Volume 21 • Issue 9 • September 2019 Chartered May 16, 1988 The Used Truck Association INDUSTRYWATCH What is Right Contents with America? 2 Board and Committees 2 Quips & Quotes s we celebrated America’s birthday, I couldn’t help but think of how lucky we are to 3 Board News & Views Alive in what I consider to be the best country in the world. It dismays me that every time you turn on the TV, look at social media, or listen to the radio, there is a constant theme 4 Dealer Group Update of what is wrong with America. Finding the negative in anything is often easier and more 4 Remembering Richard (Dick) Vardell interesting to hear about, I suppose. But too often, the people of this country overlook the Bennett greatness our land provides. So, what is right with America? As a patriot and man whose 6 UTA Events Calendar blood runs red, white, and blue, I can list many things. 6 Industry Events Calendar The cornerstone of what’s right with America is God and our freedom. Americans have never 10 Doug’s Morning Coffee: Are You Getting been short on dreams or courage. Our nation was founded by immigrants and pioneers who Your Fingers Dirty? left everything familiar behind and forged new lives in this country—a country that provided 12 Young Members Group: opportunity and hope. These new starts were the foundation for the values and strength of Victoria Lombardo our nation. As proof of that strength, we see the countless brave individuals who sacrifice 14 Women In Trucking: their lives to maintain our freedom. That courage is the reason our flag can stand tall, our A Voice for Gender Diversity hearts can beat with pride, and our country is represented 16 From the Driver’s Seat: as one people, one family, and ONE NATION UNDER GOD. Let’s Talk Fuel Economy Preserving the promise of America falls to each citizen to 18 New Technology is Just a Start ensure that nothing happens to the liberties that we 20 Welcome New Members fought hard to gain and continue to protect. 22 The Importance of Quick Turnaround So, if you ask me what is right with America? Yes, our Time from Funding Organizations freedom, values, and opportunity are all part of that 24 Book Excerpt: Power People package. However, the greatest right in our country is 26 Colleges Begin Launching what got us to where we are today and gave us the Commercial Trucking Programs reason to remain proud—our people. We, the people, are 28 Industry News Briefs what is right about America. n 30 JD Power Valuation Services Update Rocky Carden 32 Brooks Tip of the Month [email protected] 34 Photos from the 2018 Convention 36 From Where We Sit 1.877.GETS.UTA • WWW.UTA.ORG 2019 USED TRUCK ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS & COMMITTEES www.uta.org/directory Rick Clark President Convention Committee Bobby Williams Vice President Chair – Hal Dickson Michael Cox Treasurer Co-Chair – Terry Williams Brandon Hess Secretary Co-Chair – Rick Clark Marty Crawford President Emeritus Dealer Group & Preferred Partners Jay Burgess Chair – Bobby Williams Kelly Coldiron Co-Chair – Anthony Gansle Hal Dickson Elections Committee Brock Frederick Chair – Doug Shields Anthony Gansle Co-Chair – Charles Cathey Craig Kendall Finance Committee Mike Roney Chair – Michael Cox Doug Shields Co-Chair – Ronnie Jordan Terry Williams Co-Chair – Craig Kendall Jody Johnson — Alternate Marketing & Website Committee Chair – Craig Kendall Co-Chair – Rick Clark Executive Advisors Co-Chair – Terry Williams Charles Cathey Membership Committee John Cosgrove Chair – Mike Roney Dean Jeske Co-Chair – Kelly Coldiron Bo Johnson Co-Chair – John Cosgrove Ronnie Jordan Scholarship Committee Robert Yost Chair – Brandon Hess Co-Chair – Jay Burgess Co Chair – Dean Jeske Training Committee Chair – Jody Johnson Co-Chair – Brock Frederick Young Members Group Chair – Mike Roney SHARE YOUR NEWS with the UTA Industry Watch. Send submissions, ideas and comments to: UTA Industry Watch Editors Brad and Deb Schepp c/o Sentry Management 303 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 300 A Stockbridge, GA 30281 Phone: 877-GETS-UTA (877-438-7882) Fax: 770-454-0029 [email protected] Twitter: @usedtruckassoc “The way to get started is to quit talking Facebook: Used Truck Association and begin doing.” Management: Misty Reis, [email protected] — Walt Disney Art Direction/Graphic Design: Laura Carter, [email protected] www.lauracarterdesign.com 2 UTA Election Update s a member of the election committee I’d like to update everyone about the recent UTA ABoard elections. The nominations and subsequent elections for the UTA Board went without a hitch and we now have our results. These will be announced at