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 2022 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
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.
The American consumer has been the bedrock of the U.S. economy and the freight market's strength since the middle of 2020. With soaring inflation and Fed monetary policy aimed at fighting it by slowing the economy, all eyes now focus on where things likely are heading with consumer spending and the retail sector.
Presenter:
Mark Mathews, National Retail Federation
Fueled by consumer stimulus and a disrupted labor market, trucking has enjoyed an unprecedented period of market profitability and growth. Ongoing disruptions likely will maintain a solid floor on market conditions, but the risks to the outlook are higher.
Presenter:
Avery Vise, FTR
Tight capacity and robust freight generally have kept carriers’ utilization and rates high, but high costs for fuel and labor represent a risk to carrier profits and stability. Trucking executives will share their perspectives on today’s market and the road ahead.
Panelists:
Bill Kretsinger, American Central Transport
Brad Pinchuk, Hirschbach Motor Lines
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
Shippers have never struggled with high rates and tight capacity for such an extended period or seen such an abrupt shift in distribution requirements. Transportation executives for shippers discuss how they have tried to cope with the pandemic market.
Panelists:
Rob Haddock, Coca-Cola North America
Meredith Neizer, ARMADA
Moderator:
Eric Starks, FTR
Supply chain disruptions coupled with tight and shifting truck capacity have kept brokers and third-party logistics firms very busy for about two years. Executives of intermediaries will address their market experiences and expectations for the future.
Panelists:
Jeffrey Tucker, Tucker Company Worldwide, Inc.
Shaun Beardall, England Logistics
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
In 65 years, Werner Enterprises has grown from a single truck to one of the largest and most diverse transportation providers in the nation. Along the way, it has been a pioneer in various respects, such as its adoption of electronic logs nearly 20 years before they became the norm in truckload. Craig Callahan, Werner's chief commercial officer and a 26-year Werner veteran, shares thoughts on the freight industry, including insights from the company's environmental strategy that he oversees.
Presenters:
Craig Callahan, Werner Enterprises
Eric Starks, FTR
Following insights from those involved day to day with trucking, we will hear from analysts who help the investment community understand trucking and logistics. We will discuss what trends and strategies are attractive to Wall Street and which are not.
Panelists:
Ken Hoexter, Bank of America
Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
Most of the attention given to artificial intelligence in trucking relates to autonomous driving, but A.I. has broader applications in freight transportation that are already being implemented. Hear how some are employing machine learning to improve efficiency today.
Panelists:
Tom Curee, Kingsgate Logistics
Moderator:
Jonathan Starks, FTR
Although Congress weighed in on trucking issues in 2021 as part of the infrastructure package, further legislation is always possible. However, the Biden administration is only beginning to weigh in on safety and labor regulations, and the Supreme Court has some important transportation-related issues on its docket.
Panelists:
Anne Reinke, TIA
Prasad Sharma, Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson, & Feary, P.C.
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
Autonomous vehicles and electric trucks grab lots of attention, but the true benefits of those technologies are years away. In the final session of the Truck Freight track of the FTR Transportation Conference, we examine how market stresses in recent years are changing business models and the structure of the trucking industry.
Panelists:
Thom Albrecht, Reliance Partners
Craig Harper, J.B. Hunt
Leah Shaver, The National Transportation Institute
Moderator:
Avery Vise, FTR
Location: Illinois Street Ballroom, Union Station
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.
Ken Hoexter Managing Director, Bank of America
Lee Klaskow Sr. Transportation & Logistics Analyst, Bloomberg