TORONTO, Ont. — Presidents, CEOs and senior managers of the countrys trucking industry will be in Toronto next week to attend the 81st annual convention of the Ontario Trucking Association at the Toronto Congress Centre Nov. 15-16. The two-day convention, the largest of its kind in Canada, is the place where industry leaders meet to discuss important trucking-related issues. The convention attracts over 4,000 business leaders each year.

This years convention spotlights best practices in environmental and safety technology. Also featured will be speakers from North Americas leading fleets, transportation analysts and regulatory decision makers who will address key issues affecting the business of trucking.

Keynote sessions include:

-The Smartway of Going Green From a Carrier & Shipper Perspective, featuring senior executives from Bison Transport, J.D. Smith and Sons, Jeff Bryan Transport, L.E. Walker Transport and Schneider Canada discussing various systems/technologies they have deployed to improve fuel efficiency;

-Wall Street Outlook for Trucking and Economic Forces Impacting My Customers, a two-part session featuring John Larkin of Stifel, Nicholaus and Company to discuss major trends and issues facing the North American trucking industry, followed by a discussion by representatives from five major shipper associations on 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;

-Managing Your Drivers, where Dan Baker will highlight the challenge of recruiting and retaining drivers.

Other seminars include: Whats 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; and US Liability for Canadian Fleets and Accident Recovery: What You Need to Know to Keep Your Accident Costs Down.

The 2007 convention will also feature 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 will include performances by comedian Ron James at the Thursday night comedy festival and singer Tom Cochrane at the gala dinner.