The Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking Assns. awarded its highest honor -- the Silver Spark Plug Award -- to four trucking industry professionals during the Council's 2002 fall meeting in Charlotte, N.C.,
earlier this month.
The 2002 TMC Silver Spark Plug recipients are: Al Anderson, national accounts manager, Consolidated Metco Inc., Overland Park, Kan.; Thomas E. Newby Sr., area maintenance manager, Old Dominion Freight Line, Thomasville, N.C.; Carl R. Smith, sales vice president, Sure Power Industries Inc., Tualatin, Ore.; and Guy Walenga, engineering manager, Bridgestone/Firestone, Nashville, Tenn.
The recipients were awarded the Silver Spark Plug for their outstanding contributions to the improvement of equipment, its maintenance, and maintenance management through Study Group leadership.
Anderson has served in numerous committees and leadership roles on the council, recently helped rewrite the bylaws and the Associates' operating manual, and establish training for Study Group Secretaries. Anderson, a TMC Recognized Associate, is active on the Associates Advisory Group and is current secretary of the S.6 Chassis Study Group.
Smith has been a driving force within the S.1 Electrical Study Group, chairing numerous task forces in the creation of Recommended Practices. He has been a moderator or presenter for numerous S.1 technical sessions. He currently co-chairs the Proper Wiring and Voltage Identification Task Force.
Newby has served as S.1 Electrical Study Group chairman, assisting in the formation of Recommended Practices, and moderator or presenter in numerous technical sessions. He has been active in council leadership as a board member and is currently chairman of Study Groups.
Walenga has served on or led numerous task forces within TMC's S.2 Tire and Wheel Study Group and has been a presenter in numerous technical sessions. He is currently chairman of the Future Truck Committee's Future Tire Reliability/Durability Task Force.