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Education is Key at the 2023 Expo/COATS

New for 2023, we’re introducing the Crossroads Of America Trucking Show! In addition to the grand ol’ Expo, COATS is designed to include members of the trucking industry and focuses on small to mid-sized over-the-road trucking companies and owner-operators.

The 2023 Expedite Expo and COATS (Crossroads Of America Trucking Show) starts July 21st and runs through the 22nd in beautiful Fort Wayne, Indiana. This is going to be the 22nd year for the Expo, and year number one for COATS. This event has proven to be the premier gathering opportunity for those who reside in the expedite and transportation industry. It’s designed as a terrific opportunity to network, learn, and grow within yourself and within the trucking world.

Thursday’s Thrilling Kick-Off

Start your Expo/COATS experience at the Welcome BBQ, hosted by Load One! There’s going to be some bodacious BBQ along with sides and desserts, plus games and a DJ! What better way to get the weekend fun started than with some good grub, a cornhole tournament and some solid tunes? And that’s just the beginning!

Friday’s Festivities

Friday, July 21st, is the first full day of the Expedite Expo and it starts with some great tidbits from trucking industry stalwart Jerry Hayes, as he introduces and moderates some terrific trucking topics in the Trucking 101 session. Or sit-in with George Mullan of Mullan Transportation as he discusses what it’s like to become a fleet owner in the expedite industry during The Road to Fleet Ownership session.

You can come and learn from some of the newest, brightest, and best in the world of Sprinter and cargo van driving and operating, it’s The Union Cargo & Sprinter Network featuring: Cameron Kolb - The Cargo Van Man; Mateo - The Freight Guy; & Jacob - Travel Jacob. Come and learn from the best in the Sprinter & Cargo Van industry on how you can start your own business.

Learn to master the art of Minimizing Fuel Expenses with Dave Schaller from NACFE. Diesel prices have a huge impact on one’s profitability, and NACFE will review some of the many ways you can cut your diesel use to help raise your profitability levels.

Spend some time listening to Tom and Tina Evans of Load One as they elaborate some of their Thoughts on Fleet Ownership. What does it take to build a fleet today? According to many, it takes wits, an exact eye on costs, and exceptional service. Come and hear from these successful fleet owners as they provide some vital pointers.

Tenstreet’s Mike Coble leads the conversation on Leveraging Technology for Recruitment and Retention Success. This session will show how harnessing the power of technology can revolutionize your carrier’s approach to driver recruiting and retention. Mike will explore the solutions, innovative strategies, and best practices that can help in attracting top talent while retaining the best drivers.

Let’s Discuss a Level 1 Inspection with the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. Operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) requires more dedication and continued education than driving a passenger vehicle. During this presentation, an Enforcement Inspector will review standard requirements to drive CMV’s, and common violations seen during roadside inspections. Dedicated to improving the safety of commercial motor vehicles will save lives by reducing crashes while operating CMV’s on our nation’s roadways.

Jackie Rocha & Mike Barclay of Millennials in Trucking will be Bringing the Millennial Perspective to trucking as these two millennials detail how they’ve researched the industry asked a lot of questions, how they got started as drivers, and how they now find themselves with a handful of their own trucks. It wasn’t easy but they’re going to share it all with you.

Want to learn How to Better Protect Yourself in a Litigious Environment? Listen to Dave Francis & Rob Rauch of Buchanan Hauling & Rigging and you’ll better understand a trucking company's standpoint and reasoning behind the myriad decisions that are made with drivers and owner operators in mind. They will address observed issues and explore strategies to enhance protection and preparedness for such circumstances.

Do you want to know Who’s Really Carrying My Freight? Lyall Creswell of Trustd will dive into, and shed a brightening light on efforts to prevent fraud and double brokering with digital business credentials.

Capping off Friday’s workshops and discussions, Leah Shaver of National Transportation Institute will help with Navigating the Road to Success in Trucking.

Whether you are just starting your career or are an industry veteran, having the right pieces in place can help you traverse unexpected storms, avoid common pitfalls, and give you the best chance of achieving your goals. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry experts, and members of the Expediter Services community as we dive into common challenges and obstacles along the road to success.

Finally, stick around for the all-new Sticky Note Sessions. These are just like the main discussions, only in a bite-sized and more digestible form.

Friday Night Fun!

