DAYTON, Ohio — For the past six months, a digital counter rested conspicuously on Kevin Burch’s desk, ticking off the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the president of truckload carrier Jet Express Inc. would officially take over as chairman of American Trucking Associations.

Pat Thomas, the immediate past chairman of American Trucking Associations, estimates he has racked up enough miles to circle the globe five times and has taken 3 million steps during his travels representing the trucking industry.

LAS VEGAS — The final rules for minimum entry-level driver training requirements as well as a drug-and-alcohol clearinghouse are being reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. They are expected to be published in the Federal Register by the end of the year, the head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said.

LAS VEGAS — American Trucking Associations' board of directors has elected Kevin Burch, president of Jet Express Inc. of Dayton, Ohio, as the federation’s 72nd chairman.

LAS VEGAS — American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear sharply criticized a proposed federal speed-limiter rule for new heavy trucks as “flawed” largely because it would create differential speeds on the nation’s highways.

LAS VEGAS — In his first state of the industry address to American Trucking Associations membership, ATA President Chris Spear said trucking’s state is strong, but its future is uncertain without leadership, unity and "an aggressive pursuit of results."

LAS VEGAS — Several hundred truckers, friends and fellow American Trucking Associations employees gave former ATA President Bill Graves a rousing send-off at a trendy nightclub here Oct. 1 that marked the official opening of this year's Management Conference & Exhibition.

LAS VEGAS — You might be wondering who the experienced pollsters think is going to be our next president. But even with the election just a month away, top pollsters such as Peter Hart and Neil Newhouse are reluctant to pick the winner.

LAS VEGAS — Former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card took a group of trucking executives back to school Oct. 3 for a crash course on the U.S. Constitution and the role of the president.