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As officers of American Trucking Associations, we are tasked with guiding the professional management of ATA and representing ATA at our federation partners’ meetings and industry events. In recent years, we also have assigned an officer as steward of ATA’s most prominent and important programs. For example, First Vice Chairman Kevin Burch has overseen our industry image movement, Trucking Moves America Forward, while Second Vice Chairman Dave Manning is our officer contact for LEAD ATA, our emerging leaders program. As part of this effort, I have the honor to be the officer serving as liaison to the ATA Technology & Maintenance Council, or TMC.

By the time you read this, a new grand champion will have been crowned at the National Truck Driving Championships in Indianapolis.

When it comes to differences in average height, weight and strength of male and female Class 8 truck drivers, those differences challenge truck designers to build a vehicle that can be easily used by both genders. Those physical differences can make it difficult for drivers — male or female — to reach the pedals while seeing over the hood, or to open a hood and be able to add engine oil or clean a windshield without having to climb atop a tire.

The annual National Truck Driving Championships kicked off Aug. 10 in Indianapolis. To coincide with Transport Topics’ coverage of the “Super Bowl of Safety,” this edition of Equipment & Maintenance Update features stories focused on drivers’ needs and concerns, including those related to comfort, safety and health.

The 79th annual National Truck Driving Championships and eighth annual National Step Van Driving Championships will be held Aug. 10-13 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Here is a list of drivers entered, sorted by the state from which they are competing.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s medical review board will meet later this month to make recommendations for possible changes to standards and practice for medical examiners diagnosing and treating truck drivers for obstructive sleep apnea.

The CEO of the Nordic region’s biggest road transport company, DSV A/S, predicts the trucks he relies on can start operating without drivers within the next five to 10 years.

We are usually big fans of bipartisan cooperation. Democrats and Republicans should proclaim their ideals and preferences with clarity — especially during election campaigns — but after citizens vote there comes a time to get to work and start solving problems.