The Must-Attend Educational Opportunities at MATS 2022 For Your Owner-Operator Business
The Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) is the largest annual trucking trade show not only in the United States, but in the entire world. For three days, from March 24-26th, 2022, nearly 100,000 people from all walks of the trucking industry come together at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville over their shared interest and passion for trucking. And while it is primarily known as a trade show, with over 1,000 exhibitors to visit from 10am-6pm on Thursday (10am-1pm is VIP only) and Friday, and 9am-4pm on Saturday, in fact, it is much more than that. During the hours of the trade show, and into the evenings, MATS is a space for exploration, networking, and fun. From over 40 unique events, educational sessions, and entertainment offerings, the biggest challenge you’ll face is wanting more time!
You can view the schedule in its entirety, but how do you squeeze everything into the few days you have? As an Owner-Operator, you’ll want to be especially cognizant of your time so that you can take full advantage of the offerings in front of you and get the most out of your experience. Take a moment to reflect upon your current business and ask yourself where you’re looking to improve. From finding and negotiating the best rates, to reducing expenses to learning industry trends, it’s a valuable opportunity to translate new learnings and skills into real impact to your bottom line.
We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the most relevant and useful educational opportunities for Owner-Operators so you can do just that. Some of them overlap, so make sure you plan ahead and choose the session during that time that is calling you most. You can print this article or pull it up on your phone to keep it with you while you’re there. And when you’re not attending a session, you can use your time to roam the trade show freely, learn about other companies and organizations in this space, and connect with other individuals. You never know who you might meet and who might have a real impact on you and your career. Further, be sure to check out the entertainment, such as the PKY Truck Championship (same daily hours as the exhibition) and the Clay Walker concert on Friday night to take a break from official business and simply kick back for a bit.
We hope you enjoy the event and can’t wait to hear about all of the amazing things you learn! Be sure to stop by Booth #61048 in the West Wing and say hi to us all at TrueNorth, grab some swag and enter into our free raffle for a cash prize, and learn about what makes us a new kind of Owner-Operator fleet.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24th
Negotiating from the Driver’s Seat: Expert Negotiation Tips That Will Help Put You in Control of Your Truck.
12:30pm-1:30pm | ProTalks Theater (Room B104)
Robert Rouse, Product Manager, DAT and Chad Boblett, Rate Per Mile Masters guide us on boosting your negotiation skills so that you can learn how to earn a higher rate per mile and ultimately take home more. Lecture + live QA.
Going the Extra Mile from Driver to Carrier
2:00pm-3:00pm | ProTalks Stage (Booth 24155)
Curious about operating under your own authority? Chad Boblett & RPM Masters, share their experience, learnings, and best practices on just how to do this.
Negotiate and Get Paid More as an Owner-Operator
2:45pm-3:45pm | ProTalks Theater (Room B104)
Hear Brent Hutto, Truckstop.com and Tyler Johnston, Brokerage and Freight Operations Manager at Mercer Transportation, share practical ways you can increase the rates you are paid as an Owner-Operator from the broker perspective.
Tire Retreading: Myths and Misconceptions
4:30pm-5:30pm | ProTalks Stage (Booth 24155)
Want to learn more about tire retreading and how it can save you upwards of a thousand dollars in repairs? David Stevens, Managing Director, Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB), has everything you need to know.
FRIDAY, MARCH 25th
How to Easily Book Loads with Technology
10:00am-10:30am | ProTalks Stage (Booth 24155)
Tracy Neill, Trucker Tools and Trucker G, walks us through the ways technology replaces long, burdensome calls to brokers with convenience and ease.
FMCSA Information Session
10:00am-11:00am | ProTalks Theater (Room B104)
Hear about industry policy updates, including the new National Roadway Safety Strategy and the Biden-Harris Administration Trucking Action Plan - and how they may impact you - straight from FMCSA leadership.
Real Visibility = Live Supply Chain
10:45am-11:30am | ProTalks Stage (Booth 24155)
If you’re a fleet owner, you can take advantage of real-time live visibility and know the ins and outs of your supply chain operation, allowing you to maximize output and reduce costs. Hear from two executives at Konexial, Andy Dishner, COO, and Ken Evans, CEO, who live and breathe this technology every day.
Why Every Trucker Needs to Think Like an Entrepreneur
12:30pm-1:30pm | ProTalks Theater (Room B104)
The intersection between the transportation and technology industry is ever-evolving in ways that benefit you as an Owner-Operator and a small fleet owner. Hear from Tobenna Arodiogbu, CloudTrucks CEO and founder, and Clarissa Rankin, industry influencer, about how you can reap those benefits, especially regarding increasing revenue and lowering costs.
Partners in Business: Owner-operator business performance benchmarking and Q&A with Overdrive and ATBS
1:45pm-2:45pm | ProTalks Theater (Room B104)
Mike Hosted, Vice President, ATBS, Todd Dills, Editor, Overdrive and Gary Buchs, Overdrive contributor and owner-operator business coach, fill us in on the 2021 industry trends and performance (revenue, cost, and income). These numbers serve as a benchmark and launchpad for discussion on best practices for your operation.
The Pathway to Independence and Profits
3:00pm-4:00pm | ProTalks Theater (Room B104)
Brent Hutto, Truckstop.com and Special Guest share knowledge and perspective on running a successful Owner-Operator business. It is not an easy feat, but certainly possible and rewarding if done correctly.
Money Money Money: How to Make More Money in Trucking
5:00pm-6:00pm | ProTalks Stage (Booth 24155)
Check out the 10 essential tips for a successful trucking operation from James Poston and Raye Ackerman.
SATURDAY, MARCH 26th
Truck to Success: Taxes and Business Structure
9:30am-11:00am | ProTalks Stage (Booth 24155)
Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President of OOIDA, and Barry Fowler, Enrolled Agent, President & Founder of Taxation Solutions, Inc., detail all that needs to go into big decisions as Owner-Operators such as the business structure that may be right for you and everything you need to know about taxes.
Calling All Small Fleets: How to Win Freight, Save Time and Make More $$$
10:00am-11:00am | ProTalks Theater (Room B104)
Grant Goodale, Carrier Experience Officer and Co-Founder of Convoy, present their solution to ease Owner-Operator life and help you thrive in America.
Using Your Log for Maximum Miles
11:15am-12:15pm | ProTalks Stage (Booth 24155)
Mark Rumps, Trucking Answers, discusses split sleeper at length and how to use it while ensuring DOT Hours of Service compliance.
Business Tips for Owner Operators: How to Find and Make Connections on the Road
12:30pm-1:00pm | ProTalks Theater (Room B104)
It’s time to talk about the importance of community on the road. From other drivers to brokers and beyond, Tracy Neill, Trucker Tools with Jacinda Lady Truck'n and Larry Cothran, share experiences to help you make connections and build a community of support.
Diversity & Inclusion in the Workforce
3:00pm-4:00pm | ProTalks Stage (Booth 24155)
SHE Trucking Foundation, Inc leads a Q&A panel on the future of women & minorities in trucking.
Combating Human Trafficking through the Trucking Industry
3:00pm-4:00pm | ProTalks Theater (Room B104)
Truckers play a critical role in fighting against human trafficking across the U.S. But many do not know what to look for and what to do if you suspect trafficking. Louie Greek, Coalition Build Specialist, Truckers Against Trafficking discusses everything you need to know - from the basics to practical ways to save lives - starting today.
We’d love to hear what session you are most looking forward to at MATS this year! Share below in the comments, and afterward, let us know what you learn! And remember to come by Booth #61048 in the West Wing - we can’t wait to see you.
