Volume 27 • Issue 07 • 7/22/2025

IN THIS ISSUE

• Scholarship Applications are Online

• Advertise in the UTA Industry Watch Newsletter!

• BOARD NEWS & VIEWS: Why Attend UTA Conventions and Events by Bobby Williams

• Convention Registration is Open! 

• MARKETING COMMITTEE: Share Your Expertise with Fellow UTA Members by Charles Bowles

• 2025 UTA Kansas City Reception and Golf Scramble — A Winning Event by Nick Lombardo

• DEALER GROUP June Update: Golf Scramble, Market Trends, and Looking Ahead by Steve Bootsma

• Board Nominees for 2026 UTA Board of Directors

• Semi-Truck Driver School | Top CDL Training Schools by Ian Sifuentes

• MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Steve Tam

• 2025 Topgolf Event September 11, Dallas, TX

• OPINION: Triple Threat by Ricardo Rodriguez-Long

• 2nd Annual TWOK Fishing Event!

• Women In Trucking Blog

• Used Truck Market Review & Forecast

• Awards & Accolades

• Industry News Briefs

• Electric & Alternative Fuel News

I remember the first time I attended a UTA Convention, it was back in the mid-’90s. I was a fresh-cut Used Truck Manager and hadn’t met many people in the business yet.

I was amazed by how many people I met in one place. Some of the contacts I made back then are still friends and clients today.

I think most attendees are drawn to conventions for a variety of reasons, primarily networking, professional development, and staying up-to-date on industry trends.

As a Vendor, it's all about the “Networking.” For vendors, supporting the UTA Vendor Expo is a must, and UTA members, in turn, show strong support for the vendors.

The UTA’s Industry Watch e-newsletter is a trusted resource read by leading professionals across the used truck industry—from OEMs and dealers to suppliers and service providers.

Our readers turn to it for insights that reflect the current pulse of the market, best practices for success, and stories of member accomplishments that inspire and inform.

We invite you to share your expertise with Industry Watch.

• Do you have a market observation or innovative strategy to highlight?
• Recently achieved something professionally?
• Attending an event and capturing photos or videos? We’d love to feature those too.

Your knowledge can help fellow members stay informed, adapt, and thrive in today’s ever-changing landscape.

Submitting is easy. Just upload any document, or photo you would like at the following link. Share Your Expertise with Fellow UTA Members - Google Forms

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to any member of the UTA Marketing Committee or at utaeditor@uta.org. We look forward to showcasing your insights in a future issue.

Sincerely,

Charles Bowles

Commercial Truck Trader

Member, UTA Marketing Committee

The 2025 UTA Kansas City Reception and Golf Scramble held on June 25–26 was a huge success! This year’s event brought together 236 registered attendees, including 142 enthusiastic golfers, for two days of networking, camaraderie, and competition.

We received overwhelmingly positive feedback about our new venue—Argosy Casino Hotel. Members praised the excellent food, top-notch service, and the hotel’s improved cleanliness and quality, which surpassed experiences from the past few years.

The course played a bit warm and humid, but a steady breeze helped keep things manageable. Many players commented on the much-improved pace of play, making for an enjoyable day on the greens.

 Golf Scramble Winners

1st Place – Score: 59

Wes Wilson, Champion Truck & Trailer
Kyle Toth, Truck Central
Lance Holloway, Truck Central
Dakota Bright, Image Truck Partners

2nd Place – Score: 60

Chris Simon, Truck Movers

Todd Higgins, Truck Movers

Courtney Dowell, Truck Movers

Dave Marrah, Truck Movers

3rd Place – Score: 61

Brett Bollock, Turnkey Truck Sales

Justin Coffey, Truck Paper

Chris Warlen, Truck Master Warranty

Longest Drive — Women

LiJun Lyda, Alliance DriveAway

Longest Drive — Men

Kyle Hatch, IronConnect

Closest to the Pin — #3 & #10

Jacob Pipkin, TrueNorth Companies

 Supporting the Next Generation 

Thanks to $39,400 in sponsorships and proceeds from the event, we are thrilled to announce we’ll raise over $50,000 for the UTA Scholarship Fund, providing 12 scholarships at $6,000 each to students pursuing academic or vocational training. 

We are especially excited to report a record number of 20 applicants from vocational programs this year (more than ever before)!

We’ve also received three academic scholarship applicants. If you know a college student who could benefit, remember: any UTA member can sponsor an applicant, and the process is simple. Just visit www.uta.org/scholarships to get started.

 A Huge Thank You —This event wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors and the hard work of volunteers and organizers. Thank you to every member and non-member who participated. We are deeply grateful.

