This freight-focused assessment of the trucking industry will dive deep into the current state of the economic, regulatory, and industrial factors that impact the demand for freight and rate pressure. With an excellent agenda featuring renowned industry speakers as well as exclusive forecasts powered by the FTR Freight•cast forecasting methodology, you'll leave the 2023 FTR Transportation Conference with a crystal clear understanding of where the trucking market is headed in the near and long terms.
Exclusive economic and freight forecasts from FTR
Examinations of regulatory and legal developments and a dive into the nagging driver supply issues
Keynote session providing insights from a major industry executive
Carrier, shipper, and broker perspectives on the state of the market and expectations for the coming year
Discussion of specific developments that could transform how the market operates
Exclusive economic and freight forecasts from FTR
Examinations of regulatory and legal developments and a dive into the nagging driver supply issues
Keynote session providing insights from a major industry executive
Carrier, shipper, and broker perspectives on the state of the market and expectations for the coming year
Discussion of specific developments that could transform how the market operates
Meet in the Crowne Plaza lobby. Start your day off right with a 3 or 5-mile run, or a 2-mile walk down the Indy canal. A great time to enjoy the beauty of Indianapolis and engage with your colleagues. Participants also receive a complimentary running shirt.
Join us for the Women in Transportation Meet and Greet. FTR’s VP of Client Services, Helen Lile, will host an informal gathering for women, allowing attendees the chance to connect and engage with other female leaders in the transportation industry.
More than three years after pandemic lockdowns, the U.S. economy continues to operate in ways that do not quite match up with the business cycles we typically saw before 2020. This session will review trends in the consumer, labor, industrial, and construction sectors and try to answer a key question: Is the economy simply taking longer to return to normal or is there a "new normal?"
Presenter:
TBA
Hear FTR's outlook for freight, utilization, and rates for the coming year and its assessment of upside and downside risks.
Presenter:
Avery Vise, FTR
Dry van has seen the biggest market swings of all trucking segments over the past three years due to volatility in stimulus-driven consumer demand, supply chain disruptions in automotive, and stresses in the competitive intermodal sector. Has the segment finally entered a period of incremental movements or will the roller coaster ride continue? Hear perspectives from leading dry van carriers and shippers.
Panelists:
TBA
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
While overall consumer demand in refrigerated goods did not experience the wild swings dry van did during the pandemic, refrigerated saw its own challenges due to supply disruptions and swings in where consumption occurred. Has the refrigerated market settled or will it run hot and cold? Hear perspectives from leading refrigerated carriers and shippers.
Panelists:
Jackie Bailey, Cargill
TBA
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
The flatbed spot volumes have softened due to weakness in the key construction and manufacturing sectors while spot rates have consistently run notably above average. One issue is that flatbed lacks the fluidity of capacity seen in the van segments, but is there more to the story? Hear perspectives from leading flatbed carriers and shippers.
Panelists:
Rob Roberson, Nucor
TBA
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
Where is the truck freight market going and how are relationships between carriers and their customers and employees changing? Hear insights into the current market landscape and into what the future might hold from a recognized leader in the trucking industry.
Presenters:
TBA
Eric Starks, FTR
The extreme market stress that fueled brokers' shipment volumes in 2020 and 2021 has normalized. Can intermediaries find a path to more consistent business conditions and, if so, how? Hear perspectives from leading broker/logistics firms.
Panelists:
Robert Hopper, Atlantic Logistics
TBA
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
Publicly traded carriers and logistics companies represent only a fraction of the overall market, but their transparency offers valuable insights into trends in the transportation industry. Hear insights on truck transportation from a leading equities analyst.
Presenter:
Bruce Chan, Stifel
Autonomous trucks are rivaled only by electric trucks as the sexiest trend in trucking, but progress toward driverless trucking is not easy to assess. Hear from consulting firm Roland Berger regarding what approaches appear to be most promising, what challenges remain, and what timelines for routine operations appear reasonable.
Presenter:
Wilfried Aulbur, Roland Berger
The closing session of the conference's Truck Freight day builds on the autonomous trucking session to look at other ways the industry might change, including not only on-highway and back-office technology but also business models and relationships between carriers and their customers, suppliers, and workers. Hear from a panel of thought leaders on where trucking is heading.
