Logistics leaders frequently talk about relationships as one of the industry’s primary driving forces. Strong partnerships between brokers and carriers, in particular, can help keep the entire supply chain strong – and weak ones can cripple it. It is counterintuitive, then, that the bulk of the communication between brokers and carriers stops at simply discussing rates and load details via phone or email.
A few years ago, Dan Lindsey, founder, chair and managing director of Broker-Carrier Summit, set out to change how brokers and carriers connect. The result of that mission has become a semiannual, multiday event with ripple effects that last much longer.
“It started out as a one-day symposium,” Lindsey said. “It quickly turned into a grassroots movement within the industry that is trying to enact actual positive change.”
The Broker-Carrier Summit agenda is designed specifically to foster connections between brokers and carriers that extend beyond the conference.
This fall’s event is slated for Oct. 23-25 in Fort Worth, Texas. The schedule includes a powerful list of expert speakers, including Beta Consulting Group CEO Trey Griggs, Integrity Global Logistics CEO Melanie Patterson, industry veteran Andrew Silver, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Director Ken Riddle and many others.
In addition to speakers, the Broker-Carrier Summit features unique and impactful opportunities for connection, from a two-person-team golf tournament to speed dating. The event will also include learning labs and networking lunches for attendees moving different types of freight, including an event specific to flatbed carriers and brokers.
Adam Wingfield, director of carrier outreach at Broker-Carrier Summit, will co-lead one of these learning labs – focused on direct freight – with Truckpedia co-founder Justin Lu. Wingfield, who also serves as founder and managing director of Innovative Logistics Group, took on a leadership role at the summit after experiencing the magic of the event firsthand.
“I had the opportunity to participate in the last Broker-Carrier Summit, and I was just blown away by the interactions and the vision that Dan and the team had,” he said.
By creating a space where brokers and carriers can truly connect, the Broker-Carrier Summit leadership team aims to enable small carriers to elevate their business strategies while simultaneously helping small brokers build out their carrier networks.
Together, these brokers and carriers are building a better supply chain.
“We have stakeholders from all areas of the freight industry who are rallying around the idea that brokers and carriers need to cooperate better,” Lindsey said. “If brokers and carriers can get our relationships in line, everyone in every area of the industry does better.”
Click here to learn more or register for the upcoming Broker-Carrier Summit.
