The TMC organising committee have begun finalising the sessions for the conference, with a wide range of topics guaranteed to inform and educate delegates.

Highlights of the 2010 TMC include:

• Aerodynamics test results: See the stunning results of new local ARTSA backed research, including watching wind tunnel tests conducted at Monash University. The practical and financial benefits are tested.
• Electrical Issues Workshop: A look at electrical system preventative maintenance, specifically the maintenance of starter motors, alternators, trailer connections, electronic connections and trailer wiring voltage drop.
• Workshop record keeping: How well prepared are you with your records? This session will review the importance of keeping accurate records and the requirements under OH&S.
• Time and Deadline Management: Delegates at the 2010 TMC will have the opportunity to undertake accredited training in time and project management, presented by Skillpath.

The 2010 TMC will also host the second annual TruckSafe Members’ Forum and the Castrol Awards Dinner, where the 2010 Craig Roseneder Award will be presented.

The venue will see the entire conference conducted on site, allowing more opportunities for delegates to network – operator to operator and operator to supplier.

Visit the Program page to view and download the 2010 TMC program.

Member exhibitors will also make great savings from standard listed rates. To find out more about the benefits of membership go to the TMC website member page.

Member discounts must be claimed by 14 September 2010.

Participating delegates attending both modules will receive a certificate and Continuing Education credit. It is an investment that will benefit both you and your organisation.

The first session, called “Handling competing priorities” covers key principles for gaining control of your workday.

The second session is Project planning and how to increase your productivity through better management of your resources. 

These Skillpath sessions are designed for the busy manager, supervisor or administrative person who juggles deadlines, projects and multiple demands and has no time to waste. Similar sessions held in your workplace would cost $6,000 for a group, so it represents fantastic TMC value.

Places will be strictly limited. Please email us if you would like us to put you down for one or both sessions. ataevents@atatruck.net.au

The kart track is a scale replica of the main race track and features spectacular views over Bass Strait.

The racing will feature two heats for all competitors then a final featuring the fastest twenty times. The winner will be crowned at a BBQ at the track included in the ticket price of $85. Buses will take participants to and from Silverwater Resort.

 Entries must be in no later than 30 June. Submit your tip to ataevents@atatruck.net.au

To get you started here’s one supplied by Cummins from 2009:

Workshop Tip 1: Understanding Fuel Economy

Fuel is one of the largest variable costs in a transport venture, and, while no operation can control the cost of fuel, it has at least some control over the amount or rate of consumption.

Rock-Solid Rules

• Every 2% reduction in aerodynamic drag results in approximately 1% improvement in fuel economy.
• Above 90 km/h, each 2 km/h increase in vehicle speed decreases fuel economy by nearly 2%.
• Worn tyres provide up to 7% better fuel economy than new tyres. 
• Used lug drive tyres can get up to 0.2 km/litre (0.5 mpg) better than new lug tyres.
• Ribbed tyres on the drive axles provide 2% to 4% better fuel economy than lugged tyres. 
• Every 70 kPa (10 psi) that a tyre is underinflated reduces fuel economy by 1%. 
• The break-in period for tyres is up to 50,000 km.
• Tyres make the biggest difference in fuel economy below 80 km/h; aerodynamics is the most important factor above 80 km/h. 
• The most efficient drivers get about 20% better fuel economy than the least efficient drivers. 
• Idle time is costly. Every hour of idle time in a long-haul operation can decrease fuel efficiency by 1%.
   
  For more tips on improving fuel economy grab a copy of Cummins’ guide to better fuel economy from your local Cummins branch or Dealer.

The on site program concludes on Tuesday afternoon. On the way back through Melbourne on Wednesday morning operators have the opportunity to join a factory tour. The tour is a great opportunity to see the background to the products you use every day; You will see standard setting quality control procedures in action. Details will be announced shortly.

To ensure you get the best out of your investment consider the benefits of a sponsorship package. Details of opportunities are available on the TMC website.

The exhibition also features the new Exhibition Showcase stage. It is your opportunity to demonstrate your product or innovation as part of the TMC program.

