Previewing the 2024 SC&RA Specialized Transportation Symposium

The start of a new year brings endless opportunities to tackle industry challenges with fresh eyes and ideas, and to collaborate and catch-up with peers. And what better way to kick off 2024 than gathering transportation leaders in operations, safety directors, safety managers, pilot car professionals, permitting officials, law enforcement and state and federal officials in vibrant Houston, TX? This year’s Specialized Transportation Symposium has something for everyone and is sure to attract a full house of heavy haulers and specialized transport experts.

The SC&RA Specialized Transportation Symposium will be held February 20-22 at the Westin Galleria Houston.

In-depth discussions

Beginning on February 20, 2024, Symposium attendees will have the opportunity to attend a variety of meetings with state permitting officials organized by their geographic regions, including MAASTO, NASTO, SASHTO and WASHTO. Additionally, all Symposium attendees can meet individual state officials one-on-one. On Tuesday, the national AASHTO CTSO Freight Working Group will meet, as well as the SC&RA Permit Policy, Pilot Car and Transportation Safety, Education and Training Committees.

The keynote session, Riding for the Brand, The Power of Purposeful Leadership, welcomes everyone to the Lone Star State where Jim Whitt will discuss how leaders and organizations can utilize the power of leadership. In the Symposium’s first breakout session Harmonization: Policy Beyond Permit, panelists will discuss what happens when external economic and policy factors impact a business’ state-by-state operational success.

Topics that will be covered include litigation environment and nuclear verdicts, CARB and DEP environmental regulations and economic development. Moderators of the session include Fred Marcinak, Moseley Marcinak Law Group Speakers; John Esparza, president and chief executive officer, Texas Trucking Association; and Eric Sauer, CEO, California Trucking Association.

“National uniformity of permit policies is difficult enough,” said Chris Smith, vice president transportation, SC&RA. “This session will discuss in-depth how are carriers learning to adjust their operations in the face of other dramatic regulatory challenges across multiple state lines.”

This year’s Specialized Transportation Symposium has something for everyone and is sure to attract a full house of heavy haulers and specialized transport experts.

Truck Management Technology Solutions for OS/OW Carriers will provide a listening session for truck management software vendors to discuss the OS/OW industry and potential software solutions for safety and operational needs. This varies from the integration of multiple platforms in the overall trip process including credentialing, permitting, asset management and much more. Any truck software management provider is welcome to attend and participate.

Economic outlook

To close out the day, the 2024 Economic Outlook and Prospectus session will take a look at the markets OS/OW serves from the perspective of key manufacturers, shippers and suppliers. Moderated by Spo Spoljaric, corporate manager of global logistics at Bechtel, and including other international shipping heavy weights like Ceres Barge Line, UTC Overseas, and officials from the Port of Houston, topics include international shipping, machinery, highway construction, energy, mining and automation.

The second day of the Symposium will feature the 2023 Hauling Jobs of the Year Award presentations, along with a buffet breakfast. Cost Pressures Facing the OS/OW Industry will tackle increasing cost issues and provide a greater understanding of the forces affecting OS/OW operations from every element of the industry.

Communication is key to any successful business, in any industry. In Thursday’s breakout session titled Communication Tips and Tricks to Market your OS/OW Business, The GTI Group’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Katharine Mohn, will educate on high return, low-cost tips and techniques for marketing an OS/OW business while SC&RA’s Chris Smith discussing tactics for industry safety and public awareness campaigns.

With an expected 56 booths, the STS Exhibit Center is a Symposium highlight, attracting heavy haul company management teams, insurance experts, media representatives and other industry experts available to talk business, and everything in between.

National Interstate’s Mike Gillen and NationsBuilders Insurance Services (NBIS) Bill Hebron will offer advice and guidance about why it’s critical to get your claims in on time, and how your claims data and process position you for the best safety record possible. Their presentation, Filing Your Claims On-Time: What You Need to Know, is a must attend for everyone who toils in the specialized transportation sector.

Totran’s Isaac Kight will join transportation engineers to provide an up-close look at how engineers and route surveyors assess the safety and infrastructure preservation requirements for the bridge reviews, route surveys and other requirements of a permit in the presentation Loads Beyond Auto-Issue: How the Human Permit Review Process Actually Works.

Ahead of the curve

The session titled Risk Mitigation for the Carrier Workforce will offer instruction on how to be prepared for new federal safety rules, driver shortages, employee health, wellness and benefits and how contracted service providers are changing the way specialized carriers plan for the risks across its workforce. Speakers for this session will be Brown & Brown’s Dave Wittwer, Gallagher Crane Division’s Cameron Boots and USI’s James Stovall.

In Case Studies for Engaging External Trip Partners, Brad Marten, Montana Department of Transportation, and Michael Hamilton, Military and Clearance Manager for CSX Transportation, will present best practices for OS/OW carriers coordinating with other parties with an emphasis on communication and safety.

As project cargo continues to get larger and heavier, experts from industry and government share ideas and planning needs for the most complicated OS/OW urban and rural moves in the breakout session titled Freight Planning Considerations for OS/OW Commodities presented by Andrew Canon, freight, trade and connectivity section director, Texas Department of Transportation. This presentation will cover the latest research trends from the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI).

Extracurriculars

With an expected 56 booths, the STS Exhibit Center is a Symposium highlight, attracting heavy haul company management teams, insurance experts, media representatives and other industry experts available to talk business, and everything in between.

Attendees will also have the option to enjoy a variety of evening networking receptions, a perfect opportunity to recap the day’s events, continue discussing hot button topics or simply catch up with old friends and colleagues.