The Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations (ATA) will observe its 50th anniversary - Celebrating Excellence in Truck Technology - in a grand way
as it holds its 2006 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition Feb. 14-17 at the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Fla.
ATA's Winter Leadership Meeting and meetings of TMC's sister Councils, the National Accounting & Finance Council (NAFC) and Safety & Loss Prevention Management Council (S&LPMC), will coincide with TMC's meeting, and those attendees will be on hand for TMC activities.
The anniversary will include an historical truck display in the exhibit hall and a special presentation during the Town meeting on the evolution of truck technology.
Mack Truck Executive and CEO Paul Vikner and Mack Executive Vice President Steve Homcha will chronicle the evolution of truck design and maintenance from the 1950s to the present, as well as offer their insights into future vehicle technology.
TMC's 2006 Annual Meeting will feature a special three-part primer on what fleet mangers must know about 2007 diesel-powered trucks. The opening session will focus specifically on new powertrain specifications and how they will impact fleet maintenance operations. Two related technical sessions will detail diesel particulate filter technology and new sensor technology relative to 2007 model year diesel engines.
A special technical session on new developments in electronic on-board recorder (EOBR) technology will be presented just before Tuesday's Town Meeting and Fleet Operators' Forum. This session will describe current efforts within TMC to develop recommendations regarding performance expectations of these devices, which are designed to chronicle hours of service compliance.
Thursday's technical session, Innovations in Fleet Waste Conservation Strategies, will also chronicle environmental changes in trucking and equipment maintenance during the past half-century. The session will include discussion on how improve maintenance practices, smarter route planning, alternative fuels, hybrid powertrains and creating "green" credits can all play a role in improved efficiencies and a "greener" operation.
Other technical sessions include:

• Maintenance and Design Recommendations for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Electrical Systems – Past, Present and Future
• Proven Methods for Increasing Fuel Economy Through Optimized Tire and Wheel Practices
• Critical Factors Fleet Managers Must Know About Diesel Particulate Filter Maintenance
• Underhood Heat Management: What Are the OEMs Doing to Meet Fleet Expectations?
• Disaster Recovery Practices
• New Recommendations for Steer Axle Maintenance
• A Fresh Look at Improving Fuel Economy Through Trailer Aerodynamics
• New Electronic Sensor and System Requirements of 2007 Model Year Trucks
• Practical Guidelines for Spec'ing Light- and Medium-Duty Vehicles for Optimum Life-Cycle Costing
• Emerging Applications of Hybrid Powertrain Technology for Specialty Vehicles.

TMC Study Groups will conduct nearly 100 Task Force meetings on Tuesday to work on TMC Recommended Practices. Shop Talk, a TMC meeting favorite, will be held on Thursday and TMC will also conduct a special VMRS 2000 Workshop from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday.
TMC's Transportation Technology Exhibition, trucking's premier equipment exhibit, will feature more than 250 exhibitors spanning nearly 200,000 feet of exhibit space. The exhibit will include practical, hands-on demonstrations with exhibitor products, allowing fleet members an opportunity to inspect equipment and accessories while talking directly to product representatives. The exhibit hall will also feature a historical snapshot of trucking through a display of vehicles representing TMC's first 50 years.
American Trucking Associations (ATA) leadership and members of TMC's two sister councils will be on hand for TMC's 50th anniversary. Several hundred top fleet executives attending ATA's 2006 Winter Leadership Meeting will join TMC for the Exhibit Hall Grand Opening on Tuesday evening.
The National Accounting & Finance Council's (NAFC) 2006 Annual Conference and Exhibit Forum and the Safety & Loss Prevention Management Council's (S) Annual Steering Meeting will also be held in conjunction with TMC's meeting. A special Finance Pavilion on the trade show floor will highlight the services and contributions of the NAFC finance community. The S&LPMC will bring to the convention center senior and middle managers who focus on operations, safety, security, loss prevention, claims and human resources.
For meeting registration, or additional meeting or exhibit information, contact TMC at (703) 838-1763, or e-mail: tmc@trucking.org.
Detailed meeting information and online registration is available at: http://tmc.truckline.com. Full meeting registration is $375 for TMC/ATA members, $475 for nonmembers by Jan. 13, 2006. Registration after Jan. 13 is $475 for TMC/ATA members, $575 for nonmembers. A spouses' program is available for $200 for members and nonmembers. Registration for the VMRS 2000 Workshop is $125 for TMC/ATA members, $225 for nonmembers. Housing information is available at TMC's web site.