TORONTO — “It’s my four-wheeled bike.”

That’s Jeff Bryan talking about his ’07 Corvette. It’s white, with all the bling. A Sunday car, you might say. It’s also his first Vette and it comes with a very cool story.

He bought the vehicle with the proceeds from a ’69 Dodge Charger that he landed when he was 16 and refurbished to mint. When the Charger was 37 years old, he sold it for almost enough money to buy the Vette.

Bryan was talking cars because he will be driving the muscle car to the Ontario Trucking Association’s (OTA) first-ever Cross-Ontario Motorcycle and Car Rally, scheduled for September 12, at the Horseshoe Valley just north of Barrie. (Rain or shine.)

Bryan, 43, is the new Chairman of the OTA. He operates Jeff Bryan Transport out of Burford, ON, and he says the car-and-motorcycle rally is indicative of some “pretty exciting “ changes to the OTA’s 2013 lineup of events.

“There was nothing wrong with the way the OTA was operating; we just thought we’d try out some new things,” he said. “We’ll have a lot more social events where there’ll be opportunities for members and allied members to have face time."

Bryan Transport runs about 45 trucks, which probably makes Bryan the owner of the smallest fleet ever belonging to an OTA Chairman.

He says he intends to make all OTA events as inclusive as possible.

“We want every event to be for every body, right from the Schneiders and Challengers down to the guy running a couple of trucks.”

Another change-up will involve the organization’s annual conference.

This November 13 and 14 will see OTA members gather at the downtown Toronto Ritz-Carlton and according to an OTA press release titled “Ain’t Your Granddad’s Trucking Events,” the conference will feature "fresh, contemporary elements aimed at new visitors to the convention and those working their way through the family business or corporate ladder in the trucking industry.

"An offsite dinner at a hot local watering hole will be a new feature along with the classic reception for traditionalists.

"The rest of the program will continue to focus on high-level business speakers and motivators culminating with a Thursday evening industry dinner celebration featuring a prominent speaker.

"Finally, cap the night by going all-in at our first-ever fundraising Texas Hold 'em poker tournament. Event sponsors will receive preferred pricing for tickets for employees and customers. (Portion of the proceeds benefitting the OTA Education Foundation.)”

And of course, there’s golf. On May 30 and 31, the OTA board of directors holds its Spring Retreat and Golf Retreat to offer access to the OTA Board of Directors and a broad-spectrum of carriers all under one roof.

Sponsors will have exclusive access to the top drawer of the Ontario trucking industry.

A full list of sponsorship opportunities, costs and benefits can be obtained by clicking here . Contact Joanne.Benac@Ontruck.org for more info.