oct. 3-4 in Douglas, Arizona (to be conducted in English)
Oct. 11-12 in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora
Oct. 24-25 in Culiacán, Sinaloa
A yet-to-be-determined November date in Hermosillo, Sonora

Step by step, ADOT facial recognition process guards against identity fraud

Step by step, ADOT facial recognition process guards against identity fraud

Step by step, ADOT facial recognition process guards against identity fraud

August 15, 2017

PHOENIX – Since the Arizona Department of Transportation began using facial recognition technology and training in 2015 to protect Arizonans from identity theft, detectives have brought more than 100 cases to court.

It’s a process that begins when a person applies for or renews a driver license or ID card at a Motor Vehicle Division office or Authorized Third Party business, and it is a seamless part of the customer’s visit.

After the customer’s picture is taken, the photo goes through a check against all others in the state driver license database while the customer finishes the application process.

All of the analysis takes place inside a computer, and if the system finds the applicant’s photo likely matches another photo under a different name, it flags the photos, putting a temporary stop on printing the permanent card. The photos are then sent to FBI-trained staff members at ADOT’s Office of Inspector General where they undergo three levels of review to verify that the photos are of the same person.

“This high-tech tool has really enhanced our ability to catch identity thieves,” said Michael Lockhart, chief of the Office of Inspector General. “When we couple this technology with other security measures like central credential issuance, it allows us to stop these criminals and keep Arizona IDs out of their hands.”

The detectives and staff members are trained to look for similarities in facial features and even account for identical twins. If photos are confirmed to be the same person on multiple profiles, ADOT detectives will open an investigation.

If detectives determine that a person is committing fraud, the license or ID card is never printed. The temporary credentials customers receive at MVD offices and Authorized Third Party businesses expire after 30 days.

ADOT’s Office of Inspector General investigates fraud involving driver license and identification card applications; vehicle sales by licensed and unlicensed dealers; and vehicle titles and registration. It also assists state, local and federal law enforcement agencies with investigations.

For more information about applying for an Arizona driver license or ID card, please visit: azdot.gov/driverlicenseinfo.

Subscribe to AMS-Safety