Keynote: “Looking At Today’s Global Energy Markets and What It Means Tomorrow”

Energy use and emissions trends point to significant economic, political, and social challenges today, as well as for future generations. Transportation now consumes a significant percentage of the world’s total energy and produces much of the world’s air pollution, having a significant impact on climate changes. During this special keynote, you will hear a global perspective on recent trends in energy markets to demonstrate how the U.S. fits into the global picture, and how the role of oil in the world's energy mix is evolving. In addition, you will gain: A review of near- and medium-term oil market prospects, including the impact of the global recession, and prospects for more supportive medium-term supply-demand fundamentals A briefing of the diesel fuel outlook. Each attendee will receive a personal copy of the annual BP Statistical Review of World Energy, a world-renowned resource for global energy market data.

Presenter: Mark Finley, General Manager, Global Energy Markets & US Economics, BP America, Inc.

“Motor Carrier CEOs: 2009 Opportunities, Issues, Challenges”
This panel discussion will provide provocative discussions with executive leaders of the nation’s leading motor carriers on the current transportation market and how their firms are responding to today’s most significant challenges. Hear their views on: How they’re poised to meet the demands and challenges of shippers in a tough economy, ranging from rising operational and fuel costs to capacity, the driver shortage and stricter delivery requirements. Fuel factors such as formulation, energy efficiency, emissions reductions, performance and quality which are transcending the traditional concern of rising diesel costs. Labor issues, including the long-haul truck driver shortage as well as non-management working conditions, worker safety, and a host of other labor issues. Legislative issues such as hours of service, highway reauthorization, SAFETEA-LU, security, and other transportation-related legislation.

Panel participants include Michael J. Smid, President, YRC National Transportation; Doug Duncan, President and Chief Executive Officer, FedEx Freight; Jack Holmes, President, UPS Freight; and Wes Kemp, President and Chief Operating Officer, ABF Freight System. Moderated by John Langley, Ph.D, NASSTRAC Education Advisor and Professor of Supply Chain Management, Georgia Institute of Technology

Carrier of the Year Awards Program
During this awards session, you’ll hear from the industry's top executives of leading carriers. They’ll describe what it takes to become an award-winning carrier, from customer service, operational excellence and technology to pricing, business relationship, and leadership.

Executives accepting awards are: Derek Leathers, Chief Operating Officer of Werner Enterprises, winner in the National Truckload category; David Edmonds, Senior Vice President of FedEx Services, winner in the Parcel category; and Jeff Curry, President of Express-1 Expedited Solutions, winner in the Expedited category. In LTL, the accepting awards are: Terry Gilbert of Roadway, winner in the National category; Doug Duncan, President and CEO of FedEx Freight, winner in the Multi-Regional category; James Latta and Russ Miceli of A. Duie Pyle, winner in the Regional-Northeast category; Braxton Vick, Senior Vice President of Corporate Planning & Development with Southeastern Freight Lines in the Regional-Southeast category; Dave Brady, Vice President of Dayton Freight Lines, winner in the Regional-Midwest category; and David VanderPol, President of Oak Harbor Freight Lines, winner in the Regional-West category.

Awards announced by Brian Damiani, Vice President-Logistics of Simplified Logistics and 2009 Chair of the Provider Relations Committee.

NASSTRAC Shipper Roundtable Discussions
Collaboration and peer one-on-one conversation is a key benefit for transportation and logistics professionals attending this conference. With this in mind, NASSTRAC’s Shipper Roundtable Discussions are sure to bring answers, ideas, and practical take-aways. This is valuable time set aside to ensure shippers have an opportunity to meet with industry leaders and peers on a one-to-one basis, all around a specific topic of common interest. Discussions include:

• “What Happens To Carrier Capacity When A Recession Is Over?” Led by Wayne Johnson, Director of Logistics at American Gypsum; Jerry Ulm, Global Leader Carrier Relations, Owens Corning; and Jeff Brashares, Vice Chairman, Pacer International.
• Shipper Best Practices: “Lowe’s Finds Savings At The Core” Led by Rob Long, Director of Transportation Development and LTL/Parcel Transportation, Lowes Companies
• "Automated Freight Payment: Partnering to Gain Operational Efficiency, Improved Cash Flow & Credit"

Panel participants include: Eric Morley, Director of Logistics, Best Buy Co.; and Michael McKenna, Regional Manager, PowerTrack Freight Payments

“Multimodal Carrier Executives: Viewpoints From All Angles”
Shippers who use various modes to move products and materials through their supply chains face significant challenges, particularly in a down economy. Rising fuel and energy costs, the credit crunch, capacity imbalances, and an industry shakedown of bankruptcies in virtually all modes make this recession particularly challenging. Yet there are also opportunities for the smart shippers who can look at their supply chains holistically, from the perspective of all modes they use. This executive panel will highlight key challenges and opportunities from key executives with leading carriers in the motor carrier, rail/Intermodal, and maritime market segments.

Panel participants include Derek Leathers, Chief Operating Officer of Werner Enterprises, Inc.; Jim Hertwig, President of CSX Intermodal; and Brian Taylor, President, Horizon Logistics. Moderated by Gail Rutkowski, President of Wabash Worldwide Logistics and 2009 NASSTRAC Chair.

Wall Street Perspectives: “Riding Out The Recession”
As the recession grips the entire economy, it continues to shake up Wall Street and Main Street, as well as the transportation industry overall. During this provocative session discussion, you’ll hear perspectives from the transportation industry’s most prominent analysts on:

• How long the current freight downturn will last and how much more capacity the industry will lose. This begs the question: As the freight pendulum swings, who now holds the power (shipper or carrier) and for how long?
• An educated assessment on who will survive the freight recession and what it looks like at the other end.
• The various government-initiated stimulus and bailout programs, and their potential impact on job creation, economic growth, and freight volumes.
• The implications of corporate sustainability plans, the green movement, and supply chain redesign.

