Special Guest Speaker: Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr.
We are honored to welcome Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr., Commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, as our guest speaker at this year鈥檚 Awards Program.
With a distinguished career spanning nearly three decades, Colonel Johnson brings invaluable insight into public safety and motor carrier enforcement. As the former Director of Motor Carrier Enforcement and Special Operations, he oversaw critical units that directly impact North Carolina鈥檚 trucking industry 鈥 including Motor Carrier, Hazardous Materials, and Criminal Interdiction.
Colonel Johnson鈥檚 leadership and collaboration with transportation partners statewide have earned him high honors, including the N.C. Governor鈥檚 Highway Safety Program鈥檚 Law Enforcement Partner of the Year. His commitment to highway safety and strategic operations make him a strong advocate and ally for our industry.
We look forward to his inspiring message as he joins us in celebrating excellence in North Carolina trucking.
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM General Session & Break-outs
3:30 PM Networking Break with Exhibitors
5:30 PM Cocktail Reception
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Breakfast with Exhibitors
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM General Session & Break-outs
11:30 AM Lunch Break with Exhibitors
5:00 PM Reception
6:00 PM Awards Dinner
Main Stage
馃 Main Stage Session: Bridging the Generational Divide in Trucking
Topic: Gaps Between Generations / Importance of Empathy & Soft Skills / 鈥淲hat You Can and Cannot Say鈥
This dynamic panel will tackle the communication and cultural challenges facing today鈥檚 diverse workforce. With up to five generations now sharing the workplace, understanding how to navigate different values, expectations, and communication styles is more critical than ever.
Join us for a candid conversation about:
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Closing the generational gap in trucking
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Fostering empathy and emotional intelligence on the job
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What鈥檚 appropriate to say鈥攁nd what isn鈥檛鈥攊n today鈥檚 professional environment
Whether you鈥檙e a company leader, driver, dispatcher, or HR professional, this session will equip you with practical tools for building stronger, more respectful, and more productive teams.
馃殯 Main Stage Session: FMCSA Update
Hear directly from representatives of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as they provide critical updates impacting the trucking industry. This session will cover key regulatory changes, safety initiatives, and enforcement priorities at both the state and national level.
Attendees will gain insight into:
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Current and upcoming FMCSA regulations
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Compliance and safety trends
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How recent changes may affect carriers and drivers in North Carolina
This is a must-attend session for anyone responsible for safety, compliance, or operations.
Break-out Sessions
Safety and Compliance
- Key Exercises for Drivers on the Road
- Roundtable: Sleep Apnea & Driver Fatigue
- State Highway Patrol - Data Q
Human Resources
- HR Roundtable
- AI
Technology and Maintenance
- DOT Compliance - How your maintenance department can pass with flying colors
- EPA Regulations and aftertreatment system updates
- Shop Talk (Open forum)
- Top Tech & TMC Events
- New Technologies
- Noregon / Over-the-air diagnostics
Women in Trucking
- Workers Comp / Employment Law
- Staged Accidents
- Overcoming Adversity Panel
- Internal Audit / DQ
Group Hotel Information
Hotel Information
Group rates start at $209.00 per evening + taxes
