The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) will put trucking’s most pressing issues in the spotlight at its 2025 Accelerate! Conference & Expo, scheduled for November 9–12 in Dallas, Texas. According to WIT, the event is expected to draw more than 1,800 participants and will feature over 70 educational and networking sessions, 180 speakers, 150 exhibitors, and a Truck and Technology Tour.
Freight Recession and Market Volatility
One of the major themes on the agenda is freight market instability. Demand has been sluggish throughout 2025, and carriers have struggled to forecast volumes amid unpredictable swings.
“It’s possible that the stronger freight market seen in the first few months of this year has continued and is resulting in some tightening of the market,” said Avery Vise, vice president of Trucking for FTR Transportation Intelligence, during last year’s WIT Accelerate! Conference.
“To be clear, this is not something that has been reflected in the spot volume or rate data for dry van and refrigerated this year, so this would be an unexpected development,” Vise continued. “On the other hand, May was a strong month for general freight truckload payroll employment, so it’s conceivable that demand for route guide freight finally is outpacing the supply of drivers, leading to a tipping point that is showing up in the spot market. Again, this is possible but would be a new development.”
Eric Starks, chairman of the board at FTR, is scheduled to provide further analysis at the 2025 event.
Labor Shortages and Workforce Engagement
Driver recruitment and retention remain urgent challenges for the industry. Fleets are not only struggling to fill open positions but also working to improve employee engagement through better pay, scheduling flexibility, and professional growth opportunities.
The Women In Trucking Association continues to highlight workforce diversity as part of the solution. According to the 2024–25 WIT Index, women now make up 28% of C-suite executives, 34.5% of company leaders, and nearly 39% in both dispatch and safety roles.
Experts from Stay Metrics (Tenstreet), F|Staff, FreeWorld, People First Consulting, R.E. Garrison, and Holcim Group will lead discussions on recruitment strategies. In addition, several fleets recognized as “Top Companies for Women to Work” — including International, XPO, Schneider National, Daimler Truck North America, and WM — will share case studies on building supportive workplace cultures.
Cargo Theft and Fraud
Security is another high-profile concern. Verisk CargoNet reported that cargo theft incidents rose by 26% in 2024 compared to the previous year, with losses estimated at over $1 billion. Increasingly, criminals are using sophisticated methods, including identity theft, falsified documentation, and fraudulent carrier impersonation.
Representatives from CargoNet, Travelers Inland Marine, DHL Supply Chain, Jarrett, and Highway will present sessions at Accelerate! 2025 focused on strategies to mitigate theft and fraud risks.
Additional Topics
Other conference sessions will cover regulatory and legal issues, emerging technologies in trucking, and driver career satisfaction.
WIT Executive Director Mary Presley emphasized the event’s focus on business value:
“Our event is not solely about entertainment. We strive to provide a well-rounded schedule that includes valuable educational sessions, a B2B Marketplace, and ample networking opportunities—delivering strong return on investment and exceptional value to our sponsors, whose continued support has been instrumental in WIT’s growth over the years.”
Looking Ahead
With freight volatility, workforce pressures, and security threats reshaping the industry, the 2025 Accelerate! The conference aims to provide actionable insights for carriers and suppliers.
More details and registration information are available at WomenInTrucking.org.
Source: The Trucker
Image Source: Women In Trucking
