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this panel discussed that will help members successfully
navigate the coming months and years?
You know something? I have come to realize that when we place some
industry legends on stage to speak about their business practices and
acumen, people really just want to sit back and listen. Robert Low, Kevin
Knight, and Mark Seymour did a fantastic job of providing their input on
the challenges we face every day. Their thoughts on capacity, drivers,
and equipment resonated with everyone in the audience and provided
practical knowledge, based upon their experience, that everyone found
to be beneficial. Of course, the topic of drivers certainly played into the
conversation. Being deemed “essential” has been great for the industry.
The improving image of our professional driving force was one this panel
wanted to emphasize. We need to continue to promote that positive growth.
An extremely popular and important component of the
convention has — and will continue to be — the Trucking
in the Round breakout sessions that cover topics involving
finance, human resources, leadership, legal contracts/
insurance, operations, recruitment and retention, and safety
and compliance. Share what members learned in three
of those topical sessions, starting with “Benchmarking —
Turning Data into Action,” which focused on performance
indicators and measurement tools.
As the majority of readers know, the TCA Profitability Program (TPP) is
the industry’s premier performance improvement solution designed specifically
for TCA’s carrier members. The best practice groups are wildly
successful and sought after. In this workshop, TPP Program Manager
Shepard Dunn and Managing Director Jack Porter shared their insights
from years of experience, including critical data points to capture and
monitor; key performance indicators being used to chart the path into the
profitable future; the importance (and strength) of the composite as a business
performance measurement tool; and well as best practices and ideas
Pictured from left: TCA Immediate Past
Chairman and Cargo Transporters, Inc.’s
President and CEO Dennis Dellinger; TCA
First Vice Chairman and Load One, LLC’s John
Elliott’ and TCA Chairman and D.M. Bowman,
Inc.’s Jim Ward discuses the evolution of TCA
during Tuesday’s general session.
for sustaining profitability. This is always a sought-after workshop, as you
can imagine.
Second, share your impression of “Cybersecurity and the
Transportation and Logistics Industry,” which focused on
one of the most severe threats to the trucking industry.
Where do we begin when it comes to cybercriminals and threat actors
who are taking advantage of our industry? Cybersecurity Consulting Partner
Kevin Villanueva delved into ransomware — the most prominent cyber threat
— as well as why T&L companies are targeted and what could be lost if
they are under attack. He also shared data-security concerns in a work-fromhome
scenario (which is super timely); cyber threats on electronic logging
devices (ELDs) in vehicles and how to navigate risk; and what “best-in-class”
transportation companies are doing to address cybersecurity.
The Truckload Carriers Association staff poses for a photo during Sunday evening’s Opening Exhibit Hall Reception at Truckload 2021: Las Vegas. Back row, from left: TCA’s Manager
of Digital Communications Hunter Livesay; Vice President of Government Affairs David Heller; Director of Meetings Kristen Bouchard; Membership Manager Ryan Snyder; Meetings
Coordinator Caitlin Smith; CFO Catherine Robbins; and Vice President of Operations & Education Jim Schoonover. Front row, from left: Vice President of Membership & Outreach
Zander Gambill; Senior Director of Outreach & Engagement Marli Hall; Membership Coordinator Kelly Schubert; and Manager of Government Affairs Kathryn Pobre.
TCA NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 WWW.TRUCKLOAD.ORG | TRUCKLOAD AUTHORITY 25