We’ve just wrapped up our 8th annual ALK Transportation Technology Summit and I’m pleased to announce we had record breaking attendance with nearly 250 transportation and technology professionals– of which 62% were first time attendees. We also had 27 sponsors, up from 19 in 2011. Thanks to all of our speakers, sponsors and attendees for joining us in our hometown of Princeton for another successful event. It was great to see so many familiar faces as well as have the opportunity to meet new industry experts.
This year’s Summit provided a firsthand look into the thoughts and experiences of some of the most influential leaders in the trucking and logistics industry. The theme of the Summit, Driving Innovation: Connecting Compliance and Efficiency, was touched on in different ways by each of our presenters. Our keynote speaker Derek Leathers, President and COO of Werner Enterprises, provided an industry outlook highlighting new regulations that are contributing to the rise in transportation costs and rates.
Derek and I went to college together in the early 1990s. It was a great honor and privilege to have him back in Princeton. He is exactly the type of spokesperson this industry needs. The audience unanimously voted to bring Derek back as the keynote for 2013. A special shout out to Hoagie Haven is deserved; “The Haven” proved to be an effective incentive for Derek. He was quite pleased with his bright orange t-shirts as a speaker gift.
Our CEO, Barry Glick, spoke about GeoLogistics and our company's unique position in the industry. "Our business is based fully on partnering," he said. Barry also did a great job of providing a humorous account of our rain-soaked golf outing the day prior, where over 90 golfers persevered on the course (some even played 19 holes).
Perhaps the highlight of the entire event was the Fleet Senior Executive panel which included Derek Leathers; John Steele, EVP & CFO of Werner Enterprises; John White, President of US Xpress, Inc.; and Terry Gilbert, CEO of New Century Transportation. This “All Star Roster” provided invaluable insights on industry challenges and trends. I would like to acknowledge Terry for his spontaneity and sharing his perspectives.
Following the panel were four roundtable discussions covering each segment, as well as global telematics trends. Michael Kornhauser our Senior Vice President of Enterprise Solutions, provided a global roadmap update on ALK products including PC*MILER 26 which is scheduled to be released next month and a glimpse at our new ALK Maps solution. PC*MILER 26 includes RouteSync, a capability that directly links PC*MILER in the back office to CoPilot Truck in-cab navigation.
ALK Twitter provided real-time commentary for those missing the action. Presentations and videos from the event will also be available for review on our Summit site.
I’d also like to thank the numerous industry editors and reporters in attendance. Initial event coverage includes Fleet Owner, Commercial Carrier Journal and The Journal of Commerce . Thanks again to all of our speakers, sponsors and attendees. Also, a special thanks to our ALK Summit Team who went above and beyond. I hope to see you all again in May, 2013, along with many new faces.
Craig Fiander
VP, Marketing | North America
Enterprise Solutions
