Preco Electronics, a provider of heavy-duty vehicle collision mitigation, announced Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.’s Fleet Maintenance and Repair Specialist, Kim Hodges, as the recipient of the 2015 Safety in Motion Award. Hodges, a 20-year veteran of the Montana-Dakota Utilities, is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the utility’s fleet that spans eight Northern and Pacific Northwest states.  

Safety in Motion is an annual award given by Preco that recognizes an individual who demonstrates the highest initiative, imagination and involvement within the safety industry. 

Montana-Dakota Utilities is responsible for the installation and maintenance of electric and natural gas utility lines in cities, suburbs, and in the countryside. While Montana-Dakota Utilities’ fleet, along with its sister utility companies,’ consists of more than 2,500 vehicles, its active safety initiative focuses on the larger trucks in the fleet from ½ ton to class 6 and 7 medium and heavy-duty trucks.  Montana-Dakota Utilities has been systematically upgrading its fleet of heavy-duty utility vehicles so that the operators experience an active safety solution that combines visual and audible alerts.  The combination of safety solutions eliminates blind spots and has resulted in fewer side and rear-end collisions, as well as improved safety and lower installation costs.

“I am thankful for this recognition, as safety is paramount to Montana-Dakota Utilities,” said Hodges.  “We’ve been using Preco for more than four years, and its ruggedized solution has significantly improved our operator efficiency and reduced collisions. And because of their ongoing commitment to safety, I am confident that Preco will stay on top of the changes within the safety industry.”

The award criteria include the following characteristics:

Initiative:  The ideal candidate will initiate candid discussions, programs (corporate, community, or industry), and/or give voice to safety issues in the industry or community.

Imagination:  The ideal candidate will demonstrate creative and original suggestions to move safety into the forefront of the community, legislature, company or industry they serve.

Involvement:  The ideal candidate will take an active role in industry associations, community safety programs, and/or corporate/legislative policy changes to advance safety.