What’s a day full of education if you can’t fit a break for fun and festivities in-between? Friday evening begins with the fan favorite Casino Night, sponsored by Hyfield Trucking. Not only will this be your chance to cut loose and decompress from the day’s lessons and tutorials, but it’s also a fantastic opportunity to mingle and network with others in the industry.

Saturday’s Schooling

We’ll start off day two by revisiting Trucking 101 with Jerry Hayes, before introducing Trucker CFO's Guide to Business Success with Colton Lawrence, The Trucker CFO. The Trucker CFO Team believes in providing comprehensive solutions that will assist clients in building strategies that are designed to keep more money in your pocket and promote the long-term success of your business.

Take notice of Trucking's Evolving Landscape: How Technology Enhances Sustainability, a discussion hosted by Alex Doval of DVL Express. In today’s world, sustainability is a crucial aspect for any industry, including the trucking industry. The advancements in technology have not only helped improve the efficiency and safety of the trucking world, but it has also contributed to making trucking a more sustainable option. We will discuss how technology is enhancing sustainability in the trucking industry and what that means for the future of trucking.

Learn how to Save Thousands by Incorporating thanks to Jim O’Donnell of Trucker Tax Service. Learn the financial benefits of being taxed as a company, rather than as an individual. Trucker Tax Service, an expert on taxes for the OTR driver, will show you how you can potentially save thousands of dollars on your taxes each year.  

Want to learn What to Know About Buying your First Truck? FYDA Freightliner will talk about the best ways to accomplish short-term and long-term goals when entering truck ownership. You’ll be provided with a strategy to enter truck ownership, from being financially prepared to finding the right truck, and forecasting ahead for the unexpected twists and turns that will certainly accompany truck ownership.

Crash Protection 101 - protect yourself, your business, and your insurance claim after a collision! Kelsea Eckert from the Law Offices of Eckert & Associates, P.A., is going to help you protect yourself, your business, and your insurance claim following a collision when you attend Crash Protection 101. After a crash, there are a few steps you need to take! From staying safe on the scene to making sure you keep a comprehensive record of any downtime – you’ll be covered.

There will be a repeat session on Leveraging Technology for Recruitment and Retention Success with Tenstreet’s Mike Coble.

But stay tuned for a conversation about Diversity and Inclusion in Trucking with Bobby Coffey-Loy of the LGBTQ+ Truck Driver Network. We’ll cover What LGBTQ+ Truck Driver Network does and how they’re bridging the gap between the LGBTQ+ Community & Trucking, showing companies how they can appeal to more drivers and the steps they can take to make drivers feel safer and more inclusive in today’s trucking workplace. 

Learn The Importance of Proper Partnership with Russell Jones & DeShawn Henry from FedEx Custom Critical. A strong relationship between an owner-operator and the motor carrier they partner with can lead to increased efficiency, better communication, and ultimately, greater success for both parties. Find out what it takes to reach that level of carrier and owner-operator partnered success.

Join Mike Weber of Hylant Transportation for the Rebalancing the Scales: A Practical Discussion about Defending Your Fleet session. The Hylant Transportation team will be sharing in a discussion on Pre-Accident, Accident Response, and Claims/Litigation Management strategies to help you prevent as many claims as possible while weathering the bad ones that come your way. 

Stephen Halsted & Sandy Goche from Landstar are going to talk about what it’s been like Finding Success as Owner Operators in a Straight Truck. What do you need to know to increase your odds of success? Listen to a couple of speakers who are living their dream as owner operators, they’ll give you a glimpse into all the possibilities, plus advice on what you need to succeed at being your own boss.

And finally, here’s the BIG ONE. It’s the State of the Industry discussion panel, focusing this year on The Future of Trucking.  Join John Elliott, CEO of Load 1; Dave Schaller, Industry Engagement Director for North America Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) and Mike Coble, Industry Relations for Tenstreet as we’ll discuss what direction the freight market might be heading. Will it grow, hold steady, or hit economic headwinds? Whether you’re a company owner, owner-operator, fleet owner, or driver, how can you best prepare to capitalize on the opportunities and navigate around the challenges that lie ahead to take your business to the next level?

Finally, finish off the day with another round of Sticky Note Sessions and you’ll have a new wealth of trucking knowledge to take along for the ride with you.

Take this opportunity to immerse yourself in the trucking and expedite industry, learn from others, or pass on what you know to someone else. It’s all in the name of progressive education and industry knowledge. The more you know!

REGISTER TODAY! 

See you in Fort Wayne!