Get your kicks on Route 66 for the 34th Annual NTDA Convention at the beautiful venue. Catch up with old friends, meet new people, make connections, share ideas, and enjoy a few fabulous days of food, fun, and entertainment—and, if you’re not careful, some serious talk about the trailer business.
Getting started
Registration and housing are available on www.ntda.org for the convention dedicated to gathering the best of the best in the semi-trailer industry.
Join colleagues and new friends for this three-day learning and networking event. Share ideas with top dealers about how to grow your business. Reconnect with your business contacts and build your network of trailer dealers, leading OEMs, component manufacturers, and industry service providers. Understand where the industry and economy are headed.
The convention kicks off on Wednesday, Oct. 9, with a Welcome Reception that includes fabulous food, cocktails, and outstanding entertainment—but, be advised: Thursday’s Networking Breakfast kicks off bright and early.
And while exhibitors have until 10 a.m. to get booths set up, the General Session and Keynote get underway at 8 a.m. sharp. The 34th Annual Convention presentation serves as the association’s official Annual Meeting. Chairman of the Board Justin Deputy, CEO, 1580 Utility Trailer, will provide members with an overview of the state of the association, membership, as well as future endeavors and goals.
Education
The NTDA welcomes Jack Becker as its Keynote Presenter. Becker is a leadership, teamwork, human performance, safety, and process improvement professional whose years of expertise inspired him to found Flight Level Solutions Inc. He has adapted the same peak human performance skills that made him successful flying combat missions in the F/A-18 Hornet to train companies striving to perform at Top Gun levels.
For what to expect for the coming year’s trailer business, FTR CEO Johnathan Starks will provide his firm’s take on where market demand is headed and where the industry will see growth versus tightening. Learn what the leading indicators are suggesting for the year ahead, and find out what impact the current state of the supply chain will have on future production and sales.
The General Session will also feature a panel of trailer OEM executives so attendees can hear from them directly about where they see the industry headed; the status of the supply chain; legislative and regulatory concerns; changing customer needs; and the most pressing and current issues impacting dealers today. Panelists include: Bill McKenzie, Mac Trailer; Robert Ulsh, Great Dane Trailers; Jon Jeffries, Fontaine Specialized; and Jeremy Sanders, Stoughton Trailers; and moderator Lyn Simon of onewaytrailers.com.
Read more: Dealing with change
Following the strolling luncheon in the exhibition hall, attendees will be offered two sets of concurrent sessions—but with three items on the program, you’ll need to find a friend to sit in on the session you’ll miss.
- Dealer “Big Ideas” for Improving Productivity, Efficiency and Profitability: Back by popular demand. Hear from leading dealers who will present some great ideas they have implemented within their dealership. (Dealer members will be asked to submit their presentations/ideas for consideration in advance. A representative from five dealer members will be selected to present during either concurrent session.) Each presenter will have five minutes to present and two minutes for questions and answers. They will show the idea, how they implemented it, and how it added value to the dealership. Attendees will vote for the best idea and the winning dealer(s) will receive a $500 gift card. Moderated by NTDA Dealer Board Member Bobby Brigg of Peak Trailer Group.
- Effective Controls and Cyber Security Best Practices: Take a walk through real-world cybersecurity situations impacting trailer dealers and how to mitigate the growing risk of data and economic loss posed by AI, ransomware, and other destructive attacks. Presented by Rex Benfield, Paladin Business Consulting LLC.
- The Future of AI and What it Means to Trailer Dealers and Manufacturers: Learn more about artificial intelligence and what the future of AI means to your operations. Presented by Frank Leonard, CSO, Zenus.ai.
Fun and games
The annual golf tournament features a shotgun start Friday at 8:00 a.m. on the Celebrity & Players Courses.
The Indian Wells Golf Club features 36 holes and a magnificent 53,000 sq.-ft. clubhouse. This is one of the few properties to have two courses ranked in the Top 25 “Best Municipal Courses in the U.S.” by Golfweek Magazine. The Celebrity Course & Players Course (a.k.a. “Beauty and the Beast”) hosted Golf Channel’s Big Break and the PGA’s Skins Game. Both courses are located within walking distance of the Renaissance Esmeralda.
Optionally, registered attendees and guests may take the San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour. Experience the real desert and explore the San Andreas Fault’s unique geologic features. Along the way, the jeeps will pass through some of the richest agricultural areas in the world.
Learn how the rich soil traveled hundreds of miles to get here, which allows the Coachella Valley to grow some rather unique crops. See the beauty of a natural palm oasis, steep-walled canyons, and pools filled with water bubbling up from the San Andreas Fault.
Also understand how Native Americans lived, hunted, and used desert plants for food, clothing, and medicine.
You must be 18 or older to participate. Pre-registration is required, and an additional fee applies.
The final evening of the convention begins with networking and cocktails prior to the Awards Dinner. Enjoy a delicious dinner, wine pairings, prize drawings, and entertainment.
The NTDA will recognize outstanding membership ambassadors, sponsors, Board of Directors, and other notable individuals. Dinner attire is business/resort casual.