Dealing With Diesel; Trucking Industry Faces Future Fuel Issues

  RE:  2003 Diesel Engine Emissions Summit
       Tuesday, June 10
       Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort
       Phoenix, AZ

News coverage is invited as major motor carriers and the chief executive officers of the top truck and diesel engine companies in the U.S. meet in Phoenix on June 10th to discuss tough new federal truck engine air pollution regulations and their effect on the trucking industry and the American economy. Trucks hauls 68 percent of freight moved in the U.S., with 80 percent of America's communities depending solely on trucking for shipment or delivery of their goods.

The day-long session, organized by the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and Transport Topics, ATA's trucking industry newspaper, will take place on Tuesday, June 10, at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, Phoenix, AZ.

Truck manufacturers CEO's confirmed to attend (to date) are Freightliner's Rainer Schmueckle, Michel Gigou of Volvo Trucks, and Daniel Ustian of Navistar International. Engine-builders to be represented (to date) include Detroit Diesel, Mack, and Cummins. Representatives of the U.S. Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Energy (DOE) are expected, as are key officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Experts from the refining industry will also discuss whether sufficient quantities of the new fuels will be available. Bill Graves, ATA President and CEO, will kickoff the summit.

Key issues on the table in Phoenix will be the reliability, maintenance, fuel economy, and availability of the new fuel, scheduled for phase in by the trucking industry from 2007 to 2010. The ability of the industry to continue its job of delivering most of America's freight safely, efficiently, and on time is directly linked to the new fuel standards, thus this early effort to meet the challenge.

Registration to the one day session is complimentary for working press. Registration forms and further information may be downloaded from www.truckline.com (see the "TMC" promo) and faxed to Mike Russell, ATA, +1-703-684-5718. On-site registration will also be available.

PRNewswire -- May 20