EDMONTON, Alta. — A record-breaking crowd attended the Alberta Trucking Industry Safety Association’s (ATISA) annual Truck Safety Conference, making it one of the most successful ever.

Lane Kranenburg, general manager of ATISA, was thrilled with the response that both the convention and industry consultant and presenter Dan Baker received.

“People walked away from there with something and I think one of the things they walked away with in my opinion was a better attitude,” says Kranenburg. “We had people smiling.”

Although the audience was the biggest in the convention’s history, Kranenburg hopes the event will continue to grow in upcoming years now that ATISA has joined with the Alberta Trucking Association to form the Alberta Motor Transport Association.

More than 200 people attended the event, which was held at the Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel on Feb. 22-23. Alberta delegates were joined by individuals from both neighboring Saskatchewan and B.C., all of whom turned up to hear from a vast array of presenters.

Baker was on hand all day on Feb. 23 to educate truck industry officials about driver retention issues and other challenges facing the trucking industry today. He bases his theories on his 15 years experience as a facilitator, trainer and consultant in the trucking industry.

“I think the word will get out after this particular session that we’re putting on a pretty good show,” says Kranenburg. “The comments that I’ve heard from people after both sessions is that this was the best ever.”