Continental Tire North America Inc. (CTNA) and Arnold Transportation are sponsoring the "Ultimate Road Trip," a rolling classroom featuring a series of educational seminars aimed at independent owner-operators.
The goal of the four-month tour is to help educate independent truckers about managing their businesses.
"Independent drivers are critical to freight transportation, which fuels the American economy," says Gary Nichols, CTNA's national fleet sales manager. "By helping drivers manage their business more professionally, CTNA can foster their success and contribute to the prosperity of the American trucking industry."
Dick Follis, director of fleet development for Arnold Transportation, says this is a great opportunity "to attract more drivers to the industry, especially company drivers who are thinking about becoming an independent contractor."
The Ultimate Road Trip truck will make daily appearances at travel centers and various truck shows from California to Pennsylvania and Florida to Nebraska. It will host seminars on such topics as managing money, buying and maintaining equipment, developing a business plan, finding a good tax service, planning for retirement, medical insurance and dressing for success.
2004 Ultimate Road Trip schedule
* July 8–9: Walcott Truckers Jamboree, Walcott, Iowa.
* July 10: Effingham, Ill.
* July 11-12: Nashville, Tenn.
* July 13-14: Atlanta, Ga.
* July 15: Lake Park, Ga.
* July 16: Baldwin and Jacksonville, Fla.
* July 19: Jacksonville, Fla.
* July 20: Savannah, Ga.
* July 21: Manning, S.C.
* July 22: Kenly, N.C.
* July 23: Richmond, Va.
* July 24: Ashland, Va.
* July 25-26: Jessup, Md.
* July 27: Elkton, Md.
* July 28: Paulsboro, N.J.
* July 29: Bloomsbury, N.J.
* July 30: Columbia, N.J.
* Aug. 2: Harrisburg, Pa.
* Aug. 3: Brookville, Pa.
* Aug. 4: Youngstown, Ohio.
* Aug. 5: Lodi, Ohio.
* Aug. 6: Toledo, Ohio.
* Aug. 7-8: Gary, Ind.
* Aug. 9: Whitestown, Ind.
* Aug. 10: Dayton, Ohio.
* Aug. 11: Florence, Ky.
* Aug. 12: Knoxville, Tenn.
* Aug. 13: Spartanburg, S.C.
* Aug. 14: Brunswick, Ga.
* Aug. 14: Jacksonville, Fla.
* Aug. 30: Cordele, Ga.
* Aug. 31: Cartersville, Ga.
* Sept. 1: Antioch, Tenn.
* Sept. 2: West Memphis, Ark.
* Sept. 4: Oklahoma City, Okla.
* Sept. 6: San Antonio, Texas.
* Sept. 7: Dallas, Texas.
* Sept. 8-9: Dallas Truck Show.
* Sept. 10–12: Great American Truck Show, Texas.
* Sept. 14: Sweetwater, Texas.
* Sept. 16: Las Cruces, N.M.
* Sept. 17: Eloy, Ariz.
* Sept. 18: Coachella, Calif.
* Sept. 19: East Ontario, Calif.
* Sept. 20: West Ontario, Calif.
* Sept. 21: Buttonwillow, Calif.
* Sept. 22: Santa Nella, Calif.
* Sept. 23: Sparks, Nev.
* Sept. 24: Mill City, Nev.
* Sept. 25: Salt Lake City, Utah.
* Sept. 26: Fort Bridger, Wyo.
* Sept. 27: Cheyenne, Wyo.
* Sept. 28: Grand Island, Neb.
* Sept. 29: Oak Grove, Mo.
* Sept. 30: St. Louis, Mo.
* Oct. 1: Seymour, Ind.
* Oct. 3: Knoxville, Tenn.
* Oct. 4: Madison, Ga.
* Oct. 11: Wildwood, Fla.
* Oct. 12: Marianna, Fla.
* Oct. 13: Montgomery, Ala.
* Oct. 14: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
* Oct. 15: Meridian, Miss.
* Oct. 16: Tallulah, La.
* Oct. 17: Lafayette, La.
* Oct. 18: Slidell, La.
* Oct. 19: Mobile, Ala.
* Oct. 20: Jacksonville, Fla.
