TADA Dealers - Media Communication Group

Duane Kyrish2010 TADA TexasTruck DealersChairmanAmerican TruckDealersThe ATD annual convention was held April 22- 26 in Orlando.The No. 1 issue facing the commercial truck industry iscredit availability for dealers and their customers. Dealersare facing critical floorplan and operational credit line issues.Additionally, many customers are struggling to qualify for highdollar equipment purchases under today’s credit standards.Sound familiar?Like many in the U.S. trucking industry, new heavy and mediumduty truck dealers have been hit hard by the recession. Despitethe severe downturn in heavy trucks, the lowest sales volumes inover 40 years, remarkably few dealers have failed. The tone ofthe convention was actually one of guarded optimism. In fact oneof the speakers, Jim Meil chief economist with Eaton Corp, saidthat the outlook for the end of 2010 and into 2011 is good. “Thenumber one economic indicator is truck tonnage and it is up!”The Keynote speaker, Dennis Slagle, CEO of North AmericanTrucks (Volvo and Mack) told dealers to get involved politically.He acknowledged the effectiveness of the auto dealers in thisarena over the last few years.Jack Saum, a Navistar dealer from Baltimore was voted ATDDealer of the Year. The award recognizes excellence in dealershipperformance, industry leadership, civic contributions andcommunity service. The winners were chosen by a panel ofprofessors from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.Founded in 1970, the ATD division of the National AutomobileDealers Association is the only organization representingdealers selling new medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the UnitedStates. More than 2,000 members of ATD receive full associationservices from NADA. TADA STAFFTADA Staff members Chuck Price, Elizabeth Gardner, Albert Ploch,Kathy Sims, Donna Norton, Penny Dikeman and Bill Wolters tourAustin and the Capitol grounds via Segway.Segway Nation is a retail tenant located in the TADA headquartersbuilding at 1108 Lavaca, Austin.30