2008 OTA Convention

>> 9:00 am to 10:15 am

Ontario’s apprenticeship program provides both financial (participating carriers can claim a tax credit which is for up to $5,000 per apprenticeship) and program development support for employers who are hiring and training new drivers. This session will provide you with an update on the program and explain how you and your company can take advantage of it to help you hire and train the next generation of truck drivers.

Financial Outlook for Trucking: Are We On The Road To Recovery?

>> 9:00 am to 10:15 am

There is no question that 2008 has been a challenging year for the Ontario carrier community. The question on everyone’s mind: Is there light at the end of the tunnel. Come listen to James P. Meil, chief economist with Eaton Corp., provide his insights into this question. Meil is annually ranked among the nation’s top forecasters and is a contributor to the Blue Chip Economic Indicators, Consensus Economics, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal economic surveys and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Survey of Professional Forecasters.

Regaining Your Edge – What Customers Want Going Forward

>>10:30 am to 11:45 am

This session will focus on what shippers are looking for in their carriers moving into 2009 and beyond. Are the recent long-term contracts announced in the U.S. by Wal-Mart and Target a future trend or an anomaly? Are shippers concerned about future capacity availability from the carrier community? The answer to these questions and others will be addressed by a panel of leading North American shippers.

Representatives from LCBO, Toshiba of Canada and IBM Canada have been invited to participate in this session.

Hot Topics In Human Resources

>>10:30 am to 11:45 am

In today’s competitive market everyone is looking for an edge. One way of gaining that crucial advantage over your competitors is through effective management of one of your most significant assets, your employees. Human resources issues are increasingly important as companies compete to attract and retain the best people. This session will help you understand what the key HR issues are that you need to deal with to be a leading edge organization and provide you with the winning strategies you can use to tackle these issues.

Border Update & Best Practices

>> 10:30 pm to 11:45 pm

Listen to what various stakeholders who are involved in border and custom operations discuss what’s new and upcoming at the international crossings. The session will involve an update of the issues impacting carriers and steps trucking companies can implement to stay ahead of customs and other border crossing challenges. Topics to include ACE, ACI and off-loading. The panel will also feature carriers discussing mitigating pro-active approaches you can take to make border crossings less of a hassle and more cost effective.

Representatives from Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Public Border Operators Association, Northern Border Customs Brokers, Quik X Group of Companies and Challenger Motor Freight will participate in this session

Volvo Luncheon

>> 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm

Mike Duffy ,
Ottawa Editor of CTV NewsNet & Host of Mike Duffy Live!

Mike Duffy really doesn’t need an introduction to a Canadian audience.

To millions, Duffy is the most authoritative broadcaster commenting today on the political life of Canada. With decades of experience on Parliament Hill, Mike Duffy is widely recognized as an “Ottawa Insider”. As the Toronto Star put it, he is the reporter to whom other journalists listen for insight. For more than a decade, Duffy was the award-winning host of CTV’s Sunday Edition, which shattered ratings for Canadian Sunday television.

He is the Ottawa editor of CTV NewsNet, and hosts their daily political broadcast, Mike Duffy Live!

He is a former Visiting Fellow at Duke University and an ACTRA award-winner for live TV reporting; he was twice nominated for the “Best in the Business” award by the Washington Journalism Review; and in 1994 he was named to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Mike Duffy

Financial Outlook for Trucking: Bay Street & Wall Street Perspectives

>> 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm

Join John Larkin, Managing Director Transportation, Stifel, Nicholaus & Company Inc., one of North America’s key industry analysts for an update on how the U.S. markets view prospects for trucking in 2009. John will share his insights on what he sees as the major trends and issues facing the LTL and TL in the markets for 2009.

A leading Canadian economist will provide a domestic perspective.

Protect Yourself from Organized Crime

>> 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm

Theft in the trucking industry is costly for everyone – especially for your bottom-line. Come listen to a panel of local law enforcement, carriers, and insurance agents as they share insights into what loads are attractive to thieves and how you can protect yourself from being a victim. The panel features OTA’s chairperson of the Cargo Theft Committee Uwe Petroschke, President, Totalline Transport Inc., John Wales, Claims Adjuster CNA Canada Inc., Micheal Plante, Fraud Bureau Organized Crime, who will provide their experiences and best practices in the area of cargo theft prevention.

High-Risk Drivers: An Ounce Of Prevention Is Worth A Truckload Of Cure

>>2:45 pm to 3:45 pm

Statistics show that driver behaviour is the leading indicator of future crashes. By identifying and addressing your high-risk drivers before they have a crash, you can directly benefit your bottom line. Where to look, what to look for and what to do about it, will all be explored in this session that also includes a case study from a leading carrier.

A representative from Markel Insurance Company of Canada will participate in this session.

US Presidential Election Analysis – Impacts For Canada’s Economy

>> 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

The United States will elect a new president on November 4th. Will it be Obama or McCain? What does it mean for economic, trade and transportation policy in the US? How will this impact on Canada? Start your planning for business under a new administration at the OTA convention. Leading the discussion will be Maryscott “Scotty” Greenwood, managing director of International Trade & Public Affairs, at the Washington, DC law firm, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP. In addition to her other public policy portfolios, Scotty is the Executive Director of the Canadian-American Business Council. Before joining the firm, Scotty was appointed by President Clinton to serve as Chief of Staff of the United States Embassy in Canada.

Joining Scotty will be Stewart Verdery of the Monument Policy Group, a former appointee at the Department of Homeland Security and Tim Harper of the Toronto Star’s Washington bureau

Chairman's Reception

>> 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Comedy Festival

>> 8:15 pm to 10:00 pm

Steve Patterson ,
Stand-up Corporate Comedian

A mainstay on CBC and The Comedy Network, comedian Steve Patterson has been described as part Jon Stewart, part Robin Williams, with hints of Wayne Brady and can adapt to any crowd he faces with an arsenal of wit, sarcasm and song. Always insistent on doing his homework for every crowd he faces, audiences of Patterson are treated to a one-of-a-kind performance and personal connection every single time.

Mike MacDonald ,
Award Winning Comedian

Comedian Mike MacDonald, considered one of the top funny men in all of Canada, understands the power of laughter. In addition to his successful and well received live performances all over North America, Mike has appeared on numerous TV shows including “Late Night With David Letterman”, “Just For Laughs”, Showtime’s “Comedy Club All-Star Show”, A&E’s “An Evening At The Improv” and Comedy Central’s “The A List”. He has also starred in three well received and critically acclaimed specials for the CBC in Canada and for Showtime in the U.S.

Steve Patterson

Mike MacDonald