This past week, safety was the topic at hand in Knoxville at TTA’s Fall Conference on October 26th and 27th. The conference kicked off with a networking event the evening before at Maple Hall Bowling. Attendees mingled, shared experiences, and set the tone for the two-day conference that was to follow.

The following day was packed with a full day of 30-minute sessions from industry experts. From discussions on critical topics such as Truck Parking with the Road Team Captains to Driver Safety, Fleet Management, and updates from FMCSA. It was a great combination of education and serious discussions about regulations, what’s working in the industry, and what can be re-evaluated. 

While all the presentations provided a great resource, one person who’s words echoed throughout the first day was that of the keynote speaker, Tim Richardson, who gave an inspiring talk on “The Power of the Pause: How a Reset Brings Sanity to the Workplace.” In our busy industry, it’s so easy to keep pushing forward, but he reminded attendees of the importance of maintaining balance amidst our busy lives. While the fall conference was a full-day event, we like to think that the door prizes, evening banquet, and poker night helped attendees “pause” before diving into the final day of learning.  

Day two of the conference started on a high note with a session by Jason Johnson from Project K-9 Hero. It was a great opportunity to witness the loyalty and intelligence of the K-9. Being able to see the work that’s done to give a new life to the service dogs that once served our community was incredible. After project K-9 the rest of the day was filled with a great variety of speakers before closing out the Fall conference for the afternoon with a few closing door prizes. 

This year’s Fall Conference was a testament to the industry’s resilience, adaptability, and innovation and we’re grateful to everyone who made it happen. Each year is only possible because of the sponsors, speakers, attendees, and staff who make this event a success. Your support made this conference not only possible but also a memorable one. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this exceptional event. 

With the conclusion of this year’s conference, we are already looking forward to next year. We hope to see you all again and continue to provide a platform for learning, networking, and celebrating the industry we all love. 

Thanks again for your support. Click here to see all photos from the Fall Conference 

Thank You Fall Conference Sponsors! 

CHATTANOOGA, TN, Sept. 11, 2023 – U.S. veterans launched the Wounded Warrior Project in the aftermath of terrorist attacks against the nation on September 11, 2001, and military actions that followed. Their goal: is to honor and empower wounded military personnel. In preparation for September 11 remembrances this year, Transport Enterprise Leasing (TEL) has donated $6,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project to support the charity’s important work, said CEO Doug Carmichael.

An Army veteran, Carmichael added that a number of TEL employees and trucking customers are former military personnel, some of whom sustained injuries as a result of their service.

“Having served in South Korea in the 1970s and later as an Army drill instructor and teacher, I have some understanding of the ins and outs of serving our country. I cannot imagine the added burden of bearing the scars of battle and war,” he said. “To our brothers and sisters who served and came home with the scars of war, the least we can do is to donate a portion of the favor that the good Lord has bestowed upon us and our company.”

Wounded Warrior Project provides extensive services to assist veterans who served on or after 9/11/2001 and sustained a physical or mental injury or illness. These services include mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care programs, as well as advocacy efforts on behalf of veterans.

The charity invested $247 million last year in programs, and more than 220,000 warriors, family members and caregivers were registered with Wounded Warrior Project as of September 30, 2022. “The need is great and growing. Every month in 2022, more than 1,780 warriors and family members registered with Wounded Warrior Project to receive our free programs and services,” the group website noted.

“From our mental health programs like Soldier Ride and Project Odyssey to our employment and VA claims programs, these are all totally free to participating warriors,” said Sal Gonzalez, a Wounded Warrior Project spokesperson in Nashville. Tennessee offices for the national organization are based in Nashville and also serve parts of Alabama, Kentucky, and neighboring states.

To learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project and donate, please visit https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

About Transport Enterprise Leasing LLC

Transport Enterprise Leasing (TEL) is a leading national provider of commercial truck and trailer leasing, sales and remarketing. We help hardworking professionals build profitable businesses by providing and financing new and like-new transport equipment from top brands, including Peterbilt, Freightliner, Volvo, Kenworth, Hyundai, Wabash, Utility and Fontaine. We specialize in Class 8 sleepers and day cabs, dry vans, reefers and flatbeds. We also are known for our comprehensive support programs, such as fleet support and maintenance advisory.

