I have been involved with NASTC’s Annual Conference for 16 years now and I can say that I do not think that I could be prouder of what we accomplished in those 3 days. The breakout sessions and topics were on par with any previous annual meeting. We, as conference goers and venders, were graced with the presence of trucking and transportation treasures, like Rick Gobbell and Jeff Davis. Love both those guys. If with one of those fellas cannot get you out of trouble and compliant, I do not know who can. David Owen and Kevin Rutherford ended up in a many spirited debates throughout the weekend ending in agreement a time or two.

I was unable to attend our Broker Carrier Trust Forum dinner that Thursday night which featured a set from Killer Beaz and, most importantly of all, Overdrive Online’ s Small Fleet Championship. I was so proud to have learned that not only one of our members, but one of our insureds, was up for the title this year. We have had the pleasure of working with Oberman Logistics LLC dba Oberman Logistics for the last three years. Wesley Oberman is a great example of an owner that believes in strong partnerships with his vendors, willingness to embrace technology, and promote a no non-sense attitude to generate success in this challenging market and freight climate.

As part of our breakout session, Jeff Davis and I discussed how to surpass the insurance market’s expectations with telematic data. Wesley is a perfect example of a carrier that uses his telematic data to his advantage. He shares his ELD data with his insurance provider and they supply him with a vast array of reporting data back. Welsey actively, coaches and mentors his Owner Operator fleet with the real time data provided by his ELD provider. This active approach has helped Oberman retain and in some cases help encourage the operator on to his/her next employment
stop depending upon the outcome of the session.

(From Overdrive):

Wes Oberman noted surprise at the win when it happened for his now-11-truck all-owner-operator business, headquartered in Huntingdon, Tennessee, a couple of hours west of Nashville. He noted he had been a NASTC member from the start when he was but a one-truck, one-driver outfit, with himself behind the wheel. He continues to lead by example, as it were, in that regard behind the wheel of a 10-plus-mpg Kenworth T680 these days. “I would like to thank NASTC. … Their fuel card is second to none, and I’d also like to thank their insurance department” he said. “Without them, I don’t think we’d even be around at this point.”

Way to go Wesley, Job Well done, sir. All of us here at NASTC/NASTC Insurance Services, LLC, are proud to call you part of our family.

The bar has been set. Who will be the next NASTC member to qualify for this prestigious honor?