National Transportation Institute (NTI) Chief Operating Officer Leah Shaver will serve as a featured presenter and a panelist during the upcoming Trucking Profitability Strategies Conference, which is being hosted by the Terry College of Business on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens. Set to take place April 28-30, the Trucking Profitability Strategies Conference (TPS) has built a storied 33-year history in becoming one of the most respected executive education seminars focused on the trucking industry.
Among the central reasons for sustained success of the TPS is the fact that it brings senior trucking professionals together to discuss best practices and emerging trends that can immediately improve performance and profitability, preparing participants for future opportunities and challenges. The TPS organizers have worked to create a relaxed atmosphere that fosters discussion among executives – some of whom are competitors – openly examining the state of the industry and the road ahead. Attendance is restricted to asset-based trucking companies to maximize the learning and networking experience.
Leah will be featured during the session focused on driver compensation and accountability at the TPS Conference. She will be presenting NTI’s statistical analysis of the current state of driver wages and retention in the trucking industry. Leah will then join a panel discussion that plans to examine topics including driver compensation, sign-on bonuses, mileage pay, weekly salary and guaranteed minimums,hourly pay, pay program changes, performance incentives and benefits. The panel will be moderated by Steve Phillips, the Senior Vice President of OTR Operations at U.S. Xpress. In addition to Phillips, Leah will be joined on the panel by Kathy Peissig, the Senior Director of Talent Management at Werner Enterprises, and Phil Wilt, the Chief Operating Officer at American Central Transport.
“It’s a terrific honor to be a part of the TPS Conference, and I’m looking forward to presenting NTI’s findings as well as participating in our panel discussion that looks to explore what’s involved in hiring, motivating and retaining drivers in today’s challenging environment,” said Leah. “The University of Georgia and the Terry College of Business have done an amazing job over the years to create the optimal environment where leaders from our industry can come together and learn from each other. Attendees are in a true academic setting, and I hope that through the presentation and panel discussion we can help spark ideas and further the dialogue on some of the most pressing issues for our industry.”
The Terry College of Business recently became a member of the Women In Trucking Association (WIT). The decision to join WIT was partially inspired by the growth in the number of women participating in the conference and the increased involvement by female executives with TPS. In addition to Kathy Peissig and Leah, the 2019 TPS will feature prominent roles for women, including Veriha Trucking President Karen Smerchek serving as the Program Chair for the entire conference.
For more information about the Trucking Profitability Strategies Conference, please visit truckingprofitability.com
