2025 AFC Q3 Meeting
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 (10:00 AM - 3:00 PM) (CDT)
Description
Register for the third quarter meeting of the Arkansas Trucking Association Accounting & Finance Council and a workshop by McLeod Software at ATA Headquarters, 1401 W Capitol Ave., Ste. 445, Little Rock on August 27 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sponsored by:
Topics will include the results of the American Transportation Research Institute’s Operational Costs of Trucking 2025 Update and a session to prepare attendees for year-end tax planning along with a breakdown of tax law changes under the recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Following the educational sessions, AFC will host a McLeod Software workshop focused on automation tools, multicompany accounting, and strategies to streamline month-end closing processes.
ATA members can attend both the AFC meeting and the McLeod workshop sessions free of charge.
AFC Meeting Participants will
- analyze current trucking cost trends using data from ATRI’s Operational Costs of Trucking 2025 Update
- evaluate how carrier operations are adapting to the ongoing freight recession
- understand key tax code changes from the newly enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and their impact on the trucking industry
- identify year-end tax strategies to align planning with new provisions
- explore how to improve cash flow through McLeod’s Logix Solutions business process automation tools
- learn strategies to streamline month-end closing using McLeod’s multicompany accounting features
- simplify oversight of accounts payable, cash receipts, and journal entries across multiple companies
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.
Fields of Study: Finance, Taxes, Accounting
Prerequisites: No prerequisites required for Finance and Taxes credits; McLeod Software required for Accounting credits.
Advanced Preparation: None
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Live
Session 1: Operational Costs of Trucking 2025 Update
Presented by Alex Leslie, PhD, Research Associate, American Transportation Research Institute
(Finance - 1 credit)
ATRI’s Operational Costs of Trucking, a leading cost and performance benchmark, showed that costs excluding fuel continued to rise in 2024 to $1.779 per mile. This session will delve into the data to analyze the latest cost trends and how carrier operations are responding to the prolonged freight recession.
Alex serves as the primary author of ATRI’s annual Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, and he has led recent reports on driver-facing cameras, predatory towing, driver detention, and the cost of congestion. He is currently engaged in ATRI research on nuclear verdicts in the trucking industry. He also contributes to general data collection, programming, and editing across ATRI projects in addition to collaborating with government and industry task forces.
Alex holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University, where he previously worked as an Instructor of English and Data Science.
Session 2: Year-End Tax Strategies and the Impact of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"
Presented by Jeff Lovelady, CPA and Pancho Espejo, CPA, CVA, Bell & Company
(Taxes - 1 credit)
The recently enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” makes substantial changes to the tax code with important implications for the trucking industry—particularly around equipment investment, business structuring, and long-term planning.
In this session, Jeff Lovelady and Pancho Espejo will provide a focused overview of how the legislation affects key areas such as bonus depreciation, Section 179 limits, the QBI deduction, and interest expense limitations. They will also cover practical year-end tax strategies to help companies align their planning with the new provisions. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of what to watch for in Q4 and how to position their organizations for 2026.
Jeff has been part of the core of Bell & Company since 1992 and provides not only expert consulting to his transportation industry clients, but also manages the firm’s IT Department as well as the A&A Department. With decades of experience, Jeff is instrumental in supporting clients, particularly in the transportation industry, where he has developed a deep niche expertise. He has authored articles for publications like Arkansas Trucking Magazine and Arkansas Business’s Transportation edition.
Pancho became a Shareholder of Bell & Company in 2024, but his history with the firm began in 1998. He is always on the forefront of tax law changes and is arguably one the most technical tax technicians in the industry. He currently manages the tax section of the transportation division of Bell & Company, identifying issues and implementing solutions for transportation clients and the unique tax situations they encounter in their worldwide business model.
Afternoon Workshop Hosted by:
Session 3: Do more with less in your back office.
Presented by Barry Brookins, Regional Sales Manager, McLeod Software
(CPE Accounting - 1 credit)
With Logix Solutions, McLeod has delivered a set of business process automation solutions that come together to dramatically improve your cash flow. In this session, we will discuss each element and how they work together to get money in your bank account faster.
Barry Brookins is a regional sales manager for McLeod Software with over 26 years in the transportation industry. In the past 12 years, he has helped numerous customers achieve success with McLeod Products and services. He is passionate about helping companies succeed in the transportation industry. He enjoys college football and speding time with family.
Session 4: Multicompany Accounting and Month-End Closing
Presented by Alison Day, Senior Account Specialist, McLeod Software
(CPE Accounting - 1 credit)
In this session, we'll dive into effective strategies for streamlining month-end close processes with greater speed and accuracy. Discover best practices for leveraging McLeod's Multicompany Accounting features. We will simplify oversight of Accounts Payable, Cash Receipts and Journal entries for multiple companies from a single source.
Alison Day, Sr. Accounting Specialist with McLeod Software, has been providing world class support and positive customer interactions for 17 years. She is passionate about helping clients achieve their accounting dreams within McLeod Software and looks forward to many more years of exciting accounting implementations and support in the future.
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
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, August 25. For more information regarding administrative policies such as refunds and/or complaints, please contact our office at 501-372-3462 or send an email.
1401 W Capitol Ave., Ste. 445
Little Rock, AR 72201 United States