New Member Welcome
New Chairman & Secretary
Awards Banquet Update
Technical Achievement Award Announced
HDAW Report
Kolman's Korner
New Member Welcome
TWNA has reached
the mark of 150 members, as Gordon Cole has joined the group.
Welcome to Gordon, from P2R Associates, a PR firm representing
Continental Tire and other fine companies.
New Chairman & Secretary
The TWNA Board tele-meeting
held last January 30 was the first since the recent election
of new board members. Two officer positions, Chairman and Secretary,
needed to be filled.
After a unanimous
vote, Eric Berard (L'Echo du transport, Canada/Europe Press
Director) becomes TWNA's new Chairman while Jami Jones (Land
Line Magazine, Western Press Director) acts as the new Secretary.
Thanks to the retiring
board members and officers for doing a fantastic job.
Industry Awards Banquet
The search for sponsors
for the fourth annual TWNA Industry Awards Banquet at the Mid-America
Trucking Show has been a tremendous success, as all the "Platinum"
and "Gold" level slots have been filled. There are
still good opportunities at the "Silver" ($2,500)
and "Bronze" ($1,500) level. Those interested at getting
great exposure at this major event should get in touch with
TWNA's Executive Director Tom Kelley at (704) 599-0570 or admin@twna.org
via e-mail.
Be prepared for new
features during the event and very nice surprises during the
awards ceremony, especially when the Lifetime Achievement Award
is handed out. Tickets are still available for $60.00 each,
or $450.00 per table (8 seats). Press attendees who purchase
tickets will receive a complimentary renewal/new-membership
at the individual press member level. To reserve your seats:
admin@twna.org.
There have been
discussions whether the dinner part of the Communication Awards
should go from the actual plate dinner format to a buffet to
speed up the process. A consensus was made to keep the actual
format, for the convenience of participants as well as the decorum
of the evening that is meaningful for many attendees. However,
the organizers will continue to deploy all the necessary efforts
in order to shorten the length of the whole program, as MATS
days are long days for everybody.
Fleetguard User Friendly Filters Win TWNA
Technical Achievement Award
TWNA recently recognized
Cummins Filtration's Fleetguard User Friendly line of fuel and
oil filters as the top Technical Achievement for 2006. The ceremony
took place at the annual Technology and Maintenance Council
(TMC) meeting in Tampa, Florida.
The Technical Achievement
Award trophy itself was presented to Cummins Filtration's National
Accounts Manager Mark Hassel and Product Design Leader Jeff
Sharp by Paul Abelson (Road King & Land Line) and Tom Berg
(Heavy Duty Trucking), both members of the Tech Award Committee
along with Eric Berard (L'Echo du Transport), John Baxter (Randall-Reilly
Publishing), and James Menzies (Truck News).
Created in 1988,
TWNA is a professional organization whose membership is composed
of writers, editors, public relations specialists, marketing
personnel and others involved in the business of creating or
producing information related to the world of trucking.
The very first Technical
Achievement Award was presented in 1991 to Grote Industries.
Since receiving the inaugural award, Grote has generously sponsored
the trophy. To be eligible, a product or service has to clearly
exhibit technical innovation, have a wide applicability in the
trucking industry, offer significant benefits and be widely
available. While complete vehicles are not eligible, components
and systems are.
Rising above a field
of more than two dozen candidates, the Fleetguard User Friendly
Filters employ a shape that was reconfigured to allow filters
to sit upright without tipping. Instead of metal, the body is
reinforced nylon, so it won't dent or rust. The filters install
easily by hand and are removable with any standard half-inch
drive ratchet. Accidental cross threading may ruin the filter,
but never the engine.
"Even though
there are always debates within the committee when it comes
to preparing the short list of finalists, we had a surprising
unanimity when it came to award top honors to the new Cummins
Filtration oil and fuel filter," said Eric Berard, chairman
of the selection committee. "This year's recipient is a
shining example that innovation is everywhere. Provided that
you make the effort to make visible to everyone what was invisible
until you had a vision. This is precisely that kind of vision
that Cummins Filtration demonstrated, and TWNA wishes to acknowledge
it."
