ATA to Host Industry Leaders at MCE, Still Facing Many Challenging Issues
American Trucking Associations is set to host industry leaders later this month at its annual Management Conference & Exhibition, a four-day event to address burgeoning issues such as recruiting drivers, technology’s role in trucking and legislative undertakings such as highway safety.
The conference, set for Oct. 17-20 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, will feature national leaders as well, including Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan.
“With so many issues of critical importance — from the highway bill to the driver shortage and dozens more, this year’s MCE comes at a crucial time for our industry,” ATA President Bill Graves said.
While many of the critical issues facing the trucking industry, including the need for more highway funding, remain unchanged due to gridlock in Washington, this year’s MCE provides numerous changes.
The conference kicks off with a reception Oct. 17.
The following morning begins with an awards breakfast, hosted by past ATA Chairman Philip Byrd Sr. and scheduled to honor Ronald Emenheiser Sr. of Wal-Mart Transportation, the winner of the National Truck Driving Championships, and Eric Vos of FedEx Freight, grand champion of the federation’s Technology & Maintenance Council SuperTech competition.
Graves will deliver the annual State of the Industry address at a luncheon later that day, and the exhibit hall officially opens to conference attendees.
The first full day of MCE will include a panel presentation with Bob Costello, ATA’s chief economist, and Nariman Behravesh, chief economist for IHS Inc., a data analysis firm based in Englewood, Colorado.
“We really feel that this year’s revamped schedule and roster of knowledgeable and respected speakers will only add to what is trucking’s most important annual meeting,” Graves said.
McChrystal, one of those speakers, will address the conference Oct. 19 on leadership and the qualities returning vets can bring to trucking.
The trucking industry, facing a growing driver shortage, has been ramping up efforts to attract more military veterans into trucking careers as they return to civilian life.
There are a series of educational sessions planned throughout the four-day conference to assist fleets with recruiting new drivers, and keeping the crop they have. ATA said this is a critical subject, with the industry needing 40,000 more drivers to meet capacity demands. Other educational sessions include ways to improve highway safety and cybersecurity and to prevent cargo theft.
“This year’s agenda is dedicated to helping you find the answers you need to run your fleet safely, efficiently and profitably,” said Duane Long, chairman of ATA and Raleigh, North Carolina-based Longistics.
Shuster is the featured speaker at the Oct. 19 government affairs luncheon. Besides the continued debate over new, long-term highway funding legislation, the current legislation is due to expire a week after MCE concludes.
Two panel discussions about safety technology and the future of trucking and transportation are set for the final day. TMC and the American Transportation Research Institute will discuss the results of a new survey identifying the attributes and performance capabilities fleets want in the next generation of trucks.
In addition, PeopleNet President Brian McLaughlin, Tech I-M CEO Paul Menig and Praveen Chandrasekar of Frost & Sullivan will speak.
Also, Capt. Jeff Skiles, first officer on US Airways Flight 1549, known as the “Miracle on the Hudson” will discuss how years of training and safety preparation helped him and the pilot, Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, to successfully land the plane in New York’s Hudson River after mechanical problems developed shortly after takeoff.
The session also features Seth Clevenger, technology editor at Transport Topics, moderating a panel discussion with Rob Penner, chief operating officer of Bison Transport; Greg Pawelski, senior director of safety for Con-way Freight and Brian Kinsey, CEO of Brown Integrated Logistics.
Also this year, ATA’s Information Technology & Logistics Council and the National Accounting & Finance Council will host their combined annual conference in conjunction with MCE. They will offer 10 sessions in two tracks, including topics on routing software, sensor technology, and federal and state tax issues.
The conference is set to end with UPS Inc.’s Pat Thomas, vice president of Global Public Affairs, succeeding Long as chairman of the federation.
The award-winning rock band Chicago will perform at the annual banquet to close out the festivities.
