In This Edition:
TWNA Update - Dues & Directory Progress
Report
MATS Press Schedule
TMC Press Schedule
Member News
Diesel Idling Group To Conduct Panel Discussion
Publicity Plus Launches New Service
Kolman's Korner
On The Lighter Side
Next Issue Due Out 4/25/03 - Deadline
For Materials 4/18/03!
Dues
& Directory Progress Report
Although it has taken longer than it should have, we now have
updated information and dues payments from just over 100 TWNA
members. The bad news is that there are nearly 200 people on the
mailing list for the Dispatch newsletter, virtually every one
of whom should be a member of TWNA.
Because we must go
to press with the 2003 member directory sometime before the 2004
directory gets started, the (third) deadline for member listings
has now passed.
Due to the wonders
of electronic layout, we may be able to include a few additional
member listings before the page count is locked, but please don't
consider this as an indefinite extension of the deadline. We're
talking about a few more days here, not a few more weeks.
If somehow you've missed
the previous announcements and reminders, please visit http://www.twna.org/twna-03directory.pdf
to print a copy of the member form, then fill it out, fax it,
and enclose it with your check, NOW!
Although we had hoped
to have the directory ready in time for distribution at MATS,
the slow progress with collecting member data means that we're
now looking at early April as the distribution target. We will
have a few prototype samples ready to pass around during the TWNA
meeting.
We do still have a
few open ad pages in the directory, so our associate members are
encouraged to help support this valuable resource. Contact Tom
Kelley for details.
Mid America Press Schedule
The annual TWNA meeting will be held on Thursday, March 20, 3-4
PM in rooms 109/110. The rest of the official press conference
schedule for MATS 2003 is now available online at http://www.truckingshow.com/PressSchedule.htm,
and it looks like we'll be have three busy days. The schedule
is still tentative at this point, but should be mostly finalized
by the first of next week (March 3rd), so bookmark the page now
and check back for updates.
TMC Press Schedule
Below is an updated schedule of press conferences to be held in
conjunction with the Technology & Maintenance Council's 2003
Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition, March
11-14, at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention
Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The press events take
place on Monday, March 10, in the convention center. Rooms 207
and 208 are located upstairs above the TMC registration area,
inside the main entrance. Contact Marsh Galloway of TMC at MarshGalloway@sbcglobal.net
for further details.
Michelin
North America - 7 - 9 a.m.
7 - 8 a.m. Lite Breakast - Room 208
8 - 9 a.m. Press Event - Room 207
Roadranger
- 9:30 a.m. - Noon
9:30-10:30 a.m.-Brunch - Room 208
10:30 - Noon Event - Room 207
TruckLite
- 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. - Room 208
Mitsubishi
Forklift Trucks - 1:30 -2 p.m. - Room 207
Atro Engineering
- 2 - 3 p.m. - Room 208
Bar's Products
- 3 - 4 p.m. - Room 207
Phillips
Industries - 4 - 5 p.m. - Room 208
Member News
To have your announcement, news, bio, etc., included in the Member
News section, please send the copy as a text file and any images
as JPEG files in time for the deadline posted in each issue of
the Dispatch. We may edit the item for space as necessary.
Diesel Idling Reduction Partnership
To Conduct Panel Discussion
TWNA Members Paul Abelson and Tom Kelley have been working with
several industry suppliers and government representatives to organize
a panel discussion covering the effects of, and alternatives to,
standby idling of diesel truck engines. The panel discussion will
be held on Thursday, March 20, 1-3 PM
in room 105 of the Kentucky Fairground & Exposition Center.
The moderated event will include time for audience Q&A, and
the panelists will be available for in-depth interviews after
the event.
In addition to presentations
covering many of the products that provide alternatives to idling,
a representative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will
provide details on the new SmartWay Transport program. Similar
to the "Energy Star" logo seen on many appliances and
computer devices, the SmartWay Transport program will provide
recognition for improvements in fuel-use efficiency.