Founded in 2004, our headquarters is located in Chattanooga, TN, with additional facility operations right off I-70 in the east Indianapolis metro area (Greenfield, IN).

For more information on TEL, please visit www.tel360.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2023
Contact: Rebecca Brewster
(770) 432-0628
RBrewster@Trucking.org

TRUCKING INDUSTRY ASKED TO RANK TOP CONCERNS

Washington, DC – The American Transportation Research Institute, the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, today launched the 2023 Top Industry Issues Survey. The annual survey asks trucking industry stakeholders to rank the top issues of concern for the industry along with potential strategies for addressing each issue.

Now in its 19th year, ATRI’s annual analysis not only ranks the issues overall but also provides insights into how critical topics are ranked differently by motor carriers and professional drivers. The report also allows stakeholders to monitor issues over time to better understand which issues are rising, or falling, in criticality.

“The annual Top Industry Issues Survey has long been a crucial part of understanding the challenges facing our country’s supply chain. ATRI’s research provides an opportunity for thousands of trucking industry professionals, from drivers to executives, to weigh in on the most important topics that affect trucking and collectively decide on the best strategies for addressing each,” said ATA Chair Dan Van Alstine, Ruan Transportation Management Systems President and COO.
“I encourage my fellow drivers to take a few minutes and complete ATRI’s Top Industry Issues Survey. Whether your top issue is truck parking, driver compensation, detention, traffic congestion or something else, it only takes a few minutes to make your voice heard and for us collectively to let the industry know what drivers are most concerned about,” said Ken Duncan, an America’s Road Team Captain and professional truck driver for Walmart Transportation.
The results of the 2023 survey will be released October 14, 2023 as part of the American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition to be held in Austin, Texas.

Industry stakeholders are encouraged to complete the 2023 survey available by clicking here. The survey will remain open through September 29, 2023.

ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501c3 not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.

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Denver — As part of “The Mountain Rules” truck driver education series, the Colorado Department of Transportation is releasing three new videos aimed at educating and preparing truck drivers — especially those from out of state — for the unique challenges they face on Colorado’s mountain highways.

The videos are specifically focused on safe winter driving, navigating construction work zones, and handling hot brakes.

“We know that our state’s terrain and unpredictable weather conditions create immense challenges for semitruck drivers,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “We’ve created this series as a way to equip truck drivers with the necessary knowledge and awareness to safely and confidently navigate our highways, especially in the high country.”

“The Mountain Rules” series was developed by CDOT, in partnership with the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Motor Carriers Association in 2019. All videos in the series emphasize the importance of being prepared for the specific obstacles truck drivers face when traveling through the state.

While local truckers may be familiar with Colorado’s highways, those from out of state often are new to the intricacies of navigating winter driving conditions along steep mountain corridors, understanding chain and traction laws, managing hot brakes, and adhering to Colorado’s Move Over law. Each topic has its own dedicated, 10-minute video as part of the overall series to help prepare drivers.

“Traveling along the I-70 corridor includes sharp curves, seven and eight percent grades, not to mention congested peak travel times accompanied by quickly changing weather conditions,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Colorado relies on your presence and services, and this video series will help prepare you for the common conditions on I-70. Safety should never take a back seat – prepare yourself before the trip.” 

CDOT and its partners encourage all truck drivers to educate themselves and view the videos, which can be found on CDOT’s YouTube channel and at freight.COtrip.org. The Mountain Rules videos also are distributed to truck driving schools, trucking companies, and other trucking-related entities.

“The steep downgrades, winding roadways, and fast-changing weather conditions make for a challenging drive, for even the most experienced truck driver,” said the CMCA President Greg Fulton. “The Mountain Rules program and videos provide a great educational tool for truck drivers, especially those unfamiliar with Colorado’s mountains. It helps them to understand how to navigate our mountainous roadways in a safe manner.  We believe this tool and other strategies by our state and local partners will make mountainous corridors like I-70 safer and reduce delays and closures.”

ABOUT “THE MOUNTAIN RULES”

A partnership between the Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Motor Carrier’s Association, “The Mountain Rules” is a comprehensive, strategic and safety-focused effort to inform and educate in-state and inter-state trucking companies and drivers on the challenges of driving in Colorado’s mountains. It includes information on potential hazards, and a consistent reminder to go slow, steady, and safe for the long haul. For more information, please see: https://freight.colorado.gov/safety/mountain-rules

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