SC&RA STS Symposium Review

With important global transportation issues, North American harmonization, safety and permitting topics on the agenda, the 2019 Specialized Transportation Symposium convened in Houston in February to a record attendance. Nearly 600 people attended the annual event that assembled a veritable Who’s Who of the specialized transportation industry, including business and governmental leaders, permitting officials and many others who work in the heavy haul services and support realm.

New this year was the opportunity to sign up for one-on-one meetings with state permit officials and concurrent conference tracks on safety and permits.

“This new format gave attendees the ability to follow different tracks that better suit their business interests,” said SC&RA Transportation Vice President Steven Todd. “This added a lot of value to the symposium, giving companies that sent two people or more the opportunity to leave with much more information and perspectives. The interactive format of each track encouraged best practices and practical application of tactics to everyday issues.”

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Larry Minor updated attendees on the proposed rules relating to hours-of-service and discussed how these changes may impact the heavy haul sector.

Engaging speakers

A highlight of the symposium was a presentation by former Navy SEAL Kevin “Dauber” Lacz. A co-star of the movie American Sniper, Lacz wowed the audience with combat lessons that can be applied to the business world.

“Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone,” Lacz said. Receiving two standing ovations, the young combat veteran is the author of “The Last Punisher,” his true account of his 2006 deployment with SEAL Team Three’s Charlie Platoon with American Sniper Chris Kyle in Iraq.

For the first time, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Freight Management Group conducted its annual meeting in conjunction with the SC&RA Specialized Transportation Symposium. This was hugely beneficial for STS attendees who could network with state and governmental officials from their respective regions.

AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing highway and transportation departments in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It represents all transportation modes and its primary goal is to foster the development, operation, and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system.

In the presentation Perspectives from Global Corridors, experts from around the world shared snapshots of specialized transportation concerns in Europe, Asia Pacific, Central America and Oceania. The panel included Jonathan Bhana-Thomson, chief executive, New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association; Steven Dunnewijk, general manager, Mammoet; André Friderici, director of Friderici Special SA and European Association of Abnormal Road Transport and Mobile Cranes; and Mathias Rehe, President, Daco Heavy Lift De Centro America.

Millennial hires

One of the most interesting panel presentations at this year’s event addressed a key human resource issue across the specialized transport sector. Attracting and Retaining the Next Generation of Talent featured Kevin Kwateng, director of Heavy Haul Operations, Transport Bellemare International; Larry Wainscott, practice leader, Global Executive Solutions Group; and Nathan Barnhart, project sales representative, Barnhart. The panel, moderated by SC&RA’s Director of Membership Jason Bell, discussed different recruitment trends and what works and doesn’t work when hiring millennials.

The STS Exhibit Center showcased 56 companies.

The 2020 Specialized Transportation Symposium will be held February 18-21, 2020 at the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel in Charlotte, NC.