November’s UTA Convention. Eleven of our members ran for the board for only a small handful of available positions. Once the results were in, I called each of you personally to congratulate those who won and to offer my sympathy to those who didn’t. In retrospect, I should have congratulated everyone. Each of you selflessly choose to volunteer your time, talent, and sweat for the mutual betterment of all UTA members. As a junior member of the Board of Directors, the first thing I learned is that it isn’t a cakewalk. It requires lots of hard work, dedication, and time away from our business and family. It requires sacrifice, and each of you were willing to make that sacrifice in order to serve. That speaks volumes about everyone who chose to run for the board. The Used Truck Association is a group of likeminded, hardwork- ing, salt of the earth people who play a key role in supplying the transportation industry with much-needed trucks. But we’re so much more than that. We’re friends, business associ- ates, mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers. In a word, we’re family. The true genius of this organiza- tion is in bringing together a diverse group of individuals. Each of you has a wealth of real-world experience, skills, and business acumen that truly enriches all of us. It also helps us to be better stewards of our businesses, and ultimately allows us to celebrate our lives together in the greatest industry I’ve ever been privileged to play a part. When I think of the UTA I think of all the truly awesome people I’m honored to know and call my friends because of this organization. To all who serve, to those who have served, and those who will serve the UTA, I thank you. n Doug Shields [email protected] 3 DEALER Hello UTA Members! GROUP ere’s an update on what your UTA Dealer Group has Hbeen doing this year. UPDATE We just passed the deadline for the 2019 Individual Member of the Year award nominations. Members nomi- nated OEMs, NON-OEMs and Dealers. The nominations closed September 13, 2019. Also, something new this year is a “Rookie of the Year” award. UTA members in the business for less than three years, and who follow the UTA code of ethics were nomi- nated (again, nominations closed September 13, 2019). We will give these awards out Friday night at our Convention banquet in Palm Springs. The UTA Dealer Group’s 2nd Annual Fishing Trip at Lake Texoma will be April 21-22, 2020. Last year’s trip filled up fast. We can only take 60 people so please email me to reserve your spot today. The Dealer Group will host two workshops this year at the Palm Springs Convention. The first workshop will be “Power Tran” and feature a speaker from each OEM to discuss new engines and transmissions coming down the pipeline. At the second workshop, “Technology,” you will learn about what old/new truck readers are available, and what they can do. You’ll also learn about new apps some of our venders have created to make it easier to do business today. If you have not registered for the UTA Convention in Palm Springs I would do so today. There is plenty of networking time, and you’ll learn about new technologies, transmissions, engines, and a lot more. Bobby Williams [email protected] Please email me anytime you have a topic for the Dealer Group to work on. n Remembering Richard (Dick) Vardell Bennett UTA members were saddened to learn of the recent passing of Dick Bennett, age 76, of Salt Lake City, UT. Dick passed away, surrounded by his loving family, on August 31, after a brief battle against leukemia. He was born November 16, 1942 and raised in Magna, UT. He graduated from Cypress High School in 1961, and soon thereafter joined the US Air Force. His military service took him to Kansas City, MO, but upon its completion he returned to his beloved home state where he lived for the rest of his life. Dick had a way with people that led him to be a natural salesman. His devotion to hard work paid off through many years of a successful career. His fellow UTA members named him Dealer Member of the Year in 2012, an achievement he treasured. He owned and operated Bennett Truck Source until 2015. Aside from his successful career, Dick was devoted to many charitable organizations. Most recently, he was faithful in his service to the Ronald McDonald House of Salt Lake City, serving on the board of directors and receiving awards for Board Volunteer of the Year in 2009 and Exceptional Volunteer Lead- ership in 2014. He leaves behind to treasure his memory his beloved wife of 39 years, Linda Griffith. The couple shared three daughters, Sherri Stauth (Larry), JoDee Weis (Seth), and Richelle Howell (Robert).