The trucking industry continues to be incredibly competitive and complex, with success in the field hinging on industry leaders' abilities to improve supply chain efficiency and overcome challenges. Logistics experts dedicate time and effort to improving inbound and outbound supply chains.
Supply chain and trucking conferences exist mainly to provide a healthy international supply chain for a thriving world economy and a more prosperous global community. The transportation industry organizes hundreds of annual trucking conferences and expos catered to all interests.
2026 is the perfect time to seek networking opportunities, monitor industry trends, check new equipment, and attend educational sessions on managing fleets better.
Why You Should Attend Industry Conferences
Attending interactive exhibits in the trucking and logistics field is the ideal opportunity for fleet managers to meet trucking industry leaders and gain insight into their world. This segment explores reasons to attend the next trucking annual conference.
- Education and training: The annual events' educational sessions help fleet managers enhance their skills, learn about cutting-edge tools, improve their supply chain management knowledge, and optimize their operations.
- Exposure to new technologies: Trucking conferences feature an excellent opportunity to explore cybersecurity features, software, hardware, and equipment to streamline fleet operations, reduce cost, and improve efficiency.
- Network opportunities: Trucking managers come together from different logistics and supply chain sectors, allowing for exclusive networking opportunities and strengthening professional relationships.
- Regulatory updates: The trucking and transportation industry is heavily regulated. These annual conferences provide fleet managers with regulatory updates and compliance best practices that might impact businesses.
Who Should Attend?
Various businesses and professionals in the trucking and shipping industry can benefit from attending trucking conferences. They include:
- Trucking companies;
- Manufacturers and shippers;
- Consultants and advisers;
- Freight brokers and agents;
- Supply chain managers;
- Government and regulatory bodies;
- Logistics software providers; and
- Academics and researchers.
Attending trucking conferences provides valuable insight for business growth and networking, making them beneficial for professionals in the industry.
The Best Conferences to Attend in 2026
Numerous trucking conferences occur annually across various industries in the United States. This year marks some of the best annual events, with a diverse selection across different fields to consider attending.
RILA LINK 2026 | February 1-4 | Kissimmee, FL
The Retail Supply Chain Conference takes place February 1-4 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, FL, making it a great chance to learn more from knowledgeable retail supply chain executives. Multiple rates are available for members and non-members, including early bird individual rates, standard individual rates, on-site individual rates and prices for teams of seven or more.
TCA Annual Convention | February 28-March 3 | Kissimmee, FL
The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Annual Convention will take place February 28-March 3 in Kissimmee, FL. Over a thousand attendees from the truckload segment of the industry will fill the Gaylor Palms Resort & Convention Center, where there are plenty of additional activities to do before and after the event.
Food Shippers of America | March 1-3 | Orlando, FL
The 2026 Food Shippers of America Conference will occur at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Orlando, FL, from March 1-3. Special room rates are available for attendees staying on site at a first come, first serve basis.
TPM26 | March 1-4 | Long Beach, CA
TPM26 is a global ocean container supply chain conference happening from March 1-4 in Long Beach, CA. Incredible speakers include keynote speaker Janet Yellen, former U.S. Treasury Secretary & former Federal Reserve Chair; Mauricio Padrón, Senior Supply Chain Director for Walmart; Jeremy Nixon, CEO for Ocean Network Express (ONE); and many others.
NMFTA Spring Meeting & W&R Meeting | March 8-10 | Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA is home to the 2026 NMFTA Spring Meeting from March 8-10. NMFTA will be hosting three days of meetings and social activities offering many forums for discussion of issues important to the LTL motor carrier industry. New this year: The Spring 2026 Weighing and Research (W&R) Advisory Council Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Spring Meeting. The three-day event will take place at The DeSoto Hotel so there's no shortage of ways to stay busy, even during the off hours.