As the SmartWay Transport
program was only recently announced, many of the criteria for
achieving the SmartWay designation are still being developed.
The panel discussion and subsequent Q&A will allow the voices
of the industry, from driver to fleet-owner, to help shape this
important program.
PublicityPlus Launches New Service
TWNA member Freda Counceller of PublicityPlus has launched a new
service called the Newsmaker Network. The service will help small
to medium size trucking industry manufacturers, suppliers, service
organizations and carriers heighten visibility with customers
through editorial coverage in business and industry publications.
"The economic
downturn has forced cutbacks in advertising and communications
budgets, with many small to midsize companies hit the hardest.
That's why we've designed the service to help these companies
increase their exposure in industry publications at minimal cost,"
said Counceller.
Promotional services
offered by the Newsmaker Network include news releases, customer
testimonials, technical articles, phone interviews, site visits
and internet and print newsletters. For more information about
the Newsmaker Network, contact PublicityPlus at (949) 369-8600
or email Freda Counceller at freda@publicityplus.biz.
Media Tech
After having more than a little bit of trouble tracking down some
information on a major supplier's website last week, it would
seem that a brief refresher on website do's and don'ts would be
in order.
DO - Provide a logical
path from your main corporate webpage to the section of your
website that contains press resources. Better yet, create a
sub-domain for your press materials (media.abctruck.com).
DO - Include telephone
and e-mail contact information, and the release date, in EVERY
press release, especially on the website.
DO - Include a media
contact directory page with full contact information for all
communications personnel.
DO - Provide a download
archive of all press releases, with any new releases added immediately.
DO - Provide a download
archive of any available images with two or more resolution
options (web, news, or magazine quality).
DO - Allow immediate
access to the materials. If you absolutely must require a password
login, the registration acceptance process should be automated
to provide the login and password immediately.
DO - Make sure that
all of your site's features are compatible with the latest versions
of all browser software, and backward compatible at least to
version 4.0 of each program.
DON'T - Use file
extensions, plug-ins, animations, or other gimmicks that delay
access to your site or require that an editor download special
software or use only a certain browser version to access your
company's press materials.
DON'T - Use overly-complex
navigation elements such as cascading menus or 6-point type
that require more dexterity than that possessed by the average
brain-surgeon.
DON'T - Ignore website
trouble reports.
Kolman's Korner
By former TWNA President David A. Kolman
How well do you know
trucking history and trivia? Test your knowledge by answering
questions devised by the reclusive truck industry chronicler,
Professor Farbish Thumbetting.
The correct answers
will appear in the next issue of the TWNA Dispatch.
1. True of false:
Trailer tires wear at a faster rate than tractor tires?
2. What company introduced
the Constant Mesh design landing gear?
3. What are the most
common truck repairs?
4. On what day of
the week are you most likely to encounter Road Rage?
5. Who was known
as the "Father of the Interstate?"
The answers to last
issue's quiz:
1.
International Harvester was renamed Navistar International Transportation
Corporation in 1986.
2.
Mack Trucks produced America's first motorized hook-and-ladder
fire truck. It was built in 1910 for the city of Morristown,
NJ.
3.
Cummins introduced its Signature 600 engine in 1997.
4.
Swimmers and drivers are both required to stay in lanes.
5.
Schneider National, in 1988, became the first national trucking
company to outfit its tractors with satellite communications.
The Lighter Side
I went to the store the other day, and I was in there for only
about 5 minutes. When I came out there was a motorcycle cop writing
a parking ticket. So I went up to him and said, "Come on,
buddy, how about giving a guy a break?"
He ignored me and continued
writing the ticket. So I called him a pencil-necked Nazi. He glared
at me and started writing another ticket for worn tires! So I
called him a piece of horse manure.
He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with
the first. Then he started writing a third ticket!
This went on for about
20 minutes... the more I abused him, the more tickets he wrote.
I didn't care. My car was parked around the corner.
