OTA Dispatch Issue 4, 2021

32 Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch importantly, they learned more about how, as future trucking industry leaders, they can engage with ATA and utilize the resources provided by the association. The group next gathered for the annual TMC meeting. As a self-described “technology guru with a passion for innovation,” this event focused on the cutting edge of vehicle technology— definitely an area of interest for Nick and other LEAD participants. “There has been a lot of discussion about autonomous trucks, and they will certainly be part of trucking’s future, but we’ll still need people to drive them. Driver assist technology will also open up a lot of opportunities for drivers,” Nick predicts. The final meet up for the 2021 LEAD group took place at ATA’s 2021 Management Conference & Exhibition that took place in Nashville in late October. In addition to learning more about what it means to manage and guide the industry’s future, the LEAD class participants—now graduates—were recognized. “After having the chance to build relationships with the other students and upcoming leaders in our industry, I’m optimistic and excited about the future,” offered Nick, “Trucking has a strength and resilience that has served us well in the past and will continue to do so in the future.” Learn more about cultivating trucking’s next generation through the LEAD ATA program at trucking.org/lead-ata. Taking the LEAD, cont. “There has been a lot of discussion about autonomous trucks, and they will certainly be part of trucking’s future, but we’ll still need people to drive them. Driver assist technology will also open up a lot of opportunities for drivers,” Nick predicts.