Commercial Vehicle Training Association

2009 Fall Conference

Vinoy The Commercial Vehicle Training Association recently completed its 2009 Fall Conference in Saint Petersburg, Florida. If you are a member of CVTA, click HERE to log in and see what you missed!

Along with the usual networking opportunities that come from some of the nations top schools, carriers and a wide range of vendors all together in one place (this time including both a golf and fishing outing which everyone enjoyed), this was a packed agenda.

The Conference started out with Dave Osiecki, of the American Trucking Associations giving his take on the current political and economic scene related to trucking, a description on ATA’s Approach to the Reauthorization Process for the Highway Bill and a description on the ATA Safety Agenda. Click here for Mr. Osiecki’s presentation. (You must be logged in to access this link).

Mr. Osiecki was followed by Kevin Burch, current Chairman of Truckload Carriers Association and President of Jet Express. Mr. Burch weighed in on the challenges that he sees facing TCA including Card Check Legislation, Highway Funding, and changes in truck size and weight. Mr. Burch also elaborated on how our schools can work with TCA Carriers and the benefits. Click here for Mr. Burch's presentation. (You must be logged in to access this link).

Following Mr. Burch was Richard Clark of J. Smith Lanier, who discussed the issue of Executive Level Exposure and appropriate Insurance Coverage. The information that he provided could save your company thousands of dollars and many schools commented on the value of this discussion in helping them protect their company and employees from litigation. Click here for Mr. Clark's presentation. (You must be logged in to access this link).

A school panel made up of large and small, accredited and non-accredited schools shared ideas on placement, finance, marketing tips and daily operational hints that found many schools writing furiously and asking questions. Many took ideas away from this lively discussion.

Jeff Beatty Jeffrey Beatty from Total Security Services International, Inc. rolled out the nationwide First Observer Program. First Observer is a vastly improved Program that replaces the fondly remembered Highway Watch. Association members received their training and Certificate right at the conference and it’s now available to all CVTA schools! To learn more, click here.

The Performance Based Testing criteria from CDTFI was opened up for use of all CVTA schools. This advanced and exclusive testing/ evaluation process provides all the tools needed to incorporate a performance based standard in your school and only available currently to CVTA members.

Along with the presentations we were introduced to the new line-up of the officers of CVTA for the 2010-2011 timeframe. They are:

Chairman, Michael Darling, Western Truck School
Vice Chairman, Jamie Sather, National Tractor Trailer School
Treasurer, Chuck Wirth, American Institute of Technology
Past Chairman, Lou Spoonhour, Driveco, Inc.

As you know CVTA‘s Conferences provide members, motor carriers and vendors a unique opportunity to network. Most members say that they come away with at least one new idea for their schools (or a cost saving idea) that they would not have otherwise had.

Our new officers are asking our members to become more active in the CVTA Committees. They will be contacting you directly over the next few weeks to ask you to get involved in the work of the committees.

CVTA is dedicated to helping their members improve their own “bottom line” with a wealth of information shared freely.

We encourage you to become involved and see why CVTA members are PROUD to be a part of this growing Association.

If you have not yet joined CVTA, please click HERE, or call the CVTA office at 703-642-9444, for more information.

Michael Darling,
CVTA Chairman

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