T&LC Annual Conference | March 15-18 | Franklin, TN
The Transportation & Logistics Council (T&LC) will host its 52nd Annual Conference at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs. The even offers pre-conference seminars, numerous sessions on freight claims, best practices for food transportation, and "The Tariff Tango" to name a few.
ATA Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition | March 16-19 | Nashville, TN
The TMC Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition takes place in Nashville, TN from March 16-19 at the Music City Center in downtown Nashville, TN. There are many exhibits, forums, study sessions, networking events, and more to attend, making it a fantastic opportunity to obtain a wealth of knowledge and meet others in the industry.
Mid America Truck Show | March 26-28 | Louisville, KY
Tens of thousands of attendees are expected to fill the more than 1 million square feet of the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville for the Mid-America Trucking Show from March 26-28. There are more than 870 exhibitors and dozens of events, making it the ideal chance to learn about all the latest trends in the industry.
ATA Safety, Security & Human Resources National Conference & Exhibition | April 1-3 | Oklahoma City, OK
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) Safety, Security & Human Resources National Conference & Exhibition takes place in Oklahoma City in early April at the Omni OKC. Hundreds of attendees will be there to learn more about, as the name suggests, the security, safety and human resource aspects of the industry.
MODEX 2026 | April 13-16 | Atlanta, GA
MODEX takes place at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta, GA, April 13-16. This conference features more than 50,000 qualified buyers to help supply chain industry professionals find the most effective and efficient solutions to critical challenges.
TIA Capital Ideas Conference | April 15-18 | Phoenix, AZ
The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) Capital Ideas Conference will be held at the five-star JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, AZ, mid April. This is the industry's third-party logistics event. In addition to obtaining plenty of information, there will be pool and a golf club.
TRMG Spring Conference | April 19-21 | TBD
The Transportation Revenue Management Council (TRMG) Spring Conference will be held April 19-21. More information will be available here.
NTTC Annual Conference & Exhibits | April 20-22 | Baltimore, MD
Individuals involved in the tank truck industry will want to attend the 2026 National Tank Truck Carriers Annual Conference in Baltimore, MD from April 20-22. This two-day event offers keynote speakers, tailored sessions, meals, and networking events.
Gartner Supply Chain Symposium | May 4-6 | Orlando, FL
May 4-6 is the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo™ 2026 conference in Orlando, FL. Topics range from fulfillment and manufacturing to planning and strategy. Featured topics for this year's event ranges from artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging tech to cost optimization to risk and resilience.
NPTC Annual Conference & Exhibition | May 9-11 | Orlando, FL
The National Private Truck Council (NPTC) 2026 event will be held in early May in Orlando, FL at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Hotel and the Orange County Convention Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with more than 1,300 other attendees during exhibits, networking events, and more throughout the three-day event. Explore this event today.
ATA Mid-Year Management Session | May 17-20 | Hollywood, FL
The American Trucking Association (ATA) Mid-Year Management Session takes place at the Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, FL, May 17-20. Many activities are available on-site, with numerous additional options nearby to do during the off time.
WERC Annual Conference | May 17-20 | Jacksonville, FL
As the only conference dedicated to advancing warehouse and distribution center efficiency, Warehousing Education Research Council (WERC) 2026 is where you’ll learn about the latest technological trends, connect with peers, and explore the central and evolving role of your workforce. The event will be held in mid-May in Jacksonville, FL. More information will be available here.
Home Delivery World USA 2026 | May 20-21 | Nashville, TN
Individuals who want to learn more about supply chains and retail logistics should attend Home Delivery World at the Music City Convention Center in Nashville on May 20 and 21. More than 250 speakers and thousands of attendees will make their way to the event.
SMC3 Connections | June 29-July 1 | palm beach, FL
SMC³ Connections takes place in 2026 in Palm Beach, FL from June 29-July 1. Hear from expert speakers in the industry and network with other supply chain professionals.
