SC&RA Preview: A global perspective

Set for the Westin Galleria in Houston, TX February 19-22, the 2019 SC&RA Specialized Transportation Symposium (STS) will productively bring together the industry’s foremost specialized transportation professionals and government permitting officials to discuss permitting harmonization, safety, regulations, compliance and some of the most pressing topics in specialized transportation today.

As it does every year, SC&RA is rolling out an exceptional schedule of presenters, an Exhibit Center with a record-high 60 booths and updates on Uniform Permit Transport 2021 – SC&RA’s groundbreaking proposal for 100 percent uniform permit weight analysis and allowance.

International value

With a particular emphasis on international value in 2019, the STS establishes its theme early on with an opening session titled “Perspectives from Global Warriors,” which comprises snapshots from experts around the world that spotlight the state of specialized transportation in Europe, Asia Pacific, Central America and Oceania.

Presented by Jonathan Bhana-Thomson, Chief Executive, New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association; Steven Dunnewijk, General Manager, Mammoet; André Friderici, Director Friderici Special & European Association of Abnormal Road Transport and Mobile Cranes, Friderici Special SA; and Mathias Rehe, President, Daco Heavy Lift De Centro America, this must-attend session will give audience members real-time insights on current, shared challenges.

An additional element that distinguishes STS is that it serves as a meeting place for state and regional officials from MAASTO, NASTO, SASHTO and WASHTO, as well as SC&RA’s Pilot Car Task Force and Permit Policy Committee. Symposium attendees get a chance to interface with members of these groups throughout the week, as they do with many of the hundreds in attendance, during an assortment of scheduled networking breaks and evening receptions.

Moreover, the First Timers’ Briefing represents one of these meet-ups, and is designed to allow first-time attendees an opportunity to meet with officers, staff and other first-timers, to network and learn more about how to best leverage the event for business success.

An additionally unique component exclusive to STS is the SC&RA Leadership Forum – designed to help fast-track the best and brightest young minds to the next levels of professional and Association leadership. Accepted applicants will be matched with a mentor and learn from various industry veterans about workplace trends and industry issues. (Find out more at www.scranet.org/leadership).

Two tracks

A session that attendees will absolutely want to join in on will be presented by Don Daseke, President & CEO of Daseke, Inc., and Brett Sheets, Vice President of Steelman Transport, Inc., a Daseke Company. Titled “Outside the Rectangular Box – Daseke Doing it Different,” both men will discuss what makes specialized transportation an attractive business proposition, as well as give their thoughts on the current state of the industry and what companies are doing differently today.

Symposium-goers will also make note of a special session titled “Border Crossings in Specialized Transport,” which will educate its audience on how to navigate the new NAFTA agreement, including best practices for border crossings. Speakers include Ed Bernard, Vice President, Precision Specialized Division Inc., and Ernesto Gaytan, President, Super Transporte Internacional, SA De CV.

SC&RA Transportation Vice President Steven Todd has introduced a change to the STS format for 2019. There will be two tracks for the educational sessions – permit or safety – which will allow attendees an opportunity to focus their attention and drill down on their knowledge in one particular area.

“Complacency Kills: The American Sniper’s Lessons Applied to the Business World,” will be presented by former Navy SEAL, New York Times best-selling author, and co-star of the film “American Sniper,” Kevin “Dauber” Lacz. He will illustrate the pitfalls of becoming too comfortable in any situation, how to avoid stagnancy and the characteristics of the most successful individuals.

Lacz will rejoin STS attendees that evening for a special viewing of the Academy-Award-nominated film.

Shared Nexus

Staying on international theme, Todd, along with Ton Klijn, Director, European Association of Abnormal Road Transport and Mobile Cranes (ESTA), will present “OS/OW Across the Pond: Treading the Same Water.” This session spotlights the reality that, with companies broadening their holdings beyond borders, it’s increasingly important to understand the complexities and opportunities for specialized transport in North America and Europe, and the shared nexus of safety.

An additional, and undeniable, international topic, current efforts for companies around the world to find and hire qualified workers will likely headline conversations throughout STS 2019 – which makes the session “Attracting & Retaining the Next Generation of Talent” a must-attend for all attendees.

Moderated by SC&RA’s Director of Membership Jason Bell, and featuring speakers Kevin Kwateng, Director of Heavy Haul Operations, Transport Bellemare International Inc.; Larry Wainscott, Practice Leader, Global Executive Solutions Group; and Nathan Barnhart, Project Sales Representative, Barnhart, this presentation asks the questions: What does the next generation expect of the specialized transport sector and how can your company prepare to attract and retain new talent? Attendees will hear multiple viewpoints and practical tips to strengthen their company’s chances of retaining the best employees in the future.

That said, a highlight of the Symposium each year, the 2018 Hauling Jobs of the Year will showcase the four best projects in their categories for exemplifying safety practices, ingenuity, specialized engineering and in some instances, defying common misconceptions. Attendees will no doubt find themselves equally inspired, and perhaps even motivated, to enter their own project(s) for 2019, according to Todd.

Registration for the STS 2019 is currently open. For more information, and the full lineup for STS 2019, visit www.scranet.org/sts2019.