TTMA convention speakers see hopes, challenges ahead

June 1, 2002
A GENERALLY upbeat group of trailer manufacturers gathered in Tucson April 17-20 for the 60th annual convention of the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association.

A GENERALLY upbeat group of trailer manufacturers gathered in Tucson April 17-20 for the 60th annual convention of the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association.

With the market showing some early signs of a turnaround, manufacturers heard generally optimistic outlooks from two of the convention speakers. A third session, however, pointed out some of the challenges facing the fleets that buy trailers.

A full report of those presentations can be found on the pages that follow.

The association also elected a new slate of officers. Brian Ling, Reliance Trailer Manufacturing in Cotati, California, will be serving his second term as chairman of the board. Ling had been scheduled to complete his term during the convention. But with the death earlier this year of TTMA's vice-chairman, Norm Hutchinson, Ling will serve the association for two years.

The officers and directors chosen to lead the association during the 2002-2003 term are:

TTMA Officers and Directors

Chairman of the Board
Brian Ling
Reliance Trailer Manufacturing
Cotati, California

Vice Chairman of the Board
Jerry Thomsen
Trail King Industries
Mitchell, South Dakota

Treasurer
Don Wahlin
Stoughton Trailers Inc
Stoughton, Wisconsin

Chairman, Policy Committee
Kit Hammond
Great Dane Trailers
Savannah, Georgia

President
Richard Bowling
TTMA
Alexandria, Virginia

Chairman, Tank Conference
Grant Smith
West-Mark
Ceres, California

Vice Chairman, Tank Conference
Dave Shannon
Beall Trailers of Montana
Billings, Montana

Chairman for Associates
Bob Voss
Hayes Lemmerz International
Northville, Michigan

Vice Chairman for Associates
Dan Wallace
Phillips Industries
Santa Fe Springs, California

Immediate Past Chairman for Associates
Bob Dubsky
Hadley Products
Grandville, Michigan

Chairman, Convention Committee
Jerry Thomsen
Trail King Industries
Mitchell, South Dakota

Vice-chairman, Convention Committee
William Herndon
HPA Monon
Monon, Indiana

TTMA Directors for 2002-2003

Kenney Allred
Timpte Inc
David City, Nebraska

Bruce Black
Trailmobile Trailers LLC
Northbrook, Illinois

John Cannon
Brenner Tank LLC
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Glenda Cole
Bankhead Enterprises
Atlanta, Georgia

Tom Determan
Determan Brownie
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Charles Dutil
Manac
St Georges, Quebec, Canada

Menno Eby
M H Eby Inc
Blue Ball, Pennsylvania

Bill Greubel
Wabash National
Lafayette, Indiana

Larry Hartog
Kentucky Manufacturing Company
Louisville, Kentucky

William Herndon
HPA Monon Corporation
Monon, Indiana

Frank Katz
Strick Corporation
Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania

Rick Odle
Talbert Manufacturing
Rensselaer, Indiana

Bill Persinger
Wilson Trailer Company
Sioux City, Iowa

Jeff Pitts
Pitts Trailers
Pittsview, Alabama

Ray Schaffer
Weld-It Company
Los Angeles, California

Scott Semlinger
Lufkin Trailers
Lufkin, Texas