Padnos technician receives 2021 Golden Wrench Award

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, has presented its 2021 Golden Wrench Award to Mike Hickok, lead truck technician at Holland, Michigan-based Padnos. The award was given to Hickok for demonstrating what the association calls outstanding efforts, achievements and contributions to ensure commercial vehicles are safe on the road.

“ISRI is very proud to honor Mike with its Golden Wrench Award,” says ISRI Senior Safety Director Commodor Hall. “Mike’s commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring vehicles are safe on the road is paramount to the overall success of his company and positively reflects the recycling industry’s commitment to safety.”

According to a news release from ISRI on the award, Hickok has 36 years of industry experience and expertise. He has been involved in promoting Padnos’ safety culture and setting up its preventive maintenance program.

“Mike has a direct impact on his company’s CSA (Compliance Safety Accountability) vehicle maintenance score,” says Padnos Fleet Manager Brian Plowman. “As a result of his detailed inspections and quality repairs, the company has participated in multiple [Department of Transportation] roadside inspections with no violations.”

According to ISRI, the Golden Wrench Award is given based on the following criteria:

• Nominees must be full-time employees (employed by the member company for a minimum of one year) whose primary responsibility is to maintain commercial motor vehicles.
• Nominations must be made by someone familiar with the nominee’s work history, such as a supervisor or safety director.
• No more than five vehicle maintenance technicians may be nominated from the same member company.
• Nominees must meet the minimum requirement of five years of verifiable employment as a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) maintenance technician.
• Nominees must have a minimum of 40 hours qualified medium/heavy and or auto/light truck maintenance training (within the last three years).
• The member company's CSA vehicle maintenance performance score cannot exceed the CSA threshold of 80 percent.
• There should be no record of CSA intervention letters/alert notices within the past 24 months (within the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC only).

Other criteria taken into account are contributions to improving company vehicle maintenance, letters of appreciation, deeds of heroism on or off the job and civic and fraternal organizations.

ISRI presented Hickok the Golden Wrench Award during ISRI’s virtual 2021 Convention and Exposition April 20.