LAS VEGAS – Trimble Inc. concluded its three-day 2024 Insight Tech Conference + Expo on Tuesday, focusing on new technologies and strategies for carriers, shippers, and brokers.
The event attracted over 1,500 attendees, featuring several keynote speeches and hundreds of seminars, workshops, and exhibitions covering transportation trends and emerging technologies.
Here are the highlights from this year’s Insight conference:
## Trimble Leadership Keynotes Emphasize Accelerated Technology Adoption in Transportation
Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) kicked off the 2024 Insight Tech Conference + Expo on Monday with President and CEO Rob Painter and Vice President of Transportation & Logistics Michael Kornhauser, unveiling product updates and re-releases aimed at optimizing carrier workflows, navigation, and safety.
“We will continue to deliver innovation to help you do your job better and invest in cybersecurity, data, and AI,” said Painter. “The global transportation industry is undergoing a major transformation, driven by technology that boosts productivity.”
Among the released products were updates to Trimble’s CoPilot commercial navigation solution and the re-release of its TMS order and road call modules.
Other transportation technologies discussed during the keynote included Transporeon Visibility and Trimble Inspections.
Transporeon Visibility provides North American carriers with a new real-time visibility tool, while Trimble Inspections aims to enhance fleet safety and efficiency.
Painter also invited Platform Science co-founder and CEO Jack Kennedy to discuss the agreement for Platform Science’s acquisition of Trimble’s global transportation telematics business unit.
“We are entering an exciting new chapter for Platform Science, Trimble, and the industry as a whole,” said Kennedy.
## Navy Commander Says Empowering Employees Can Lead to Success
Former U.S. Navy commander Mike Abrashoff served as a keynote speaker at Tuesday’s Insight conference.
Abrashoff, who commanded the missile destroyer USS Benfold, learned much about managing a ship during his naval career.
Taking command of Benfold at 36 years old, he and his crew transformed it into one of the best-performing missile destroyers in the Navy fleet within three years.
Abrashoff said he initiated face-to-face talks with each crew member to better understand their perspectives and promote teamwork.
“These meetings were not interrogations; they were just conversations,” Abrashoff said. “I took a picture with every sailor, and each had an index card where I pinned the photo.”
He asked sailors about their goals in the Navy and life, as well as questions about their families, children’s sports interests, and favorite football teams.
“During these talks, I would ask everyone, ‘What are you most proud of in your life that no one on board knows?’ If you want to see people’s eyes light up with passion, it usually isn’t about their work but what truly excites them,” Abrashoff said. “You know what I learned after nearly 20 years in the Navy? When employees know you care about them, they will follow you.”
Former U.S. Navy commander Mike Abrashoff served as a keynote speaker at Tuesday’s Insight conference. (Photo: Trimble)
## Experts Say Cross-Border Mexico Trade Operators “Should” Have Better Technology Solutions
A seminar at the Insight conference focused on how trade between the United States and Mexico is rapidly growing and changing global supply chains.
The panel titled “Rise of Cross-Border Freight Between U.S. and Mexico” included CargoQuotes’ Vice President of Sales and Operations for Mexico Patty Hinojosa, Averitt’s Vice President of Mexico Sales Edward Habe, and Cargado CEO and co-founder Matt Silver. The discussion was moderated by FreightWaves’ Noi Mahoney.
Silver said cross-border trade requires more technological investment to keep up with the growing volume of freight between the United States and Mexico.
“I believe the industry needs better technology to help people collaborate,” Silver said. “Currently, many are using tools or solutions that operate in silos. One of my goals is for Cargado, as well as other tech companies, to start driving progress in the industry rather than just trying to replace what already exists.”
Habe agreed and said the cross-border sector needs better technological solutions like visibility tools to help carriers and shippers track shipments more effectively in Mexico.
The panel titled “Rise of Cross-Border Freight Between U.S. and Mexico” included CargoQuotes’ Patty Hinojosa, Cargado’s Matt Silver, Averitt’s Edward Habe, and FreightWaves’ Noi Mahoney. (Photo: Trimble)
Averitt is a transportation and logistics provider headquartered in Cookeville, Tennessee. The company operates over 5,700 tractors and 13,000 trailers with offices across the country. It offers cross-border Mexico services such as FTL and LTL freight, distribution, and port container drayage solutions.
“I’ve been thinking about door-to-door delivery from FTL to LTL because we do a lot of that kind of business, and there are still significant visibility issues compared to FTL,” Habe said. “Essentially, you’re collecting full trucks loaded with LTL shipments across Mexico, which already have tracking numbers provided to U.S. customers in many cases. Unfortunately, when these trailers reach places like Laredo or El Paso, it can take 2-3 days, even up to four days before the goods are uploaded. So, you have a lot of customers looking for their freight with no visibility, which is causing significant issues for our clients.”
Hinojosa from CargoQuotes, headquartered in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, emphasized that relationships matter when it comes to moving cargo between the United States and Mexico.
“If any of you are brokers in this industry, you know how important relationships are,” Hinojosa said. “Don’t go it alone. My advice is to find someone who knows what they’re doing to guide you, whether a partner or someone with cross-border experience. Learn the nuances of the business or form an alliance with that person.”
—
Source: FreightWaves
