November/December 2007
Road Tests:
2008 Ford F250 4x4 Supercab FX4 Diesel and 2007 Toyota Tundra 4X4 Double Cab Limited
Feature:
Inland’s Rockford Branch Keeps Growing
Industry News:
Inland Detroit Diesel-Allison Changes Name
Feature:
TransChicago Looks Forward to a Bright Future with Freightliner
Industry News:
Joe Rizza Ford Holds Commercial Truck Show
Association News:
WMCA Holds Annual Truck Expo in Madison
Association News:
Worldwide Equipment Sales Sponsors ATSA During Open House
WMCA Holds Annual Truck Expo in Madison
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| Representatives of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association: (L-R) Bob Young, Sue Webb, Cheryl Kline, Thomas Howells and Cherie Tuhus. |
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| Brian Dulmes and Phil Olson of The Kriete Group. |
Thomas Howells, president of the WMCA, said they tie in the expo with the association’s annual meeting. That way, he added, members can see the exhibits, and at the same time, the WMCA attracts members to the annual meeting. The WMCA alternates expo locations from Madison to Milwaukee.
Cheryl Kline, director of special events for the WMCA, said the VIP night on Oct. 24 attracted 1,200 attendees, while 500 attendees stepped through the doors in the first hour on Oct. 25. Kline said that attendance figures usually end up to be approximately 2,500 to 3,000 for both days.
Since Peterbilt — Wisconsin’s exhibit was right at the exhibition hall’s front door, attendees were certainly attracted to the bright red 2008 Peterbilt 389. Thomas Fritsche of Wausau Truck Center said that model contained a Cummins ISX and a 13-speed transmission.
Another exhibitor that could not be ignored was the crew from the Kriete Group. Standing under an inflatable Mack Truck bulldog, Phil Olson, who has worked for the company for 37 years, said the company has grown from its start in 1951 to five full-service dealerships in Milwaukee, Madison, Fond Du Lac, Racine and Green Bay — all in Wisconsin. In addition to the Mack trucks on display, the group also sells Volvo trucks, Hino trucks, Fuso trucks and UD trucks.
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| Mike “Ozzie” Oswald (left) and John Schingen of Wisconsin Kenworth pose at the Wisconsin Truck Expo. |
“It’s a surprise how many people just walk by,” Morschauser said, “We keep these things running.”
Morschauser and Wozniak were trying to recruit students for the Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technician program at the college. The program teaches students to repair diesel engines, transmissions and drivelines as well as several other systems such as fuel, brake and air conditioning. They also gain experience in wheel alignments and adjusting suspensions. Right now, they said, the program has 65 students. Twenty-eight of them will graduate in the spring. Then they will move right into a job since most of them either have employment waiting for them right now, Morschauser said, or will have one within three months of graduating.
Despite preconceived notions of diesel technicians being more of a man’s job, they said there have been eight women in the program in the last 17 years. Additionally, the average age of a student in the diesel technician program is 29 years old.
“Go to a four-year college and follow your dreams,” Morschauser said. “Then come back to a two-year college and we’ll teach you skills.”
Several other truck dealers, trailer dealers and other companies serving the trucking industry provided information for attendees.
Besides the truck expo, the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association exists to serve in the interest of trucking in Wisconsin. In addition to answering questions and providing assistance with issues truckers might face such as taxation problems, registration, permits, hazardous materials and size and weight, they also stay in close contact with legislators and state administration. They hope to represent the Wisconsin trucking point of view when it comes to state legislation and administrative rules.
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| Roger Ross, Chuck Barker and Darrel Ehlinger of Inland Power Group. | Thomas Fritsche, Ray Theama and Mike Jamrosz of Peterbilt — Wisconsin. | Paul Morschauser, Sr. and Thomas Wozniak of Madison Area Technical College. |