It’s no surprise that on the Friday before a three-day weekend, most people have one thing on their mind: Upcoming plans, likely filled with ideas of cook-outs, a weekend on the lake, or even plans to stay home and relax. Labor Day weekend was likely no different, as it is a warm welcome to a break after many weeks of hard work in the heat.
However, Billy Wayne Riggs saw fit to start his Labor Day weekend differently. Those who know Billy will attest that he often isn’t able to rest until his tools are clean and organized. TPR, standing for Total Process Reliability, is a program that demonstrates our core value of stewardship through proper care and maintenance of equipment and tools.
Shannon Minga, TPR Coordinator, shared, “Even though his crew didn’t run mix that Friday, Billy still came into work and took care of his rubber tire roller, so it’d be ready when we got back on the job Tuesday. He wanted it to be greased and ready to go. This right here really exemplifies what TPR is all about.”
Duke Watt, Foreman, added, “Billy made his mind to come into work on his own. He ensured his roller was clean and ready to go. He keeps a good checklist on his rubber tire roller… on the filters and everything.”
Even more impressive is the fact that the rubber tire roller that Billy operates is one of the oldest in the fleet. Shannon laughed, saying, “Billy doesn’t want to let it go. It’s still in good condition for its age and it runs like a champ.”
He also added, “It really doesn’t matter what piece of equipment Billy hops on. He’s gonna make sure it’s ready to go. That same mentality is there during winter maintenance.”
Since he demonstrates such stewardship on the road, Billy’s team appointed him as the lead on the equipment wash rack at our Batesville Shop during winter maintenance. Shannon said, “Billy doesn’t let a piece of equipment roll off that rack until it’s cleaned to his satisfaction and meets his standards.”
When asked why he goes to such lengths to ensure proper equipment care and maintenance, Billy’s humility shone through. He said, “I’ve just always been told to clean a piece of equipment like it was yours.”
Thus, we are honored to spotlight Billy Wayne Riggs as our next TPR Star. Billy, we thank you for your dedication to equipment that is as pristine as the roads we pave!
