The newly formed HDA Truck Pride recently held its first membership meeting, hosting more than 600 attendees, including 123 members and 142 vendors. Don Reimondo, chief executive officer, opened the meeting with the presentation of a vision statement and strategic objectives.
“Our vision is to be the premier, most cohesive supply chain to the commercial vehicle industry,” Reimondo says. “We have a number of key objectives to help us strive toward this, but it requires daily effort and focus on the part of our members, vendor partners and staff to attain it. I could not be more pleased with the overwhelming response and support from our membership and vendor partners as we launched the strategic plan and our initial growth programs.”
Reimondo was followed by Tina Alread, HDA Truck Pride director of sales and marketing, who presented a session on fleet programs and hosted a National Fleet Panel. Panelists included Bill Bliem, vice president of maintenance at NFI Industries; Lloyd Hair, director of maintenance at Keen Transport; Gary Gid, director of maintenance at Logistic Leasing; and Terry Taylor, senior director of national purchasing at Sysco. The session highlighted key issues of concern for these fleets and ways in which HDA Truck Pride can bring value to them. Key topics focused on CSA and its impact on the fleets, training, technology and service.
The sales programs then continued as Mark Willis, business development manager, reinvigorated the “TSE: Truck Service Experts” Program. The message behind this independent repair shop program was driven home by a TSE panel, including Jim Farr of Iowa City Brake; John Wensel of Wensel’s Truck and Trailer Repair; Jeff Wilson of Brahler’s Truckers Supply; and Wayne Marshall of Marshall Truck and Trailer Repair.
