Jerry Thrift of Ryder System named as TMC general chairman.
Press Release Summary:
Jerry Thrift was named Technology and Maintenance Council's 2010-2011 general chairman and treasurer during TMC's 2010 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition. Thrift served in several other TMC leadership positions and has been moderator and presenter for various TMC technical sessions. He intends to focus on strength of TMC's Recommended Practices by increasing awareness of industry best practices and through selecting practices that can be grouped into collections.
Original Press Release:
Jerry Thrift, Ryder, Named New TMC General Chairman
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Jerry Thrift, manager for new product development for Ryder System, was installed as the Technology & Maintenance Council's 2010-2011 general chairman and treasurer during the TMC's 2010 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition, held Feb. 9-12 in Tampa, Fla.
Thrift has served in several other TMC leadership positions, most recently on TMC's board of directors as vice chairman and chairman of meetings, and chairman of study groups. Thrift has moderated and been a presenter for numerous TMC technical sessions. He received the Silver Spark Plug, the Council's highest honor, in 2005. He has also served the trucking industry as a member and chairman of American Trucking Associations' (ATA) Technical Advisory Group.
Thrift said he intends to focus on the strength of TMC's Recommended Practices (RPs) through an effort to increase awareness of the industry best practices, and through selecting RPs that can be grouped into collections, such a for vehicle spec'ing.
Other officers include: Vice Chairman and Chairman of Meetings, Roy Gambrell, Truck It; Chairman of Study Groups, Dan Umphress, FedEx Freight; Membership and Publicity Chairman, Jerry Warmkessel, Mack Trucks; Chairman of Associates, Al Anderson, Jost International; Immediate Past Chairman, Steph Sabo, Norrenberns Truck Service; and Executive Director, Carl Kirk, Technology & Maintenance Council/American Trucking Associations.
Directors-at-Large on TMC's 2010-2011 Board include: Jerry Anderson, Daimler Trucks North America; Bob Flesher, FedEx Ground; Lee Long, Southeastern Freight Lines; Oren Summer, FleetNet America; Ron Szapacs, Air Products & Chemicals; Kevin Tomlinson, South Shore Transportation; and Dave Williams, Verizon Fleet Operations.
TMC, an ATA technical council, held its Transportation Technology Exhibition in conjunction with the annual meeting at the Tampa Convention Center. The show featured more than 250 exhibitors and is North America's first major transportation equipment show of 2010. The show included a broad assortment of the latest technology in commercial vehicles and components.
Gregory (Doc) Hyder, president and CEO of Rowland Transportation, Dade City, Fla., was the winner of the grand prize drawing at TMC's Transportation Technology Exhibition. He received an expense-paid trip for two to the 2011 Daytona 500.
Members participated in 110 TMC Task Forces meeting early in the week to work on Recommended Practices for equipment maintenance and engineering. TMC Recommended Practices have been adopted as voluntary industry standards by commercial vehicle makers, component manufacturers, aftermarket parts and diagnostic equipment providers, and end users.
TMC will hold its 2010 Fall Meeting and National Technician Skills Competition Sept. 20-23 at the Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, N.C. TMCSuperTech2010 will be the sixth national competition for finalists of state and corporate technician competitions.
TMC's Professional Technician Development Committee (PTDC) organizes the competition. Information on PTDC, the technician skills competition or opportunities for corporate sponsorship, is available by contacting Joe Hite at 703-838-1927 or online at http://tmc.truckline.com/.
