ACT Research unveiled details about its 68th OUTLOOK seminar, Driving Decarbonization: The Future of Commercial Vehicles, which will be held from Feb. 21 to Feb. 23 in Columbus, IN. The semi-annual event will bring together ACT’s staff of analysts and economists with industry leaders to support planning and budgeting strategies for the road ahead.

The focus of the seminar will be the continuous development of decarbonization and technological advancement in on-highway transportation. ACT will provide the North American commercial vehicle and transportation industries outlook for 2022 to 2027 and host industry experts for discussion. In addition, ACT will run a forecasting 101 workshop and an executive strategy session. Committed seminar speakers, as of Nov. 7, include Jeff Kauffman, president of Vertical Research Group; Dean Vicha, president of NationaLease; and Kingsley Afemikhe, CFO of Xos.

The seminar will also cover current market activity and the economic trends impacting the trucking industry. The trucking panel will focus on both future industry technology and key current topics. It will be moderated by Tim Denoyer, vice president and senior analyst at ACT Research, and will feature Dean Croke, principal analyst at DAT Freight & Analytics; Robert Ragan, CFO of Melton Truck Lines; Scott Dobak, CEO of Grammar Logistics; and Travis Dietrich, director of refrigerated logistics at Bay & Bay Transportation.

“It’s great to have a range of highly esteemed industry executives to discuss the key dynamics around drivers, equipment and freight rates that will help us better understand the outlook for the industry,” Denoyer said. “And I’m particularly excited to welcome one of our key allies in freight data analysis, Dean Croke of DAT.”

“Supply of drivers was the big 2022 story; supply of trucks will be the story in 2023,” Croke said. “The big question is, will the pent-up demand for new trucks in 2022 spill over into new truck deliveries, increasing truckload capacity next year in time for the next market cycle? We’re looking forward to discussing this hot topic at ACT Seminar 68.”

The registration fee for the seminar is currently $850 for OUTLOOK subscribers and $1,105 for non-subscribers, although ACT Research noted that prices will increase on Jan. 5.