Speaker

Dan Cook is a Principal, Director of Risk Finance and National Practice Leader at TrueNorth Companies.  Dan’s responsibilities include helping clients develop risk financing strategies related to reducing cost-of-risk on a long-term, sustainable basis that aligns with their operational objectives. Dan leads the national primary transportation practice in addition to heading large project teams and the TrueNorth M&A Advisory Group.  He is an avid student of insurance and finance and is deeply involved in the operational aspects of his clients' businesses.

Derek D. Barrs serves as the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Nominated by President Donald J. Trump on March 25, 2025, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 7, 2025, he leads the agency’s mission to enhance commercial motor vehicle safety, improve the efficiency of the nation’s freight and passenger transportation systems, and bring commonsense principles to regulatory oversight.

J.W. Taylor is the founding member of the boutique transportation and logistics law firm, Taylor Nelson Slattery Bernard PL.  Recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer and AV rated as a Preeminent Lawyer with Martindale-Hubbell, J.W. uses his industry experience to represent transportation and logistics companies in matters of claims litigation, including personal injury litigation and ADR, cargo claims and contract disputes.  In addition to litigation, J.W.

Greg Hodgen is CEO of Groendyke Transport, Inc., one of the nation’s largest tank-truck carriers, with over 90 years of expertise in bulk liquid and hazardous materials transportation services. Under Greg’s leadership, Groendyke Transport has enjoyed steady growth, including in 2019, when the company expanded into the Southeast region of the U.S. through the largest acquisition in its history. Groendyke has also continued its tradition of safety excellence under Greg, winning its record ninth National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) North American Safety Champion Award in 2023.

Seth Runser is President and CEO of ArcBest. With nearly twenty years of experience, he brings deep operational expertise and a customer-led approach to driving growth, efficiency and innovation across the organization. Focused on building better supply chains, Seth leads strategic initiatives that simplify logistics, improve service performance and create long-term value for customers and shareholders. 

Bob Costello is the Chief Economist & SVP of International Trade Policy and Cross-Border Operations at American Trucking Associations. He oversees ATA's trucking economic analysis, including industry indicators, freight forecasts, and regulatory impact assessments. A leading voice on trucking economics, he is frequently cited by major media and serves on key industry boards, including the Border Trade Alliance.

Daniel Murray has more than 30 years of experience in a broad range of transportation fields including trucking research and economics, transportation safety technologies and autonomous vehicles.

Rebecca Brewster is President and Chief Operating Officer of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). 

Rebecca is the recipient of several awards including Fleet Owner magazine’s 2016 Dozen Outstanding Women in Trucking, the 2013 Influential Woman in Trucking award from the Women in Trucking Association, and the 2010 J.R. Bob Halladay award given by the 50 state trucking associations.