The Accelerate! Conference by the Women in Trucking Association: Why All Logistics Providers Should Attend

The fourth annual Accelerate! Conference & Expo will take place November 12-14, 2018, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Frisco Hotel Convention Center & Spa, in Dallas, Texas. The event is sponsored by the Women in Trucking Association, a non-profit group dedicated to bringing more women into the trucking industry, and to supporting those already working within the field.

But while the conference certainly focuses on women in the trucking industry, there are plenty of great reasons for all logistics providers — regardless of gender — to attend this year's event. Here are a few reasons why every stakeholder in the logistics industry, from 3PLs to manufacturers to import/export firms, should register for the Accelerate! conference this year:

• Powerful networking opportunities.

  Representatives of more than 100 brands will attend Accelerate! Hundreds of professionals will be there, as well. Dedicated networking events provide opportunities to build new business relationships that can solve the industry's toughest challenges. Meanwhile, the exhibit floor provides a chance to get hands-on experience with products and leading service providers that are vital to the logistics industry.

• Help to solve the labor shortage in trucking.

  Despite the industry's best efforts — pay hikes, generous bonuses, free training — at least 63,000 trucking jobs remain unfilled in the U.S. this year. The shortage is creating waves across the economy, as producers can't quickly move their goods to market, and investors worry about the impact of delivery delays.

  Women currently make up only 6 percent of drivers. Inviting more women into the industry could be an important part of the solution, and that's crucial not just for trucking firms themselves, but for every company that depends on the supply chain for success.

  Women in Trucking works to break down the boundaries that deter women from entering the industry, and it supports them once they're inside. The Accelerate! Conference is an important part of that mission.

• Attend any of 60+ breakout sessions related directly to your business.

  Educational sessions are organized around five focus areas so every visitor can tailor the experience to their own needs. Choose among these five tracks: Sales/Marketing, Operations, Human Resources (with a special focus on recruiting), Professional Development, and Leadership.

• Experience the latest tractor technologies in the Accelerate! Truck & Technology Tour.

  The Truck & Technology Tour at the 2017 Accelerate! conference was such a hit that the organizers are bringing it back for another year. Featured technologies in 2018 include micro turbine-electric hybrid drive systems, carbon fiber trailers, new electronic logging devices, and co-pilot systems. Get your hands on the latest technology the trucking industry has to offer.

Last year, more than 500 professionals from the logistics and transportation industries registered for Accelerate!, with hundreds of companies in attendance. This year's event promises to be just as big, if not bigger.

The conference introduces a new feature this year, as well. A series of Learning Labs give attendees quick, intensive education on best practices in the fields of health, safety, and marketing. Sessions on digital marketing and low-cost outreach efforts promise to be particularly enlightening, sharing principles that can apply to trucking companies and others in various supply chain industries.

References:

"2017 Accelerate! Conference Highlights." WomenInTrucking. Women in Trucking, 2018. Web. 27 Aug. 2018.

"Accelerate! Conference & Expo: Nov. 12-14, 2018." WomenInTrucking. Women in Trucking, 2018. Web. 27 Aug. 2018.

Long, Heather. "America's severe trucker shortage could undermine the prosperous economy." WashingtonPost. The Washington Post, 28 June 2018. Web. 27 Aug. 2018.