Sunday, June 7
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Safety Officers Meeting
by invitation only
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Attendee Roundtable Networking
2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Regulatory Update:
Trucking Inside the Beltway
TCA’s Senior Vice President, Safety & Government Affairs, Dave Heller, will provide his annual address on the ever-changing regulatory and legislative landscape as it relates to trucking and transportation. Some key topics will include enforcement actions, drug and alcohol testing, and more. Gain insight into the recent regulations mandated by the FMCSA and understand how the administration will impact future agency regulations.
3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Refreshment Break
3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
General Session:
Protecting Your Freight in a
New Era of Crime
Featuring: Fleet Safety Awards Presentation
sponsored by Gallagher and Great West Casualty Company
Cargo theft continues to rise across the trucking industry, and thieves are using more advanced methods than ever before. This session provides a focused, practical overview of the key warning signs, reporting requirements, and response steps every carrier should know. Attendees will learn what red flags to watch for, how to properly report a theft, and the immediate actions drivers and dispatch teams must take when an incident occurs. The session also walks through real‑world scenarios to help participants understand what to do in high‑pressure situations such as fictitious pickups or missing trailers. Finally, experts will outline the newest theft strategies emerging across the industry, including identity fraud, digital scams, and organized crime tactics.
Keith Lewis, Vice President of Operations, CargoNet
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Opening & Reception
Monday, June 8
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Networking Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall
8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
General Session:
Trial Strategy & Jury Insight
9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Refreshment Break
10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Safety in the Rounds
Discussion Groups
11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Luncheon in the Exhibit Hall
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Concurrent Workshop Series #1
From Safety Director to Psychologist: Understanding the Mind Behind the Wheel
Cargo theft continues to rise across the trucking industry, and thieves are using more advanced methods than ever before. This session provides a focused, practical overview of the key warning signs, reporting requirements, and response steps every carrier should know. Attendees will learn what red flags to watch for, how to properly report a theft, and the immediate actions drivers and dispatch teams must take when an incident occurs. The session also walks through real‑world scenarios to help participants understand what to do in high‑pressure situations such as fictitious pickups or missing trailers. Finally, experts will outline the newest theft strategies emerging across the industry, including identity fraud, digital scams, and organized crime tactics.
Stephanie Fensom, Senior Manager, Safety & Compliance, Bison Transport
Jeremy Stickling, Chief Administrative Officer, Nussbaum Transportation Services
Audit-Ready: How to Prepare for DOT and FMCSA Compliance Reviews
This session brings together three of the industry’s most respected compliance experts to walk carriers through what it truly takes to be audit‑ready. Attendees will learn how DOT and FMCSA audits are triggered, what investigators look for first, and which documentation and safety management controls matter most. The speakers will break down common pitfalls, recent enforcement trends, and the steps carriers can take now to strengthen their compliance posture before an audit ever begins. Whether you’re new to compliance or looking to sharpen your audit strategy, this session delivers practical, actionable guidance to help your operation stay prepared, confident, and compliant.
Misti Olszewski, Vice President of Enterprise Safety, Covenant Logistics Group
Shelly Seaton, Vice President, Safety & Compliance, Landstar Transportation Logistics
Jill Maschmeier, Director of Safety, National Carriers, Inc.
The OSHA Playbook: Preparing Your People, Your Facilities, and Your Processes
This session offers a practical and insightful look into OSHA health and safety expectations, focusing on how organizations can better prepare for inspections across various locations and understand the key issues regulators look for. The discussion will cover essential elements of facility management—including often‑overlooked responsibilities such as elevator oversight and “other duties as assigned”—and will highlight common compliance gaps that can lead to citations. Attendees will also gain clarity on effective incident reporting and management practices, ensuring they not only meet OSHA requirements but also strengthen overall workplace safety culture.
​The Impact of First-Line Management on Motor Carrier Safety Performance and Safety Culture
Front-line supervisors play one of the most influential yet often underestimated roles in shaping motor carrier safety outcomes. This workshop explores how first-line managers, dispatchers, driver supervisors, trainers, and terminal managers, directly affect driver behavior, regulatory compliance, and organizational safety culture.
