July 27
1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Meals & Receptions
Welcome Reception
Hosted by McLeod Software
1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Registration
Registration
Hosted by Tenstreet
Gifts Provided by: Comdata, Great Dane, Love's Travel Stops, Relay Payments & WEX
Event Wifi Sponsored by CAT Scale
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. General Session
Refrigerated Market Analysis
Across the US and Canada
Dean Croke, Principal Analyst for DAT iQ, shares insights and analytics addressing the Refrigerated market today and what may be in store for the future. This is the time of year when the produce season has peaked and begins to cool down. It’s a good time to see where spot and contract rates are heading for the remainder of the year.
Join Dean as he shares market trends that typically follow the month of July and how the slowest start to the produce season since 2017 may impact the refrigerated segment of the industry.
Dean Croke
Principal Analyst
DAT iQ
3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Roundtables
Reefer Roundtables
Led by our moderators, small groups will delve into issues and solutions that are currently affecting their refrigerated operations. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, hear different viewpoints and learn from one another. Topics may include equipment, FDA, USDA, and CFIA procedures, technology, data, management, and more!
7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Meals & Receptions
Reception & Dinner at The Beach Club
Hosted by Thermo King
July 28
7:00 - 8:00 a.m. Meals & Receptions
Breakfast
Hosted by Vanguard
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Workshop
Incorporating Telematics into Your Refrigerated Fleet to Manage Food Safety and Maintenance
In a case study through American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC), Paul Menig, CEO at Business Accelerants and Charles Willmott, CEO at WillGo Transportation Consulting collaborated on research regarding the use of Smart Trailers and telematics and the safe and efficient transport of refrigerated goods.
During this workshop session, Menig and Willmott will reveal the results of the Refrigerated Transport Study. Learn how the adoption of trailer technology in your fleet could produce positive results to your bottom line.
Paul Menig
CEO
Business Accelerants
Al Anderson
VP of Sales & Marketing
Peterson Manufacturing Co.
Charlie Willmott
Principal CEO
WillGo Transportation Consulting
Kenneth Johnson
CEO
Leonard Express
Ron Hall
VP of Equipment & Fuel
CR England
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Workshop
The Reefer World of Recruiting
and Retaining Talent
The refrigerated trucking industry has its own unique set of challenges when it pertains to recruiting and retaining drivers and technicians. With driver shortages being reported at record highs across the industry, combined with the increasing requirements and demands of refrigerated loads, a perfect storm is brewing, and carriers more than ever need to examine ways to attract talent, retain and train.
During this workshop session, our speakers will discuss the unique skillsets, recruiting, and training techniques needed for drivers and technicians who operate or maintain trucks and within a refrigerated fleet. Learn how an investment in your company culture and a focus on business goals will be the foundation for your efforts.
Abby Tham
Director of Recruiting
Raider Express
Blair Scott
Sr. Director of Refrigerated and West Terminal Operations
Bison Transport
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Workshop
Navigating the Future: Electrification TRU for Trailers
The future of Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) trailers is electrification, providing benefits of lower emissions and operating costs than fully diesel running units. What steps do you need to take to move your fleet towards electrification? During this workshop session, our speakers will discuss the electrification revolution, best equipment decisions to make, and steps you should take to move towards zero-emissions.
Sam Doerr
Trailer Portfolio Leader
Thermo King - Trane Technologies
Bill Maddox
Senior Manager, Product Management
Carrier Transicold
9:15 - 10:15 a.m. General Session
CARB Compliance vs Normal Operations: Today’s Impact and the Future of Your Fleet
With growing supply chain issues and increased detention time concerns, refrigerated truckload carriers must consider CARB emission compliance standards within their normal operations in order to successfully manage their fleets and prepare for the future.
During this general session, our panelists will compare CARB standards with normal refrigeration operations, providing clarity to help you make the best decisions moving forward regarding equipment and technology tools to help you stay compliant. Also, learn how to move your fleet compliance into the future with information on electrification for Tru trailers.
Bruce Kranz
COE Leader
Thermo King - Trane Technologies
Marc Trahand
VP and GM, eMobility Business Unit
Consolidated Metco
Bill Maddox
Senior Manager, Product Management
Carrier Transicold
moderator
Amber Edmondson
President & CEO
Trailiner Corporation
10:15 - 10:30 a.m. Meals & Receptions
Coffee Break
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. General Session
Keynote Speaker - Amy Walter
Sponsored by ACT 1
For more than 20 years, Amy Walter has built a reputation as an accurate, objective, and insightful political analyst with unparalleled access to campaign insiders and decision-makers. Known as one of the best political journalists covering Washington, she is the publisher and editor-in-chief of the non-partisan Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, where she provides analysis of the issues, trends, and events that shape the political environment. A contributor to the PBS NewsHour, she provides weekly political analysis for the popular “Politics Monday” segment. She is also a regular Sunday panelist on NBC’s Meet the Press and CNN’s Inside Politics, and appears frequently on Special Report with Bret Baier on Fox News Channel. From 2017 until early 2021, Walter was the host of the weekly nationally syndicated program “Politics with Amy Walter” on The Takeaway from WNYC and PRX. She’s also the former political director of ABC News.
