58
NEWS
ACT
APRIL 2015
The Specialized
Transportation Symposium
builds industrymomentum.
March3,where allmemberswere
welcome toattendmeetingsof State/
Regional PermitOfficials and theSC&RA
PilotCarTaskForce throughout theday.
The threeCommitteeMeetings (State/
Regional, TransportationSafetyEducation
&Training, PermitPolicy) thenkicked
offWednesday,March4– representinga
valuable chance formembers tonetwork,
experienceup-to-the-minute information
concerningall state and safety issues and
make their voicesheardonanymattersof
interest.
A truehighlight onWednesdaywas
theopening session,
IndustryUpdate
fromD.C.,
presentedbyDaveOsiecki
ofAmericanTruckingAssociations
(ATA).Osiecki’spresentationbrought
timely insights, analysis and forecasts
concerning themost important legislative
and regulatory issues facing the trucking
industry.
According toOsiecki, “The top challenge
fromanoperational perspective is the
ability for fleets to findandhire safe,
qualifieddrivers. Thedriver shortage is as
acute aswe’ve seen it.Asmuchas I’d like
to shine abright light at the endof this
driver capacity tunnel, I really can’t.”
Ashe explained, addressing the
fundamental issues causing the shortage
is a long-term effort –one thatATAhas
begun. “ATA recentlypartneredwith the
U.S.ChamberofCommercewith their
‘HiringOurHeroes’ program toassist
veterans in their transition into the civilian
workforce.Whilenot apanacea, this is
oneway to expand thepool of potential
drivers.”
Osiecki also recognizes SC&RA
as apivotal piece in sortingout the
transportationpuzzle. “Industry
conferences and events are incredibly
valuable for ahost of reasons, including
information sharingandnetworking
amongbusiness leaders, learning the latest
industryandgovernment initiatives that
affect the transportationand trucking
business and, in the caseof SC&RA
members, the ability to talk toand
collaboratewithkeygovernment officials.”
FollowingupOsiecki onWednesday
was the session,
Permits FromEvery
Perspective,
presentedbyLouis Juneau,
ofNovaPermits&PilotCars; Tina
Sanders, of theMarylandStateHighway
Administration; andMikeWebb,
of ProMiles SoftwareDevelopment
Corporation.
Teamingupa statepermittingofficial,
a software engineer andapermit service,
thispresentationallowed its audience
to seehow rapid technological advances
continue toalter theperceptionof the
oversize/overweight permittingprocess.
Juneau thinks that thehottest topic for
NovaPermits&PilotCars is “…having
access toaportalwherewe could send
all of ourdata (applications) –where
that portalwould thenhave access to the
web-basedpermitting systemsbelonging
to thedifferentDOTs, counties and
municipalities.”
The
Regional Executives’Update
rounded
outWednesdaywithoneof theweek’s
most popular sessions. This roundup
presentedmembers anunparalleled
opportunity tohear directly from state
and regional highway transportation
officials about unique challengeswithin
STS
review
This year’s STS exhibit centerwas a hub of
activity – representing a record 40 exhibitors.
Breakout Session #3was an interactive
Trailer Inspection presentation that brought
the audience up close and personal with the
consequences of heavy-haul failures.
T
hough theweather outside
wasn’t exactly reliable at
this year’s 2015Specialized
TransportationSymposium (STS) in
Atlanta,GA, the indoor climatewas both
professional and accommodating for the
notable lineupof committeemeetings,
educational sessions andnetworking
opportunitieswithin the renowned
AtlantaMarriotMarquis,March3-6. The
industry’s top executives, safetydirectors,
state and federal transportationofficials
and related tradeofficialsmade themost
of a goldenopportunity to interactwith
SC&RAmembers bothduringmeetings,
receptions andon thepacked exhibit
floor.
AsTransportationGroupChairman
JayFolladori, of LandstarTransportation
Logistics, indicated: theSymposium
provides the foundation for an exchange
of ideas, provokes thought and strengthens
dialoguebetween industryand
government leaders.And thenumbers
this year indicate as such,with450 in
attendance (72ofwhomwere first-timers),
40 exhibitors (anSTSbest) and five
countries representedby37 international
attendees.
SymposiumactivitiesbeganonTuesday,