The review process
for 2006 began with more than 25 candidates nominated by the
press members of TWNA. From that group of candidates, six finalists
were selected for an in-depth review. The "Super 6"
finalists were Cummins Filtration's Fleetguard User Friendly
Filters, Dana's Directed Oil Differential Technology, Eaton
Fuller's UltraShift LEP Transmission, Freightliner Group's Rack
& Pinion Steering, Lexidine's Digital Event Recorder, and
Michelin's Anti Splash Tire Technology.
Even among this impressive
group of finalists, the Fleetguard User Friendly Filters were
the unanimous choice of the selection committee for the 2006
TWNA Technical Achievement Award.
The selection committee
also made special recognition of several aerodynamic improvements
announced in the past year. Congratulations to all the finalists
and special thanks to every member of TWNA's Tech Award Committee,
as well as to those who took the time to suggest entries.
HDAW: Partnerships Expected To Multiply
According to TWNA's
Executive Director Tom Kelley, TWNA's presence at the Heavy-Duty
Aftermarket Week (HDAW) was constructive and the partnership
is expected to continue. The show was described as a positive
experience, even though the press conference menu was a little
light, with only one event.
A new partnership
will be discussed between TWNA and the Construction Writers
Association to coordinate the press schedules of HDAW and the
World of Concrete Show, held concurrently in Las Vegas each
year. Many truck OEM's and Tier 1 suppliers hold press conferences
at the Concrete Show, while other Tier 1's and component suppliers
have the opportunity to present their newest products at HDAW.
Kolman's Korner
Press Conferences
Themselves Make A Statement
Won't be long now
until the annual Mid-America Trucking Show and its multitude
of press conferences.
I, for one, look
forward to the press conferences. After all, there aren't many
places at MATS where I can catch a refreshing nap, get a free
sample of trucker BBQ sauce, see the latest in belt buckles
and learn first-hand how to make a "memorable" presentation
with who-knew-that-much-stuff-could-be-squeezed-onto slides.
Be advised truck
journalist associates: Even though a press conference is a voluntary
presentation of information to the media, those holding one
are not compelled to have clear goals for the event.
However, holders
of press conferences are obligated to start every press conference
in the following prescribed manner: "I want to welcome
everyone and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule
to be here. We know what a busy show this is for all of you."
Furthermore, there
are no rules stipulating that company spokespeople need to be
prepared and rehearsed. If a person knows his stuff, he should
be able to drone on and on, which I find conducive to writing
up the previous press conference or planning my schedule.
And so what if the
computer won't interface with the projector or the visual aids
can't be seen from the middle of the room or the demonstration
doesn't work as planned. Who doesn't enjoy watching people in
awkward situations?
Consider the thoughtfulness
of those who do not introduce all the key company people standing
at the front or rear of room at the press conference room. This
encourage shy press people to go introduce themselves, find
out who they are and what they do.
Then there is the
kindheartedness of those who don't provide any background materials
and press kits. Who enjoys lugging all that heavy printed material
and photographs around all day?
Another thing that
many of my fellow truck journalists don't grasp is that - to
coin a phrase - press conferences are a dime a dozen at MATS.
Just because they didn't receive an invitation to the event,
or even a media advisory about it, that's no reason to get upset.
Why not do what I
do? Pick a press conference to attend by trying to guess what
a company does by its name alone.
Just because a press
conference is held, that doesn't guarantee attendees.
A final word to my
brother - and sister - truck journalists. Don't take it badly
when a press conference seems like a waste of your valuable,
tightly budgeted MATS time. Some companies just doesn't comprehend
the truck trade press but feel they must deal with them at the
show.
To quote G. Gordon
Liddy: "The press is like the peculiar uncle you keep in
the attic - just one of those unfortunate things."
For those who'd like
to make sure this doesn't happen after their press event, I
strongly recommend visiting the TWNA's Website at www.twna.org
and then clicking on the "Press & PR Resources"
tab near the top of the page. This will take you to a page that
offers a wealth of information and guidance on industry best
practices for press and public relations.
Have a good show.
David A. Kolman,
Associate Director
