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One year after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, Greatwide Logistics Services is rolling out a major marketing effort to reassure existing customers and bring in new shippers, particularly medium-size firms.

I am writing in response to the letter with the opinion about telemarketers, which was published in the March 8 edition. As national sales manager for a third-party logistics provider, I would like the opportunity to counter some of the points the letter writer made and give a sales perspective to this issue.

The Mid-America Trucking Show this year was miles beyond the somber version last year. The exhibition hall in Louisville was humming last week with new products and rising expectations, reflecting the fact that virtually all segments of trucking are showing signs of recovery.

Increased competition is driving down insurance rates and forcing providers to offer broader coverage to transportation firms, according to in-terviews with industry specialists and new surveys.

Funding is the main obstacle to Congress’ passing a long-term highway bill, and several officials said last week it was unclear whether the bill could be done before the most recent extension of current law expires at the end of the year.

Driver turnover — or churn — at large truckload carriers hovered near its all-time low in the fourth quarter of 2009, coming in at 44%, American Trucking Associations said.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Truck makers and their suppliers returned to marketing products here that intrigue drivers and appeal to fleet executives based on durability, comfort, ease of operation and even pizzazz, after years spent surviving the Great Recession and straining to meet government-imposed emissions requirements.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood defended his earlier pronouncement of the equality of non-motorized modes of transportation, saying they are “what the people want,” and that a key part of the administration’s livability program was getting “gas-guzzling trucks” off the road.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Cummins Inc., the only remaining independent truck engine builder, said last week that it will use federal emissions credits to meet new government pollution standards with its 2010 models.

Business groups, including American Trucking Associations, said they had concerns about the recently enacted health-care reform package.