In her presentations, Walter expertly breaks down the electoral process, congressional culture, and the Washington political scene. Her astuteness, wit, and range of expertise creates an engaging, compelling presentation, and her reliable and accurate analysis has earned her numerous accolades
Amy Walter
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Popular On-Air Political Analyst
11:50 am - 4:00 p.m. Activities
Boat Tour of Traverse City West Bay
Alvys, Coretex an EROAD Company, Hendrickson, ORBCOMM, PLM + Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co.
11:50 am - First Bus Departs for the Harbor
12:15 pm - Second and Third Buses Depart for the Harbor
12:25 pm - Final Bus Departs for the Harbor
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Boat Tour
3:45 pm - Drop off at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
12:00 - 5:00 p.m. Activities
Golf Tournament on The Wolverine Course
Hosted by Alvys, Coretex an EROAD Company, Hendrickson, ORBCOMM, PLM + Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co.
12:00 pm - Clubhouse Lawn Range Open and Lunch Served
12:30 pm - Shotgun Scramble Tournament Begins
6:15 p.m. Meals & Receptions
Buses Depart for Reception + Dinner
Craig Helmreich
President and Founder
Helmreich Law, LLC
July 29
7:00 - 8:00 a.m. Meals & Receptions
Breakfast
Sponsored by Pilot Flying J
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Workshop
Legal Ramifications of Operating Reefer
Managing a refrigerated fleet means adhering to an increasing list of regulations to assure your load is delivered safely while meeting all standards and requirements. Failure to meet federal requirements and shipper demands can result in legal claims and lawsuits.
During this workshop session, our speakers will discuss the potential legal claims affiliated with reefer operations, the use of telematics to assist drivers with meeting requirements, and language that should not be included in your contracts.
Eric Baker
Frost Brown Todd
Lisa Stephenson
VP - General Counsel
CRST
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Workshop
Equipment for Refrigerated Trucks:
Maintaining and Maintenance
With so many special requirements for maintaining your reefer fleet, deciding on the best equipment and maintaining trailers can be a challenge. Join our speakers for this insightful workshop with an equipment focus. You will learn about equipment life cycles and ROI, the process of collecting data, and how to extend the use of your equipment.
Jim Pinder
Sr. Corporate Fleet Director
Erb Group
Dave Wallace
Director of Sales
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co.
Matt Gertsenslager
Director of Sales
Hendrickson
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Workshop
Tax Laws Today and Tomorrow
Understanding tax laws and the impact on your refrigeration trucking business is critical when preparing your day-to-day operations, but your decisions can affect the future.
During this workshop session, our speakers will discuss Tax laws pertaining to the refrigerated industry, addressing current and future-facing tax laws. Additionally, there will be a focus on the impact of succession planning and the family dynamic. You will learn the top tax ramifications, secession planning tips, and the biggest mistakes to avoid.
Ben Lyon
Partner
Katz, Sapper & Miller
Brittany Schutter
Director
Katz, Sapper & Miller
9:15 - 10:15 a.m. General Session
Food Shipper/Carrier Roundtable:
Solving the Detention Crisis
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, reefer drivers experience the longest and most frequent detention times compared to other fright types. This crisis has only gotten worse in recent years with the increasing demands now creating a supply chain shortage affecting everyday Americans and carriers nationwide. How do we solve the detention crisis?
During this roundtable discussion, we will discuss:
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Suggestions on reducing retention time to 1-hour.
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Best practices in food shipment.
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The use of ELD data to affectively address detention.
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Improving asset utilization.
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Establishing the expectations to detect and address detention.
Ed Nagle
President & CEO
Nagle Companies
Jeffrey Short
Vice President
American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI)
Heath Treasure
CEO
Super T Transport
Tricia Porter
Director, Carrier Relations
Lineage
Chris Kozak
Contract Carrier
Tyson Foods
10:30 - 10:45 a.m. Meals & Receptions
Coffee Break
Hosted by Lazear Capital
10:45 - 11:45 a.m. General Session
CEO Panel
Arctic Express COO Mike Durst will moderate a panel of accomplished Temperature Controlled Carriers—Darryl Hopkins, Controller of Prime Inc., Wendell Erb, President and CEO at Erb Group of Companies, and Richard Durst, President and CEO of Arctic Express. These industry leaders will discuss current industry trends, their perspective on innovations for the future, and the outlook for Temperature Controlled Hauling considering today’s challenges with supply chain, production, dwell time and market conditions.
Darrel Hopkins
Controller
Prime, Inc
Wendel Erb
President & CEO
Erb Group of Companies
Richard Durst
President & CEO
Arctic Express
moderator:
Mike Durst
COO
Arctic Express
Al Anderson
VP of Sales & Marketing
Peterson Manufacturing Co.