When ATA decides to do some traveling, they really know how to plan some business trips. Although I knew this cluster of travel was approaching, I had no idea the amount of eventful days that were ahead of me.
Starting the second week of September, I and a number of TAG members traveled to Kansas City, MO to attend ATA’s TAG183 meeting. There we were planned to visit two service providing companies that have new and improved technologies that serve the trucking industry currently and forthcoming efficiently. For almost a week we were hosted with the highest appreciation and welcomed with the best of knowledge towards heavy-duty battery and trailer lighting systems. We were taken through each service providers manufacturing plant after being educated of the technology and engineering features of what products were presented during our stay at each facility. The battery manufacturer presented and physically showed how their battery is different from the rest and proved to TAG where the industry is headed. The lighting manufacturer presented and physically showed how their lighting systems are 100% made in America, how many areas of expertise go into one exterior light, and illuminated a new product that would change the trailer lighting business forever.
By the end of the third week, I and the rest of TMC staff traveled to Orlando, FL to kick off my first Fall Meeting and the National Technician Skills Competition “SuperTech2014”. There I finally was able to meet and greet with a number of TMC members I had only heard of in the office or emailed or talked to on the phone. Some of them were new like me, some were TMC veterans and some of them were legends. I am so grateful to meet everyone that I did and appreciative to everyone’s kindness they’ve shown me. Other than experiencing the largest meeting I’ve been to in my life, so far, Task Force day was the most intense, or should I say exciting. In 8 hours over 100 meetings took place at 14 room locations. Afterwards a comprehensive collection of educational sessions designed to keep maintenance personnel on the cutting edge of vehicle technology filled in the rest of the week. All the while over 110 technicians from all over the US competed in a 2 day event that placed them in the “best-of-the-best” category recognized by ATA and all members that played a part in the event. I tried to be on the SuperTech floor as much as I could because there’s an energy like no other that filled that convention hall where if you are in the trucking industry trade than that’s the excitement that keeps your passion. I hope to see the meeting and competition to keep growing as it has and expand to a size that ranks TMC above all others after experiencing that week. There’s really nothing like it.
Finally by the last week of September into October, I and most of ATA staff traveled to San Diego, CA to attend ATA’s Management Conference & Exhibition (MC&E). There I joined in all the educational sessions that were available about engineering and technology, which weren’t many but the ones that were there were very good. Primarily I was there to be part of the Technology & Engineering Policy Committee, in which was a repeat of the same topics covered at TMC’s Fall Meeting but implemented policy and what/how the US Government is going about them. Experiencing the exhibit was one of the best parts since you finally have the opportunity to touch, operate, and talk to personnel that are representing their new technology of products for the trucking industry. And it was nice to bounce around telling prospects about TMC and what we have to offer that would help them if they would like to join. Right after MC&E I traveled to Chicago, IL to attend the SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress (ComVEC) for the remainder of the first week of October. Of all the more than 50 technical and business sessions that were available, fuel economy and CO2 reduction proved to be most educational and interesting. How engineers and scientists are finding ways all over motor transport to lighten, better insulate, alternate fuel use, reuse wasted energy, and apply many other applications to better over-the-road efficiency. SAE ComVEC was strictly an engineering experience and not so much networking capable. After that week I felt the need to go home and finish the homework they gave out to be turned in next week, as if they did.
All in all, last month was an educational rollercoaster that I would ride again and again. I don’t know if my wife and son of 10 months see’s it the same but it really puts into perspective how much the industry is focused on the future of trucking. And to show how the importance of TMC’s Future Truck Initiative is leverage for the truck of the future to be one that is most efficient to operate and maintain.