Read all about it!  PTP’s Shop Meeting

 

The 2005 PTP Shop Meeting was held from September 20-22 at Charlotte, NC.  This meeting was attended by 20 PTP Shop members and 10 vendor representatives.  Vendor representatives included Bridgestone/Firestone, Baldwin Filters, Shell Oil, Chevron/Texaco, Exxon/Mobil, FleetNet America, Cummins Diesel Engines, and Eaton Corporation.  Shops represented included AAW Travel Center, Pro Fleet, The New England Truck Stop, OTS

Service Center, Fredericksburg Truck Center, I-81 Travel Plaza, The Virginian Repair

Center, Grady’s Truck Stop, and Cobra Truck Repair.

 

 This event was held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Many subjects were discussed during the course of the meeting.  Bridgestone/Firestone discussed the current state of the tire

industry and what shops could look to in the future including a discussion of Oncor Tires.  Exxon/Mobil and Shell representatives discussed where oil and lubricant production was heading over the next several years.  Cummins Diesel discussed future engine requirements in conjunction to the new EPA restrictions coming shortly.  FleetNet America discussed their breakdown system and it’s origins.  Eaton Corp. discussed the shift to automatic transmissions in trucks and safety and driver retention implications.

 

 One of the subjects discussed at the meeting was the implementation of ultra-low sulfur diesel

starting in 2006.  Eli Sarmiento of ChevronTexaco talked about this most important event and opened many of our eyes about the implications that this process holds.  This will be a vitally

important subject at the PTP Annual Meeting in February 2006 and I would urge ALL PTP

members to attend this meeting to discuss and learn more about this industry changing event.

 

A great lunch and dinner was provided by the Speedway Club and attendees were able to dine in the Speedway Club itself which is at the top of the stands providing a full view of the 1.5 mile racetrack.

The next day a truck shop only open discussion was held.  Subjects discussed included billing

company transaction fees, the hiring and retaining of employees, and ways to prevent come backs on work performed.

 

After the open discussion and a light lunch attendees were offered the opportunity to take a ride in a NASCAR model vehicle around the track at speeds up to 170 mph!!!

 

 All in all a great meeting set up by Terry Thornberry, PTP Shop manager.  We hope to make this an annual event and would like for all PTP Shop members to make plans to attend next year.