NTEA Moves into Pole Position for 35th Annual Convention

Jan. 1, 1999
THE NATIONAL Truck Equipment Association's 35th annual convention rolls into Indianapolis, Indiana, Feb 24-27. Program seminar topics range from quality

THE NATIONAL Truck Equipment Association's 35th annual convention rolls into Indianapolis, Indiana, Feb 24-27. Program seminar topics range from quality assurance to government relations. Former first lady Barbara Bush will give the keynote address.

More than 300 exhibitors are expected to fill the sold out Indiana Convention Center, displaying their latest products and meeting with thousands of current and potential business partners. Exhibit hours are 10:30 am to 2:30 pm on Thursday, noon to 5 pm on Friday, and 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday.

New for this year's show are 45-minute product presentations to be given by 14 of the exhibitors during show hours on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Leading manufacturers are given the opportunity to tell about their newest products, latest innovations, and other information.

Chassis Displays Ten truck chassis manufacturers will display their newest products and meet with the manufacturers, builders and distributors of commercial truck bodies, equipment and trailers.

?American Isuzu Motors will present its all-new 2000 model-year FRR and display the new '99 NPR.

?The new Dodge line to be displayed includes the Ram 2500 quad sport 4x4, RAM cab/chassis, and cargo van.

?Ford Motor Company will be displaying its new Super Duty F-Series including the F-650 and F-750.

?Freightliner Corp. is bringing its FLDSD mixer chassis, FL112 dump chassis, cargo street sweeper chassis, and FL70 street sweeper chassis.

?GM will display a wide range of commercial chassis with an emphasis on the new Silverado/Sierra and new medium-duty models and options.

?Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America Inc will be displaying its 1999 FK and FM-MR medium-duty trucks.

?Navistar International Transportation Corp will have its 4700 and 4900 models with the DT466 engine on display.

?Nissan Diesel America Inc/UD Trucks will show its all-new 1999 models: UD1200 Class III, UD1800CS Class V, and the UD3300 Class VII.

?Hino Diesel Trucks and the Sterling Truck Corp will also display vehicles. Seminars and Sessions

Along with their product displays, chassis makers will conduct one-hour technical seminars for attendees of the NTEA Convention on Thursday, February 25, and Friday, February 26. Commercial body builders will learn directly from the manufacturers the new-product designs and changes that affect their day-to-day operations.

A pre-convention workshop led by Mike Scarfo, NTEA human resource consultant, will look at reducing costs through human resource management.

The Young Executives Network (YEN) will present its third annual meeting and workshop from 1 to 4 pm on Wednesday, February 24. The workshop is entitled "Driving the Future Through Innovation."

A series of business sessions will take place throughout the event. Brief overviews of the sessions follow:

Robert Nadeau, director of research for the Industrial Performance Group will present "Overcoming Roadblocks in Distributor-Manufacturer Relations" from 2:45 to 5 pm on Thursday. The session reviews ways in which manufacturers and distributors in the commercial truck and transportation industry can work together to improve their business relationships.

The Inter-Action sessions, a series of one-hour programs led by NTEA staffers, is designed to facilitate interactive sharing of information between participants in a small-group setting. Federal excise tax and Web site development will be covered from 2:45 to 3:45 pm on Thursday. Sessions on government relations and human resources also will take place on Thursday from 4 to 5 pm.

"Guideposts on the Road to Quality-A Member Panel Discussion" will take place from 10:45 am to 12 pm on Friday. Panelists are: Phil Petit, engineering manager, NBC Truck Equipment Inc; Mike Tracy, Service Manager, Kaffenbarger Truck Equipment Co; and Rob Parkhurst, president, Parkhurst Manufacturing Co. Jim Carney, NTEA executive director, will moderate the panel.

A second set of Inter-Action sessions will take place on Friday. Vehicle certification and public relations will be covered from 8 to 9 am. The sessions on employee training and vehicle weight distribution are scheduled from 10:30 to 11:30 am.

"Power-Boost Your Employees Performance-A Member Panel Discussion" will take place from 9:15 am to 10:30 am on Friday. Panelists will include: John Princing, vice- president administration, Scientific Brake & Equipment Co; Rod Robinson, president, Waltco Truck Equipment; Vic Tedesco, president, Zoresco Equipment Co, and Terry Wieseler, general manager, Truck Equipment Inc. Russ Dore, Ed.D., NTEA education and training director, will moderate the panel.

NTEA leadership examines ways in which the association will serve its members in the next several years. The session entitled "Driving the Future-NTEA Strategic Plan Presentation" will take place from 8 to 9 am on Friday, February 26. Special Events and Tours

"Futuristic Fantasy" is the theme for the NTEA opening reception scheduled for Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the convention center. Food, beverages, and jazz music are on the agenda.

The president's breakfast and annual meeting will be followed by the keynote speaker. Former first lady Barbara Bush will weave anecdotes from experiences on the campaign trail into her inspiring story. The breakfast begins at 7:45 am Thursday, at the convention center.

Saturday morning motivational speaker Rick Olson asks the question, "Are You Fun to Live With?" Following a continental breakfast buffet, Olson tells why you don't have to be funny to be fun to live with. Learn how to be a bigger-than-life hero to your kids, and learn what life's most frightening tendency is, and how to avoid it.

The closing party for the 1999 event will have an "Indiana Jones Adventure" theme. The dinner-dance begins at 6 pm Saturday at the Westin Hotel, Grand Ballroom, and runs until 10 pm. A reception-style buffet will be served and table seating will be available. The Flip Miller band will provide music into the night.

In addition to the special events offered, the NTEA organizes tours for spouses and children. The Historical Home Tour & Luncheon departs from the convention center at 10:30 am and returns at 2:30 pm. First stop on the tour is the Benjamin Harrison Home. Built in 1875, it was home to the 23rd president and is considered to be a masterpiece of Italian architecture.

Lunch will be served at the Marott-one of Indianapolis' most historic and beautiful buildings, and the tour will conclude with a visit to the John Whitcomb Riley home. The famous Hoosier poet spent the last 23 years of his life in what is considered to be one of the finest Victorian preservations in the United States.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tour lets visitors take a lap around the famous 2_-mile oval and come in for a pit stop at the Speedway's Hall of Fame Museum, home to more than 75 racing cars, including several Indy 500 winners. The tour will depart from the convention center on Friday at 9 am.