September 19, 2001 12:20 PM, EDT

ATA Responds to Attacks With New MC&E Theme

Last week’s terrorist attacks in New York and Washington have spurred the trucking industry’s association to change the theme of its annual management conference and exhibition.

The new theme for the American Trucking Associations’ yearly meeting, chosen in the wake of the terrorist attacks, will be "Standing Together

Moving America Forward". The original theme had been “ATA: Experience the Power”.

“It is more important than ever for trucking leaders to attend this conference,” William Canary, ATA’s interim president, told staffers.

“We need to stand together,” Canary said, eight days after the attacks. “I am calling members to tell them that they need to attend this meeting. We need to send a message to our leaders that we are ready to move America forward.

"It was a challenging time before this and now it is even more challenging. But we are at our best when we are challenged."

The ATA’s annual meeting, which is the largest event of its kind in the trucking industry, is set for for Oct. 28-31 at the Opryland Hotel, in Nashville.

It typically draws several thousand trucking executives and industry suppliers to set legislative priorities for the trade association.

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