U.S. medium- and heavy-duty truck dealers are meeting in Las Vegas starting today for the 49th annual American Truck Dealers Convention and Expo Feb. 3-6, held for the first time in conjunction with the annual convention of the nation's new-car dealers.


More than 20,000 new-car and -truck dealers, industry executives and exhibitors, including 1,500 international dealers from 36 countries, are expected to attend the 2012 National Automobile Dealers Association and ATD conventions.



Keynote speakers at the convention include ATD Chairman Kyle Treadway; Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Trucks North America; Michael Card, president of Combined Transport Inc.; and retired Navy Captain and best-selling author Gerald Coffee.

Ford dealer Richard Witcher, president of Minuteman Trucks Inc., in Walpole, Mass., will begin a two-year term as ATD chairman on Monday, Feb. 6.



Dealers will also have an opportunity to meet face-to-face with manufacturer executives at 12 franchise meetings and with suppliers in the sold out exhibit hall. Twelve workshop sessions will be offered for dealers and managers to learn ways to improve their business operations.



ATD attendees can also attend any of the NADA workshops and general sessions, featuring keynote speakers Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, NADA Chairman Stephen W. Wade and incoming NADA Chairman Bill Underriner.



Here are some convention highlights:



- The ATD workshop program kicks off at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 3, with a presentation by Eric Starks, president of FTR Associates, on the state of the commercial vehicle industry, followed by several sessions over the weekend on topics, such as CSA compliance, alternative fuels and technician apprenticeships. The convention will also feature two sessions for medium-duty truck dealers on leasing and managing salespeople.


- NextGen ATD, a professional development network for the association's future leaders, will host a reception at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino (formerly the Las Vegas Hilton) on Saturday, Feb. 4, from 5-6 p.m. Eric Guenther, general marketing manager for Ford Fleet and Commercial Trucks, will be the featured speaker. NextGen ATD is designed to help prepare future dealers through networking opportunities and meeting dealers with similar backgrounds.



- Seven commercial truck dealers from the United States and Canada were nominated by their peers for a national industry award presented by ATD and Heavy Duty Trucking
magazine. The winner will be announced during the opening general session at the Las Vegas Hotel on Saturday, Feb. 4.

The 2012 nominees are John C. Arscott, president and CEO of the Pete Store, LLC, in Baltimore, Md.; Steve Bassett, president of General Truck Sales, in Muncie, Ind.; Terry L. Dotson, president, chairman, and CEO of Worldwide Equipment Enterprises, Inc., in Prestonburg, Ky.; Eugene W. Hieber, president of Bucks County International Inc., in Langhorne, Pa.; Brent Leach, president of Custom Truck Sales, Inc., in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; Trey Mytty, president and CEO of Omaha Truck Center, Inc., of Omaha, Neb.; and Timothy E. Reilly, president and dealer principal of Miami Valley International, in Dayton, Ohio.



-The winners of the ATD Commercial Truck of the Year will be announced at the Las Vegas Hotel on Sunday, Feb. 5. The award recognizes the top truck entries in the heavy- and medium-duty categories. Nine trucks were nominated for the award.
The heavy-duty (Class 8) truck entries are Freightliner 114SD conventional dump truck, International ProStar+ tractor with MaxxForce 15 engine, Kenworth T660 Regional Hauler with Paccar MX engine and Peterbilt 587 SmartWay conventional tractor. The medium-duty (Class 3-7) truck entries are the Fuso Canter FE160 low cab forward, Isuzu NPR-HD Gas, Kenworth T440 Conventional, Peterbilt Model 210 low cab forward and UD 2600 low cab forward.

Trucks were judged on overall appearance, cab comfort, noise levels, roominess, ease of getting in and out of the truck and convenience of maintenance.



- ATD Chairman Richard Witcher will discuss ATD's 2011 accomplishments and the association's legislative and regulatory goals for 2012 during the general session at the Las Vegas Hotel on Monday, Feb. 6. Witcher is president of Minuteman Trucks Inc., in Walpole, Mass.


For more information about the 2012 NADA-ATD convention, visit nadaconventionandexpo.org.