News Advisory: American Trucking Associations

  TO:    Assignment Editors, City Desks, Traffic Reporters, Radio Drive Time
         & TV AM-Noon show producers

  FR:    Mike Russell, ATA, (703) 838-7935; Jennifer Kohlhorst, ATA,
         (703) 838-1836
         Ellen Serrano, Share the Road National Field Director,
         (703) 431-2567,
         http://www.atastr.org/
   
   RE:    Presentation, unveiling of specially-decaled 18-wheeler
   tractor-trailer rig dedicated to trucking industry's national Share
   the Road highway safety program, followed by I-95/ I-495 Beltway
   truck-car safety demonstrations and ride-alongs for news media thru
   nearby Wilson Bridge, Springfield "Mixing Bowl" traffic congestion.
   
   WHO:   One large, shiny royal blue, orange-striped Mack Vision sleeper
   cab; colorfully-decaled 53' trailer, President and CEO Bill Graves;
   Mack Trucks, Inc. President and CEO Paul Vikner; accident-free
   professional truck drivers Bill Adams and Skip Goodrich, Overnite
   Transportation; Phil Gould, Jevic Transportation.  Sponsors Chevron
   Delo and GE Trailer Systems to also participate.
   
   WHAT:  News event/ photo opportunity as Mack Trucks' Vikner officially
   hands over truck keys to ATA's Graves. New rig will be dedicated to
   delivering trucking industry's national Share the Road highway
   safety message across U.S, providing Share the Road demos for local
   news media, transportation press, driver education classes, seniors
   groups.
   
   Using top professional truck drivers with millions of accident-free
   miles, ATA, Mack Trucks, Chevron DELO, Virginia State Police, AAA
   Mid-Atlantic will demonstrate safety measures critical to improving
   travel on area highways.  After remarks by CEOs, professional truck
   drivers will provide Beltway ride-alongs for news media, providing
   tips on sharing the road safely, stopping and following distances,
   blind spots, and work zone safety.
   
   WHEN:  Friday, September 9, 2005, 11:00 AM
   
   WHERE: American Trucking Associations headquarters, 2200 Mill Road,
   Alexandria, VA -- off Eisenhower Avenue one block east of
   Eisenhower Avenue Metro stop, between Telegraph Rd. and U.S. 1
   exits of Beltway near foot of Wilson Bridge. Further directions on
   http://www.truckline.com/ or call ATA front desk, (703) 838-1700.
   Event outside on Beltway side of ATA building, ample parking for
   press.  Electrical power available. Cover will be provided in case
   of inclement weather.
   
   WHY:   On a typical day, up to 200,000 motorists travel I-495 in the
   Washington, DC area.  Though sharing the road with up to 17,000
   trucks passing through area daily, most motorists have not been
   taught how to safely share the road with larger vehicles.  This
   safety advice is critical for Washington, DC drivers because:
   
   * Up to 3/4 of all truck-involved fatalities are inadvertently
   initiated by car drivers (FMCSA)
   
   * 35% of all truck-involved highway fatalities occur in a truck's
   blind spots (FMCSA)
   
   * Watching this demonstration will help reduce accidents and save
   lives.

PRNewswire -- Sept.1