Reflecting the changing nature of today's trucks from rolling machines to information processing centers, The Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Associations is changing its name
to the "Technology and Maintenance Council" - still TMC -- and will enlarge its technical focus.
"In this new economy, many of our members see themselves as transportation solutions providers and operate in an environment where the management of information has become as important as the management of the freight itself," said Carl Kirk, ATA vice president of councils and executive director of TMC. "We think of a truck or trailer far differently that we did years ago. They are no longer simple pieces of rolling stock but are looked upon as an important logistical asset within the total supply chain. The truck has now become an information processing center with computing abilities for on-board and off-board technology capabilities."
The 45-year-old council will take over many of the functions that were previously addressed by the former Information Technology and Logistics Council, which was eliminated during ATA's reorganization.
In the past, TMC has concentrated on developing industry standards and recommended practices to bring efficiencies in the areas of on-board truck technology and electronics. Under the new plan TMC will add four additional study groups to its current structure that will focus on technologies relevant to information technology and logistics professionals: data interchange; automated data entry; business processes; and technology and communications
"On the horizon we see a definite convergence of activities and interests between the on-board and off board technology worlds," said Bill Wolterstorff, general chairman of TMC and fleet manager for Sather Trucking Corp. "Consequently, the technical and information requirements of our industry are changing, and we want to help shape that change."
Wolterstorff has appointed a committee to examine and propose an appropriate board structure for the Technology and Maintenance Council, which will be voted on at TMC's March annual meeting. While all current TMC members will retain their board seats, it is expected that there will be some representation from the IT/logistic contingent.
The first meeting of the new information technology/logistics study groups will be TMC's 2001 Summer Meeting, June 11-14, in Phoenix, Ariz.