Alabama Trucking promotes growth, fellowship and progress at annual meeting
On April 13-15, the Alabama Trucking family traveled to the beautiful Hilton Sandestin in Destin, Fla. for three days of growth, fellowship and progress during the group’s 84th Annual Alabama Trucking Convention.
We are always thrilled to gather together with so many members of the Alabama Trucking family! Convention always serves to grow, fellowship and celebrate with one another this year was no different.
Our community is extremely engaged and its commitment to improving Alabama’s trucking industry is almost limitless. We express our sincerest gratitude to all of you who made our 84th Alabama Trucking Convention a resounding success. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, particularly Presidential Sponsor Cummins and Elite Sponsors ATA Comp Fund, Love’s Travel Stops, MHC Carrier Transicold, and McLeod Software Corp., we were able to host an amazing convention!
Convention Chairman Tommy Neely
We would also like to thank the 569 attendees who made the trip to join us, as well as all the talented presenters who shared their expertise with us.
Special thanks go to Convention Chairman Tommy Neely, ATA Chairman of the Board Chris Cooper, Mark Colson, and the entire ATA staff and support team for their tireless efforts in organizing the event. We are incredibly grateful for their hard work and dedication.
Throughout the weekend’s Business Sessions, we learned from every presenter, speaking and report and presentation. Workforce and professional development were at the forefront of both sessions with the presentations from Markstein, Jefferson State’s Alex Blevins, Deborah Boswell, and Doug Marcello all addressing these topics.
At the crossroads of celebration and education, we have the remainder of our presentations. With the Alabama Trucking Association and the ATA Workers’ Comp Fund both moving through their business meetings, both organizations were able to share the successes and challenges that each has seen over the past year.
Additionally, we were able to hear from and celebrate progress in the areas of safety. Col. Jon Archer, Capt. Tim Pullin of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Alabama Division Administrator Clinton Seymour share the progress made in recent years in fleet safety, and how we can continue to become better and safer.
ATA’s Tim Frazier (left) Introduces Driver of the Year Emanuel Windham
One of the greatest joys of ATA’s Convention is hosting the Chairman of the American Trucking Associations to provide an overview of the national trucking landscape. This year’s American Trucking Chairman Dan Van Alstine, COO of Ruan Transportation provided a detailed walkthrough of all the issues that we as an industry face and the tactics we are using to address those issues.
While outside of the business sessions there were ample opportunities to fellowship with other members of our industry allied and motor carrier, alike. Receptions on Thursday and Friday provided a semiformal opportunity to network with peers, while the beach, poolside, and golf course provided more relaxed opportunities for fellowship.
We also had the pleasure of hearing ATA Board Member Ben Leach’s band, The Kensingtons during Friday evening’s nightcap social.
The weekend culminated in a Chairman’s Dinner in honor of Chris Cooper, CEO of Boyd Bros. Transportation during which, we announced this year’s H. Chester Webb Award honoree Terry Kilpatrick, showcased the Alabama Driver of the Year Emanuel Windham, Convention Presidential Sponsor Cummins, and Golf Classic Presidential Sponsor Vertical Alliance Group!
We closed out the weekend with an evening of the biggest hits of 90s Country music raucously provided by Mustache the Band!
Kevin Savoy presented Terry Kilpatrick with the Webb Award.
Our community is extremely engaged and its commitment to improving Alabama’s trucking industry is almost limitless. We express our sincerest gratitude to all of you who made our 84th Alabama Trucking Convention a resounding success. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, particularly Presidential Sponsor Cummins Sales & Service and Elite Sponsors ATA Comp Fund, Loves Travel Stops, MHC Carrier Transicold, and McLeod Software, we were able to host an amazing convention!
We would also like to thank the 569 attendees who made the trip to join us, as well as all the talented presenters who shared their expertise with us.
And lastly, we are thrilled to announce that together, we raised a record $508,000 for the event! This achievement is a testament to the generosity and commitment of our community. Once again, thank you all for your support and participation.
We are already looking forward to next year’s convention in Point Clear Ala. at the Grand Hotel set for May 1-5, 2024. We look forward to seeing you there!
