NTEA, the Association for the Work Truck Industry will be opening of its first Canadian office in Ottawa, ON.
“Around the world, governments have begun to recognize the economic benefits associated with global truck platforms, harmonized safety regulations and emissions standards for commercial vehicles,” said Steve Carey, NTEA executive director. “Having a second Government Relations office further strengthens the NTEA’s ability to influence and respond to regulations and legislation impacting the North American market.”
The office is the NTEA’s first location in Canada and will play an important role in addressing the increasing challenges presented by international marketplace dynamics.
The Ottawa and Washington, D.C. offices focus on creating a unified voice for the work truck industry while addressing the needs of the North American market.
But how will the NTEA’s new Canadian office affect the Canadian Transportation Equipment Association (CTEA), which serves truck manufacturers, their dealers, distributors, component manufacturers and service providers in the Canadian marketplace?
Don Moore, executive director of the CTEA commented: “I have actually known about this for a little while now. We've always had a strong relationship with NTEA and so they've kept me in the loop on this. The focus of the move is global harmonization and we are in discussions with NTEA on how the two associations can work together through their new office on related issues.”
“Meanwhile,” Moore said, “We are still heavily involved on the Canadian domestic regulatory and policy issues, working with Transport Canada, Environment Canada and the provincial Ministries of Transportation and Environment to ensure that our industry's voice is heard. This is an area where we remain strong, and NTEA has indicated that this activity is not within the scope of their Ottawa office.”
The Ottawa office works under the direction of Mike Kastner, NTEA managing director, who leads the NTEA’s government relations efforts in Washington, D.C.
Established in 1964, NTEA, the Association for the Work Truck Industry, represents approximately 1,600 companies that manufacture, distribute, install, sell and repair commercial trucks, truck bodies, truck equipment, trailers and accessories.
50th President
The association also appointed Mark Woody, president of Palfinger North America in Niagara Falls, ON, its new president.
“I look forward to filling this role and am driven to work hard to lead the NTEA during its 50th year of serving the work truck industry,” Woody said.
Woody has served the work truck industry for 20 years. He began his industry career at Palfinger North America, where he served as director of sales and marketing from 1993-2001. He was then promoted to his current position as president.
Under Woody’s leadership, Palfinger North America employs more than 1,000 people throughout North and Latin America. Palfinger North America designs and manufactures commercial truck equipment, including knuckle boom cranes, forestry and recycling cranes, truck bodies, liftgates, aerial lifts, cable hosts, hook-lifts, mechanic trucks and truck-mounted forklifts.
He is an active member of the Palfinger Global Executive Team and served as president of the Articulating Crane Council of North America, an NTEA affiliate division, from 2003-2005.
