Mack Names Walsh Vice President of Marketing

Mack Trucks named John Walsh its vice president of marketing, effective Dec. 1.

Walsh, who was Mack’s director of media and public relations since February 2007, will lead the development and implementation of strategies aimed at driving product sales, safeguarding and enhancing the image of the Mack brand, and growing Mack’s merchandising and brand licensing efforts, the truck maker said in a statement.

Prior to joining Mack in 2002, Walsh headed a firm specializing in the production of media for a variety of corporate and government clients, and from 1982-1994 he was a television producer in the public affairs office of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in Washington.

Mack is a unit of Sweden-based Volvo AB.

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Hoffa Wins Third Term as Teamsters' President

James Hoffa was re-elected to another five-year term as head of the Teamsters union, winning about 60% of the vote, the union said on its website.

Hoffa’s new term begins in March 2012. Hoffa — the son of legendary Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa — was first elected Teamster president in December 1998.

Two challengers, Fred Gegare and Sandy Pope, split the rest of the votes. Hoffa, 70, was previously elected to five-year terms in 2001 and 2006.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with 1.4 million members, represents truck drivers and warehouse workers.

Hoffa claimed credit for the Teamsters’ agreement to wage and pension cuts that prevented a potential bankruptcy filing at less-than-truckload carrier YRC Worldwide.

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Schommer Named President of CRST Malone

CRST International said it named Jim Schommer president of its CRST Malone flatbed unit.

Schommer, has more than 25 years of experience in the trucking industry, was most recently vice president of operations for CRST Malone, the company said late Thursday.

Schommer and has held leadership roles at CRST for the past 13 years including its truckload unit CRST Expedited Inc., the company’s largest operation.

Privately held CRST International, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is ranked No. 26 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.

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COMPETITION WATCH: Douglas Harrison appointed president of Day and Ross General Freight

HARTLAND, N.B. -- Douglas Harrison has been named president of Day and Ross General Freight. Harrison was previously president of Calyx Transportation Group. Prior to that he was president of Acklands-Grainger, an industrial supply company, and vice-president and managing director at Ryder Integrated Logistics, where he held responsibility for Ryder's Canadian and European logistics organizations. He has served on a number of corporate boards and is currently a member of the board of directors of Horizon Utilities, the Conference Board of Canada and Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology.

Harrison has been recognized with a National Transportation Award of Achievement, the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation's Award of Excellence and was chosen as one of Canada's Top 40 leaders under the age of 40. He holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University (Scotland), is a CMA and was awarded the designation ICD.D from the Institute of Corporate Directors. He also holds a number of transportation and logistics designations (C.I.T.T.) He is a regular guest speaker at numerous colleges and universities and is a member of the faculty of the Directors College.

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ATA renews contract of president Bill Graves

ARLINGTON, Va. -- American Trucking Associations has reached an agreement on a new three-year contract with association president and CEO Bill Graves. The announcement was made earlier this week at the ATA's annual Management Conference and Exhibition in Dallas.

"By retaining Gov. Graves, the members of ATA are sending a strong message: that despite the challenges we face in Washington, the professional staff of ATA is doing an exemplary job of advancing the goals and interests of the trucking industry," said ATA chairman Dan England. "That starts at the top with Gov. Graves and we're pleased that he'll be continuing to serve as ATA's president and CEO for the foreseeable future."

"One key part of effective leadership is consistency," said Barbara Windsor, immediate past chairman of ATA. "With this multiyear commitment, ATA ensures that we will have, strong, consistent and effective representation in Washington and I couldn't be happier to get this done as one of my final acts as ATA chairman."

After serving two terms as governor of Kansas, Graves start with ATA in 2003.

"It has been a privilege to represent such a great industry and I'm honoured that ATA's members are allowing me to continue serving them and their interests in Washington," Graves said. "As the economy continues to slowly recover and policymakers let loose with unprecedented assaults on trucking, there's never been a more critical time to advocate for the industry that delivers life's essentials more safely and efficiently than ever before."

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Michelin North America appoints new president, chairman

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Michelin North America has a new chairman and president in the form of 29-year Michelin veteran Pete Selleck. He succeeds Richard "Dick" Wilkerson, who is retiring to become chairman emeritus.

Selleck assumes responsibility for coordinating all Michelin activities in Canada, Mexico and the US. He returns to Greenville, S.C., from the Michelin Group's global headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where he has served as president of Michelin's global Truck Tires division since January 2006. In that role, he was responsible for 30% of Michelin's revenues, and established Michelin Durable Technologies to leapfrog truck tire performance by incorporating multiple innovations in each tire across the product line.

"Pete has a keen business insight and a heart for his employees," said managing partner Jean-Dominique Senard. "He is one of the key leaders who sets Michelin apart. He has a passion for innovation and is dedicated to transforming mobility. I am confident that Michelin North America will continue to excel under his leadership."

