Improve performance and profitability
Trucking Profitability Strategies brings senior trucking professionals together to discuss best practices and emerging trends that can immediately improve performance and profitability and prepare participants for future opportunities and challenges. For 30 years this program has continued to feature leaders in trucking as presenters and panelists.
Program Information
Date: April 19–21, 2026
Times:
The conference opens on April 19 at 5:30 p.m. with a networking reception and concludes on April 21 at 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $1,345
Location:
The Georgia Center
1197 South Lumpkin Street
Athens, GA 30602-3603
Note: Unlike other programs, no suppliers or vendors attend this conference.
“I’ve attended the Trucking Profitability Strategies conference throughout my career and I continue to come back because it’s a place to come together with other folks in the industry. It’s a place you can let your guard down, talk about things you have in common, the challenges you face. People are willing to share here, and I think that’s the unique difference.”
– Derek Leathers, President & CEO
Werner Enterprises, Inc.
Who Will Benefit
Senior trucking professionals or rising trucking professionals. Attendance is restricted to asset-based trucking companies to maximize the learning and networking experience.
Takeaways
Relevant, current knowledge of emerging trends in trucking that will help keep you competitive, knowledgeable, and able to capitalize on opportunities as they arise.
2025 Conference Topics
- Attracting, Developing Talent & Maintaining
- Safety & Risk Management
- Executive Roundtable
- Scaling Your Business
- Equipment Strategies
- Opinions & Advice
TPS 2025 Agenda
Sunday, May 4, 2025
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 a.m. | Hospitality (snacks, fruit, water, and sodas) | Pecan Tree Galleria |
| 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Registration | Conference Registration Desk |
| 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Board Meeting | Meeting Room – 2nd Floor |
| 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. | Board Reception with Platinum Sponsor | Pecan Tree Galeria (Early Bar) |
| 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. | Reception | Pecan Tree Galleria & Courtyard |
| 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | Dinner Keynote Speaker: Tim Tebow | Magnolia Ballroom |
| 9:00 – 10:00 p.m. | Networking | Pecan Tree Galleria |
Monday, May 5, 2025
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast | Magnolia Ballroom |
| 8:00 – 8:05 a.m. | Welcome Remarks: Benjamin C. Ayers, Dean, Terry College of Business | Mahler Auditorium |
| 8:05 – 8:15 a.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks: Bob Lewis Welcome Sponsor: OnRamp Introduce Speaker | Mahler Auditorium |
| 8:15 – 9:15 a.m. | Keynote Address: Ken Gronbach | Mahler Auditorium |
| 9:15 – 9:30 a.m. | Break | Hill Atrium |
| 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. | Topic: Attracting, Maintaining, & Developing Talent Moderator: Gary Short III Panelists: Brent Nussbaum, Nussbaum Transportation Nicky Morrison, PRIME Inc. Tim Zeyer, American Central Transport | |
| 10:30 – 10:45 a.m. | Break | Hill Atrium |
| 10:45 – 11:45 a.m. | Topic: Safety & Risk Management Moderator: Keith Stelzer Panelists: Jessica Hamadeh, U.S. Xpress Inc. Brad Gerrard, Bison Transport Inc. Misty Olszewski, Covenant Logistics Group, Inc. | Mahler Auditorium |
| 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. | Lunch Moderator: Dave Fulawka Keynote Speaker: Eric Sauer (CA Trucking Association) & Chris Spear (ATA) | Magnolia Ballroom |
| 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. | Topic: Executive Roundtable Moderator: Tim Harrington Panelists: Paul Bunn, Covenant Logistics Group, Inc. Ben Schill, Paper Transport Joe Sherer, Knight-Swift Transportation | Mahler Auditorium |
| 2:45 – 3:15 p.m. | Break: With Beverages | Hill Atrium |
| 3:15 – 4:30 p.m. | Topic: Scaling Your Business Moderator: Harman Cheema Panelists: Tim Guin, Hirschbach Matt Parry, Werner Enterprises Erin Van Zeeland, Schneider Shaun O’Malley, Bison Transport Inc. | Mahler Auditorium |
| 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. | Networking Reception | Hill Atrium |
| 6:00 p.m. | Buses Leave for Dinner | Front of Georgia Center |
| 6:15 – 9:00 p.m. | Reception and Dinner | TBD |
| 9:00 p.m. | Last bus returns to campus and hotel | Front of TBD |
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 – 8:15 a.m. | Breakfast | Magnolia Ballroom |
| 8:15 –9:15 a.m. | Topic: Equipment Strategies Moderator: Jeremy Stickling Panelists: Dan Deppeler, Paper Transport Taki Darakos, PITT OHIO Brad Gehring, Ruan | Mahler Auditorium |
| 9:15 – 9:30 a.m. | Break | Hill Atrium |
| 9:30 – 11:15 a.m. | Topic: Opinions & Advice Moderator: Andy Damkroger Panelists: Chad England, CR England Adam Miller, Knight – Swift Transportation Eric Kutter, Shaffer Trucking | Mahler Auditorium |
| 11:15 a.m. | Adjourn & Box Lunches | Hill Atrium |
Sponsors
TPS Advisory Board
Board Chair
- Dave Fulawka
Associate Vice President Network Analytics and Development, Bison Transport Inc. Enterprises
Program Chair
- Robert “Bob” Lewis
Vice President, Inter-Coastal Trucking
Past Board Chair
- Andy Damkroger
VP-IT Strategy and Ops, Werner Enterprises
Board Members
- Harman Cheema
President and Chief Executive Officer, Cheema Freightlines, LLC - Tim Harrington
President, US Xpress - Kelly Patrick
President/CEO, Kennesaw Transportation - Micah Peagler
Vice President of Strategy, Total Transportation of Mississippi - Gary Short III
Director – Fleet Operations, Go-To Transport, Inc. - Keith Stelzer
Vice President of Safety and Recruiting, Paper Transport Inc. - Jeremy Stickling
Chief Administrative Officer, Nussbaum Transportation Services, Inc.
Want to Learn More?
We’re here to answer any questions you may have about Trucking Profitability Strategies or other programs provided by the Terry College of Business Office of Executive Education.
- Associate Director of Open Enrollment Programs & Conferences, Executive Education