A record number of used-truck industry professionals turned out for the fifth Used Truck Association (UTA) convention at the Scottsdale (AZ) Radisson Resort and Spa.
Total attendance, including spouses, was 300, up 67% from a year ago, and included dealer personnel representing about 107 dealers from across the United States and Canada. Other attendees were industry vendors, suppliers, financing and leasing companies, and truck and component manufacturers.
With his opening address, “What does 500 Mean to You?” (a reference to the UTA's 2004 membership goal) UTA President Eddie Walker, set an optimistic tone and outlook for the association and used truck industry. Christopher Brady, president, Commercial Motor Vehicle Consulting, followed Walker with a positive forecast of balanced and moderate growth in 2005. Vince Lombardi Jr's keynote address was on “High-Performance People: What Do They Do and How Do They Do It.”
During the annual awards banquet, new board members Rick Clark of National Truck Protection and Hal Dickson of Mack Trucks were welcomed along with the other 2005 directors. Membership recruitment awards were presented, and the evening was capped off by the presentation of the Marvin F Gordon Lifetime Achievement award to Dick Vulgamore of Paccar Finance.
The 2005 UTA convention is scheduled for November 2-5 in Savannah GA at the Hyatt Regency Savannah.