"I've been proud to have Dick Wilkerson as a colleague and a friend for more than 25 years," said Selleck. "Dick has left an indelible mark - with Michelin performing very effectively in North America even during the worst recession in decades.  My challenge is to take a strong company with exceptional people to the next level - delivering even more for our customers."

In his previous role, 56-year-old Selleck led many major initiatives, including the rollout of X-One tires in North America. Additionally, he implemented modernization efforts at truck tire plants in Europe and North America while launching major capacity expansions in China, India and Brazil.

Earlier in his career at Michelin, Selleck served in various manufacturing positions, including industrial engineer, shop manager, plant production manager and plant manager. He was also vice-president of Michelin Tire Manufacturing in the US and Canada, COO of Michelin Americas Small Tires and COO of the passenger car and light truck tires replacement market business in Europe.

Selleck is a graduate of both the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he studied civil engineering, and Clemson University, where he earned a master's degree in business administration. He began his career as an Army officer in the 4th Infantry Division, where he served as a platoon leader and a company commander.

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The President was a what?

If you’ve been reading my last few posts, I’ve touched on, among other topics, social media. Some believe it is the greatest thing since sliced bread, others, like myself, believe it is a passing fancy. In today’s Media Decoder in The New York Times, it was reported that the once social media giant, MySpace, was sold by News Corp. – that’s Rupert Murdock’s (FOX) entertainment conglomerate – for $35 million. He bought it six years ago for $580 million.

“The sale closes a complex chapter in the history of the Internet – MySpace was the world’s fastest growing social network, with 20 million unique visitors each month in the US. That figure soon soared to 70 million, but the network could not keep pace with Facebook, which overtook MySpace two years ago. As users fled MySpace, so too, did, advertisers. In preparation for the change in ownership, many of MySpace’s roughly 400 employees were dismissed.” 

So Facebook and Twitter is all the rage right now. I identified a consultant that claimed it is transforming trucking. I believe someone had said the same about MySpace. Oooo, what a great new way for truckers to communicate. Trucking companies can get the “word” out to their employees quicker and more fun. They said “more” fun, those are not my words. And all the kiddies had to have a MySpace page. It was the hula hoop – the new Coke – of 2004. Fast forward to 2011 and I wonder if somewhere in the world there isn’t someone working on the next media phenomenon. The one that will truly transform trucking.

Google has just introduced Google+ Invite, which, according to Inc., is a “social-network-news-feed-video-chat hybrid”. There seems to be some confusion about the new “product” – “service”? Inc. writes “it’s still too early to tell where Google+ will fall primarily in the social networking realm. Is it the new Facebook? A substitute for Twitter? Mashable even compared it to social Q&A website Quora. Google experienced a backlash of hate with its last social-networking attempt, Buzz, and there seems to be a fair amount of frustration out there already about Google+. The link to this entire discussion can be found here: Google+/INC./LOTR.

Let’s change gears here. It’s been a while since I discussed politics, but with the defense resting in the Casey Anthony case, we all need something interesting to follow. You know that I’m passionate about censorship and the freedom of the press and the media as guaranteed by our Constitution. I mentioned a few posts ago about the “Don’t Tread On Me” flag (yellow with the coiled snake) which is being used by the Tea Party. It was designed by American Revolutionary General Christopher Gadsden. I support what that flag stands for, namely the American spirit and vigilance. And as such, when it comes to the written or verbal word, we must have the freedom to say what we will about each other, without threats of harm or prosecution.

Recall my applause of Rand Paul in his “discussions” with the TSA. Here’s where I’m going with this. Yesterday, an MSNBC “talking head” called the President a “dick.” Today, he was suspended. This past Sunday, FOX’s Chris Wallace asked Sen. Bachmann if she was “flake” – he still has his job. We had the stupid statements of Imus about the Rutgers Women’s basketball team. Recently, Tracy Morgan, hat in hand, had to apologize for remarks he made during one of his performances about the gays. Back in March, a airline pilot, not knowing his mic was keyed open, over the air, trashed overweight flight attendants. He apologized, took a “sensitivity” training course, and is back in the air.

This is all quite absurd. I think the President himself would admit that at times he could possibly be a “dick.” I’m sure the Taliban has a similar opinion of him. Speaker “the crier” Boehner, I’m sure, feels that way about him. That’s what’s called being human. The talking-head shouldn’t lose his job or be suspended because he was being honest. For one second, his “filter” was off. Could Sen. Bachman, at times, be “flaky”? Of course. The question goes more to the stupidity of Chris Wallace than anything having to do with the Senator. He was trying to be “cute” – a smartass – and that’s OK – if that’s how wants to be perceived by his audience.

You know what? – it’s OK people. We should all stop acting like a bunch of old yentas sitting in the park feeding the birds whining about what this person said about the other. Let’s all get a life and laugh about what is being said.

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