EVENTS & EDUCATION

Join us for breakfast and networking  with other trucking professionals as industry leaders share valuable insights on the current state of the industry, updates on trucking regulations, and strategies for owner-operators and small fleets to optimize their operations and overcome any challenges in 2026.

Admission is $100. Attendees and Exhibitors can add this event to their badge during Registration.
More Info at Opening Breakfast

An elite competition hosting the best of the best custom show trucks in North America. More info at PKY Championship.

FMCSA Session 1

The session addresses the dual challenge faced by carriers – soft market rates and
internal cash flow drag – by proposing strategies for success. The 2026 market outlook
emphasizes capitalizing on the pre-spring surges and demand hotspots. Financial acceleration
is highlighted as a key tool to resolve cashflow issues. Leveraging instant payment solutions to
stop carriers from financing customers (the 30-90 day gap) will convert potential growth capital
into active capital. Attendees will leave knowing the importance of financial health signals and
where to look for demand in 2026 markets.

The trucking industry is changing fast, and AI is already in your cab whether you invited it or not. But here’s the truth: fighting every new technology will leave you behind, while accepting everything means giving up the autonomy that makes you a professional driver.

This session cuts through the hype and fear to give you a practical strategy. We’ll explore which AI tools actually work FOR you – saving time, solving problems, and making your job easier – and which ones are just dressed-up surveillance. You’ll learn what’s worth embracing, what to push back on, and how strategic use of technology can actually preserve your control over what matters most: your decisions on the road and your long-term career.

Walk away with a clear-eyed understanding of AI in trucking and a game plan for using it on YOUR terms. Because the drivers who thrive won’t be the ones who resist all change or accept it blindly – they’ll be the ones who know the difference.

Join Tapan from Hey Bubba AI for a fast-paced, practical look at how artificial intelligence is transforming the trucking industry today—not in theory, but in daily operations. This session will break down the latest AI tools that fleets of all sizes are using to cut operating costs, improve driver retention, enhance safety compliance, and eliminate back-office bottlenecks.
Attendees will learn how modern AI can:

• Reduce empty miles and improve dispatch accuracy
• Automate paperwork, billing, and load-tracking tasks
• Streamline recruiting and driver communications
• Enhance maintenance planning using predictive insights
• Improve customer service with real-time, AI-powered responses

Whether you’re a small carrier or a large fleet, you’ll leave with clear, actionable steps to start leveraging AI—without needing a technical team or massive budget. This is a must-attend session for trucking leaders looking to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

More than 30 acres of FREE truck parking located less than one mile from the Kentucky Expo Center with a free shuttle to and from the Expo Center during show hours. More info at Truck Parking Community.

EPA 2027 regulations will significantly impact how medium- and heavy-duty trucks are designed, purchased, and operated. This session provides a practical, fleet-focused overview of what’s coming, how efficiency requirements intersect with aerodynamics and powertrain design, and where electric trucks realistically fit today. Drawing on real-world OEM experience, the discussion cuts through hype and focuses on compliance pathways, operational considerations, and decision-making frameworks fleets can use over the next 3–5 years.

The PKY Light Show is a spectacle like no other. Competitors light up the night with a wide array of colors displayed on their custom trucks. More info at PKY Light Show.

An elite competition hosting the best of the best custom show trucks in North America. More info at PKY Championship.

FMCSA Session 2

Dedicated Sleep offers practical, realistic strategies drivers can actually use: protecting sleep time, recognizing warning signs of dangerous fatigue, advocating for rest without guilt and reframing sleep as a professional responsibility, not a weakness.

As federal cannabis policy shifts, the trucking industry faces new questions about safety sensitive positions, drug testing standards, and workforce readiness. This panel brings together compliance experts, regulatory experts and industry leaders to break down what marijuana rescheduling actually means for motor carriers and the non-regulated workforce.
Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the regulatory landscape, the science behind impairment and testing, the risks to fleet operations, and the practical steps carriers should take to protect safety, compliance, and their driver workforce.

Join industry experts for a dynamic panel discussion focused on empowering carriers
with essential success strategies for 2026. This session moves beyond simple rate-per-mile
metrics, teaching you to redefine your value through data-driven insights and key performance
benchmarks. You’ll learn how to build a professional brand that commands financial credibility,
master negotiation tactics that shift the conversation from cost to service. Panelists will discuss
the "Walk-Away Rule" to protect your business and cash flow. Attendees will leave with
actionable steps to audit their portfolios, calculate their price floors, and modernize their
professional image to thrive in today’s competitive market.

Cargo theft rings are getting more sophisticated, and drivers are often the first ones to spot when something’s off – if they know what to look for. This session gives you the practical tools to protect yourself and your load before problems happen.

Learn the red flags that signal a fraudulent broker, sketchy pickup instructions, or a setup for theft. We’ll walk through the right questions to ask dispatch, brokers, and shippers to vet a load properly. You’ll understand what to do if something feels wrong, how to document everything to protect yourself legally, and why speaking up early can save your career.

Whether you’re an owner/operator or company driver, you’re on the front line. This session arms you with the knowledge to trust your instincts, ask the hard questions, and avoid becoming an unwitting participant in cargo fraud.

