Sunday - February 28
NATMI Board of Directors Meeting
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
by invitation only
Committees
TCA Scholarship Trustees Meeting
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
by invitation only
Committees
Advocacy Advisory Committee Meeting
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
by invitation only
Committees
TCA Officer's Meeting
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
by invitation only
Committees
TCA Membership Committee
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
All members are encouraged to attend
Committees
Attendee Orientation
3:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Whether you're attending for the first time or looking to get more value from your experience, this orientation will help you build connections, plan your schedule, and take full advantage of everything the TCA Annual Convention has to offer.
Networking
New Member & First-Time Attendee Reception
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Meet fellow newcomers, connect with TCA leadership, and begin building valuable industry relationships at this casual networking reception designed specifically for new members and first-time attendees.
Networking
TCA Opening Party
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Kick off Truckload 2027 with an evening of great food, refreshing beverages, and meaningful networking with industry peers from across the truckload industry. Reconnect with colleagues, build new relationships, and celebrate the start of an exciting week of learning, collaboration, and innovation.
Networking
Monday- March 1
Attendee Networking Breakfast
7:00 - 8:00 a.m.
Grab a cup of joe or load up a full plate of breakfast favorites with fellow attendees before the day's sessions begin.
Networking
Inspirational Session
7:30 - 8:00 a.m.
Other
Presented by Karen Smerchek
TCA Committee Meetings
8:00 - 11:00 a.m.
All members are encouraged to attend
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Highway Policy
sponsored by National Interstate Insurance
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Independent Contractor Practices Policy
sponsored by TrueNorth Companies
10:10 - 11:00 a.m. Education Committee
Committees
Luncheon with Presentations
11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
featuring:
TCA Chair Mark Seymour
Elevate Class Presentation
sponsored by Driver's Legal Plan & Tenstreet
TCA Education Awards Presentation
Other
TCA Committee Meetings
12:45 - 2:30 p.m.
All members are encouraged to attend
12:45 - 1:50 p.m. Regulatory Policy
sponsored by JJ Keller & Associates
2:00 - 2:30 p.m. Communications & Image
Committees
TCA Board of Directors Meeting
sponsored by Samsara
2:45 - 4:00 p.m.
All members are encouraged to attend
Committees
Exhibit Hall
Opening Reception
4:15 - 6:30 p.m.
Come explore the latest in innovative technology and products & services to enhance your business.
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Special welcoming party featuring TCA's Highway Angels and Professional Driver's of the Year. Don't forget to sign the "Thank a Driver Wall"!
Exhibits
TCA Chairman's Special Reception
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
by invitation only
featuring:
Chairman's Choice Award
Past-Chairman's Award
Networking
Tuesday - March 2
Attendee Networking Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall
sponsored by CAT Scale Company
7:00 - 8:00 a.m.
Exhibits
Networking
Grab a cup of joe or a hearty breakfast while exploring the exhibit hall, connecting with solution providers, and discovering the latest products, services, and innovations shaping the truckload industry.
General Session ~ Economic Update
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
This opening economic session will provide a timely, data-informed view of the truckload market and the forces shaping carrier performance. Attendees will hear how freight demand, capacity, pricing, operating costs, equipment cycles, labor availability, and regulatory pressures are influencing strategy across the industry. The session is designed to help leaders connect macroeconomic signals to practical decisions around pricing, growth, investment, and operational planning.
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Speaker:
Education
Refreshment Break
9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Networking
Trucking Insight Panel:
The Future of Freight: What Shippers Really Want
9:45 - 10:45 a.m.
This high-profile customer panel will give carriers direct insight into shipper expectations, procurement priorities, and the service factors that influence carrier selection. Panelists will discuss how shippers are thinking about inventory levels, network design, reliability, visibility, facility experience, technology integration, and long-term partnerships. The conversation will help attendees better understand what customers value most and how carriers can position themselves as strategic partners in a changing freight environment.
Education
Refreshment Break
10:45 - 11:00 a.m.
Networking
Round Table Discussion Groups
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.
Compliance, Risk, and Regulatory Challenges
This roundtable will provide compliance, safety, legal, and operations leaders with a practical forum to discuss regulatory pressure, audit readiness, liability exposure, and emerging risk areas. Participants will compare how carriers are preparing for inspections, documenting compliance, monitoring policy changes, and strengthening internal controls. The session is intended to surface common concerns, practical approaches, and peer-tested strategies for staying ahead of evolving requirements.
Maintenance and Equipment Strategy Forum
This roundtable will bring maintenance and equipment leaders together to discuss the pressures affecting asset performance, shop capacity, equipment planning, and technology adoption. Participants will compare approaches to technician shortages, preventive and predictive maintenance, lifecycle planning, replacement cycles, parts availability, and new equipment technologies. The discussion will emphasize practical lessons from peers and help attendees identify strategies to improve reliability, control costs, and plan for future needs.
Operations Leaders Exchange
This peer-to-peer roundtable will give operations leaders a candid forum to compare current challenges, practical solutions, and emerging priorities. Discussion will focus on network optimization, productivity, capacity utilization, customer expectations, and the operational tradeoffs carriers are making in a shifting freight environment. The format is designed to encourage open exchange, peer learning, and actionable ideas participants can take back to their teams.
Technology and AI Leadership
This peer roundtable will create space for technology and business leaders to exchange lessons learned from evaluating, piloting, and scaling AI and other digital tools. Participants will discuss current projects, vendor selection, integration challenges, data readiness, change management, and how to measure whether technology investments are delivering value. The conversation will help leaders pressure-test ideas with peers who are navigating similar decisions.
