THE UTA's 25TH ANNUAL CONVENTION 

Dear UTA Members and Attendees,

As we wrap up the 25th annual Used Truck Association convention at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando, Florida, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable experience we shared together. We had 719 attendees this year, which made for truly inspiring levels of energy and enthusiasm throughout the event.

Our convention kicked off with two fantastic networking activities on Wednesday, November 13th. The sponsor cabanas by the pool provided a perfect setting for informal conversations and connections. Later, the meet and greet reception under the stars was accompanied by the lively sounds of a steel drum band, which created a vibrant atmosphere for attendees to mingle and build relationships.

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On Thursday, November 14th, our emcee, Charles Bowles, welcomed attendees to start the day. We were then proud to honor our UTA veterans, acknowledging their contributions and dedication to our industry. The updates from UTA’s President, Rick Clark, and board advisor, Dean Jeske, provided valuable insights into our association's progress. As tradition holds, Dean also announced our 2024 scholarship recipients for both 4-year college and diesel vo-tech programs. More information about this year’s winners can be found on the UTA website.

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Revolutionizing Used Truck Buying with Online Auctions

Today’s fast-moving truck market demands flexibility and access, especially for small business owners and fleet managers looking to expand. Now, Penske Used Trucks has introduced a new online auction platform, offering a seamless, user-friendly way to browse and bid on commercial vehicles. This digital shift takes the experience beyond traditional auctions and dealership visits, enabling buyers to secure quality used trucks from any device, anywhere in the country.

Designed with transparency in mind, Penske’s auction site offers registered buyers exclusive access to a wide variety of vehicles – from light-duty trucks to heavy-duty tractors and specialty equipment like utility vehicles. 

Auctions begin every Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. EST and close Thursday at 11:30 a.m. EST, giving users a convenient weekly cycle to stay in tune with their business needs.

Jack Mitchell, senior vice president of vehicle remarketing at Penske Used Trucks, emphasizes that this platform aims to simplify the buying process: “We’ve designed this site to be straightforward and reliable, so buyers can feel confident in their purchase decisions.”

Penske’s auction site stands out by offering free third-party condition reports and up to five years of maintenance history for each vehicle, making it easier for buyers to assess value and reliability. With tools like auto-bid, instant bid, and advanced bidding options, users can participate at their own pace, ensuring they get the right vehicle at the right price.

With no hidden fees, flexible financing options, and equipment protection plans, Penske’s auction site is designed to streamline fleet growth. Ready to start? Visit www.penskeusedtrucks.com/auction to view inventory, and to register and start bidding.

We also rolled out the new UTA Membership Health Benefits Program, which is poised to enhance the value we bring to our members. If you would like more information on the available plans, just visit UTA.clearwaterhealth.com.

Additionally, on Thursday morning, we announced the winners of this year's Dealer Group Awards. These include:

• OEM Dealer: Brian Ward with Kenworth
• Non-OEM Dealer: Steve Bootsma with Vander Haag’s
• Vendor: Charles Bowles with Commercial Truck Trader / Trader Interactive

Brian Ward

Steve Bootsma

Charles Bowles

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Following up the Dealer Group awards was the prestigious UTA Marvin F. Gordon Lifetime Achievement Award which was presented to Val Breitag from The Larson Group. Thank you to everyone who participated. It was an impressive group of individuals to select from. Congratulations to all.

We also recognized Hal Dickson with a special award for his long-standing service and leadership within the UTA, honoring his many years of volunteer contributions.

Val Breitag, 2024 LTA Winner

Hal Dickson, special recognition

ADVERTISEMENT • DIAMOND LEVEL SPONSOR • ARROW TRUCK SALES

Arrow Truck Sales has been helping to keep North America moving since 1950. In the year 2000, Arrow was purchased by Volvo Group North America. They have 18 locations spread throughout the United States and one in Canada. Arrow sells all makes and models of commercial trucks and holds the units they acquire to a high standard.  

Arrow is a full-service truck buying experience – offering a wide selection of warranty and protection products. They own their own financing company – Transport Funding – making them a one stop shop for owner-operators. Arrow prides itself on a clear, simple, used truck buying experience. They stand by the trucks they sell and are up front and honest about the inventory they have on their lots.

For more information about who they are and the trucks they sell, visit www.arrowtruck.com. 

Due to unforeseen conditions, economic outlook speaker, Dr Chris Kuehl, could not attend. We're sending him well wishes for a speedy recovery. Our “replacement” speaker was suggested through the same speaker’s bureau and happened to be in Orlando doing another speaking event. The only change to our original itinerary was a longer networking break on that Thursday morning, which enabled many of us to meet some new connections.

Thomas Landstreet with Trusco Capital Management shared his insights into the current economic landscape, which sparked thoughtful discussions among attendees. His humor and experience made for a great presentation, although we sure hope he is wrong about stagflation and where interest rates could be going!

The two workshops on regulations/emissions and retail marketing were well-attended and offered practical strategies for navigating the challenges we face in our ever-changing industry. Our media content provider, Lucas Deal with Fusable, has written articles highlighting the workshops and the panelists that participated sharing their expertise. Please click this link to check some of these out.

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The Vendor Expo rounded out the day, showcasing a wide array of products and services that are essential to business operations. It was a great opportunity for attendees to connect with vendors and explore new solutions. Along with the products and swag, it was fun to see the creative ideas our sponsors brought to liven up the expo. This included Star Wars characters, NASCAR racing, live crocodiles, and a photo booth with personalized T-shirts. It was a fun experience.