Mark Your Calendar for 2026 — Due to Kansas City hosting World Cup events next summer, our 2026 UTA Reception & Golf Tournament will be held the first week of June. Don’t miss out!

Let’s keep building on this momentum and continue to support each other—and the future of our industry—through the UTA community.

Greetings from the Dealer Group.

As we make our way through July, I wanted to share a few highlights from the month of June, including the Annual KC Golf Scramble. This year’s event was held at the Argosy Hotel and was a great success.

The Dealer Group also held an in-person meeting this month, with a virtual option available via Teams for those who couldn’t attend in person.

Andy Vering, Director of Appraisal Services for Taylor and Martin LLC Auctioneers, was our guest speaker. Andy shared valuable insights, noting: “Consumers of new equipment have pulled back on purchasing with all the uncertainties of the tariffs at the beginning of 2025. With historically low inventories, especially in 4-year-old fleet sleepers, we are set up for an increase in used values. Hopefully, we can get some overall market stabilization to spur investment in purchasing.

The UTA Board of Directors election begins August 1st and below are the twelve member nominees in alphabetical order. For 2026 there are 4 board member openings and one board alternate. We encourage you to click to read more about each candidate. 

The election begins August 1st at 8:00 AM EST and ends on August 15th at 5:00PM EST. Corporate Members will receive a special email (from contact@uta.org) with a link to a private and secure voting ballot. Please make sure to white-list uta.org emails to ensure you receive your voting email. 

KATIE BAKER

Katie Baker has been an active member of the Used Truck Association (UTA) for over 10 years and currently serves on its Marketing and Membership Committees. With 13 years of experience in truck and trailer finance, she began her career as a Finance Manager for Volvo Trucks North America (Arrow Truck Sales) and later helped expand subprime lending across key U.S. regions while at Maxim Commercial Capital.

TIM BERKLEY

Throughout my 46-year career in the industry, I’ve built many lasting and profitable relationships with both clients and colleagues. I credit my ten-year association with UTA as a major factor in initiating and strengthening many of those bonds. As I look ahead to the approximately five years remaining in my career, I want to give back to UTA by bringing fresh eyes and energy to the Board. It would be a great honor to be chosen for this role.

STEVE BOOTSMA

I’m honored to be nominated for a position on the UTA Board. The UTA has played a meaningful role in my professional journey and in the ongoing success of our industry. It would be a privilege to give back by serving in a leadership role and helping to advance the organization’s mission. I’m especially committed to supporting membership growth and expanding the resources available to our members. 

CHARLES BOWLES

With over 20 years in the commercial vehicle industry, I bring a proven track record of innovation, leadership, and strategic growth. I’ve created significant partnerships with some of the industry’s largest data companies to help dealers and OEMs gain deeper insights into the evolving commercial marketplace. 

As UTA’s 2024 Vendor Member of the Year, Convention Emcee, and active Marketing Committee member, I’m committed to UTA’s mission to grow member networking, fostering opportunity, and supporting our members through knowledge sharing and resources. 

JAY BURGESS

I’ve been very fortunate to work in this incredible industry for many years. I started at an International Truck Dealership sweeping floors and cleaning bathrooms—just looking for a job to help pay for college. While attending school, I worked my way up to parts delivery boy.

I still love learning more about the business and enjoy both keeping up with old friends and making new ones. I’ve worked in every department of a truck dealership and have learned something valuable from each experience. I’ve also had the honor of serving two terms as a UTA Board member, which allowed me to gain an even deeper insight into this incredible industry.

MIKE GARDECKI

I’ve been blessed to be a three-year UTA Board Alternate, and I sincerely thank all of you who have supported me during that time. I hope to maintain your trust support in the 2025 elections. Here are UTA committees I’m currently involved in…

• Co-Chair of the Vocational Committee

• Co-Chair of the Membership Committee

• Co-Chair of the Marketing Committee

• Co-Chair of the TopGolf Committee

• Chair of the Podcast team as we work towards developing and launching the UTA Podcast.

I would be honored to earn your vote to continue working with the committees and building the UTA outreach.

JEREMI GUDITIS

Over 20 years ago, I launched my career at the Peterbilt Denton Plant, steadily progressing through roles in sleeper trimming, chassis painting, paint robot operation, and quality assurance before transitioning into management. In 2018, I joined the Used Truck division, where my plant experience provides a unique perspective from production to the secondary market. I value my role in the Used Truck Association (UTA), where I’ve had the privilege of connecting with inspiring colleagues and learning from their expertise. I’m dedicated to driving continuous improvement and positive change.

