Record Breaking Show! Expedite Expo 2005
After Show Report
Expedite Expo 2005 - Wednesday, August 11 and Thursday, August 12, 2005
"It's hard to believe that this was our fifth Expedite Expo!" says Expedite Expo's show manager, Lawrence McCord. "Each one comes up on us a little faster than the one before and before you know it, it's over. The show is truly a labor of love though, we enjoy all the apects of bringing the Expo to our audience - the Expediting Community."
He continues, "First, let's acknowledge the companies that made this event possible. Of course, Expedite Expo 2005 had a fine corporate friend in Freightliner of Knoxville, and we have to thank them for their assistance in making Expedite Expo 2005 a reality.
"Our show sponsors also provided invaluable support - without their financial assistance and encouragement, the Expedite Expo would be an almost impossible task. The expediting community owes these corporate partners a vote of thanks for their financial contributions and support."
These fine sponsors include:
FedEx Custom Critical Middle Georgia Freightliner-Isuzu Panther II Transportation Con-Way NOW Big Rig Owner Magazine Mobil Delvac Movin Out Load One Express-1 O.O.I.D.A. Grieger Motor Sales Tri-State Expedited Service Today’s Careers"Thanks again to all!"
The Expedite Expo Charity Golf Outing
Sean Masters, Expediters Online's National Sales Manager, was the coordinator for this event on Tuesday, before the Expo's opening day. It was sponsored by Freightliner of Knoxville and hosted by Expediters Online for the benefit of Trucker Buddy International and the fine work they do.
"First of all," says Sean, "we have to acknowledge our corporate sponsor, Freightliner of Knoxville, for their generous contributions to this event. Thanks go out as well to Ellen Voie for her coordination efforts for the outing as well as Trucker Buddy's donation of the excellent prizes. Micki McMintyre was also key to the success of this event."
Opening Day
After meeting and networking over a VIP Breakfast that was sponosred by Grieger Motor Sales, the Expo opened its "doors" at 9:00 AM. By 10:00, the crowds began to filter into the display area and the show was truly underway.
In less than three hours from the show's opening however, the rain gods decided to pay us a visit and delivered a heavy shower for around forty-five minutes. But, with the well-known changeability of Michigan weather, the sun was out shortly thereafter, making quick work of the puddles.
As you may know, the Expedite Expo is an outdoor event, with a large circus-type tent sheltering most of the exhibitors and smaller tents for the truck dealers displaying outside of the main tent.
Something we couldn't shake however, was the humidity on both days. It was oppressive on Wednesday, but did abate somewhat on Thursday with milder temperatures. Them's the chances you take with an outdoor show.
At 10:00 AM, the first of two full days of seminars began. Expedite Expo 2005 is dedicated to sharing information about the expediting business and the show featured a variety of topics and speakers.
Highlighted by two complete sessions of the Expediter Workshop, the Expo also presented Ms. Ellen Voie's returning roundtable discussion on Driver Retention.
Terry O'Connell, one of the guest speakers in the Expediter Workshop, reports that he met two couples who were visiting the Expo just for the two days of the seminars. There were 45 to 55 in attendance at any one time.
Overall, the seminar schedule played to full houses we'd like to thank all our speakers for taking their time to help prospective and current expediters to "Learn, Explore, Discover."
Those speakers include:
John Mueller, Premium Transportation Logistics
Heath Wood, Middle Georgia Freightliner-Isuzu
Ellen Voie, Trucker Buddy International
Curtis Morton, Transport Insurance Agency
Jon Mosier, Freightliner of Knoxville
John Lalonde, Fyda Freightliner
Joe Manley, DJ Trucking
Terry O'Connell, Owner-Operator
Don Treece of Allen Park, Michigan says, "My wife and I have been looking for a business to get into when my wife and I retire. We've been considering expediting and came here to attend the seminars. Very good, very informational."
Recruiting
John Mueller is the Safety and Recruiting Manager of Premium Transportation Logistics who says, "I don't really expect to sign people up at a truck show, there's too much background and paperwork to accomplish for that. This is more for promotional purposes in hopes that someone will later use your brochure and information and contact you."
When asked what benefits an expediting trade show offers it participants, Scott Hancock of Express-1 says, "This lets us have one-on-one contact with other industry members as well as meeting prospective expediters. For those researching the business, it gives expediting a face. We come from all walks of life and we're all different flavors of people, and you know what, expediting IS for people from all walks of life."
Adam Walter, Recruiting Manager, Panther II tells us, "I enjoy coming to these shows particulary, because they're expedite-specific. You talk to people who have focused questions rather than a Louisville, Kentucky show, where it's all facets of the industry. It's nice to meet with some of those folks and get their questions answered."
"I think it's a pretty good mix here of current and prospective expediters. This show specifically invitesa lot of brand new, fresh faces to the industry. I like working with people from the beginning - working with them to get their CDL, get lined up with an owner, or putting together a business plan to buy a truck."
