The 2012 Truck & Trailer Specialties sponsored bus trip to Monroe, Wisconsin to tour the Monroe Truck Equipment plant is in the "history books".  We had over 90 customers participate in the trip, plant tour, and seminars.  There were excellent presenters including Travis Bartholomew; Superintendent of Kalamazoo County Road Commission, Dave Budd; 32 years MDOT Maintenance Superintendent now retired and representing Great Lakes Chloride, Mark Helbach;  Monroe Truck/Snow & Ice Equipment Division,  Dan Bouwman; President of Truck & Trailer Specialties, Bob Slocum; 30+ years as Fleet Manager at Barry County Road Commission now retired and employed by Truck & Trailer Specialties, myself, Mark Lester; 29 years MDOT Southwest Region Fleet Manager, now retired and employed by Truck & Trailer Specialties plus we were joined by Mark DeVries; Maintenance Superintendent of McHenry County, Illinois and very active in Clear Roads initiatives and APWA and recognized leader in liquid chloride blends anti-ice, prewet, and direct liquid applications.  Travis Bartholomew shared successful  effective cost cutting efficiencies developed and implemented at Kalamazoo County Road Commisssion involving better inventory control, some equipment innovations, use of liquid chlorides, more effective staffing and shift times, all resulting in substantial reduction in salt use and huge cost savings while maintaining service levels.  Dave shared liquid chloride products, use, application rates, testing, specification compliance assurance, and "do's" and don'ts" and then shared Clear Roads Direct Liquid Application initiative.  Mark DeVries shared his experience and his knowledge with liquids, equipment, etc.  Monroe Snow & Ice equipment offerings and technological advances were shared. I shared a presentation on acquisition of "Multi-Functional" trucks in public fleets to increase utilization and decrease "fleet creep".  We are in the process of providing access to PDF versions of the presentations on our website:  www.ttspec.com. under the "Education" header.  Please, take the opportunity to check them out.