The Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association celebrated its 75th anniversary April 27-29 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort in Amelia Island, Florida.
The convention program provided a strong look at the changes industry thought leaders expect to impact the trailer manufacturing industry in coming years. And in honor of the association’s 75th anniversary, long-time TTMA members gave tribute to the industry’s heritage.
A strong slate of speakers pointed to trends in the trailer business that promise to make the next 75 years look significantly different from the previous 75. One of those is the growth of ecommerce, which is disrupting the way goods are sold—and transported. What type of trucks or trailers will benefit?
“Certainly the smaller delivery trucks could be a good bet, with economic liftgates perhaps powered with solar panels,” one speaker said. “It’s really important to stay attentive and flexible so that when your future becomes more clear, you are well-positioned to deliver the products the market is demanding.”
Trucking, however, should continue to be the mode of choice for much of the freight that will be shipped in the future.
“Trucking moves 70% of freight in the US,” another speaker said, “and in spite of all the things that are going to happen in the world, trucking will continue to move about 70% of the freight—and could actually gain market share.”
Another analyst presented his thoughts on what the future holds for major types of trailers. His conclusion: good news and bad news.
Details on these and other presentations can be found on the pages that follow. Meanwhile, here are those who will be leading the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association during the next year:
2017–2018 Officers:
Chairman of the Board
Rick Mullininx
Great Dane Trailers
Vice Chairman of the Board
Gary Smith
Kentucky Trailers
President
Jeffrey Sims
TTMA
Treasurer
Menno Eby
M.H. Eby, Inc.
Chairman Policy Committee
Dan Giles
Fontaine Trailer Company
Vice Chairman Policy Committee
Dale Jones
Timpte, Inc.
2017-2018 Tank Conference
Chairman of the Tank Executive Conference
Tom Anderson
LBT, Inc.
Vice Chairman of the Tank Executive Committee
Peter Weis
Polar Tank Trailer
2017–2018 Board of Directors:
Dave de Poincy, East Manufacturing Corporation
Lloyd Elias, Lode-King Industries
Frank Flowers, General Engines Company, Inc.
Gary Gaussoin, Silver Eagle Manufacturing
Jan Hoover, Strick Trailers, LLC
Jay Kulyk, Rogers Brothers Corporation
Everett Merritt, Merritt Trailers, Inc.
Bill Persinger, Wilson Trailer Company
John Rust, Trail King Industries, Inc.
Members:
John Cannon, Wabash National Corporation
Zach Coley, Heil Trailer International
David Shannon, MAC LTT, Inc.
Daniel Tremblay, Tremcar, Inc.