If You Want to Know the State of the Expedited Trucking Industry You Need to be at Expedite Expo 2010

If you’re in the trucking industry in any capacity, then it’s likely you’re aware that the end of July marks the 10th Anniversary of the Expedite Expo. For ten years now, owner operators, drivers, carriers and suppliers have been flocking to Ohio to get together…

If you’re in the trucking industry in any capacity, then it’s likely you’re aware that the end of July marks the 10th Anniversary of the Expedite Expo. For ten years now, owner operators, drivers, carriers and suppliers have been flocking to Ohio to get together for one of the few expediting-specific events offered in the United States. It’s been quite a ride, too — boasting growth and advancement year in and year out, Expedite Expo 2010 will surely prove to be one for the ages.

“Expedite Expo is very fortunate to have weathered not one but two major recessions,” says Lawrence McCord, General Manager of the Expo. “The Expo has proven to be a valuable market- place to the Expedite Trucking Industry.”

He continues: “We work very hard to make the Expedite Expo the biggest little truck show in North America. We know that the time and resources of our exhibitors and attendees is valuable and with that in mind we produce and plan this show to be as comprehensive as possible.”

While there’s certainly an opportunity for everyone to network, get acquainted, and see the readily-available exhibits, displays and entertainment options, Expedite Expo 2010 is deeply focused on improving the industry through educational opportunities. Specifically, there are numerous workshops through the weekend, covering everything from the current state of rates and when they’ll finally be going up, to the importance and how-tos of maintaining your truck, and entry-level workshops like the ins and outs of being an owner-operator and “Everything You Want to Know About Expedite Trucking.” The full driver workshop schedule is as follows:

FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2010

9:00 am – Where’s the Money? – When Will The Rates Go Up? Stuart Sutton – Sylectus, a division of GPSNet Technologies
Location: Room 1

10:00 am – Sylectus Tools To Help Attract And Retain Good Drivers Rob Bonello, Manger US Operations – Sylectus, a division of GPSNet Technologies Location: Room 1

11:00 am – CSA 2010– How It Will Impact You John Mueller – Safety Director, Premium Transportation Logistics, LLC
Shelly Benisch, C.I.C. Commercial Insurance Solutions, Inc. (CIS Inc) Location: Room 2

11:00 am – Customs Solutions – F.A.S.T., ACE and ACI Deborah Dent, President – Certified Customs Specialist
Location: Room 1

1:00 pm – Extending the life of Your Truck – A look at Maintenance Heath Wood – Sales and Finance Man- ager, Middle Georgia Freightliner-Isuzu Location: Room 1

2:00 pm – Smart Economics: Idle Reduction Tips, Tools & Facts Ray Lawrence – President, Espar of Michigan, Inc.
Location: Room 2

3:00 pm – Women In The Trucking Industry Ellen Voie CAE- President/CEO, Women In Trucking, Inc.
Location: Room 1

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2010

9:00 am – First Observer Program – Highway Security Doug Morris – Regulatory Affairs Specialist, OOIDA
Location: Room 1

10:00 am – Trucking Meets Technology – Running Your Business in Real-time Spencer Angerbauer – President of EQUINOX Owner Operator Solutions Inc. Location: Room 2

11:00 am – Networking & Round- table Discussion – Everything You Want To know About Expedite Trucking
Host: Linda Caffee – ExpeditersOnline. com Forum Moderator Location: Room 2

1:00 pm – The Road Map to Buying and Financing Your Truck in 2010 John Lalonde – Fyda Freightliner Columbus Location: Room 1

2:00 pm – Cargo Vans 101 – Owning, Operating and Everything Else Nick Marcu – Owner Operator, Tri-State Expedited Service, Inc.
Location: Franklin Room 2

2:00 pm – GMC History From 1914- 1960 Don Meyer – Retired GM Engineer and the Current GMC Historian
Doug Ritter – Retired GM Product Line Quality Manager Location: Franklin Room 1

The idea, as I’m sure you’ve gathered, is to ensure that there’s truly something for everyone in terms of available workshops and presentations.

“We are very excited for the 2nd year in a row to have the Old Time Trucks organization display their antique trucks in the main parking lot at the Roberts Centre,” Mr. McCord points out. “There will be over 100 classic Heavy Duty, Light Duty, and Over-the-Road antiques on display. This display will give you an appreciation for our great trucking heritage in North America.”

There’s also no shortage of live entertainment that’ll be at the Expo, as well. Your favorite trucking radio legend and mine, Dave Nemo, will be broadcasting from the Expedite Expo 2010 on The Open Road Channel 171 on XM Satellite Radio on Friday and Saturday, the 23rd and 24th, from 7:00 a.m.-12:00.
Is that all? Not even close.

LIVE MUSIC

There’ll be live music offered at Expedite Expo 2010, as well. You’ll enjoy the gritty blues rock drive of Indiana’s Pure Grain, a band that’s been featured on the Dave Nemo show and which wrote the theme song for the Highway Headlines show, both on XM’s Open Road Channel.

Also playing is a group of veteran Bluegrass musicians from the Southwest Ohio area, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers. Their full sound and deep repertoire is sure to melt even the most hardened of hearts; you’ll be able to see them at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 24.

CASH GIVEAWAYS

Commercial Insurance Solutions is also sponsoring a number of $1000 giveaways throughout the Expo and over the entire weekend. You can find rules, terms, and conditions at www.expediteexpo.com

As in years past, Expedite Expo 2010 will be at Roberts Convention Centre. Roberts Convention Centre is located between Cincinnati and Columbus, OH in Wilmington, a quiet surrounding to an event of this magnitude. The Convention Centre offers 70,000 square feet of space and, even with the Expo jam-packing it, you’ll have plenty of room to stretch out and relax a bit. In addition to free parking, you’ll also be pleased to note that both registration and admission are free, as well.
I believe that this is the place where it’d be prudent to say something like, “But wait, there’s more!”

There are a number of events related to the Expo that’ll be occurring, such as

ANTIQUE TRUCKS ON DISPLAY

Old Time Trucks will be holding their annual show outside the Roberts Centre at the Old Time Trucks Pavilion. Come see the trucks of yesteryear! New presentations by GMC historians Don Meyer and Doug Ritter “Early GMC Truck Design” You won’t want to miss this new presentation about early GMC trucks.

GOLF OUTING

The Sylectus-sponsored golf outing at Snow Hill Country Club–though slots are filling up fast and you’ll have to register well ahead of time at www.expediteexpo.com/2010/golf.html

CASINO NIGHT

A Casino night event on Friday the 23rd from 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Come try your luck! Every atendee will be pro- vided with special fun “money” to use at the casino event.

TRUCK DEALERS, CARRIERS AND EXHIBITS

Truck dealers, manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers will have displays. Every major carrier in the industry will be there, networking, recruiting, and taking your questions. More product exhibits than you’ve seen in quite some time.