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January 12, 1999 9:35 AM, EST

The Salt Lake City Winter Olympics are still three years away, but trucking is already working on preparations.

The Utah Motor Truck Association has been working with the Olympic Transportation Committee to coordinate the traffic flow in and around the games.

"We’re trying to see what has to be done to make this thing work," said David Creer, executive director of the UMTA. "They’re bringing in so many people, buses and vehicles, the logistics needed for it all are going to be pretty incredible."

One concern is how to coordinate the delivery of all the necessary food and supplies to avoid creating traffic nightmares when events are scheduled.

Another problem is diverting freight which would normally have passed through the Salt Lake City area to alternative routes.

"If you look at it on a map Utah is quite a crossroads of big highways going east and west including Interstates 15 and 80," said Mr. Creer. "The venues are right off the main highways and of course those are interstate trucking hazmat lanes."

The Olympic Committee has asked the industry to try and reduce truck traffic by 40% during the Olympics.

"Logistically I just think it’s been a good thing they’ve included the trucking industry and we’re kind of moving forward with some really good advance planning," said Mr. Creer.