​
Attendees will leave with actionable approaches to strengthen first-line leadership capabilities and create an environment where safe operations are the default, not the exception. This session is ideal for motor carrier executives, safety directors, operations managers, and training leaders seeking to elevate both performance and culture across their organizations.
Tim Kordula, Senior Risk Advisor, Acrisure
2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Refreshment Break
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Concurrent Workshop Series #2
From Safety Director to Psychologist: Understanding the Mind Behind the Wheel
Cargo theft continues to rise across the trucking industry, and thieves are using more advanced methods than ever before. This session provides a focused, practical overview of the key warning signs, reporting requirements, and response steps every carrier should know. Attendees will learn what red flags to watch for, how to properly report a theft, and the immediate actions drivers and dispatch teams must take when an incident occurs. The session also walks through real‑world scenarios to help participants understand what to do in high‑pressure situations such as fictitious pickups or missing trailers. Finally, experts will outline the newest theft strategies emerging across the industry, including identity fraud, digital scams, and organized crime tactics.
Stephanie Fensom, Senior Manager, Safety & Compliance, Bison Transport
Jeremy Stickling, Chief Administrative Officer, Nussbaum Transportation Services
Audit-Ready: How to Prepare for DOT and FMCSA Compliance Reviews
This session brings together three of the industry’s most respected compliance experts to walk carriers through what it truly takes to be audit‑ready. Attendees will learn how DOT and FMCSA audits are triggered, what investigators look for first, and which documentation and safety management controls matter most. The speakers will break down common pitfalls, recent enforcement trends, and the steps carriers can take now to strengthen their compliance posture before an audit ever begins. Whether you’re new to compliance or looking to sharpen your audit strategy, this session delivers practical, actionable guidance to help your operation stay prepared, confident, and compliant.
Misti Olszewski, Vice President of Enterprise Safety, Covenant Logistics Group
Shelly Seaton, Vice President, Safety & Compliance, Landstar Transportation Logistics
Jill Maschmeier, Director of Safety, National Carriers, Inc.
AI at the Wheel: Transforming Fleet Safety and Risk Management
This session explores how AI is transforming fleet safety and risk management, beginning with the growing use of predictive analytics and practical guidance on how fleets can apply these tools to anticipate risk before it occurs. The discussion will examine the evolution of driver monitoring and coaching technologies, the expanding role of critical event data, and how AI can help reduce human error by enhancing decision‑making in real time. Speakers will address whether fleets are truly evaluating and acting on the data they collect, the legal considerations surrounding AI‑driven safety systems, and the emerging concerns around driver behavior manipulation. The session will conclude with a forward‑looking perspective on preparing for the next major wave of AI and technology innovation—and how safety and risk professionals can build the skillsets needed to stay ahead of it.
Jared Whitson, Director of Safety, Bennet Motor Express
Mike Lasko, Assistant General Manager/Vice President, Boyle Transportation
Roadside Enforcement Insights: What Officers Expect from Fleets and Drivers
This session, led by Kerri Wirachowsky in collaboration with local Oklahoma law enforcement, provides a clear and practical overview of Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) enforcement practices across both the United States and Canada. Attendees will gain insight into current roadside inspection requirements for commercial vehicles, including the standards officers apply during equipment checks and the most common compliance issues fleets encounter. The discussion will also address driver‑focused evaluations such as credential verification, hours‑of‑service reviews, and English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments, giving participants a stronger understanding of what enforcement teams look for and how to better prepare drivers and equipment for successful inspections.
Kerri Wirachowsky, Director of Roadside Inspection Program, CVSA
​The Impact of First-Line Management on Motor Carrier Safety Performance and Safety Culture
Front-line supervisors play one of the most influential yet often underestimated roles in shaping motor carrier safety outcomes. This workshop explores how first-line managers, dispatchers, driver supervisors, trainers, and terminal managers, directly affect driver behavior, regulatory compliance, and organizational safety culture.