Panel participants include John Larkin, Managing Director, Stifel Nicolaus & Company; and John Langenfeld, Senior Research Analyst, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated. Moderated by Dan Gilmore, Editor of Supply Chain Digest.

Shipper Perspectives: “Leveraging Logistics To Become A Supply Chain Hero”
Develop creative transportation strategies to solve your company’s biggest challenge. Implement cutting-edge technology to create a transparent supply chain. Re-engineer your distribution network and develop a core carrier strategy to create efficiencies and improve customer service. These are the types of accomplishments that transportation and logistics professionals struggle with and achieve every day. During this session, you’ll learn from fellow transportation executives how they leverage their knowledge to be more profitable in this challenging economic landscape. Key decision-makers will share their experiences, their challenges, and their ultimate successes.

Shipper participants include Steve Ahern, Manager LTL & Expedite Transportation, BASF Corporation; Carol Beaumont, Director of Supply Chain Operations, PetSmart, Inc.; and Glenn Sokoloski, Senior Director of Global Logistics, International Specialty Products. Moderated by John Langley, Ph.D, NASSTRAC Education Advisor and Professor of Supply Chain Management, Georgia Institute of Technology.

“Washington Update: Productivity At Risk?”
New legislative decisions made on Capitol Hill are dramatically changing the supply chain landscape, and they’re having a significant impact on operations issues in transportation and logistics. And now that a new presidential administration and Democrat-controlled Congress have begun their work, there are added dynamics to decisions being made that will impact the marketplace for years to come. This session will provide shippers information on key legal, regulatory and legislative issues that range from the Trucc Act, Lacey Act, security requirements (including 10+2), and hours of service to environmental/sustainability, infrastructure and West Coast Clean Air issues.

Presenters: John Cutler, NASSTRAC Legal Counsel, McCarthy, Sweeney and Harkaway.

Supply Chain Management: “When The Going Gets Tough”
Managing an efficient supply chain is particularly challenging during a period of uncertainty, both domestically and globally. With more than three decades of experience in transportation, logistics, supply chain design and operations, this session’s presenter will draw on the current state of supply chain excellence, and will describe the skills needed to actually improve performance of your strategic agenda. You’ll also build your knowledge on the following:

• How to manage the transportation & distribution functions (and costs) when fewer goods move through the system.
• Coping with the impact of the "credit crunch,"
• Meeting the "unexpected" pressures along the supply chain route (i.e. Somali Pirates!)
• How will the price of oil continue to put pressure on so many of the supply chain elements, regardless of the price of a barrel of crude?
• Is it really the right time to consider network rationalization? Has globalization reached its peak? Should we "source closer to home"?
• Why have some manufacturers vacated their China plants?
• Managing internal pressures from management and external pressures from customers, shareholders and providers
• And, most importantly, remaining optimistic when all around you are crying doom!

Presenter: Charles Clowdis, Managing Director of North American Markets in IHS Global Insight's Commerce & Trade Advisory Services practice.

Key Government Affairs in Transportation

Developing and influencing pro-transportation public policies and regulations is critical. Government affairs teams in corporations throughout North America work collaboratively with industry stakeholders, association partners, and government leaders to build relationships necessary to influence policies that affect their business—particularly as they relate to transportation and supply chain management. During this session, you will hear perspectives on the most critical transportation issues that have the most potential to impact the industry, and what is being done to help shape policy around those issues.

Panelists include: Janet Kavinoky, Director of Transportation Infrastructure, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; James H. Burnley, Partner, Venable LLP, and Randy Mullett, Vice President of Government Relations, Con-way Inc. Moderated by Mike Regan, CEO of Tranzact Technologies and Chair of the NASSTRAC Advocacy Committee.

Closing Keynote on Trucking Issues
During this special keynote, Charles “Shorty” Whittington will share his perspectives on transportation, and will provide a unique insight into today’s issues involving motor carrier operations, services, and capabilities. Whittington is Chairman of the American Trucking Associations, and a veteran in the motor carrier transportation industry. In 1977, he saw the need for specialized transportation in agriculture and from the perspective of grain elevator operations, and founded Grammer Industries. Since then, he has been a vocal advocate of trucking, and recently served on a Government Negotiated Rule Making entity involving a safety issue with tanker trailers, one of only five successful such missions of the Department of Transportation.

Presenter: Charles “Shorty” Whittington, Chairman, American Trucking Associations.

CHEP Innovation Center Tour
Shake, rattle and roll. Would you do this to your products? How about freeze, heat, vibrate, drop, crush, mangle, melt, tear apart, burn, beat, and slam? They would at the CHEP Innovation Center. Take a tour of this unique facility where engineers work to design, test and validate material handling platforms and packaging to help improve the performance of products in storage and transit. This facility is also where CHEP concepts, designs, and tests pallets and containers to continuously make them more durable and safer for use in the supply chain. Seats on this tour is limited. Registration will take place on-site and will be on a first-come first served basis. > Download an informational brochure.

“Innovation In Action” Disney Tour
What does it take to anticipate guest needs at Disney’s Magic Kingdom® and then fulfill those needs? This special 3-hour behind-the-scenes adventure walks you through how the Disney enterprise accomplishes it all through demand-anticipated support systems and procedures — in the “tunnel” underneath.
Note: Pre-registration and payment of participation fee for this tour is required by April 17. > Download Registration Form.