NTEA Convention Makes History Again

April 1, 2001
Judging from the attendance, Baltimore apparently was the right place for the 37th National Truck Equipment Association Convention and T3 2001 The Commercial

Judging from the attendance, Baltimore apparently was the right place for the 37th National Truck Equipment Association Convention and T3 2001 — The Commercial Truck, Trailer, and Technology Expo.

Then again, the NTEA could hold its annual event — the first major truck and transportation show of the year — in the Australian Outback and probably create the same kind of buzz.

The convention sets records every year. This year's figures broke all the records set last year. Attendance was 7,143 (a 28% increase), representatives from 24 countries attended the show (a 40% increase), and 425 exhibiting companies occupied 163,000 square feet of Expo space (an 11% increase).

“T3 2001 was the biggest and most successful show in the NTEA's history,” executive director Jim Carney said. “Attendees and exhibitors alike took advantage of having the industry together for three days. The exhibitors did a great job in regard to their displays and new product announcements. Show attendees were able to see the latest products attendees up to speed on chassis specifications, new designs, and body installation.

A record 13 of the world's leading truck chassis manufacturers exhibited: Bering Truck Corp, Dodge Div of DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Co, Freightliner Corp, General Motors Isuzu Commercial Trucks, GM Trucks (Chevrolet, GMC), Hino Diesel Trucks (USA) Inc, International Truck & Engine Corp, Kenworth Truck Co, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America Inc, Nissan Diesel America Inc, Peterbilt Motors Co, and Workhorse Custom Chassis.

On the news front, outgoing president John Puckett Jr and incoming president Peter Jones announced that the NTEA's permanently staffed office in Washington DC positively influenced proposed legislation in October 2000 that could have created “serious and misdirected burdens on truck equipment firms.” In a major victory for NTEA members, the final version of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act does not create industry-threatening regulatory mandates on multistage truck manufacturers as was originally proposed by Congress. That legislation was introduced in response to the Bridgestone/Firestone Inc/Ford Motor Co tire recall.

Puckett and Jones also said Dialogue 2000 — started by the NTEA to gather member feedback to serve as the basis for the association's Long-Range Plan — has successfully resulted in numerous service accomplishments, and will be reviewed, modified, and improved based on member suggestions.

T3 2002, held in conjunction with the 37th NTEA Convention, is set for March 5-8 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

NTEA Executive Committee

President
Peter Jones

Crysteel Manufacturing Inc
Lake Crystal MN

First Vice-President
Kent Grist

Commercial Body Corp
San Antonio TX

Second Vice-President
Vic Tedesco

Zoresco Equipment Co
Pittsburgh PA

Third Vice-President
Rod Robinson

WALTCO Truck Equipment Co
Tallmadge OH

Treasurer
Mike Frizzell

River City Truck Equipment Inc
Sacramento CA

Immediate Past President
John Puckett Jr

Fontaine Truck Equipment
Birmingham AL

Executive Director and Secretary
Jim Carney, CAE

National Truck Equipment Association
Farmington Hills MI

Distributor Trustees

Joyce Cobb
Rowland Equipment Inc
Miami FL

Larry Gibson
Canfield Equipment Service Inc
Warren MI

John Princing
Scientific Brake & Equipment Co
Saginaw MI

Charles Rayside
Rayside Truck & Trailer Inc
West Palm Beach FL

Peter Vanderlinden
Caytec Equipment Ltd
Calgary AB Canada

Todd Whitehead
D&H Truck Equipment Inc
San Diego CA

Norm Ziegler
Crest Truck Equipment Co Inc
Bowmansville PA

Manufacturer Trustees

Lee Rathbun
Petersen Industries Inc
Lake Wales FL

Daniel Rengert
TODCO
Marion OH

David Zrostlik
Stellar Industries Inc
Garner IA

About the Author

Rick Weber | Associate Editor

Rick Weber has been an associate editor for Trailer/Body Builders since February 2000. A national award-winning sportswriter, he covered the Miami Dolphins for the Fort Myers News-Press following service with publications in California and Australia. He is a graduate of Penn State University.