​
Attendees will leave with actionable approaches to strengthen first-line leadership capabilities and create an environment where safe operations are the default, not the exception. This session is ideal for motor carrier executives, safety directors, operations managers, and training leaders seeking to elevate both performance and culture across their organizations.
Tim Kordula, Senior Risk Advisor, Acrisure
4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
General Session:
Keynote Speaker
Jeff Skiles
sponsored by Acrisure
On a frigid January afternoon, US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of geese just after takeoff, causing both engines to fail. With no runway within reach, Captain Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles made the split-second decision to land safely on the Hudson River—saving all 155 people on board.
In his keynote, Jeff Skiles shares powerful lessons on leadership under pressure, teamwork, preparation, and decision-making in high-stakes moments, delivered with humor and compelling firsthand insight from the “Miracle on the Hudson.”
Featuring: Safety Professional of the Year Award Presentation
sponsored by Drivers Legal Plan
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Reception
Tuesday, June 9
7:00 a.m. - 7:45 a.m.
Networking Breakfast
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Concurrent Workshop Series #3
​The Impact of First-Line Management on Motor Carrier Safety Performance and Safety Culture
Front-line supervisors play one of the most influential yet often underestimated roles in shaping motor carrier safety outcomes. This workshop explores how first-line managers, dispatchers, driver supervisors, trainers, and terminal managers, directly affect driver behavior, regulatory compliance, and organizational safety culture.
​
Attendees will leave with actionable approaches to strengthen first-line leadership capabilities and create an environment where safe operations are the default, not the exception. This session is ideal for motor carrier executives, safety directors, operations managers, and training leaders seeking to elevate both performance and culture across their organizations.
Tim Kordula, Senior Risk Advisor, Acrisure
AI at the Wheel: Transforming Fleet Safety and Risk Management
This session explores how AI is transforming fleet safety and risk management, beginning with the growing use of predictive analytics and practical guidance on how fleets can apply these tools to anticipate risk before it occurs. The discussion will examine the evolution of driver monitoring and coaching technologies, the expanding role of critical event data, and how AI can help reduce human error by enhancing decision‑making in real time. Speakers will address whether fleets are truly evaluating and acting on the data they collect, the legal considerations surrounding AI‑driven safety systems, and the emerging concerns around driver behavior manipulation. The session will conclude with a forward‑looking perspective on preparing for the next major wave of AI and technology innovation—and how safety and risk professionals can build the skillsets needed to stay ahead of it.
Jared Whitson, Director of Safety, Bennet Motor Express
Mike Lasko, Assistant General Manager/Vice President, Boyle Transportation
The OSHA Playbook: Preparing Your People, Your Facilities, and Your Processes
This session offers a practical and insightful look into OSHA health and safety expectations, focusing on how organizations can better prepare for inspections across various locations and understand the key issues regulators look for. The discussion will cover essential elements of facility management—including often‑overlooked responsibilities such as elevator oversight and “other duties as assigned”—and will highlight common compliance gaps that can lead to citations. Attendees will also gain clarity on effective incident reporting and management practices, ensuring they not only meet OSHA requirements but also strengthen overall workplace safety culture.
Roadside Enforcement Insights: What Officers Expect from Fleets and Drivers
This session, led by Kerri Wirachowsky in collaboration with local Oklahoma law enforcement, provides a clear and practical overview of Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) enforcement practices across both the United States and Canada. Attendees will gain insight into current roadside inspection requirements for commercial vehicles, including the standards officers apply during equipment checks and the most common compliance issues fleets encounter. The discussion will also address driver‑focused evaluations such as credential verification, hours‑of‑service reviews, and English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments, giving participants a stronger understanding of what enforcement teams look for and how to better prepare drivers and equipment for successful inspections.
Kerri Wirachowsky, Director of Roadside Inspection Program, CVSA
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 am.
Refreshment Break
9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Safety in the Rounds
Discussion Groups
10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
General Session
Trial Strategy & Jury Insight - Part II