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On the morning of Friday, November 15th, Jimmie Jackson from EquipLinc commenced the day's events. The award for Best of Expo was presented to International Used Truck Centers for their Tacky Tourist theme. The engaging photos and personalized t-shirts featured at their booth are sure to evoke pleasant memories of the expo. Congratulations to them!

Following the award presentation, Steve Tam from ACT Research delivered a speech highlighting some positive trends to consider. He noted that freight activity is starting to increase, and historical business cycle data, along with economic forecasts, suggest that loads and tonnage are expected to rise in 2025. For more information, click this link.

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Lastly, our keynote speaker, Jim Morris, shared his life story, which inspired the Disney film "The Rookie". His experiences provided a valuable lesson in resilience and reminded us of the importance of pursuing one’s dreams. This message resonated well as our meeting drew to a close.

To conclude our second day, attendees had several activity options to choose from:

• Golf 
• Florida wildlife and airboat tours
• Visits to Disney Parks
• Relaxing by the pool at the Gaylord Palms

The convention wouldn’t be complete without announcing the bragging rights for the two awards presented during the John Gresley Golf Tournament held at Lake Buena Vista Golf Course. Chad Fine was recognized for being closest to the pin, while Grayson McBride received the award for longest drive. Both winners will be awarded a $500 gift card to Dick's Sporting Goods. Congratulations to them.

Thank you to everyone who participated, contributed, and made this convention a success. Your enthusiasm and engagement are what make the UTA community so special. We look forward to seeing you next year at the 26th Annual UTA Convention. It’s scheduled for November 5-8 in San Diego, California. There we will continue to foster connections, share knowledge, and drive our industry forward.

Until then, we’ll be California Dreamin’!

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Connect with more buyers and drive sales with Commercial Truck Trader. Take advantage of this limited-time exclusive promotion for 2024 UTA Convention attendees! 

New Customers: Receive 25% off your listing package for the first 3 months when you add our most popular Premium Select high visibility enhancements and/or Retargeting product.

Existing Customers: Let us customize an added-value package that is just right for your dealership when you add Premium Select high visibility enhancements or any Retargeting product to your existing package 

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Request a consultation with our experts to learn how Commercial Truck Trader can amplify your marketing strategies. Email us at Marketing@CommercialTruckTrader.com or call at (877) 920-5442.

ADVERTISEMENT • DIAMOND SPONSOR • INTERNATIONAL USED TRUCK CENTERS

With 14 Used Truck Centers nationwide, International Used Trucks offers a large variety of Class 5 – 8 inventory from a variety of manufacturers. Our specialized team of wholesale managers are here to help find the truck or fleet of trucks to meet your customers’ needs. Whether you’re looking for something value-priced to keep costs down or a late-model, low-mileage unit to take advantage of the latest technology, we've got a truck for you.

International offers factory-backed warranties on qualifying used International trucks so your customer can purchase with confidence. The warranty benefits include $0 Deductible, 100% Parts & Labor Coverage, and No Claim Maximums.  

International also provides access to up-to-date training for your salespeople on International products. With this training, your team can sell International trucks with thorough knowledge of the product lineup and the benefits of each truck and engine.

ADVERTISEMENT • DIAMOND SPONSOR • National Truck Protection / Premium 2000

The NTP/Premium 2000 team of 24 sales and management associates had a great time at the 25th Used Truck Association (UTA) Convention in Orlando. We connected with our long-time dealership and OEM partners and welcomed new relationships at our Cabana, Expo Booth, and Dealer Appreciation Event. 

Everyone we talked to was excited to learn about our new products and services that will generate additional profit streams for our selling partners while providing more protection to truck owners beyond our industry-leading equipment protection plans (extended warranties) for class 2 – 8 commercial trucks. New industry-first programs for used and new trucks include Road Hazard Tire and Wheel, Windshield Protection, GAP, and WRAP coverage. We also have a new portfolio of services, like Sales Rep Training and Systems Integration that will yield selling efficiencies and improve the dealerships’ bottom line.

For more information or to become a selling partner, contact Craig O’Hare, SVP Sales,  cohare@ntpco.com. Or click the ad to find a Dealer Performance Director near you.

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Peterbilt Motor Company is recognized as the “Class” of the industry. With a complete lineup of diesel, natural gas and electric vehicles, Peterbilt has earned a global reputation for superior engineering, quality and craftsmanship. Peterbilt is Driving Uptime Every Day through innovative aftermarket services and advanced technology solutions delivered through its 400+ dealer locations in North America.

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ADVERTISEMENT • DIAMOND LEVEL SPONSOR • KENWORTH TRUCK COMPANY

Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World’s Best® heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth trucks have been driven by quality, innovation, and technology throughout the company’s 100-year history. Kenworth is an industry leader in providing durable trucks with long service life and excellent resale value. 

Timeless, classic style also has always been part of the Kenworth legacy. From enhanced durability to improved driver comfort to optimized operational efficiency, each Kenworth stands as a testament to our uncompromising engineering and craftsmanship.

That tradition continues today with the company’s award-winning on-highway flagship Kenworth T680 and vocational flagship Kenworth T880. Today, Kenworth continues its tradition as the driver’s truck. Kenworth is proud to be a supporter of the Used Truck Association. Visit Kenworth.com for more information. Kenworth is a PACCAR company. 10630 NE 38th Pl, Kirkland, WA 98033 • 425-828-5000

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This year, we’re proud sponsors of the 2024 UTA Annual Convention, celebrating the shared vision of innovation and excellence in the used truck market. Ready to experience best-in-class driveaway services? Visit our website or connect with us today to discuss how Alliance Driveaway Solutions can deliver for your business.

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