The Truckload Carriers Association conducted several business meetings in conjunction with the American Trucking Associations' Management Conference & Exhibition at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas, over the weekend. One of the most popular items on the agenda was a live demonstration of TCA's newest member benefit, "Issues Update."


Recently, TCA members have been asking the association's staff for help navigating a complex sea of trucking industry issues.

"Issues Update" is a Web-based, interactive tool that TCA introduced to its members a few weeks ago. A combination of PowerPoint slides, audio/visual aids, and links to outside sources, the Update allows TCA's experts to brief the membership quickly, accurately, and at no cost.

Available online through TCA's Web site, www.truckload.org, the Update employs a "click and learn" learning method that empowers users to obtain information whenever and however they want it, and in the style that best suits their needs.

For example, the Update allows users to fast-forward, stop, and pause segments of the presentation as needed, as well as skip directly to the sections that are most important to them. Summaries of key points and TCA's truckload-specific positions are readily accessible. Users can download slides and write notes on them while following along with the speaker. When more details are needed about a particular bill, ruling, or comment, users can link directly to the corresponding Web page as appropriate. When an important change occurs, TCA staff can relay the information quickly so members have the most accurate information possible.

Although the Update is relatively new, one TCA member has already used it successfully. Aaron Tennant, president of Tennant Truck Lines, Orion, Illl., copied the verbage from a recent Update and reformatted the words onto his own company letterhead. He then distributed the handout to lawmakers in an effort to show how proposed legislation could affect his company. Tennant also provided copies to his staff to make sure they were equally well-informed.

"I don't have much free time to conduct industry research, so I embrace any technology that provides me with a quick, credible source of information that I can count on for accuracy," said Tennant. "In this case, the Update served as a one-stop-shop for me so I wouldn't forget anything or get my details wrong."

TCA members who could not attend the live demonstration may check out the new "Issues Update" by visiting www.truckload.org/issues-update, clicking on the date, and logging in.