Cincinnati, Ohio
Heartbeat of Midwestern freight shaping critical regional connections.
Join industry leaders, local executives, and FreightWaves experts for a high-impact mix of data-driven insights, interactive discussions, and focused networking with peers who operate in your region every day.
Who This Event is For:
Transportation and logistics professionals in the Cincinnati region -- shippers, brokers, carriers, and anyone responsible for operational performance, safety, or cost management in transportation & supply chain.
Why Attend:
Local markets are dealing with unprecedented volatility, fraud exposure, tightening margins, and shifting demand patterns. These roadshow events are built to give you timely market intelligence you can use immediately and a high-quality networking environment with peers in your region.
Key Themes & Sessions
- Fraud Prevention
Learn the latest strategies to detect and combat double brokering, identity fraud, cargo theft and other threats costing the industry billions.
- AI & Technology Integration
Explore how AI, automation, predictive analytics and TMS innovations are driving stronger, more resilient decision-making.
- Economic & Industry Trends
Understand how reshoring, infrastructure investment and manufacturing growth are reshaping supply chains and logistics opportunities.
- Multi-Modal & Partnership Strategies
Dive into trends across LTL, truckload, parcel, air, ocean and rail—and discover how to build resilient relationships that hold up under volatility.
Agenda
This opening keynote explores emerging innovations in freight resiliency, including disruptive technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT that are transforming supply chains. It highlights strategic imperatives to adapt to volatility, such as building agile networks and leveraging data for predictive planning. The session draws on global trends to inspire attendees, emphasizing collaboration between stakeholders to overcome challenges like geopolitical risks and economic shifts, ultimately aiming to foster a resilient future for shipping operations.
Freight Market Resiliency in 2026: Navigating Capacity Crunches and Disruptions
Craig Fuller, Founder & CEO, FreightWaves
Zach Strickland, Director, Freight Market Intelligence, SONAR
This session analyzes the latest freight market data from SONAR, focusing on resiliency for brokers. It covers capacity crunches, rate trends, and disruptions like fuel volatility, with forecasts for 2026 and strategies to navigate market shifts, drawing on real-time insights to help brokers optimize operations and seize opportunities.
Capacity Management for Brokerages in Uncertain Times
This session outlines strategies for scaling brokerage operations amid uncertainty, focusing on load matching, dynamic routing, and handling market surges or slowdowns to avoid financial strain. It covers tools for predictive capacity planning and partnership optimization, with examples of successful adaptations during volatile periods to maintain profitability and service levels.
Roundtable Discussion: Strategies Against Fraud
Combating Freight Fraud: Detection and Mitigation
Addressing fraud threats like scams and identity theft, this session details practical detection methods, including load verification and tech monitoring. It emphasizes background checks, insurance practices, and response protocols to protect against losses, with case studies illustrating effective mitigation in brokerage settings.
Combating Freight Fraud Session 2
Building on the first fraud session, this explores evolving laws on safety and cyber-resiliency, offering tools for auditing, insurance, and compliance to bolster brokerage defenses against sophisticated threats, including digital scams and regulatory pitfalls.
AI-Driven Efficiency: Tools for Load Matching and Real-Time Operations
This session highlights AI applications in TMS and predictive tools for efficient load matching, real-time tracking, and collaborative decision-making, demonstrating how brokers can reduce costs, improve speed, and enhance resiliency through automation and data analytics.
Load Board Wars - What's the Latest
JP Hampstead, Senior Economist, FreightWaves
This session will examine competition among major load boards like DAT, Truckstop, and Highway for market share, this session features insights from each on innovative strategies, features, and tools designed to boost broker success, efficiency, and competitive edge in freight matching.
Forging Resilient Partnerships: Brokers and Shippers
This panel explores collaborative models, innovative contracts, and risk-sharing between brokers and shippers to build resiliency, discussing best practices for mutual benefits, trust-building, and adapting to market changes through shared data and aligned goals.
Building Successful Brokerages: Insights from Local Executives
Featuring local executives from major regional brokerages sharing strategies for growth, operations, and resiliency. This part focuses on foundational elements like team building, technology adoption, and market entry tactics, with real-world examples of overcoming initial hurdles to establish profitable ventures in competitive landscapes.
What the Truck?!?
Malcolm Harris, Podcast Host, FreightWaves
Speakers
Craig Fuller
Craig Fuller is the founder and CEO of FreightWaves, the leading provider of global supply chain market intelligence and news. Prior to FreightWaves, Craig was the founder of TransCard, a major provider of fleet fuel and debit cards. He is also the CEO of FLYING Magazine, the world’s most widely read aviation magazine. Previously, Fuller founded the Xpress Direct division of US Xpress, a leading provider of on-demand expedited truckload services. He holds a BBA from Baylor University and is a private pilot. He lives with his wife and 5 kids in Chattanooga, TN.
JP Hampstead
John Paul conducts research on multimodal freight markets and holds a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Michigan. Prior to building a research team at FreightWaves, JP spent two years on the editorial side covering trucking markets, freight brokerage, and M&A.
Malcolm Harris
Malcolm Harris is the host of What The Truck?!?, the flagship show on FreightWaves TV, where he brings energy, insight, and industry perspective to the forefront of freight media.
As the face and voice of one of the most-watched and talked-about shows in supply chain broadcasting, Malcolm delivers breaking news, sharp commentary, and engaging interviews that connect the logistics community across platforms.
With a background that spans logistics, recruiting, and media, Harris brings a unique blend of industry experience and storytelling ability to FreightWaves.
His dynamic presence and passion for connecting with audiences make him a standout personality in freight media.
What The Truck?!? airs live every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 12:00 p.m. ET on the FreightWaves YouTube channel and on SiriusXM channel 146 from 6-7 p.m. ET.
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Zach Strickland
Zach Strickland, the “Sultan of SONAR,” curates the weekly market update. Zach is also one of FreightWaves’ Market Experts. With a degree in Finance, Strickland spent the early part of his career in banking before transitioning to transportation in various roles and segments, such as truckload and LTL. He has over 13 years of transportation experience, specializing in data, pricing, and analytics.