JIMMIE JACKSON

I’m honored to be nominated for a position on the Used Truck Association Board of Directors. With 30 years of experience in the truck and equipment auction industry, I’ve built my career on transparency, delivering results, and fostering relationships. I believe I can bring a real-world perspective and value to the UTA.

I’m committed to the UTA’s mission and am ready to roll up my sleeves to support its future. I appreciate your consideration and would be honored to serve on the Board.

BO JOHNSON

I began my career in the used truck industry in 2010, working for an independent dealership in the Memphis area. 

In 2016, I took the role of Used Truck Marketing and Sales Manager for Kenworth Corporate, where I became involved with the UTA and had the opportunity to serve as an OEM advisor on the board. I quickly recognized the value the association brought to its members and took an active role by joining the training committee. 

I would be honored to serve another term on the UTA Board and to continue supporting and representing its members.

PAUL STEPHENS

I’ve spent the past 22 years in the used truck industry, leading teams and driving business growth across multiple locations. My career began with managing two Ryder Used Truck Centers, followed by overseeing four Arrow Truck Sales locations. I later served as Vice President of Retail Sales at Arrow, and for the past five years, I’ve been the Vice President of Wholesale & Purchasing.

STEVE TAM

Thank you for considering me as a candidate for a position on the UTA Board of Directors. I would sincerely appreciate your vote for re-election. When I considered whether to run for a second term, the answer came quickly. The UTA is a great organization that I’m committed to supporting. As a volunteer board member, there’s nothing more satisfying than being part of a team that runs like a welloiled machine. Even when the inevitable breakdown happens, the board members are there with their sleeves rolled up, ready to pitch in and get the job done. My quiet, behind-the-scenes contributions align well with the board’s management philosophy

JIM ZIMMERMAN

Jim grew up on a farm in South Central Pennsylvania. It was there he had his first experience with heavy machinery—operating his dad’s Mack tractor, drop deck, dump, and hopper bottom trailer. By age 15 he overhauled his first diesel engine in a farm tractor, learning the hard way with his dad standing over his shoulder. Every bit of equipment maintenance was handled in-house. He says it was a great learning experience.

Jim has been a member of the UTA since 2004, serving in various positions over the years. Jim credits the UTA friendships and mentors as being instrumental to his success. His goal is to continue being an asset to the used truck industry.

Corporate Members: Mark your calendars for August 1 and check your email for your ballot to vote for the newest four UTA Board Members! Be sure to check your spam folder if you don't see it.

Driving a commercial motor vehicle requires more advanced driving knowledge and skills than driving a regular car. That is why it requires its own license, the CDL, and has training schools and programs specifically designed for and committed to teaching these skills.

So, what will you learn at a semi-truck driving school, and which are the top CDL training schools to consider? Find out all in this short guide to CDL training. 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Steve Tam

Steve Tam has been a proud member of the UTA since 2005.

His journey began with a love for all things motorized, be it a lawn mower, minibike, snowmobile, boat, car, and more.

“Being a typical kid, I loved driving and working on anything that had a motor,” he says. 

That childhood fascination evolved during his time in the U.S. Army, where he drove wheeled vehicles ranging from jeeps to Gama Goats (six-wheeled articulated semi-amphibious off-road vehicle) to 5-ton trucks.

After the Army, Steve earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. He landed his first job in the truck industry with Cummins in 1993.

The trucking industry is facing an unprecedented crisis combining tariffs, inflation, and supply chain vulnerabilities that is set to fundamentally reshape dealer operations.

While media coverage often centers on tariff percentages, the reality for truck dealers is far more complex. 

We're experiencing a triple-threat scenario that compounds costs in ways not seen since the energy crisis of the 1970s.

As tariffs and regulations reshape the trucking landscape in 2025 and beyond, dealers are confronting unprecedented challenges—ones that could add over $40,000 to the cost of new trucks and disrupt long-established supply chains.

September 29 - October 2, 2025

Exclusive All-Inclusive Two-Day Fishing Trip

• Take a tour of the Peterbilt Plant, then off the Lake Tawakoni!
• 2 nights lodging in private, gated, upscale cabins
• All meals included (chef-prepared dinners and charcuterie boards!)
• Guided fishing Wednesday and Thursday. 
• Networking, Fish Stories, Cornhole, and MORE!

WAIT! Don't just attend…

Washington Update: Key Areas that Impact Women in Trucking

Women in Trucking staff (June 2, 2025) 

In recent years, the commercial trucking industry has found itself navigating not just highways but a shifting landscape of national policy changes. From environmental regulations and independent contractor classification to recent tariffs that reshape global trade flows and sweeping executive orders issued by the Trump administration, these political decisions have far-reaching effects on how goods move across the country.

