High-profile partnership between CITT and MBA games increases

2014-01-24

TORONTO, Ont.— Since 1988, the Canadian MBA Games continue to draw hundreds of future business leaders who compete with each other for top spots in three categories—academics, sport and spirit. Lasting a weekend and drawing MBA students from over 20 universities across Canada, the Canadian MBA Games bring together the best and brightest to put their skills to the test, said CITT in a release.

This year, the games took place from January 4-5, and were hosted by the Schulich School of Business at York University. Research continues to find that financial performance of businesses is more closely linked to uninterrupted supply chain operations than any other major factor.

"CITT, known in industry for expertise and thought leadership in SCL, was tapped for a second consecutive year to develop the Strategy case study with a focus on supply chain logistics," noted the release.

The partnership seems like a perfect fit. Senior management in many industries have noted the lack of human resources and top talent entering the supply chain logistics field, and, as Barry Prentice, Professor of Supply Chain Management at the Asper School of Business observed: "We are undertrained in general. The education

NTTC and J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. Announce Partnership for Compliance Guide

ARLINGTON, VA — The National Tank Truck Carriers, Inc. (NTTC) today announced the formation of its new partnership with J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. to produce the enhanced 2013 NTTC Bulk Hazmat Compliance Guide. Formerly known as the NTTC Cargo Tank Hazardous Materials Regulations, this tank-truck specific book now delivers greater content, accessibility, and utility to its readership thereby increasing the overall value for tank truck operators.

The compliance guide is a précis of the Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) and contains only those sections of the Code that apply specifically to tank truck operations. The new and improved guide maintains its focus on Federal hazardous materials and cargo tank regulations, but now it includes valuable information applicable to all transport vehicles, including Plain Language Explanations and the Vehicle Size and Weights Charts. The NTTC’s Guide remains the only publication to contain the MC 300 series cargo tank specifications and is available in both print and PDF versions.

“The NTTC is extremely pleased to join forces with the professionals at J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc.,” said NTTC President Daniel R. Furth. “The combination of J. J. Keller’s subject matter expertise and the NTTC’s solid position as the home of the tank truckers offers both parties an excellent opportunity to improve the breadth of our respective offerings. Our leadership shares my belief that this collaboration will advance NTTC’s mission of safety by opening the door to new demographics within our industry and expanding the reach of the NTTC brand into the emerging energy services arena.”

“We’re honored to work with NTTC on this important project, helping the organization to expand their membership and provide them with resources,” said J. J. Keller Vice President of Inside Sales Tim Riebau. “We look forward to helping increase industry growth and expansion on both of our parts.”

The 2013 NTTC Bulk Hazmat Compliance Guide is the premier resource for tank truckers. The Guide contains the DOT specifications for all MC and DOT cargo tanks (both MC 300 series and DOT 400 series) and for all commodities classified by the DOT as hazardous materials; testing and retesting requirements; a list of products poisonous by inhalation; a list of the EPA hazardous substances with their reportable quantities; a list of the Marine Pollutants; and, addresses of all regional EPA and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration offices. The 2013 book also includes the General Overview for Completing the Hazardous Materials Incident Report – DOT Form F 5800.1.

The 2013 NTTC Bulk Hazmat Compliance Guide will also be used in the association’s DOT Training Workshops scheduled for later this year in Pittsburgh, PA; Chicago, IL; Charlotte, NC; and Houston, TX.

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Alliance Truck Parts driving growth 'momentum' with NASCAR partnership

MIAMI, Fla. -- It's been a banner year for Alliance Truck Parts, the all-makes, private label parts brand of Daimler Trucks North America, and one that has seen them literally off to the races.

Coming into 2011 with a full product line, but with customers unsure of who the company was or what they stood for, Alliance opted to kick off a campaign to create some attention, said John O'Leary, senior vice-president of parts and service at Daimler Trucks North America, at a press event in Miami on Nov. 19.

