MATS Meeting

This year's TWNA Mid-America Trucking Show meeting was well-attended and considerable business was conducted. The two-hour meeting was sponsored by Peterbilt Motors, which provided a variety of delicious foods and beverages. A summary of what occurred during the meeting follows:

Open - TWNA president David A. Kolman, Truck Sales & Leasing Magazine, opened the meeting and introduced his fellow officers: vice president Rolf Lockwood, Today's Trucking; secretary-treasurer Bob Deierlein, renowned freelancer; directors Paul Abelson, Super Driver; Jim Mele, Fleet Owner; D. Mike Pennington, Meritor Automotive; Denise Rondini, Kona Communications - Successful Dealer and Truck Parts & Service.

Kolman recognized Frank Conte, Owner Operator, who maintains TWNA's membership roster, and Tom Gelinas, Fleet Equipment, who handles TWNA's Clearing House.

As is his practice, Kolman had all attendee stand and introduce themselves to the audience. Some of the introductions were quite amusing.

State of Association - Secretary-Treasurer Bob Deierlein reported that as of March 22, 1999, TWNA had 149 members; 45 1998 members had not paid their 1999 dues. TWNA's treasury had a balance of $3,923.

Technical Achievement Award program - Vice president and chair of TWNA's Technical Achievement Award selection committee Rolf Lockwood reported that the Cummins Signature 600 engine was the winner of this year's Technical Achievement Award. (See News Release, page 11).

The award presentation - done at The Maintenance Council's March meeting - was moved from Monday evening to the Wednesday industry awards luncheon. The move, according to Lockwood, allowed more time for the presentation and provided a three-times larger audience.

Runner-ups for the 1998 Technical Achievement Award were, in order: Eaton VORAD ETV 300 Collision Warning System; Eaton Fuller AutoShift 18, Freightliner Argosy's steps.

TWNA Web page - Kolman and TWNA director Denise Rondini provided an update on TWNA's web site: www.twna.org. Michael Newman, Randall Trucking Media, has taken over the managing and updating of the web site.

Among other things, the TWNA site contains: a calendar of events; TWNA info - our mission, how to join, member application; Glossary of Truck Terms; member links; newsletters; Job Bank postings; industry links.

If your site is not linked, contact Newman at (800) 633-5953; mnewman@randallpub.com.

TWNA Clearing House - Tom Gelinas gave an overview and update on the TWNA Clearing House. The service is intended to help avoid event conflicts by serving as the central scheduling agency for truck trade press functions.

Press Relations & Truck Industry Journalists survey - Carol Ludorf, Ludorf Public Relations, discussed how the survey was done and how the report has been distributed and publicized. The survey is intended to provide insight and information about what makes for good, effective press relations in the

trucking industry, and offers advice and suggestions from the truck industry journalists themselves.

Kolman noted that thanks to the efforts of Robert Crump of Crump & Associates, the survey report was distributed in the Mid-America Trucking Show's Exhibitor Lounge. Kolman arranged to have the report available in the show's Press Room. (If you would like copies of the report, contact Kolman.)

Kolman acknowledged and reconized the sponsors of the Press Relations & Truck Industry Journalists survey:

• - Carol Ludorf, Ludorf Public Relations, who helped develop the survey questions, tabulated the results and wrote the survey report.
• - D. Mike Pennington and Jennifer Dondero, Meritor Automotive, who laid out and produced the survey report.
• - Debi Nicholson, Freightliner, who helped develop the survey questions and funded some of the mailings related to the survey.
• - Jennifer Zajac, Zajac Communications, who helped develop the news releases and mailing lists.

Excellence In Communications Award - Director Jim Mele explained that only one nomination has been received for this award, which would recognize a Full or Associate Member for outstanding professional contributions to the trucking press. He felt this was due to the complexity of the current nomination form. He said he would re-work the form and distribute in a future issue of The TWNA Dispatch.

MATS Press Conferences - Super Scribe Tom Berg lead the discussion about the large number of press conferences scheduled during the Mid-America Trucking Show. There was a consensus that with so many press conferences scheduled, journalists don't have enough time to walk the show. A wide variety of suggestions for dealing with this situation were offered. Berg and Mele volunteered to discuss the situation with MATS Press Room operations manager Sheena Young.

Scholarship Program - Director D. Mike Pennington proposed that TWNA establish some type of scholarship program. A number of ideas were offered. Pennington said he and Becky MacDonald, Robert Bosch Corp., would draft a proposal to be included in a future Dispatch. Thoughts and ideas on a scholarship program should be directed to either Pennington (248-435-1933, pennindm@meritorauto.com) or MacDonald (248-553-1393; becky.macdonald@pcm.bosch.com).

