Tina Albright
NTEA Board Chair
Vice President – Human Relations & Safety
TBEI
(Lake Crystal, Minnesota)
This article was published in the November 2022 edition of NTEA News.
As members of the commercial vehicle community, we understand the valued impact our industry has in the towns where we live and work — and beyond. Just driving down the road, I see the depth and breadth of our industry at work: fire/emergency vehicles, snowplows, utility trucks/vans, trash collectors, school buses, shuttle vehicles, construction trucks, delivery vehicles, and more. I’m honored and thankful to be a part of this industry that truly makes a difference in the places, and for the people, we serve.
And speaking of being thankful, this past March, it was so good to have our industry back together in person in Indianapolis for North America’s largest work truck event. I know so many of you are like me in looking forward to Work Truck Week 2023, March 7–10 at Indiana Convention Center. Registration is open, so be sure to visit worktruckweek.com to learn more. Here are just a few highlights you won’t want to miss.
Green Truck Summit
Work Truck Week kicks off with Green Truck Summit, offering resources and insights into the industry’s road to a more sustainable, productive and efficient future. Jennifer Rumsey, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Cummins Inc., will deliver the GTS keynote. This program was a sell-out for WTW22, so be sure to register early to secure your spot.
Industry education
WTW23 offers a robust educational program with topics such as market data and industry trends, vehicle engineering and compliance, government regulations, advanced fuels and vehicle technology, workforce development, and more. And don’t forget you can earn continuing education credits for your participation in Work Truck Week educational sessions.
Special events
There are several special events and networking opportunities at WTW23 for industry professionals to connect, such as Opening Reception, NTEA’s Annual Meeting with entrepreneur, author and star of Shark Tank Robert Herjavec as keynote speaker, and the Generation Next Leadership Workshop & Networking Reception.
Exhibit floor
The Work Truck Show exhibit hall is one of my favorite things about Work Truck Week, and it’s certainly the place to be to connect with representatives from exhibiting companies and see our industry’s latest vehicles, equipment, products and technology.
For me personally, I joined this industry nearly 30 years ago, and it has provided me with meaningful work as well as a place to be creative, contribute and build professional relationships.
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I reflect on those things for which I am grateful, such as my family and friends, and I am also reminded of how appreciative I am for the vibrant commercial vehicle industry of which we are all a part. For all of this, I give thanks!