USED TRUCK MARKET REVIEW & FORECAST

VOLUME TRENDS: Same dealer used Class 8 retail truck sales decreased in May. The 10% m/m slide was directionally consistent with, but larger than, the expected 3% seasonal drop the industry usually experiences. May is usually the third weakest sales month of the year, running nearly 5% below average. The drop would have been steeper were it not for the auction segment, which jumped 141% m/m as it recovered from its first-month-of-the-quarter hangover. The wholesale channel was also a drag on the total market, shrinking 21% sequentially. Collectively, total market same dealer sales volumes were 23% higher m/m in May. 

Auction Update with Commentary

Historically, June is a higher-volume and lower-pricing month at auctions. June 2025 continued this pattern. 

Looking at late-model sleeper tractors, average pricing for our benchmark truck in June was:

• Model year 2023: $64,992; $5,800 (8.2%) lower than May

• Model year 2022: $53,959; $5,685 (9.5%) lower than May

• Model year 2021: $35,504; $7,495 (17.4%) lower than May

• Model year 2020: $31,520; $3,056 (8.8%) lower than May

• Model year 2019: $22,588; $2,812 (11.1%) lower than May

See full report

Used Heavy-Duty Truck Inventory Levels Move Lower Year Over Year

The newest market reports from Sandhills Global, which cover used trucks, trailers, and equipment on Sandhills’ U.S. platforms, show that used heavy-duty truck inventory levels were more than 20% lower in June 2025 compared to June 2024. Used sleeper truck inventory levels have recently shown monthly increases and, as of June, inched higher than day cab inventory levels. Overall, value trends are holding steady, but this seems to be the result of diverging trends in the day cab and sleeper truck categories.

The UTA wants to recognize the wins of the people and companies in our industry! If you want to share news about an award or accolade, please send the details and article link to our newsletter editor at utaeditor@uta.org.

TPS Distributor of the Year Nomination Form

TPS loves recognizing the best operations in the independent aftermarket. We also love your input on deciding who those operations should be.

(Michael Freeze/Transport Topics)

Mack Trucks Launches Pioneer Class 8 Tractor

Truck, Parts, Service staff (April 8, 2025) — Brooklyn, N.Y. — Mack Trucks unveiled its newest Class 8 model, the Mack Pioneer, which officials touted as its most aerodynamic and driver-focused highway truck to date. Against the backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge, Mack’s new vehicle was unveiled in front of media and special guests during its premiere event April 8.

FTR Webinar Shows Threats to Trucking Capacity

Truck, Parts, Service staff, (June 18) — Economic uncertainty, coupled with higher insurance costs, flat rates, and changing policies from Washington, D.C., may finally come for the burgeoning number of small carriers that proliferated during the pandemic.

Commerce Department Levies Dumping Duties on Chinese, Turkish Brake Drums

Truck, Parts, Service staff  (June 17, 2025) — The U.S. Department of Commerce announced its final affirmative determinations in the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations of certain brake drums from the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Türkiye on Monday.

Group Warns that Cargo Theft Expected to Rise 22% in 2025 Due to Digitalization in Trucking and Supply Chain

CDL Life (June 2025, 2025) —On June 25, the NICB issued a warning on the growing risk of cargo theft caused by increasing digitalization of the supply chain. The group said that cargo theft resulted in $1 billion in losses in 2023, and that cargo theft losses increased by 27% in 2024 to hit an all-time high. Cargo theft losses are expected to increase by 22% by the end of 2025 to hit yet another record high.

President Trump signs measures to revoke CARB's EPA waivers | Trucks, Parts, Service

Lucas Deal, Truck, Parts, Service staff (June 16, 2025) — President Trump on Thursday signed H.J. Resolutions 87, 88 and 89 revoking waivers granted to California for its Advanced Clean Trucks and low-NOx Omnibus rule on heavy trucks and its future ban on gas-powered cars.

Court Orders Administration to Release EV Charger Funds

Sudhin Thanawala and Sophie Austin, Transport Topics, Associated Press June 25, 2025 8:48 AM, EDT — A federal judge June 24 ordered the Trump administration to release billions of dollars in funding for the buildout of electric vehicle chargers in more than a dozen states.

Senators Avoid EV, Hybrid Fees in Their Version of Budget Bill

Transport Topics,  Eugene Mulero (June 24 2025) — The U.S. Senate’s tax-writing panel in June put its official stamp on the chamber’s upcoming budget bill, which will notably not include a fee on electric and hybrid vehicles.

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