America's Road Team Opportunities - Jackie Biddle, American Trucking Associations, introduced two 1998 America's Road Team Captains who discussed how the Road Team program works. Bruce Andrews of Con-Way Truckload Services and Peter Arata, Jr. of RPS explained that America's Road Team Captains represent the entire trucking industry, traveling nationwide a couple of days each month, speaking to the media and the public to promote highway safety, improve public perceptions of truckers and the trucking industry and serve as role models for truckers everywhere. Basically, the two pointed out, the program's mission is to make America's roads safer and more pleasant for all drivers.

Biddle said anyone wishing to have an America's Road Team Captain speak to or appear at a function, program or meeting should contact her by phone: 703-838-1913.

She noted that this year, National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is set for August 22-28.

An onion can make people cry, but there's never been a vegetable invented that can make us laugh.

And that's too bad, because many of us have become too serious. Smiles, chuckles and belly laughs have been replaced with flat expressions, stomach pains and ulcers.

The world is full of complexities, confusion, chaos, constant change and never enough time. All too often, we get so caught up in trying to keep up with all that's going on day-to-day, that we don't take the time to do the things that genuinely matter. Like enjoying what we're doing and sharing fun and humor to make our lives happier, healthier and more productive.

It's a sad state of affairs when one loses his sense of humor.

The fact is, laughter is cheap medicine. It distracts our attention, changes our attitude and outlook on life, causes relaxation, and reduces tension, while increasing the body's natural pain-killers. Every time we laugh our stress level is lowered

In short, laughter relaxes our tensions and promotes a feeling of well-being. Who couldn't use that once is a while?

Many of us need to learn to laugh and see the fun in life.

I leave you with a toast my father made to me on my birthday many years ago. He said: "May you always have a smile on your face and laughter in your heart."

David A. Kolman

TWNA's annual meeting at the International Trucking Show is set for Wednesday, June 6, from 11:00 - noon

Once again, Peterbilt will be sponsoring the meeting.

• Jim Bald, technical editor, Fleet Maintenance Supervisor, has discovered the secret to getting someone to stop and render assistance when broken down on the road. Jim had a flat while driving along an Interstate in Florida recently. When no one stopped to help, Jim donned his FBI cap, "and in minutes five cars stopped, including a state trooper."
• Jackie Biddle has been promoted to director - image communications for the American Trucking Associations from director - public communication.
• Julie Candler, contributing editor, Nation's Business, has been inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in Lansing, MI. (See article page 16.) She is the first freelance writer in the organization's 10-year history to merit the honor. There are a total of 62 members in the hall of fame.
• Robert Crump, Crump & Associates, has become a Recognized Associate Member of The Maintenance Council. The recognition is bestowed to those who have been active members for at least five years, working in support of TMC in areas not directly related to their businesses.
• Bob Deierlein, freelancer and TWNA secretary-treasurer, has enrolled himself in an intemperate disposition reduction program.
• Charles Goodrich Henry, II, Great Dane's vice president - advertising and industry relations, has been made a Lifetime Honorary America's Road Team Captain. He and the late Lee Crittenden of The Associates co-founded the program. Henry has remained active with America's Road Team selection process since the first year - 1986.
• Bill Hudgins, editorial director, Road King Magazine and Road King On Ramp, has been named the first-ever National Association of Show Trucks (NAST) member of the year. The award was presented March 26 at the 28th Annual Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY. In presenting the award, NAST President Bob Guy cited Hudgins' efforts to defend trucking, promote a better image of the industry and encourage safety; his involvement at NAST truck shows and in reporting on its events and members, and his role in producing the group's quarterly newsletter.
• Tim Jackson, editor, Tow Times, reports that the magazine received a Charlie Award, the highest award given by the Florida Magazine Association, in the Best Regular Column/Department (trade/technical magazines) category for the Moment of Impact series on true-life incidents of tow truck operators in life-or-death situations. Tow Times was also presented the Silver Award (trade/-technical magazines) Best Single, Original Photograph - Color for its April 1998 issue. Photographer Dominick Cannatella snapped the cover photo of racing legend Richard Petty with the grand prize winner of the 1997 Tow Times tow truck beauty contest.
• Sven-Erik Lindstrand, international correspondent, Truck Fleet Management, has distributed copies of TWNA's Press Relations & Truck Industry Journalists survey report to the PR departments of European truck manufacturers.
• M.D. Morgan and his Prescott Valley, AZ-based production company, Video Production Associates, has received the Award of Distinction from The Communicator Awards. The award was in the Broadcast/Documentary video category for the hour-long documentary on trucking life, A Mistress Called The Road. The Communicator Awards is a national awards organization that recognizes outstanding work in the communications field. Entries are judged by "industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry." Late last year, Video Production Associates was honored at the WorldFest Film Festival awards with the Silver Award for the documentary. In the past few years the company has won four major awards for video productions specifically produced either for the trucking industry or aimed at informing the general public about the trucking industry.
• rpm eXtra has changed its name to Truck Owner.
• Dave Sweetman, an owner-operator with Horseless Carriage, formerly a contributing editor for rpm and rpm Extra, is now the contributing driver editor for Newport's roadSTAR Magazine.
• John Smith, Truck News, reports that Canada will hold its first National Truck Driver Appreciation Week May 31-June 6.
• Volvo's vice president of global market planning, Jim Lesinski, has been selected as one of the Ad Age's Business Marketing magazine's 10 Top Power Business-to-Business Marketers for 1998 for running commercials during the Super Bowl. The April issue has Lesinski leaning against a Volvo on the front cover. Inside is a profile of the him and information on the Volvo Super Bowl ad campaign.
• Waste Age has incorporated World Wastes and is now a part of Intertec Publishing, a Primedia Company.
• Jim Winsor, executive editor of Heavy Duty Trucking, was the only editor to "put a truck down" during the ride-and-drive portion of Mack Truck's press event announcing its new aerodynamically-styled, premium highway tractor - the Vision. The truck had to be towed because of an electrical failure, according to Winsor.
• Neal Zipser, formerly account manager, Hedge & Company, has joined DP & Company, a marketing communications agency in Southfield, MI, as communications manager, and will continue to handle communications for the Michigan Truck Safety Commission.

