Industry Gathers in Phoenix to Discuss Economy, Regulations, Future of Trucks
By Sean McNally, Senior Reporter
This story appears in the Oct. 18 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.
American Trucking Associations members gathering this week in Phoenix will meet to discuss economic recovery, the future of trucks and engines and the political and regulatory issues facing the industry.
A relatively recent addition to those discussions could be the expanded use of alternative fuels such as natural gas, according to ATA President Bill Graves, who indicated he was likely to mention the issue as part of his annual address on the state of trucking.
“I still wouldn’t suggest that we’re rushing to embrace natural-gas-powered vehicles, but there’s a lot going on,” Graves told Transport Topics, referencing recent deals to put natural-gas fueling pumps at Pilot truck stops and attempts by Congress to enact incentives for the purchase of natural-gas trucks.
ATA’s annual Management Conference & Exhibition, which runs Oct. 16-19 at the Phoenix Convention Center, opens in earnest Sunday, Oct. 17 with ATA’s advocacy luncheon.
The scheduled featured speaker for the luncheon is Sen. Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican and Senate minority whip.
The exhibit hall, which also opens on Sunday, features more than 150 vendors.
On the next day, Graves will deliver the “State of the Industry” address.
Graves said that he expects an increase in attendance at the conference.
“I think you can expect a fairly large crowd,” Graves said. “Our numbers continue to trend upward over where we’ve been in the last couple of years, which is good news for us as an association.”
The improved attendance, he said, will give fleet executives the chance to “really interact and get the opinions and input from a lot of diverse members of the industry.”
Monday also will feature ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello’s outlook on the economy, moderated by television personality Bill Kurtis and featuring David Huether, chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers and Scott Krugman, vice president of the National Retail Federation.
“Not only will I cover trends in the industry and the outlook for next year,” Costello said, “but NAM and NRF will give their outlooks for their industries, including NRF’s holiday sales forecast.”
The final major pieces of the conference will be a pair of panels on Tuesday centering on future federal regulations intended to reduce the carbon emissions from heavy-duty trucks and engines.
The truck panel, which will be sponsored by Cummins Inc., is to be moderated by outgoing ATA Chairman Tommy Hodges. Transport Topics Editorial Director Howard S. Abramson will host the engine panel.
“We’re expecting to get an inside look at how the nation’s truck and engine makers are planning to meet the continuing tightening of emissions standards that we are all expecting,” Abramson said.
The panels will feature senior representatives of all major truck and engine makers in North America.
The meeting will close with ATA’s annual banquet, which will feature comedian Jason Alexander, a former “Seinfeld” cast member.
Barbara Windsor, president of Hahn Transportation Inc., New Market, Md., is expected to become ATA’s first female leader when she is named chairman at the conclusion of the meeting.
Beyond the general sessions, the meeting will feature dozens of educational sessions on a wide variety of topics, including:
• Regulatory changes, both at the federal and state level, especially CSA.
• The effect of new legislation on the trucking industry, including health-care reform, financial reform and labor law.
• Technologies, ranging from navigation systems to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “IntelliDrive” program.
• Improving business practices, including public relations and communication with truck dealers.
ATA’s annual meeting also serves as a showcase for the industry, with awards to be handed out to state trucking executives and the nation’s top drivers, safety director and technician.
