Trucking Gathers in San Antonio to Celebrate Its Past, Shape Industry's Future
AN ANTONIO - American Trucking Associations was scheduled to open its 2003 Management Conference & Exhibition this week with a stirring tribute to its past and a sobering analysis of business and regulatory issues that will shape the future of the industry.
While conference attendees were planning to commemorate the first 100 years of trucking and the 70th anniversary of ATA, they were also expected to address the realities of changes in driver hours-of-service rules, more federal regulations on a variety of issues, rising business costs and uncertain prospects for freight markets.
ATA President Bill Graves was to open his first MC&E since taking the trucking federation’s helm in January, welcoming Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, who is slated to speak to the ATA board of directors on Wednesday, and Chairman Ellen Engleman of the National Transportation Safety Administration, who is scheduled to address the general luncheon on Oct. 20.
The outlook for trucking and the national economy was the scheduled focus of a session to be moderated by ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello and featuring Nariman Bahravesh of the economic forecasting firm Global Insight Inc., and Donald Broughton, a senior transportation analyst with A.G. Edwards & Sons in St. Louis.
ATA policy committees were expected to consider a range of issues, including compliance with driver hours-of-service rules, highway funding legislation, transportation security and safety initiatives and taxes.
Diesel engine emissions remain a hot topic among fleets and the meeting program included several sessions designed to help fleet operators share their experiences with new engine models and to discuss how they are preparing for the next round of emission standards that begin taking effect with the federal requirement for ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel in 2006.
Educational sessions were set to cover a broad range of topics. Meeting attendees could take in sessions on driver screening, cargo securement, insurance and leasing, freight payments, business process improvement and government contracting.
Country music vocalist Kathy Mattea was slated to perform for the ATA and National Accounting & Finance Council annual banquet on Oct. 21 and retired baseball superstar Cal Ripken was expected to close out the meeting with an address to the board of directors and general membership on Oct. 22.
In addition to MC&E, the Truckload Carriers Association was scheduled to hold its board of directors and general membership meeting for Oct. 18. Other ATA affiliates expected to meet in San Antonio included the Agricultural Transporters Conference, American Transportation Research Institute and the Trucking Association Executives Council.
This story appeared in the Oct. 20 edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.