• Eric Berard, chief editor, L'Echo du Transport, St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada.
• Steven Calitri, editor-in-chief, American Towman Magazine, Westwood, NJ.
• Donna L. Carlson, staff writer, Land Line Magazine, Blue Springs, MO.
• Jason Cisper, staff writer, Land Line Magazine, Grain Valley, MO.
• John A.D. Curran, assistant editor, Truck News/Truck West, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada.
• Andrew deLivron, product manager, Cargo Master, Pottersville, NY.
• Kyle Eggert, publisher, American Trucker, Indianapolis, IN.
• Amy Hockey, news and information manager, National Truck Equipment Association, Farmington Hills, MI.
• Michael J. Kelly, Hedge & Company, Southfield, MI.
• Kevin J. Murphy, manager - heavy duty engine oil, Exxon Company, USA, Houston, TX.
• Michael Newman, webmaster, Randall Trucking Media, Tuscaloosa, AL.
• Robert R. Randle, president, RCI Purifier West, San Dimas, CA.
• James R. Rauh, proprietor, James Rauh & Associates Marketing Communications, Beaverton, OR.
• Ron Seide, director of marketing, TWM Systems, Beachwood, OH.
• Sandi Soendker, managing editor, Land Line Magazine, Grain Valley, MO.
• RJ Taylor, president/founder, Ol' Blue USA/United Safety Alliance, Van Nuys, CA.
• Kim Nixon Thomas, editor/founder, Homeroad, Gwinn, MI.
• Marlene Tsareff, president, Marlene Rose & Associates, Brownsburg, IN
• Avery Vise, editor, Trucking Co., Tuscaloosa, AL.
• Patrick Walsh, associate, Ulum Group, Eugene, OR.
• Venlo J. Wolfsohn, executive director, International Truck Parts Association, Bethesda, MD.
• Doug Wilson, public relations specialist, Hirons & Company, Bloomington, IN.

TWNA'S Mission

Founded in November 1988, the Truck Writers of North America is an organization of professionals involved in generating, gathering, writing and reporting news and information about trucks, trucking and the trucking industry. Among TWNA's objectives:

• Improve the quality of trucking journalism.
• Promote a positive image for the trucking industry.
• Continually improve relationships between the truck trade press and manufacturers and suppliers.
• Serve as an information source and referral service for the non-truck trade media as it reports on the trucking industry.
• Function as a watchdog over the non-truck trade media and respond to inaccurate, incorrect or biased reporting on trucking industry-related matters.

MOVING TOO FAST,MAKING UP WORDS

The list of "journalists-communicators" hated words just keeps growing, reports D. Mike Pennington, director marketing communications for Meritor and TWNA director. He noted the following recent additions: Complementarity, Deliriosity, Globality, Receptance, Ruggedize, Gvernance, Clapometer and Likert Scale.

"A little levity is mighty important in these 'hurry up and do more days' and we can longitudinally synchronize the ramifications of these Webster-isms directly to thou humble self," he says. "Or whatever."

Since 1988, Pennington has managed the hated words list. The latest edition follows.

What the doctor says: "This should be taken care of right away." What the doctor really means: "I'd planned a vacation, but this is so easy and so profitable that I had better cure it before it heals itself."