Research to be Included in SAE Transactions

On April 21st, Bill Messerschmidt presented his research paper titled "A Statistical Analysis of Event Data from Heavy Vehicle Event Data Recorders" at the 2009 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress in Detroit, Michigan. The paper was co-authored by Jeffrey W. Muttart.

Bill and Jeff's paper was nominated for inclusion in SAE Transactions, a compilation of the year's most significant technical research. At the World Congress, session organizers announced that the paper was selected for inclusion in this prestigious collection.

Bill Speaks at Georgia Trial Lawyers Association's Annual Convention

On April 16th, Bill Messerschmidt was an invited speaker at the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association's Annual Convention. Bill spoke about GPS/GLS-enabled fleet management systems and Electronic On-Board Recorders (EOBRs). The convention, which was held at The Four Seasons Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, was filled to capacity. Bill and MSC thank Mr. Buck Rogers of Fried Rogers Goldberg LLC for the invitation to speak in the Trucking Litigation session of the Convention.

Fulfilling Our Mission

On April 15th, five MSC employees completed a three-hour training course through the Birmingham Red Cross. The course, titled "Fulfilling Our Mission," is the first class in a series that prepares individuals and companies to assist the American Red Cross (ARC) with disaster response, recovery, and preparedness.

Bill Messerschmidt, Ron DeMonia, Tim Joiner, Connie Davis, and Wendi Vegter completed the class. Each will be choosing areas in which to volunteer and assist the ARC, from clerical work to damage assessments to shelter management.

We anticipate that volunteering for the ARC will be a way that all of us can use our knowledge, skills, and abilities to give back to those in need.

Memorial Run for Trooper Demetrice Banks

Wendi Vegter (standing with Nicholas Vegter), Todd Vegter (holding Zack Vegter), Kelly Messerschmidt, and Bill Messerschmidt completed the Memorial Run for Trooper Demetrice Banks on 11 April 2009 in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Through this event, the Alabama State Trooper Association raised approximately $6000 to be placed in a trust fund for Trooper Banks' daughters. Those of us at MSC who participated in the run had a great time, and we are very proud to have been one of the business sponsoring this event.

Work Zone Awareness Week Begins Today

Every year, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sponsors an educational campaign to raise awareness about highway work zone safety. According to the FHWA, about one worker is killed every 10 hours in a highway construction zone.

You can view the 2009 Work Zone Awareness Week poster here:

http://www.atssa.com/galleries/default-file/NWZAW-Poster-Vert-web.pdf

The FHWA also provides a great deal of statistical data on highway injuries here:

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/facts/