• National Professional Driver of the Year: Simon Wynne, HS and SM Wynne Transport, Everton Hills, QLD;
• National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year: Jan Pattison, Queensland Trucking Association, Brisbane, QLD;
• Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry: Jim Pearson, Jim Pearson Transport, Port Macquarie, NSW;
• Training Excellence Award: Get into Transport and Logistics (Road Transport) Program, Brisbane, Queensland; and
• Don Watson Memorial Award: Mario Colosimo, BPW Transpec, Melbourne, VIC.

National Professional Driver of the Year, Simon Wynne has urged all motorists to spare a thought for truck drivers when on the road.

“Understanding trucks is the key step in sharing the road safely,” he said.

National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year, Jan Pattison said it was an honour to be recognised by her peers.

“I’d like to thank Cummins South Pacific for their continued sponsorship of the award and also their recognition of women in the workforce,” Ms Pattison said.

This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry Award, Jim Pearson, said “It’s been a long, long ride through my life in the trucking industry. It’s a great industry.”

On behalf of the Training Excellence Award winners, Peter Garske from the Queensland Trucking Association said the program gives hope and opportunity to many men and women. “We have reached out to 226 people and delivered 178 heavy vehicle licenses and 47 forklift licences around the state, funded by the Queensland Government. 80 per cent of the graduates of the program remain employed in the industry today.”

The winner of the Don Watson Memorial Award, Mario Colosimo from BPW Transpec said he was grateful to be part of the trucking industry. “It’s unlike any other industry – it’s like a big family, I absolutely love it”.

Also to be acknowledged is the Craig Roseneder Award winner for technical and maintenance excellence, Merv Rowlands from Boral Transport.

The National Trucking Industry Awards are sponsored by ATA Foundation Sponsors BP, NTI and Volvo; and Cummins South Pacific and DECA.

NATIONAL TRUCKING INDUSTRY AWARDS PROGRAM

The Awards are presented annually by the Australian Trucking Association in recognition of excellence attained by individuals and organisations within the industry. Their purpose is to showcase high achievement and to promote exemplars to both the industry and to the community at large as a means to instill positive perceptions about trucking.

The majority of Awards is presented each year at a glittering dinner during the Australian Trucking Convention. The exception is the Craig Roseneder Award, which is presented during the annual Technical & Maintenance Conference in November.

There are fantastic prizes to be won, including international travel packages.

Nominations close each year on the 1st of March for the Outstanding Contribution, National Professional Driver, National Trucking Industry Woman and Training Excellence Awards.

Nominations for the Craig Roseneder Award Close each year on 30th September.

The Conference will help you to run a better workshop and provide opportunities to build your professional network of fellow workshop professionals and the trucking industry’s suppliers.

Sessions are designed around the themes of safety, productivity, environment and cost. In addition to the many interesting and practical sessions, the Conference will host a TruckSafe forum. TruckSafe is the industry’s leading business and risk management system.

The Technical & Maintenance Conference will be held on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th November 2010.

Come a day early and join us on the afternoon of Sunday 14th November for Grand Prix Go-Cart Racing at the Phillip Island circuit. Stay on till Wednesday 17th November for a post-event factory tour in Melbourne.

The venue is the Silverwater Resort at San Remo near Phillip Island, Victoria. Silverwater provides excellent accommodation and conference areas at a reasonable cost. It offers a relaxing, live-in environment. Buses will transport delegates to and from Melbourne airport and the city for the 90 minute drive.

Our thanks go to all delegates, who from what you say, found great value in the program sessions and really got into the spirit of the social events.

Congratulations to the speakers, who made the convention so worthwhile.

Thanks also to our sponsors and exhibitors and all the companies which contributed items to our auctions and raffles.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2010 National Trucking Industry Awards: Simon Wynne, Jan Pattison, Jim Pearson Senior, Get into Transport and Logistics (Road Transport) Program QLD.

To the beautiful Gold Coast and the Queensland Trucking Association - thank you for having us.

See you in Canberra in 2011 for the next Australian Trucking Convention, if not beforehand.

Yours in trucking,

Stuart St Clair