The American Trucking Associations' Management Conference & Exposition will include a visit from the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, presentations covering the state of the industry, and educational sessions to help trucking executives better manage their fleets.

This year, the conference runs from Oct. 4-7 at the San Diego Convention Center.

Gina McCarthy, EPA administrator, is expected to attend the first general session that will include a ceremony for the SmartWay Excellence Awards and a panel on the impact of congestion on the trucking industry. McCarthy's attendance is "both timely and relevant to our industry," said Bill Graves, ATA's president and CEO.

The conference's general sessions kick off Monday, when Graves gives his state of the industry overview, followed by the panel discussion, "The Economy and Its Impact on Trucking." A Tuesday general session will cover "Living With Congestion: Is There a Light at the End of This Tunnel?"

Educational sessions include a forecast of tomorrow's freight market, how technology is changing the trucking industry, how to combat organizational fraud, trends in driver pay, how to recruit drivers, managing fuel costs, supply chain challenges, how to improve media relations, and an update on warranty laws. For a complete look at this year's schedule, visit the ATA website.

Look for live coverage of the conference on TruckingInfo.com, and look for updates during the show on our Facebook page and Twitter feed.