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Creating a clear path for career advancement to help attract and retain diesel technicians is key to growing trucking's pool of future leaders, industry experts said.

Motor carriers are investing in training, technology and ongoing education to help ensure their drivers conduct thorough pre- and post-trip inspections, which are essential for complying with federal safety standards and minimizing vehicle downtime.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is focused on improving infrastructure and creating common-sense regulations, and open communication with the trucking industry enhances the government’s efforts.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ratification of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is the proposed replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement, is critical to uninterrupted, timely border crossings, trucking executives said here during American Trucking Associations’ Mid-Year Management Meeting.

Dealerships and fleets are changing stocking patterns for replacement parts and adding inventory as they work to minimize truck downtime amid widespread shortages of some truck parts.

Some companies are embracing daycabs and hotel stays for drivers, rather than sleeper cabs. Benefits include safety and better sleep.

With shippers and receivers demanding tighter delivery windows, trucking companies are utilizing a range of technologies to more accurately predict when drivers will ­arrive at destinations.

Cents per mile remains the dominant form of pay in the for-hire truckload sector, but its dominance is not as strong as it once was as fleets embrace alternative pay models that take cyclicality out of driver pay. Fleets that have implemented new payment methods said drivers appreciate the steady income.

Equipment and component manufacturers in the trucking industry are looking to expand their online presence and also see potential in 3D printing, both of which could help them reach more customers, they said.

A growing economy and strong new truck sales have increased demand for aftermarket parts, creating supply chal­lenges. Truck manufacturers and component ­suppliers said they’re working to alleviate pressure on the industry by expanding offerings, ­improving distribution channels and using predictive forecasting tools to get ahead of demand.