Theme: Driving Change. Building Leaders. Preparing the Next Generation.
The 2nd Annual Women in Leadership Trucking Panel, is an impactful conversation focused on shaping the future of trucking, logistics, and the supply chain through collaboration, leadership, and innovation. This dynamic session brings together industry associations, leaders, and advocates who are driving meaningful change while preparing the next generation of professionals to thrive in an evolving industry.
“Driving Change. Building Leaders. Preparing the Next Generation,” the panel will explore how organizations are advancing safety, expanding workforce opportunities, and strengthening leadership pipelines across the transportation ecosystem. Attendees will gain insight into how strategic partnerships, education initiatives, and mentorship programs are transforming access to sustainable careers and building a more inclusive industry.
Whether you are a driver, fleet leader, educator, workforce partner, or industry stakeholder, this panel offers actionable insights, real-world perspectives, and opportunities to connect with organizations committed to driving progress across the trucking industry.

More than 30 acres of FREE truck parking located less than one mile from the Kentucky Expo Center with a free shuttle to and from the Expo Center during show hours. More info at Truck Parking Community.

Third-generation trucking professional Danielle Chaffin presents an investigative look at systemic fraud in U.S. trucking. Her work exposes shell-company address clusters, data manipulation that defeats standard vetting, and chameleon carriers cycling USDOT numbers to evade violations, crashes, and enforcement. She connects these practices to the post-2018 surge in carrier registrations, rising cargo theft, legacy carrier failures, lax enforcement of English Language Proficiency rules, questionable non-domiciled CDL practices, and persistent regulatory gaps — arguing that poor data quality is the core weakness that enables fraud, safety risks, and market distortion.

Join us for the official MATS Concert, presented by Bennett Family of Companies, Bridgehaul, and Ace Doran. More details at MATS Concert.

An elite competition hosting the best of the best custom show trucks in North America. More info at PKY Championship.

The custom trucks have been judged, now it’s time to celebrate these works of art and crown the winners. All attendees are invited to the Awards Ceremony where the winners of each class will be announced, along with Best of Show, People’s Choice, Big Rig Build-Off, and other awards.

FMCSA Session 3

In this session, we’ll explore how putting drivers first can strengthen the entire transportation network. We’ll cover ways to bridge the broker–driver gap, improve safety and compliance (CSA, training, accountability), and tackle key challenges such as parking shortages and the transition from company driver to independent operator.
Attendees will leave with real-world, actionable strategies to improve communication, retention, and profitability—proving that when you prioritize drivers, the entire operation runs safer, smarter, and stronger.

AI will replace those who don’t use it” — but what does that really mean for truck drivers?
This session focuses on practical, real-life examples of how truckers can use AI today to make their jobs easier, safer, and more profitable—from trip planning and paperwork to communication, learning, and career growth. Chris explains where AI actually fits in trucking, where it doesn’t, and how drivers can stay in control of their careers instead of fearing technology.

Everyone’s talking about a driver shortage. We’re not buying it, but we see carriers make desperate hiring decisions that create massive liability exposure. In this session, Rob Carpenter and Brandon Wiseman break down what it actually takes to hire and qualify drivers the right way. From the basics carriers still get wrong, to the complex realities of non-domiciled CDLs, English language proficiency requirements, and work authorization verification, you’ll leave knowing exactly what the regs require, and the red flags that should kill a hire before it starts. No fluff, no vendor pitches, just practical compliance guidance for fleets of any size.

Interactive discussion of maintenance procedures utilized by The Trucking Solutions Group members. We will talk from a list we show the audience and discuss any maintenance questions from the audience.

In this session, I’ll share the exact strategies I used to grow our fleet from 3 trucks to 100+ trucks in just over three years, without outside funding and during one of the hardest markets in the past decade. This talk is designed for carriers who want to scale sustainably, build operational resilience, and compete with the top 5% of trucking companies.

Topics will include:

• How to scale from 3 trucks to 100+ using systems, automation, and disciplined processes rather than “hustle.”
• How to build a healthy freight mix between shippers and brokers — and why the right balance determines whether your company can survive down markets.
• Building an antifragile trucking company that gets stronger during volatility, not weaker.
• Why 90% of trucking companies struggle with sales — and how to create a simple, repeatable revenue engine even if you’ve never hired a salesperson.
• Leadership mindset shifts required to scale a fleet rapidly while maintaining culture, profitability, and operational control.
• What I wish I knew when I started — hard lessons, near-failures, and the turnaround moments that made growth possible.

Attendees will leave with practical templates, actionable tactics, and a clearer blueprint for growing a trucking company the right way — without burning out, overspending, or losing control of operations.

Beyond the Truck is a nationwide movement designed to restore health, purpose, and pride across the transportation industry. Founded by Jerry Curl a 45-year veteran whose career spans from the driver’s seat to executive leadership the initiative redefines what it means to thrive behind the wheel and in the boardroom. Jerry has sustained personal success in winning the war against obesity, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and mental health to become the healthiest certain of himself at 62 years of age. Continuing to roll back the odometer of life by 16 years. For the past two years has maintained a metabolic age of 46 going from 354 pounds to 167 pounds living!

Built on the principle that motivation fades but education sustains, Beyond the Truck equips leaders and drivers alike with the tools to improve mental, physical, and spiritual health. Through personal transformation as well as personal leadership, driver wellness resources, and company-tailored programs, it addresses the root causes of burnout, loneliness, and poor health that have long plagued the profession.

By uniting emotional intelligence, faith, and practical wellness, Beyond the Truck aims to change culture from the top down, where leadership models the standard, and drivers feel valued, connected, and inspired to live well beyond the truck.

Your health. Your legacy. Your transformation. It starts now.
THRIVE TO DRIVE

More than 30 acres of FREE truck parking located less than one mile from the Kentucky Expo Center with a free shuttle to and from the Expo Center during show hours. More info at Truck Parking Community.

Post-show parade of show trucks as they travel around the circle road that surrounds the Kentucky Expo Center