The North American Commercial Vehicle Show has partnered with American Trucking Associations to host a symposium at this year’s event, offering educational and benchmarking sessions to attendees.

The new half-day educational conference takes place on Tuesday, October 29, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The symposium will be conducted off the show floor and features thought leaders and industry visionaries selected to specifically discuss a variety of trending industry topics. Additionally, ATA will also host operational benchmarking sessions on Thursday, October 31.

To register for the symposium, click here.

“We are excited to announce this exciting new event, in partnership with NACV,” said Chris Spear, president and chief executive officer of American Trucking Associations. “This symposium is a great opportunity for attendees to take away actionable advice and information that can help both improve their fleet’s profitability as well as protect their operations from outside threats.”

Sessions include:

Strategies for Preventing and Managing Cybersecurity Disasters: Because vulnerabilities to trucking network security can cause major consequences to trucking efficiencies and the U.S. economy, this session will preview cybersecurity measures to protect your fleet and how to manage a cybersecurity disaster.

TMC’s Future Truck Committee: Technological advances in the industry over the last 50 years have been astonishing and truck technology has made extraordinary advances in efficiency and productivity. Through the years, ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) has been at the vanguard of thought leadership in defining fleet user requirements regarding future truck technology. This session will present projections by the Council’s Study Groups and Committees on the future of trucking technology and business practices. Each group defines recommended practices to assist end-users in the design, specification, maintenance and performance of commercial vehicle equipment. These insights represent the consensus of the Council’s more than 2,500 members on what direction truck technology should take in the coming decades.

Plenty of Miles Left – Strategies for Finding Good Used Equipment: During the panel session, experts who know what to look for and how to ensure fleet owners make the best equipment purchases will discuss how a good used truck or trailer can deliver thousands of miles of service at a significant cost savings over a new model. Panel members will offer tips about how to tell the difference between a well-cared for “cream puff” and a worn-down workhorse in need of major, costly repairs and excessive downtime. Beyond pricing, this session will also explore common pitfalls buyers may encounter, as well as tips for making thoughtful, informed purchases that will continue to pay dividends years down the road.

Making the Case for Active Safety Technology: Experts will address how fleets of all sizes can evaluate active safety systems and justify investment in the technology today. The panel will address if the latest advances in this technology, including the first wave of active steering capabilities, will spur broader industry implementation. Panel members will take into consideration that modern heavy-duty trucks with an array of increasingly sophisticated active safety features have yet to be universally adopted by the industry. The discussion will also consider that active safety systems come with an added cost that not all truck buyers are willing to pay.

Thursday, October 31, will include the following sessions:

Lease and Finance Strategies to Maintain Your Fleet: Maximizing end-of-life asset value is a challenge for many small and mid-size fleets. This session will discuss proven strategies for overcoming issues related to truck replacement and equipment disposal. For example, cash flow problems might be addressed by turning to short-term equipment rentals or longer-term equipment leasing. Speakers will also present ideas for building a more effective return on investment (ROI) strategy, such as finding ways to extend service life or achieve longer amortization.

The American Transportation Research Institute will also host an Operational Costs of Trucking panel discussion.