Panelists:
James Reed, Kodiak
TBA
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
Location: Indiana Rail Road Headquarters, Indianapolis, IN
Details Coming Soon!
Melissa is the Events Manager with FTR. She joined our team at the end of 2015, after spending almost 10 years at Indiana University’s School of Public Health, managing events, finances, and day-to-day operations for the Office of Development and Communications. At FTR, she is responsible for managing FTR's annual Transportation Conference, FTR webinars, and other events.
More than three years after pandemic lockdowns, the U.S. economy continues to operate in ways that do not quite match up with business cycles we typically saw before 2020. This session will review trends in the consumer, labor, industrial, and construction sectors and try to answer a key question: Is the economy simply taking longer to return to normal or is there a "new normal?"
Presenters: TBAHear FTR's outlook for freight, utilization, and rates for the coming year and its assessment of upside and downside risks.
Presenter:
Avery Vise, FTR
Dry van has seen the biggest market swings of all trucking segments over the past three years due to volatility in stimulus-driven consumer demand, supply chain disruptions in automotive, and stresses in the competitive intermodal sector. Has the segment finally entered a period of incremental movements or will the roller coaster ride continue? Hear perspectives from leading dry van carriers and shippers.
Presenter:
TBA
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
While overall consumer demand in refrigerated goods did not experience the wild swings dry van did during the pandemic, refrigerated saw its own challenges due to supply disruptions and swings in where consumption occurred. Has the refrigerated market settled or will it run hot and cold? Hear perspectives from leading refrigerated carriers and shippers.
Presenter:
Jackie Bailey, Cargill
Chad England, C.R. England
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
The flatbed spot volumes have softened due to weakness in the key construction and manufacturing sectors while spot rates have consistently run notably above average. One issue is that flatbed lacks the fluidity of capacity seen in the van segments, but is there more to the story? Hear perspectives from leading flatbed carriers and shippers.
Presenter:
Rob Roberson, Nucor
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
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Where is the truck freight market going and how are relationships between carriers and their customers and employees changing? Hear insights into the current market landscape and into what the future might hold from a recognized leader in the trucking industry.
Presenter:
Rebecca Wlazlo, Crate & Barrel
Moderator:
Eric Starks, FTR
The extreme market stress that fueled brokers' shipment volumes in 2020 and 2021 has normalized. Can intermediaries find a path to more consistent business conditions and, if so, how? Hear perspectives from leading broker/logistics firms.
Presenter:
Liz Wayne, Able Transport Solutions
Robert Hooper, Atlantic Logistics
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
Publicly traded carriers and logistics companies represent only a fraction of the overall market, but their transparency offers valuable insights into trends in the transportation industry. Hear insights on truck transportation from a leading equities analyst.
Presenter:
Bruce Chan, Stifel
Autonomous trucks are rivaled only by electric trucks as the sexiest trend in trucking, but progress toward driverless trucking is not easy to assess. Hear from consulting firm Roland Berger regarding what approaches appear to be most promising, what challenges remain, and what timelines for routine operations appear reasonable.
Presenter:
Wilfried Aulbur, Roland Berger
The closing session of the conference's Truck Freight day builds on the autonomous trucking session to look at other ways the industry might change, including not only on-highway and back-office technology but also business models and relationships between carriers and their customers, suppliers, and workers. Hear from a panel of thought leaders on where trucking is heading.
Presenter:
James Reed, Kodiak
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
Location: Indiana Rail Road HQ
Join us for an unforgettable evening reception, The Greenbrier Boxcar Bar sponsored by The Greenbrier Companies and hosted by Indiana Railroad!
This unique networking reception will take place at the impeccably designed office space of Indiana Railroad, modeled after a nostalgic southwestern rail depot, where the Greenbrier Boxcar Bar will be serving appetizers, wine, and beer.
Come connect with old industry friends, make new ones, explore exciting opportunities, and enjoy what will surely be a memorable event at a memorable venue.
No need for a long walk as a shuttle service will be provided from Union Station to the Indiana Railroad office and back.