Jarrett Supply Chain Summit | August 5-6 | CLeveland, OH
The Jarrett Supply Chain Summit 2026 will be held at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, in Cleveland, OH, August 5-6. The event is positioned as a mid-sized, executive-friendly, shipper–carrier–3PL focused supply chain event with a strong Midwest footprint.
FTR Transportation Conference | August 31-September 3 | Indianapolis, IN
The FTR | Transportation Intelligence's Transportation Conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown-Union Station in Indianapolis, IN, in late August. Attendees will hear perspectives from FTR, market participants (i.e., carriers, shippers, and brokers), and other observers/analysts.
McLeod Software User Conference | September 13-15 | Nashville, TN
The McLeod Software User Conference is a private event for McLeod customers and existing vendor partners. The event will take place September 13-15 in Nashville, TN. For more information, contact events@mcleodsoftware.com.
IANA Intermodal Expo | September 14-16 | Long Beach, CA
The IANA Intermodal Expo will occur from September 14-16 at the Long Beach Convention Center & Entertainment Center. Attendees can learn more about industry topics ranging from sustainability to staffing. This is one of the most influential North American events focused specifically on intermodal freight, bringing together the full ecosystem that moves freight via rail + truck + ocean + ports.
Parcel Forum | September 14-16 | Kissimmee, FL
Individuals involved in business-to-business and direct-to-customer processes will want to head over to 2026 Parcel Forum. The event, which focuses on the small package supply chain, takes place from September 14-16 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, FL.
ATA TMC Fall Meeting & TMCSuperTech | September 20-24 | Pittsburgh, PA
The American Trucking Associations( ATA) Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Fall Meeting and National Technician Skills Competitions is set for September 20-24. The event will be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. The event offers a week-long opportunity for education and insight, as well as skill-based competitions as part of its TMCSuperTech event. Participants in these competitions must be TMC Technician Members.
NMFTA Fall Meeting | September 27-29 | Long Beach, CA
Make plans today to network with your peers at the NMFTA 2026 Fall Meeting set for September 27-29 at the Marriott Long Beach Downtown. Just minutes from one of the largest ports in the United States, we thought this would be the perfect location to learn about trucking and the greater supply chain and movement of freight. The NMFTA 2026 Fall Weighing & Research (W&R) Advisory Council Meeting and its 2026 Cybersecurity Conference will also be held in conjunction with this meeting.
Trimble Insight 2026 | September 27-29 | San Diego, CA
Trimble Insight brings together 1500+ attendees and features thought-provoking educational sessions, presentations, and interactive demos and breakout sessions. The event will be held in San Diego, CA in late September. More information can be found here.
JOC Inland Distribution | September 28-30 | Chicago, IL
The Inland Distribution event is a prominent conference organized by the Journal of Commerce (JOC), a leading source of news and analysis for the global trade and logistics industries. This event focuses on various aspects of inland transportation and logistics, bringing together industry professionals to discuss trends, challenges, and opportunities in the sector. This year's event will be held in late September at The Westin Chicago River North in Chicago, IL.
ATA Management Conference & Exhibition | October 17-20 | Charlotte, NC
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) Management Conference & Exhibition is set for October 17-20 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC. The event brings together trucking leaders, innovators, and advocates to gain insights from key decision-makers, drive policy by participating in discussions, and discover innovations in the event's robust exhibition hall. More information will be available here.
Women in Trucking | october 25-28 | Dallas, TX
The Women in Trucking Association Accelerate! Conference & Expo occurs in Dallas, TX, in late October. The four-star Hilton Anatole is the site of the event, which is near numerous restaurants and activities and approximately 15 minutes from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. This event focuses on leadership, workforce development, and gender diversity, and draws a broad mix of women and allies across the industry.
Freightwaves F3 | october 27-28 | Chattanooga, TN
The FreightWaves F3: Future of Freight Festival will take place at The Signal, an event venue located in downtown Chattanooga, TN in the history Choo Choo complex. This conference features freight technology at the forefront of the industry, bringing together supply chain experts and professionals for networking and insightful demos and discussions.
