NTEA Announces Extensive Educational Session Schedule
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Kristen Simpson
Simpson Communications, LLC
(216) 991-4297
kristen@simpsoncomm.com
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI (Nov. 17, 2008) — It’s possible to get so wrapped up in the daily tasks of running a business or doing a job that you start to stagnate. Revitalize yourself and your business at The Work Truck Show® 2009 and 45th Annual National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Convention. With four days of educational and technical training programs designed specifically for truck dealers, equipment distributors and vehicle upfitters, The Work Truck Show offers multiple opportunities to break out of “business as usual.”
The Work Truck Show 2009, North America’s largest work truck event, is held in conjunction with the 45th Annual NTEA Convention at the McCormick Place West Building in Chicago, IL, March 4-6, 2009. The Convention and educational sessions kick off March 3.
Concurrent Educational Sessions
There are nearly 40 concurrent educational sessions held outside of show floor hours Tuesday, March 3 through Thursday, March 5. Courses cover a range of topics, from technical training to business improvement. The following sessions are of particular interest to truck dealers, equipment distributors and truck upfitters:
- Customer Retention Is a Process and Not an Event
- Safely Integrating Truck Mounted Equipment on Hybrid Chassis
- The Ins and Outs of Federal Excise Tax
- Trailer Towing Specification Factors for Class 1-4 Trucks
- Understanding Truck Frames and How to Avoid Modification Pitfalls
- Enhancing Your Government Sales Strategy
- Generators and Inverters: Addressing Your 21st Century Electrical Needs
- How Much Does That New Truck Really Weigh — Controlling the Weight of Multi-Stage Vehicles
- Technology as a Differentiator for Parts & Service
- Truck Equipment Market Overview, Trends & Outlook
- Customer Service: Efficiency versus Effectiveness — Can You Have Both?
- Driving Results by Engaging Employees: SRC & The Great Game of Business
- Driving Results by Engaging Employees: Improving Sales in a Difficult Economy
- Simplifying Weight Distribution Calculations for Work Trucks
- Customer Service: Understanding Your Customers’ Needs
- Designing and Specifying Your Next Work Truck: Body and Equipment Design
- Designing and Specifying Your Next Work Truck: Matching the Chassis to the Body for Optimizing Productivity and Fuel Efficiency
- Your Most Wanted Marketing Strategy.
Plus, 12 of the world’s leading chassis manufacturers will present updates on their new models, including hybrid and alternative fuel work trucks. Chassis updates are scheduled from Dodge, Ford Commercial Truck, Freightliner Custom Chassis, Freightliner Trucks, General Motors Fleet and Commercial Operations, Hino Trucks/Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc., International Truck, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc., Kenworth Truck Company, Mack Trucks, Inc., Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. and Peterbilt Motors Company. Many of the presentations include technical information on chassis specification, body installation and equipment mounting options.
“The Work Truck Show Educational Content Committee and NTEA staff have spent the last year developing a full slate of educational sessions that will educate and inspire dealers, distributors and upfitters,” says Spencer Hinson, committee chairman and president of Lodi Equipment (West Sacramento, CA). “We’re confident that everyone who invests the time to attend even a portion of the educational conference will come away with new ideas they can put to work right away to improve their businesses.”
With so many industry-specific sessions occurring simultaneously, schedule conflicts are inevitable. To enable attendees to access concurrent educational sessions they missed or would like to see again, the NTEA is offering recordings of the sessions on CD-ROM and online. Everyone who registers for the Complete Event or Conference & Trade Show package will automatically receive a free copy of the CD-ROM by mail, as well as full access to session content online via password. The recordings will also be available for $199 to NTEA members and $249 to nonmembers.
Training Theater Sessions
Short, informative takes on business practices and business operations are offered Wednesday, March 4 and Thursday, March 5 in the training theater conveniently located on the show floor. Sessions are free and open to all show attendees.
Special Sessions
One of the major challenges facing dealers, distributors and equipment upfitters in the coming year is working with chassis that meet 2010 emission regulations. The Special Session “Upfitting Equipment on 2010 Emission-compliant Truck Chassis” brings together experts from Daimler Trucks North America, Dodge, Ford Commercial Truck, General Motors Fleet and Commercial Operations, Hino Trucks and International Truck to review changes made to their chassis to meet 2010 emission requirements. They will also answer attendees’ questions about mounting equipment to these chassis. The session runs from 8:30am–12:00pm on Tuesday, March 3. A ticket is required.
The Special Session “From Tactical to Practical: A Playbook for Identifying Profitability and Survivability” will provide insights into the developments, threats and opportunities facing the work truck industry and its distribution channels, as well as tactics companies can use to position themselves to survive and even thrive in these challenging times. The session builds upon the 2007 North American Truck Equipment Industry Outlook and Strategy Report and incorporates the most recent findings from the 2008 follow-up research study outlined in the Profitability, Cost and Technology Playbook. Session attendees receive an executive summary covering both studies, as well as copies of the individual reports. The session is on Tuesday, March 3, and runs from 9:00am–12:00pm. A ticket is required.
The Green Truck Summit, sponsored by International Truck, provides up-to-date information on hybrid and alternative fuel options for work trucks. It includes four general courses and 15 breakout sessions led by industry and academic experts. Topics include technology deployment, fuel utilization and vehicle integration. This Special Session is held on Tuesday, March 3, from 9:00am–4:30pm. A ticket is required.
Produced annually by the NTEA, The Work Truck Show showcases more than 500,000 square feet of Class 1–8 vocational trucks and equipment. It brings together thousands of work truck professionals, including fleet managers, equipment buyers, maintenance personnel, manufacturers, distributors and dealers.
For a complete schedule including session descriptions, interactive floor plan, event registration, housing, and more, visit www.ntea.com or call 1-800-441-NTEA (6832).
Established in 1964, the NTEA is the leading association supporting the $101 billion work truck and trailer industry. The Association currently represents more than 1,800 companies that manufacture, distribute, install, sell and repair commercial trucks, truck bodies, truck equipment, trailers and accessories. Buyers of work trucks and the major commercial truck chassis manufacturers also belong to the Association. The NTEA provides in-depth technical information, education and member programs and services, and produces The Work Truck Show®. The Association maintains its administrative headquarters in suburban Detroit and a government relations office in Washington, DC. For more information, call 1-800-441-NTEA (6832), or visit www.ntea.com.
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Editor’s Note: For additional press resources, including photos from The Work Truck Show 2008, please visit the online Pressroom.
1450-1096D
11/6/08