TORONTO — The Ontario Trucking Association is putting on the finishing touches to the lineup of its 81st annual convention on November 15 to 16 in Toronto.

Environment and safety technology will be spotlighted this year. Also featured will be speakers from North America’s leading fleets, transportation analysts and regulatory decision-makers who will address key issues affecting the business of trucking.

Educational opportunities at this year’s convention include:

The Smartway of Going Green: From a Carrier & Shipper Perspective. A two and half hour session featuring senior executives from Bison Transport Inc., J.D Smith and Sons, Jeff Bryan Transport, L.E. Walker Transport and Schneider Canada discussing various systems and technologies they have deployed to improve their fuel efficiency and explain management issues in implementation from a fleet and human resource perspective.

Part two of this session will feature representatives from companies such as Owens Corning, Sharp Electronics, IKEA and Wal-Mart (invited) discussing why they are going green and what they expect from their carriers.

— Wall Street Outlook for Trucking and Economic Forces Impacting My Customers: This two-part session features John Larkin, Managing Director Transportation, Stifel, Nicholaus & Company Inc. who will speak to what he sees as major trends and issues facing the North American trucking industry.

Following Larkin’s presentation will be representatives from five major shipper associations discussing the economic factors impacting their members need for trucking services in 2008.

Current Technology to Improve Truck Safety. A two-hour session featuring carriers spotlighting technologies/equipment they have deployed to improve truck safety. Senior representatives from Challenger Motor Freight Inc., Kriska Transportation, Mackie Moving Systems, Ram Contract Carriers Limited, Robert Transport, Werner Enterprises Canada and Transport Canada will be participating in this session.

Other seminars include: What’s New at the Border; Implementing an Effective Claims Response Protocol; North American Truck Safety Regulatory Initiatives; The View of Truck Safety from the On-Road Enforcement Community, U.S. Liability for Canadian Fleets and Accident Recovery: What You Need to Know to Keep Your Accident Costs Down.

The 2007 convention will also feature fantastic breakfast and lunch speakers, including: Ray Kuntz, Chairman of the American Trucking Associations and Chairman of the Board of Watkins and Shepard Trucking Company; Bob Mackenzie, Hockey Analyst for TSN; and, David T. Fung, Chairman and CEO of ACDEG Group of Companies.

The entertainment this year will be highlighted by Canadian award winning performers Ron James and Tom Cochrane. The fabulously popular comedian Ron James headlines at the Thursday night comedy festival. Tom Cochrane with Red Rider closes out the two-day event in fine style at the gala dinner.
Register Online at www.ontruck.org/convention. Order tickets online before October 15th and receive the early-bird price, OTA says.