The goal of the Momentum campaign was threefold: to fill in product line gaps with an "assault" of new product launches, to offer dealer support like never before, and to create visibility with its target demographic.

In order to zero in on that demographic, Alliance conducted an owner/operator survey to find a common thread. The result? Alliance found a huge segment of its customer base - some 70% - counting themselves among the 75 million NASCAR fans across Canada and the US.

Armed with this information, and knowing NASCAR junkies to be among the most brand-loyal fans in all of sports (three times as likely to purchase sponsor products as casual sports fans, according to O'Leary), Alliance decided it was high-time they sponsored a stock car on the circuit with the help of Penske Racing. Given Daimler's existing relationship with Penske Truck Leasing, DTNA's largest customer, teaming up with Penske Racing was "hard to turn down," O'Leary said.

The new partnership got underway in April, with Sam Hornish, Jr. manning the #12 ATP Dodge at a race in Dallas. Since then, Hornish, Jr., a former Indy racing star and winner of the 2006 Indianapolis 500, has turned out solid performances for Alliance this year, including a seventh place finish during the press event in Miami and a first place finish in Phoenix the week before.

In addition to the sponsored car, Alliance also lent its name to the ATP 250 at the Michigan International Speedway this summer, attracting some 70,000 fans at the event and 2.2 million watching from home.

Other NASCAR-themed features of the Momentum campaign, with the apt slogan "A pit crew in every part," include its Victory Lane Sweepstakes, ATP gift cards, mobile marketing (via Alliance's Trucker Net app and YouTube video) and increased visibility via trade shows and trade advertising.

The end result of Alliance's endeavours has seen revenues surge 19% over the past year.

"2011 has been a success. Our Web sites have garnered a 500% increase in traffic and we have four times the number of press mention as in any previous year," O'Leary said. "We have generated millions of dollars in media exposure from our NASCAR publicity. We have seen great redemption activity on our ATP gift cards. We have entertained tens of thousands with our mobile marketing; entertained hundreds with our trackside activities; built our product line significantly; seen revenues of ATP grow almost 20%; and helped to lift Daimler Trucks North America's share of the HD parts aftermarket by 2%."

So where do they go from here? O'Leary says that "2012 promises to be the Year of Alliance," with further product launches, even more racing, new Web sites and tools, and further dealer engagement, in order to "keep our competition guessing and customers happier than they have ever been."

For more information, visit www.alliancebrandparts.com.

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COMPETITION WATCH: New Contrans, CP partnership focuses on multimodal flatdeck containers

WOODSTOCK, Ont. -- Canadian Pacific is set to become the exclusive Canadian rail transportation provider for Contrans Group, using Raildecks multimodal flat rack containers.

Canadian Pacific has been testing Raildecks' 53-ft, collapsible, multimodal carriers over the summer at its Toronto Intermodal Facility in Vaughan, Ont. Officials say the testing proved the concept, as pipe and other industrial products moved seamlessly on CP's long-haul intermodal trains.

"Raildecks' innovative product extends the efficiencies of intermodal rail to industrial products shippers," said John McBoyle, vice-president intermodal at Canadian Pacific. "We believe industrial product customers will be attracted to the consistency, efficiency and, reliability of our long-haul intermodal network."

"The Raildecks solution provides a viable option to convert some of the industrial freight that is moving over the road to be transported on intermodal rail," said Rick Jocson, CEO of Raildecks. "By converting a traditional over-the-road commodity to rail, Raildecks are reducing greenhouse gas emissions, freeing up major roads and highways, and reducing costs for shippers."

"We are excited to be able to provide shippers with a brand new service offering," said Stan Dunford, Contrans' chairman and CEO. "This will revolutionize the long haul flatbed market and will result in substantial efficiencies and savings for shippers."

To see a video of the Raildecks technology in action, watch for an upcoming episode of Transportation Matters on trucknews.com.

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