This year, ATA鈥檚 Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) is celebrating 70 years of excellence. 聽Over four days in Nashville, thousands of the industry鈥檚 top technical minds celebrated this milestone in grand style.
No other event matches TMC鈥檚 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition when it comes to a comprehensive, user-driven focus on fleet technology and maintenance management. 聽In Music City, Council attendees had the opportunity to:
- Lead the development of the industry鈥檚 most trusted technical recommended practices
- Collaborate with peers in 100+ Task Forces, and dozens of Technical and Study Group sessions.聽
- Explore proven solutions and emerging technologies in our expansive Exhibit Hall
- Grow a network and be part of the industry鈥檚 most collaborative forum for advancing fleet solutions
- Here are four of the top highlights of TMCAnnual26:
1. We Glimpsed the Future
For seven decades, TMC has raised professional and technical standards for the trucking industry. 聽TMC鈥檚 Transportation Technology Exhibition is an important part of that effort. 聽It enables attendees to not only see what is available in the field today, but to have the opportunity to discuss and learn about the latest advances in truck technology.
This year鈥檚 TMC Transportation Technology Exhibition was sold out, featuring approximately 375 vendors spanning 350,000 square feet. 聽The show floor showcased leading-edge technologies for fleet maintenance management. 聽
Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in ride alongs and static displays with Aperia Technologies, ConMet, Cummins, Stoneridge, and Tesla.
2. We Learned and Networked
The theme of TMC鈥檚 2026 Annual Meeting was 鈥淚nnovative Strategies for Technical Leadership.鈥 聽TMC鈥檚 customary slate of educational sessions, task force meetings, technical sessions, and management sessions sparked in-depth discussions and provided strategies for fleets to strengthen their operations. 聽
The sessions placed a special emphasis on two special tracks鈥擝ack to Basics and Advanced Technology. 聽These gave industry leaders the ability to chart a course on critical issues like maximizing uptime, lowering maintenance costs, reducing emissions, deploying automation, and improving safety.
Beyond the sessions, Nashville provided invaluable networking opportunities鈥攊ncluding a high-energy 鈥淎nnual Reception and Social Event鈥濃攖hat built lasting partnerships and will help drive success in the months ahead.
3.We Honored Industry Leaders
TMC has leaders across its organization, but the industry experts honored at TMC鈥檚 Annual Meeting set and raise the bar for excellence in the industry every day.
TMC with a variety of awards for their important service to the council and the industry.
Additionally, four leaders were singled out for TMC鈥檚 highest honor, . 聽This prestigious award is given to individuals who demonstrate professional excellence in commercial vehicle maintenance in support of Council activities 聽
This year鈥檚 Silver Spark Plug honorees were: Scott Bartlein of Truck Fleet Management, Taki Darakos of PITT OHIO, Mark Zachos of DG Technologies, and Jack Legler of TMC/ATA.
4. We Welcomed a New Chairman
At the Annual Meeting, TMC the installation of Mark Kennedy, corporate VP of equipment at Knight Swift Transportation, Inc., as its 67th general chairman and treasurer.
Kennedy has been an exemplary member of TMC, including winning the Silver Spark Plug. 聽His professionalism and commitment to trucking make him an outstanding choice.
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Kennedy served the past year as the Council鈥檚 vice chairman and chairman of meetings. 聽He succeeds Radu Mihai, corporate fleet manager for BURNCO Rock Products.
鈥淚鈥檓 honored to accept this position from my fellow TMC members,鈥 Kennedy said. 鈥淚 look forward to working with the rest of TMC鈥檚 leadership to advance our industry鈥檚 goals. I also want to thank Radu for his service to our organization.鈥
Save the Date!
With TMC鈥檚 2026 Annual Meeting now in the rearview, we are already looking forward to when we will see industry leaders at in Pittsburgh. The event will also feature the Council鈥檚 inaugural summit on artificial intelligence 鈥 The AI Summit. Mark your calendars for September 20- 24, 2026. 聽You won鈥檛 want to miss it!