August 5, 2026
Fifth Annual Trucking Matters Seminar Series 2026 Recap
The 5th Annual Trucking Matters Seminar Series 2026, hosted by Reliance Partners, brought together more than 350 trucking, freight brokerage, and insurance professionals in Nashville, TN, marking our biggest Trucking Matters yet. Over two days at the Grand Hyatt Nashville, industry leaders, regulators, carriers, and shippers came together to tackle the issues shaping transportation today – from federal safety policy to cargo theft, credit risk, and the road ahead for freight brokerages.
This year’s agenda expanded on everything that made past years successful, adding new panels, new voices, and a marquee session that’s never been part of Trucking Matters before: a live conversation with a federal regulator.
Key Highlights from the Seminar:
Freight, Capacity, and Economic Update
Reliance Partners’ own Thom Albrecht, Chief Revenue Officer, opened the day with his signature look at freight market conditions, capacity trends, and when supply and demand might finally find balance.
FMCSA Townhall Q&A
The standout new addition to this year’s program: a live Q&A with Jesse Elison, Deputy Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Attendees got direct access to the agency shaping the regulatory landscape for their businesses, with Elison fielding questions on enforcement priorities, rulemaking, and the road ahead for commercial motor vehicle safety policy.
The Next Frontier of Theft, Fraud and Carrier Vetting
Michael Caney of Highway and Scott Cornell of Logistiq Insurance Solutions led attendees through the evolving landscape of cargo theft, internal fraud, and carrier vetting — building on a topic that’s remained a top concern for the industry year over year.
FMCSA Compliance and Safety Insights
Reliance Partners’ own Mark Barlar, Director of Risk Services, and Daniel Vega, Director of Safety, shared hands-on expertise from decades combined in state patrol, CVSA inspection, and post-crash investigation work, helping attendees stay ahead of compliance and safety pitfalls.
Volatility + Data = Opportunity: Growth Through Credit Intelligence
A new breakout session this year, led by the Allianz Trade team, explored how credit risk data and intelligence can help carriers and brokers make smarter decisions and protect against customer defaults in a volatile freight market.
Motor Carrier Panel
Moderated by Thom Albrecht, this year’s motor carrier panel brought together leaders from Christenson Transportation, Apex Transit Solutions, Crossett Inc., CB Freight, and Excel Trucking — a range of fleets from multi-generational family operations to a company built from a single $5,000 investment — to discuss scaling, financial oversight, and long-term resilience.
Freight Brokerage Panel: Life After Montgomery
A brand-new panel about Montgomery this year, bringing together leaders from Backhaul Direct, FreightVana, Steam Logistics, and Axle Logistics to discuss what’s next for freight brokerages navigating a changed legal and competitive landscape.
Shipper Panel
This year’s shipper panel featured transportation and procurement leaders from Simmons Foods, KBX Logistics, Armada Supply Chain Solutions, General Mills, and Shaw Industries, offering a look at how the largest shippers in the country are approaching carrier partnerships, network strategy, and rate dynamics in today’s market.
Litigation Panel
Moderated by Thom Albrecht, attorneys from The Sloan Firm and Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary discussed trucking litigation trends, cargo liability defense, and what carriers and brokers should know about managing legal risk.
Insurance Panel
Moderated by CEO Andrew Ladebauche, this year’s insurance panel brought together experts from Scopelitis, TruckerCloud, and Nirvana Insurance to discuss fleet underwriting, telematics-driven risk assessment, and where commercial trucking insurance is headed next.
A Gathering Built for Connection
Networking remained at the heart of Trucking Matters 2026. From the welcome reception on the Grand Hyatt pool deck to the closing celebration at Urban Cowboy on Broadway, attendees had ample opportunity to connect, collaborate, and build relationships that carry well beyond the two days of programming.
What attendees are saying:
“This gets better every year. The entire series is a great value.”
“The seminar was a very welcome surprise that provided a plethora of industry-related information and networking opportunities. I will definitely make plans to return next year along with other members from within my organization.”
“The information presented was amazing and the venue is fantastic. A well-organized and well-attended event. Thank you.”
“Meeting all the motor carriers and also seeing the entire team at Reliance Partners — y’all are the best!”
“Kudos to the entire RP team for hosting yet another informative and equally fun event. See you guys next year!”
Looking Ahead
Trucking Matters continues to grow as the premier gathering for the transportation, logistics, and insurance community, and 2026 raised the bar again. Save the date for the 6th Annual Trucking Matters Seminar Series: July 14–15, 2027, at the Grand Hyatt Nashville.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors and partners for making this year’s event our most successful yet. Together, we are shaping the future of trucking and logistics.
Highway Crum & Forster AmWins Great West Casualty Company Nirvana ARI Vensure Allianz Trade Loadsure Applied Underwriters Beyond Equipment Finance Textlocate Fleetworthy First Insurance Funding Wintrust TEL Arrowhead Specialty One80 Brown & Riding CRC IAT Intact Maximum Wholesure Phoenix Capital HDVI SOMPO Hey Bubba AI Midwestern Insurance Alliance Capital Premium Financing Bradley Carrier1 First Light Great Lakes GA RPS Progressive Fleet
Want to learn more about Reliance Partners and our commitment to the industry? Click here.