Lori Blaney, HR and Business Development, Con-Way NOW -We get to meet people we would not otherwise meet and discuss the career opportunities available with Con-Way NOW. It also allows new people to see the trucks and educate them on the industry. (A show like this) gives the prospective husband/wife teams a chance to look at the trucks, to sit in them and decide what kind of truck they would like to operate."
"Over the last two days, I've talked to people who are brand new to the business and are looking into new careers,"states Jeff Garra, Landstar Express America recruiter. "For example, I've spoken with a corrections officer who will soon be retiring and is considering this business. In addition, I've talked to a plant manager who is thinking about running a team with his wife when they retire. Meeting people like this is what this show is all about."
Darryl Gottesman, Ft. Wayne, Indiana tells us he's in the market for a new truck: "I've found this is a great way to see the most truck makes all in one place and the salespeople are easier to talk to than at the Louisville show. I also like it because this show is for expediters."
John LaLonde, Fyda Freightliner of Columbus says, "We have twice as many trucks here as last year's show, and it's exciting to see how our presence in expediting has grown. As a sales representative, expediting has become about 90% of my business. In the expediting market, I'm dealing with a number of second career people who are financially stable and who know how to run a business."
Jon Mosier of Freightliner of Knoxville says that this year's Expo kept the people in his booth very busy: "We've had an absolutely fantastic show. We brought four trucks and I believe that we have three of them sold when we get back to the dealership. We've talked to so many people that we've had no time to even take a lunch break and we're tickled pink."
"We're also seeing a number of people who we have met at some of the Expediter Workshops and the Louisville truck show earlier this year. They're taking their time and doing their homework in picking a new career."
Ray Lawrence, Espar of Michigan - "This is our fourth year participating in the Expedite Expo and this year was the best yet!
Expediter Pride Truck Beauty Show
This year's competition, sponsored by Mobil Delvac, was managed and judged by personnel from the National Association of Show Trucks. The winners were fine representatives of their companies and the industry and included:
CARGO VAN
1. Bret Roberts
Waynesburg, PA Panther II
2. Art Smith
Canton, OH PJ Smith Trucking
STRAIGHT TRUCK
1. Don & Yvonne Gibson
Biloxi, MS FedEx Custom Critical
2. Billie Johnson & Amy Richardson
Covington, GA FedEx Custom Critical
3. James Allan
Grant, FL FedEx Custom Critical
4. Kraig Allen
Indian Hills, NC Triple Crown
5. Butch Sedlow
Flint, MI Express-1
Tractor
1. Loyel & Carolyn Hershberger
Ashland, OH FedEx Custom Critical
INTERIOR
1. Don & Yvonne Gibson
Biloxi, MS FedEx Custom Critical
2. Loyel & Carolyn Hershberger,
Ashland, OH FedEx Custom Critical
3. Art Smith
Canton, OH PJ Smith Trucking
EXTERIOR/LIGHTS
1. Loyel & Carolyn Hershberger
Ashland, OH FedEx Custom Critical
2. Don & Yvonne Gibson
Biloxi, MS FedEx Custom Critical
3. Billie Johnson & Amy Richardson
Covington, GA FedEx Custom Critical
BEST OF SHOW
Don & Yvonne Gibson
Biloxi, MS FedEx Custom Critical
Dave Nemo
Dave Nemo is a true friend of this industry and we'd like to say thanks to this veteran broadcaster for his efforts on behalf of expediting. This was Dave's fourth appearance at the Expo and we're grateful for his pre-show XM radio announcements that helped to generate so much interest in the event along with Dave's live broadcasts from the Expo. Thanks Dave!
Joey Holiday
The trucking singer/songwriter is celebrating his 10-year anniversary of entertaining at trucking shows. On Wednesday afternoon, he paid an emotion-filled tribute to Dave Nemo for the broadcaster's help in launching his career. At that time, he presented Dave with a scuba diver's medallion, a gift that holds special meaning to the entertainer.
Thanks to Joey, wife Vicky and brother Tommy for a great job!
Of course, we have to extend our lasting gratitude to Terry and Rene O'Connell. This couple has helped us immeasurably over the years, both at our Expo's and at the Mid-America Trucking Show. Their boundless energy, good humor and assistance always make them a pleasure to work with. Thanks, Terry and Rene, you'll always be part of the EO family!
Thanks go out to two of our other EO Open Forum moderators for attending - Rich Moore and Dave Corfman. We appreciate your support of the show and the great job you do in moderating our message boards!
We want to say a heart felt thank you to Bill Vollenweider, General Manager of the Detroiter Travel Center. For the last five years, Bill and his capable staff - Larry Kaleel, Jim Jacoby, Steve Martin and Bruce Warner - have given their time, energy and assistance and have helped to make the Expedite Expo what it is today.
Thank you so much, gentlemen!
"Of course, we want to say thanks to all of the Expo's attendee's! You're the reason for this show and the reason why we labor throughout the year to make it better than the show before. We hope you found it informative and interesting and we hope to see you next year at Expedite Expo 2006!"