Education
Press Conferences
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Other
Luncheon
with Award Presentations
12:00 - 1:15 p.m.
featuring:
TCA Fleet Safety Awards
Sponsors: Great West Casualty Company & Gallagher
TCA Highway Angels of the Year
Presented by: Epic Vue
Supporting Sponsors: Driver Facts & Northland Insurance
Education
Refreshment Break
1:15 - 1:45 p.m.
Networking
Exhibit Hall
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Discover innovative products, services, and solutions while connecting with industry leaders, trusted partners, and fellow attendees in the heart of Truckload 2027. Whether you're searching for new ideas, new technologies, or your next business connection, the exhibit hall is where innovation and opportunity come together.
Exhibits
Networking Reception
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
sponsored by: Daimler Truck
Networking
Truckload Strong Event
6:00 - 9:30 p.m.
requires ticket
Proceeds help to support TCA’s major initiatives and programs such as the TCA Scholarship Fund, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Wreaths Across America, Highway Angel, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, and other programs that positively promote the trucking industry.
sponsored by: Daimler Truck
Networking
Wednesday - March 3
Attendee Networking Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall
7:00 - 8:00 a.m.
Networking
Fule up with breakfast and coffee before another full day of education and networking.
General Session - Next-Level AI for Trucking Operations
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
This executive panel will move beyond introductory AI conversations and focus on how trucking companies are using AI to improve real operational performance. Panelists will explore where AI can support better forecasting, planning, exception management, automation, customer service, and decision-making without losing sight of data quality, change management, and measurable ROI. The session will help leaders distinguish between hype and practical opportunities that can be evaluated, piloted, and scaled responsibly.
Education
Refreshment Break
9:30 - 9:45 a.m.
Networking
Trucking Insight Panel: Safety Excellence Across Every Fleet Size
9:45 - 10:45 a.m.
This session will highlight how carriers of different sizes build and sustain high-performing safety programs. Safety leaders will share approaches that work across varied operating models, including how they engage drivers, use data and technology, strengthen accountability, and create cultures where safety is consistently reinforced. Attendees will hear practical examples that can be scaled up or down depending on fleet size, resources, and organizational maturity.
Education
Workshops
11:00 - 12:00 p.m.
Powered by People: The Human Advantage in an AI World
As AI reshapes trucking operations, this session will focus on the human side of innovation. Leaders will explore how organizations can build trust, communicate change, strengthen culture, and prepare employees to work effectively alongside new tools. The discussion will emphasize that technology delivers value only when people understand it, adopt it, and see how it supports their work, their teams, and the customer experience.
Winning the Driver Recruiting & Retention Battle
This workshop will provide a practical look at how carriers can compete more effectively for driver talent in a challenging labor environment. The discussion will explore what today’s drivers value most, how expectations are changing across generations, and how companies can improve the full driver experience from recruiting and onboarding through engagement, career growth, and retention. Attendees will leave with ideas they can adapt to strengthen their workforce strategy and reduce turnover.
Cargo Theft, Freight Fraud, and Organized Criminal Networks
This risk and security workshop will explore the evolving threat landscape around cargo theft, freight fraud, identity theft, fictitious pickups, and organized criminal activity targeting the supply chain. Participants will learn how fraud schemes are becoming more sophisticated and how carriers can strengthen prevention, verification, claims response, and collaboration with customers, brokers, law enforcement, and industry partners. The session will emphasize practical steps carriers can take to protect freight, reduce financial losses, and respond more effectively when incidents occur.
Education
Press Conferences
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Other
Exhibit Hall
Visit the many exhibits to learn about new and visit your current vendors!
Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Exhibits
Workshops
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Managing Risk in a Nuclear World
This legal and risk workshop will examine the growing complexity of the litigation environment and the steps carriers can take to reduce exposure before an incident occurs. The session will address nuclear verdict trends, documentation practices, data preservation, safety and operational risk signals, and the role emerging technologies may play in identifying vulnerabilities. Attendees will gain a stronger understanding of how proactive risk management, legal readiness, and disciplined data practices can support both prevention and defense.
Powering Performance through Benchmarking
This benchmarking and trends workshop will help carriers understand how meaningful data comparisons can power better performance decisions. Participants will explore the metrics that matter most across safety, operations, finance, workforce, and customer service—and how benchmarking can reveal strengths, gaps, and improvement opportunities. The session will also highlight emerging trends and lessons from high-performing organizations that consistently use data to guide strategy and execution.
Responsible AI: Protecting Data, People, and the Business
This executive governance workshop will help leaders understand how to accelerate AI innovation while protecting company data, employees, customers, and business operations. The session will explore practical governance structures, employee-use policies, data privacy considerations, vendor oversight, legal exposure, and executive accountability. Attendees will leave with a clearer view of the guardrails needed to use AI responsibly without slowing down useful experimentation and adoption.
Education
Private Reception Honoring TCA Elite Fleets
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
by invitation only
sponsored by: Acrisure
Networking
Closing Banquet Reception
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
sponsored by: ACT 1
Networking
Closing Banquet sponsored by ACT1
& Entertainment
5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
featuring:
TCA Elite Fleet Awards
sponsored by Acrisure
TCA Professional Drivers of the Year
sponsored by Cummins, Inc. & Love's Travel Stops
Entertainment by:
Someone exciting! You can bet on it!
Networking
"There are things I’ve learned here over the years that I didn’t even know I needed."
Tim Chrulski
Garner Trucking
