"Leveraging Technology for Quality Maintenance" is the theme of American Trucking Associations' Technology & Maintenance Council's 2013 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition.
The event will be held March 11-14 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.

TMC's Transportation Technology Exhibition, March 11-13, is expected to include more than 300 exhibitors featuring the latest technology to help fleets improve safety and efficiency. The technology trade show will include the latest models of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, specialty and alternative-fueled vehicles, components, safety and information technology and services.

Industry professionals can better understand the challenges of adapting to natural gas fuel systems though the full technical session "LNG/CNG - Will it Work for Your Operation?" The results of a TMC survey of fleet equipment managers will be presented in the full technical session "Future Truck - Looking Far Over the Horizon: Fleet Managers' Assessment of Future Equipment Needs - 2025 and Beyond."

Mini-technical sessions will include:

- Wide-base Tires for Dummies;
- Engine Manufacturers' Update: A Look at Engine Technologies for 2014-2018;
- How to Manage Total Labor/Time Productivity;
- Do You Have Up-Tight Wheel Bearings?: A New Look at Wheel Bearing Preload;
- Food Safety Modernization Act: Traceability of Food Products and How the New Law Changes Refrigerated Trailer Maintenance;
- Future Transportation Energy Sources;
- Vehicle Safety in the Vocational Truck Environment; and
- Maintaining Electrical Connectors for Maximum Service Life.

More than 100 task forces will meet on Monday, followed by TMC's Town Meeting and the Transportation Technology Exhibition grand opening, with technical sessions held Tuesday through Thursday.

C. Randall Mullett, vice president of government relations and public affairs for Con-way, is the featured speaker for the TMC Kickoff Breakfast on Tuesday. A respected authority and frequent speaker on transportation, business and corporate sustainability issues, Mullett serves on the board of directors and committees for the numerous industry groups, including American Trucking Associations, Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley, and Department of Homeland Security's Highway and Motor Carrier Sector Coordinating Committee.

TMC's annual banquet and reception on Wednesday evening will feature the installation of the 2013-2014 general chairman and entertainment by country music superstar Josh Turner, one of the youngest entertainers to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

Press conferences will be held on Sunday, March 10, by TMC exhibitor companies.

Early Bird registration on or before Feb. 11 is $525 for TMC or ATA members, and $625 for nonmembers. After Feb. 11, registration is $625 for TMC or ATA members, and $725 for nonmembers. A spouse's package is available for $275.

More information on TMC's 2013 Annual Meeting - including registration, Exhibitor Prospectus, Exhibit Contract, Exhibit Map, and Sponsorship Brochure - is available online at http://tmc.trucking.org.