Webinar Summary - Trucking Industry Mobility and Technology ...

Within the introduction to TIMTC, webinar participants were given a tour of the TIMTC website.
It was noted that industry news and calendar content are updated regularly, and that the
website was designed to allow users to submit suggestions regarding the TIMTC website and
other TIMTC initiatives to the TIMTC staff. Participants were encouraged to visit the website
and provide feedback outlining how the website might better serve their needs.
Update on the TIMTC Freight Systems Analysis
TIMTC staff also provided an update on the TIMTC Freight Systems Analysis, specifically on
the TIMTC technology compendium. Participants were given an introduction to the
compendium’s purpose and a brief outline of the compendium’s future functionality. When
released, the TIMTC Technology Compendium will provide an online, searchable database of
current technology available to the trucking industry.
In its first iteration, the compendium will be an excel-based document, split into public and
private-sector technology offerings. During the webinar, participants were guided through
navigation of the document, and were shown sample content. The TIMTC webinar slides,
available on the TIMTC website, illustrate this discussion comprehensively.
One participant inquired as to whether the compendium would compare, for example, product
features between vendors. TIMTC staff replied that, while such functionality would not likely
be available in this first release, the capability is one that has been considered and may be
pursued in future iterations.
TIMTC Annual Meeting Summary
TIMTC staff outlined for webinar participants the sessions and presentations that occurred at
the TIMTC annual meeting. This summary and the related key points are detailed within the
webinar slides available on the TIMTC website. It was also noted during the webinar that a full
summary of the events of the annual meeting is available on the TIMTC website.
General Discussion
After recounting some of the themes that emerged at the annual meeting, TIMTC staff asked
participants to provide guidance on next steps. As a starting point, participants were shown
some of the ideas that came out of the TIMTC annual meeting, including:
• Identify incentives/incentive plans for technology adoption
• Define research problem statements
• Provide educational opportunities
Several participants questioned how, exactly, TIMTC would seek to incentivize technology
adoption. It was noted that legislation allowing tax incentives for safety technology has failed
in the past and that cost justifications have been published by U.S. DOT. Another participant
asked about the range of actions that might be taken to incentivize technology adoption, given
Trucking Industry Mobility and Technology Coalition – TIMTC Webinar Summary 2