2025 AFC Q2 Meeting

Description

Register now for the second quarter meeting of the Arkansas Trucking Association Accounting & Finance Council at Bell & Company, 4504 Burrow Drive, North Little Rock on June 4 at 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Sponsored by: 

First we will hear from Cottingham & Butler as they unveil the 2024 Trucking Benchmark Survey results. Discover key trends in driver and non-driver compensation, bonus structures, PTO usage, benefits, and more—insights designed to help you stay competitive in attracting and retaining talent.

Then shift gears as we explore the ins and outs of equipment leasing and financing with a panel of experienced finance professionals and industry experts. This session will cover key considerations such as credit evaluation processes, financing structures, contract negotiation best practices, and how to align capital investment decisions with long-term business objectives and cash flow planning.

AFC Meeting Participants will

• hear the results of the 2024 Trucking Benchmark Survey 
• receive insight on driver compensation, non-driver compensation, bonus structures and benefit packages
• hear the biggest year over year changes to pay and benefits 
• discuss the pros and cons of leasing vs. financing and how to align each option with your company's financial goals and cash flow needs
• discuss how to navigate the credit process, financing structures and contract negotiations
• share best practices for establishing strong, long-term relationships with your lenders and banking partners 

In order to provide proper accommodations, we must guarantee a headcount in advance.

• For ATA members who submit their meeting registration by the deadline and attend the meeting, there is no fee.
• ATA members who attend without registering or register but do not attend will be charged $25.
• Out of courtesy, if you decide to attend after the registration deadline, please contact the ATA office.
• ATA welcomes guests and non-members to Council meetings for $25.

Refunds and Cancellations:
Deadline to register is Monday, June 2. For more information regarding administrative policies such as refunds and/or complaints, please contact our office at 501-372-3462 or send an email.

Participants will earn 2.0 CPE credits. 
In order to be awarded the full credit hours, you must be present, register your attendance and departure on provided attendance sheets at registration desk. 

Fields of Study: Personnel/Human Resources; Finance
Prerequisites: No prerequisites required
Advanced Preparation: None
Program Level: Basic 
Delivery Method: Group Live

Session 1: Trucking Benefits and Pay Trends 
(Personnel/Human Resources - 1 credit)
Presented by Jill Lange, Vice President in Employee Benefits Consulting Practice and Jamie Bishop, Vice President Employee Benefits Division of Cottingham & Butler 

Each year hundreds of motor carriers rely on the Cottingham & Butler Trucking Benchmark survey data to compare their benefit and compensation offerings to the broader trucking industry — and make necessary adjustments to attract and retain drivers in this competitive market.

Our speakers will share information on driver/non-driver compensation, per diem pay and usage, driver bonuses, PTO utilization, paid and voluntary benefits, health plan deductibles, employee contributions, and cost-containment. Jill Lange & Jamie Bishop will give you an inside look at the 2024 Trucking Benchmark results as well as to where they are seeing the biggest year over year changes regarding pay and benefits for the transportation industry. 

 Jill Lange is a Vice President in the Employee Benefits Consulting Practice at Cottingham & Butler and has been with the organization since 2018. Currently, Jill leads her experienced team on providing solutions for employers in the areas of cost-containment strategies, creating HR efficiencies, compliance needs, and alternate funding methods specific to the transportation and agriculture industries.

As vice president in the employee benefits division, Jamie Bishop works in conjunction with clients to develop and implement short term and long term strategies for their employee benefits programs. Bishop has been with Cottingham & Butler since 1997 and has been working in the employee benefits division since 1998. She enjoys the opportunity to work directly with her clients and in the marketplace. Prior to joining Cottingham & Butler, Bishop worked as the director of marketing at an OEM Company and as a marketing manager for a collectable toy company.

Session 2: Equipment Finance Panel Discussion: Navigating the Credit Process and Building Bank Relationships
(CPE Finance – 1 credit) 
Moderated by Bob Laster, CFO, JM Bozeman Enterprises

Both leasing and financing heavy equipment offer distinct advantages, depending on a business’s financial strategy, cash flow needs, and long-term goals. Join a dynamic panel of seasoned finance partners, banking professionals, and industry experts as they uncover the secrets behind successful equipment financing. This interactive discussion is designed for business leaders, finance managers, and owners eager to gain actionable insights—helping you steer through the credit process, finance structures, and contract negotiations with clarity and poise, while building robust, long-lasting relationships with your banking partners.

Panelists: 
John Duffy, Division President, Stride Bank
Tim Kubiski, Executive Director, JPMorgan Chase 
Kitty Ogwynn, Regional Finance & Insurance Manager, Rush Truck Centers

Arkansas Trucking Association is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org