ACT Research Holds Seminar on Decarbonization and Autonomous Technology



ACT Research began its 67th annual seminar, Watts Under The Hood: Transportation Transformation, on Aug. 23 with a discussion reception — a longstanding ACT seminar tradition — hosting guests by offering dinner and discussion before the second day of presentations and panel discussions kicked off.

The focus of ACT Research’s 67th seminar is the potential impact of decarbonization and autonomous technology on commercial vehicles and on-highway transportation. As with its other seminars, ACT Research is sharing its data and forecast in presentations and freaturing guest speakers to dive into topics of interest for the benefit of attendees.

The agenda includes key industry leaders, such as:

  • Thomas Healy (Hyliion)
  • Paul Rosa (Penske Transportation Solutions)
  • Craig Harper (J.B. Hunt Transportation)
  • John Verdon (Waymo)
  • Alan Ghelberg (Aurora)
  • Rusty Rush (Rush Enterprises)
  • Steve Bassett (General Truck Sales)
  • Patrick Manzi (NADA)
  • Steve Oliver (Taylor & Martin)
  • Laura Perrotta (ATD)
  • Puneet Jhawar (Cummins)
  • Chad Dittberner (Werner Enterprises)
  • Srinivas Gowda (Navistar)
  • Kenny Veith (ACT Research)
  • Eric Crawford, (ACT Research
  • Jennifer McNealy (ACT Research)
  • Steve Tam (ACT Research)
  • Tim Denoyer (ACT Research)
  • Ann Rundle (ACT Research)
  • Paul Traub (ACT Research)
  • Jim Meil (ACT Research)

“Seminar 67 is our first fully-live event since just before the pandemic at Seminar 62 in February 2020,” Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at ACT Research, said. “After two-and-a-half years of virtual events, we were pleased to see the positive response by our customers to this in-person gathering. Speaking for the staff, it has been great renewing old acquaintances as well as meeting first-time attendees. We look forward to the next couple days. In addition to being on-point topically, the guest presenters at this seminar are second to none in their fields.”

The three-day seminar continued yesterday, with attendees hearing from several presentations and two panels. The day began with a U.S. economic panel moderated by Jim Meil, ACT Research’s principal of industry analysis, and led by Patrick Manzi, NADA’s chief economist, and Paul Traub, ACT’s chief economist.

The presentation lineup that followed included the following:

  • Paul Rosa, Penske’s senior vice president of procurement and fleet planning, with “Commercial Vehicle Supply Chain Insights”
  • Thomas Healy, Hyliion’s CEO, with “Alternative Powertrain Opportunities”
  • Craig Harper, J.B. Hunt’s chief sustainability officer, and John Verdon, who works in business development and partnerships at Waymo, with “The Landscape of Autonomous Trucking and How Key Collaborations are Advancing the Technology”
  • Alan Ghelberg, Aurora’s vice president of corporate strategy, with “Deploying Autonomous Trucks Safely, Quickly & Broadly”
  • Srinivas Gowda, Navistar’s vice president of autonomous driving, with “An OEM Perspective on Autonomous Technology”
  • Chad Dittberner, Werner’s senior vice president of its van/expedited division, and Puneer Jhawar, Cummins’ general manager of its global natural gas business, with “Fleet Decision Making & Perspective on Powertrains”

The day closed with a dealer panel moderated by Tam and led by Rush, CEO of Rush Enterprises; Steve Bassett, president of General Truck Sales; and Laura Perrotta, president of American Truck Dealers.


Like this story? Begin each business day with news you need to know! Click here to register now for our FREE Daily E-News Broadcast and start YOUR day informed!

Leave a comment

View Latest Digital Edition

Terry Mulreany
Subscriptions: 800 708 9373 x130
[email protected]
Susie Angelucci
Advertising: 484.459.3016
[email protected]

View Latest Digital Edition

Visit our sister website for news, information, exclusive articles,
deal tables and more on the asset-based lending, factoring,
and restructuring industries.
www.abfjournal.com