Conference Program

August 24-26, 2026 | Hilton Columbus Downtown

Agenda Overview

Day 1 — August 24

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Registration and Welcome Reception

Day 2 — August 25

8:30 AM
Registration | Networking | Continental Breakfast

9:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Opening Plenary Session

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM
Breakout Sessions

12:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Lunch Plenary Session

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Breakout Sessions

3:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Breakout Sessions

5:00 PM
Evening Activity TBD

Day 3 — August 26

8:30 AM
Networking | Continental Breakfast

9:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Morning Plenary Session

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM
Breakout Sessions

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM 
Closing Plenary Session

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM 
OARC Transportation Committee Meeting

Breakout Sessions

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM: The Road Ahead: Shaping the Next Federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization (STRA)

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM: Addressing Ohio’s Truck Parking Shortage

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM: Closing Ohio’s Supply Chain Workforce Gap: Data, Partnerships, and the Future Talent Pipeline

 

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM: Elevating the Premium Tier: Advanced Air Mobility and the Future of Time-Critical Freight

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM: Freight Planning at the RPOs

 

3:00 PM – 4:15 PM: Accelerating Freight Automation in the Midwest

3:00 PM – 4:15 PM: Moving Freight Forward: Innovation, Technology, and Sustainable Logistics

 

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM: Rickenbacker as an Asset

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM: The Columbus to Pittsburgh Corridor: Advancing Freight, Mobility, and Economic Growth

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM: Ohio Freight Advisory Committee (members only)

Featured Speakers

Dr. Terry Esper

Professor of Logistics
The Ohio State University
Fisher College of Business

Michael Rutherford

Assistant Secretary, Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructue and Policy
U.S. Department of Transportation

Randy Lane

Statewide Planning Manager
Ohio Department of
Transportation