Batesville’s Randy Obermeyer Named 2017 Truck Fleet Innovator by Heavy Duty Trucking
BATESVILLE, Indiana, May 24, 2017 – Batesville, the nation’s largest casket manufacturer and leading provider of comprehensive solutions to the death care industry, announced that Randy Obermeyer, manager of the company’s logistics terminal in Batesville, Indiana, has been named a 2017 Truck Fleet Innovator by Heavy Duty Trucking. Obermeyer was honored for his achievements in applying lean principles to maximize efficiency in the company’s maintenance shop.
Each year, Heavy Duty Trucking select fleets executives who have consistently shown innovation, leadership and forward thinking in areas such as driver recruitment and retention, fuel economy and maintenance. This year, they recognized four trucking professionals who are leading the way for the next generation during the Heavy Duty Trucking Exchange (HDTX), May 8-10 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Other winners include: Kirk Altrichter, Kenan Advantage Group; Ralph LoPriore, Stoneway Concrete/Gary Merlino Construction; and Randy Stewart, A. Duie Pyle.
Obermeyer joined Batesville in 2010 and is responsible for the maintenance of the company’s private fleet, which includes everything from over-the-road rigs to local delivery trucks that transport products to funeral homes. He also manages the over-the-road drivers operating out of the Batesville, Indiana and Indianapolis locations. Randy is a National Private Truck Council professional and serves on the boards of the American Trucking Association’s Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) and Trucker Buddy International.
“We are extremely proud of the work Randy has done with his team here at Batesville, as well as his commitment to sharing what he has learned with other trucking professionals,” said John Linville, vice president of supply chain at Batesville.
While Lean is a way of life at Batesville, it has not been widely embraced in trucking. Obermeyer hopes to change that. He has been working closely with industry colleagues to create more awareness of the benefits, especially at the shop floor level. He hopes that by helping other fleet executives understand how easy it is to use Lean tools, they’ll be more willing to try them – and discover the savings and improvements that can be achieved in their businesses.
ABOUT BATESVILLE
Batesville (www.Batesville.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE:HI), is the leader in the North American death care industry, offering a comprehensive portfolio of burial, cremation, memorialization, and technology solutions. For more than 125 years, Batesville has been dedicated to helping families honor the lives of those they love.® Batesville’s innovation has changed the face of funeral service, from advancements in manufacturing and quality to patented features and memorialization offerings, technology and web-based solutions, and profit-enhancing merchandising systems. Our manufacturing excellence, product innovation, superior customer service and reliable delivery have helped Batesville be recognized by funeral professionals as #1 in product quality, service and innovation – 3 years in a row.
