Annual Meeting Minutes

Date: January 15, 2003, Wednesday
Time: 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Place: Executive Room, Omni Shoreham Hotel

Attendance

• Michael Belzer, Chair, Wayne State University
• Brenda Lantz, Secretary, North Dakota State University
• Elaine King, TRB Staff
• Chris Jenks, TRB Staff
• Tina Casgar, Foundation for Intermodal Research & Education (member)
• Michael Conyngham, International Brotherhood of Teamsters (member)
• John Siebert, OOIDA Foundation, Inc. (member)
• Alan Clayton, University of Manitoba (member)
• Fred Daly, ITS America (guest)
• Fred Nix, Consultant (Canada) (guest)
• Michael Murphy, Texas Department of Transportation (guest)

Meeting Minutes

1. Agenda Distributed
2. Discussion of the Minutes from Midyear Meeting - Handout.
   • Approved by John Siebert, and seconded by Tina Casgar
3. Discussion regarding the challenge of recruiting additional industry members.
   Ideas included:
   • Have a regional meeting(s) closer to where industry is.
   • Have a meeting / session in conjunction with an industry conference.
   • Give industry a reason for attending the meeting, such as:
     • Invite them to give a presentation
     • Provide a benchmarking or teaching exercise; perhaps regarding forecasting, safety management, fatigue management, and/or competitive direction.
   • Allow industry to participate via conference call.
   • Provide more sessions of interest.
4. Discussion regarding potential additional members.
   Ideas Included:
   • FMCSA Research Division (invited)
   • BTS - Russ Cappelle and/or Irwin Silberman
   • DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics
   • OSHA and/or NIOSH
   • Transport Canada
5. Discussion regarding the mission of the task force.
   1. To raise awareness of trucking.
   2. To develop links with the motor carrier community.
   3. To develop a research agenda.
   4. To improve coordination among TRB committees with regards to trucking issues.
      Ideas included:
      • Have topics / sessions that will attract carriers.
      • Have a company sponsor a meeting and/or provide a tour.
      • Call state trucking associations, ask what is the biggest issue facing their members, and organize a meeting around this issue.
      • Hold a session in conjunction with a carrier meeting.
      • More press coverage.
      • Hold a Sunday workshop and invite carriers to speak.
      • Have a Midyear meeting in Texas regarding corridor issues.
      • Use all the above to develop a research agenda.
6. Discussion of the Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP) - Handout.
   • Chris Jenks of the TRB Staff is the point of contact.
   • Current focus is on safety, but may expand beyond this if support is received from other than FMCSA.
7. Discussion of potential topics for the Midyear Meeting and/or next year.
   • Work with the new Committee on Truck & Bus Safety for 2004 Meeting.
   • Mike Conyngham (with Tim Lynch) will design the summer event.
     Ideas Included:
     • TX corridor issue (contact Bill Webb with the TX carrier association)
     • Teaching session for the general public regarding different segments of the trucking industry. "Take students to the dock."
     • International issues with Mexico-Canada-Mexico trade.
     • Customs and the Northern and Southern Border programs (FAST and ACE) - What impact will these have on the available labor pool?