ATA sets theme for annual meeting

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Scheduled for March 10-13 at the Music City Center in Nashville, the event is expected to draw more than 300 exhibitors featuring the latest technology to help fleets improve safety and efficiency. A complete technology trade show will include the latest models of medium to heavy duty vehicles, specialty and alternate-fuel vehicles as well as components, safety and IT services.

“Each year, the TMC Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition is the premiere event of its kind, bringing together the best technical minds in trucking to review the current state of the industry and drive industry improvements through the development of consensus-based best practices,” said TMC Executive Director Carl Kirk.

Kirk said a highlight will be the technical session, “Fuel Efficiency and Vehicle Emissions Regulations: Now and for the Foreseeable Future,” which will give industry professionals a better understanding of the new joint U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Transportation standards for carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption for combination tractors, heavy-duty pickup trucks/vans, and vocational vehicles.

Another technical session, “The Low Down on Low-Viscosity Engine Oils” will discuss recent fuel efficiency standards and how engine manufacturers are exploring ways to achieve better fuel efficiency through low-viscosity engine oils.

Mini-technical sessions will include:

  • New Challenges for Today’s Vehicle Charging Systems and Beyond;
  • Benchmarking the Success of Your Tire Program;
  • The Great Refrigerant Conversion–Round Two: Anticipated A/C Refrigerant Changes;
  • Understanding the Reduced Stopping Distance Brake Technology & Resulting Maintenance Issues;
  • Understanding How Trailing Equipment Can Improve Overall Fuel Efficiency;
  • Right to Repair: Application Access to Service Material and Future of Advanced Diagnostics;
  • Fleet Experience and the Future of Hybrid Vehicles; and
  • Technician Retention Strategies for Fleets and Service Providers.

More than 100 task forces will meet on the first day of the meeting, followed by TMC’s Town Meeting/Fleet Operators’ Forum and the Transportation Technology Exhibition grand opening. Technical sessions will be held Tuesday through Thursday. The lively and popular Shop Talk will be held on Thursday.

Phil Byrd, president and CEO of Bulldog Hiway Express, will be the featured speaker for Tuesday’s Kickoff Breakfast. Byrd is chairman of the board for ATA and a two-time past chairman of the South Carolina Trucking Association.

TMC’s annual banquet and reception on Wednesday evening will feature the installation of the 2014-2015 general chairman and country music entertainment.

Press conferences will be held on Sunday, March 9, by TMC exhibitor companies.

Early Bird registration is available until Feb. 10. Registration can be made online, by mail or fax.

For more information on TMC’s 2014 Annual Meeting – including registration, Exhibitor Prospectus, Exhibit Contract, Exhibit Map and Sponsorship Brochure, go to http://tmc.trucking.org or contact TMC at 703-838-1761.

TMC is America’s premier technical society for truck equipment technology and maintenance professionals. TMC features a diverse membership of equipment managers, service-dealers, owner-operators, industry suppliers and manufacturers, educators, academia and others that support the trucking industry. TMC member fleets represent the broad range of industry vocations, including truckload, less-than-truckload, municipal, private, on/off-highway, construction and other operations.

“More than just a trade show, TMC is home to trucking’s leading fleet professionals, vehicle manufacturers, and component suppliers. It is the industry’s leading forum for getting things done collaboratively. From brakes to bearings, from scanners to software, TMC Study Groups and Task Forces cover it all. Whether your interest is staying current on equipment, maintenance or technology issues, there’s no better venue than TMC meetings to catch up on industry-specific news. There’s simply no other venue that offers so much information on how to maximize fleet performance and efficiency. It’s your one-stop shop for fleet education, supported by the industry’s only user-driven best practices,” according to ATA.

American manufacturers and related industries shipped almost 11.7 billion tons of goods valued at more than $13.6 trillion in 2012, according to preliminary numbers from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and the Census Bureau.

The trucking industry hauled 70 percent of the total tonnage, not counting what motor carriers hauled as part of a multimode shipment, the BTS reported.