Presented by PCS Software, TCA’s Premier Education Partner, the Smarter Operations. Better Margins. series will run from September through December and will examine practical ways carriers can improve efficiency while managing operating costs.

Four Sessions Cover Key Operational Topics

Rather than focusing on a single area of fleet management, the series addresses several operational challenges that many carriers continue to face as technology becomes a larger part of day-to-day operations.

Topics include artificial intelligence, back-office efficiency, predictive maintenance, and evaluating technology investments.

Each session will be moderated by TPP Facilitator Steve Phillips.

Artificial Intelligence and Automation

The series begins on September 10 with a session exploring how artificial intelligence and automation can be applied in trucking operations.

According to TCA, the discussion will introduce AI agents, automation strategies, and practical examples of how technology can support dispatching, administrative tasks, and operational decision-making.

While artificial intelligence continues to receive significant attention across the transportation industry, many smaller carriers are still evaluating where it can provide measurable value within existing workflows.

Improving Back-Office Operations

The second session, scheduled for October 8, shifts attention to administrative operations.

The program will examine ways companies can improve back-office efficiency through workflow improvements, automation, and process management. Areas such as staffing, repetitive administrative tasks, and operational consistency are expected to be part of the discussion.

As carriers continue operating with lean office staff, improving administrative efficiency has become an area of focus alongside equipment utilization and driver productivity.

Using Data to Improve Maintenance Planning

On November 12, the series will cover predictive maintenance and the growing use of operational data to support maintenance decisions.

Instead of relying solely on scheduled maintenance intervals or repairing equipment after failures occur, predictive maintenance uses vehicle data to help identify potential issues before they result in unexpected downtime.

Many larger fleets have already incorporated predictive maintenance into their maintenance programs, while smaller carriers continue evaluating the technology and investment required to adopt similar approaches.

Evaluating Technology Investments

The final session takes place on December 10 and focuses on technology management.

According to TCA, participants will learn strategies for reviewing existing software platforms, consolidating technology where appropriate, and evaluating whether current systems are delivering measurable operational value.

As carriers continue adding digital tools across dispatch, maintenance, compliance, accounting, and safety, technology management has become an increasingly important business consideration.

Registration Information

The Smarter Operations. Better Margins. series is open to trucking professionals, with complimentary registration available to TCA members through the association’s partnership with PCS Software.

Additional information and registration details are available here.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: July 15, 2026

Source: The Trucker

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The newly created award recognizes transportation professionals who show an exceptional commitment to ongoing education and professional growth. While the honor is aimed at individual achievement, its impact reaches drivers directly by strengthening compliance, safety practices, and carrier operations that affect day-to-day life on the road.

Why This Award Matters to Drivers

Strong HR and compliance leadership plays a direct role in how drivers are recruited, supported, and retained. Policies around onboarding, hours of service, safety programs, and driver communication all begin with educated professionals behind the scenes. TCA created this award to highlight how continued learning improves real-world trucking jobs.

“Education is one of the biggest advantages a career can invest in, especially in HR and compliance, where the details matter,” said Mark Hill, CEO, PCS Software. “Congratulations to Tory McQueen of Parish Transport on earning the TCA Education Award and leading with a real commitment to safer, smarter operations.”

A Year of Heavy Lifting in Education

According to TCA, McQueen completed 130 hours of on-demand education throughout 2025. That level of coursework reflects the same discipline drivers apply to mastering new equipment, regulations, and routes.

Her efforts included earning the full “trifecta” of TCA professional certificates.
TCA Recruitment Certificate
TCA Retention Certificate
TCA Human Resources Certificate

Together, these credentials cover the full driver lifecycle, from hiring and onboarding to long-term retention and compliance. That combination helps carriers build programs that respect drivers’ time, improve communication, and reduce costly turnover.

Recognition from Industry Leadership

“This is the very first year we’re presenting the TCA Education Award, and I couldn’t be more excited about recognizing such a deserving recipient,” said Tracy Rushing, executive director, safety and HR, RE Garrison, and chairperson, TCA’s Retention, Recruitment and Human Resources Committee. “What makes this special is their real commitment to lifelong learning, not just for themselves, but for the people they support every day. When we invest in education, we directly improve the driving job, and that’s exactly what this award is meant to celebrate.”

TCA also emphasized the broader value of McQueen’s achievement, noting that her approach to education provides a model for how carriers can improve operations, driver satisfaction, and workplace culture through structured learning.

Honored at the TCA Annual Convention

McQueen will be formally recognized during the Recruitment, Retention, and HR Committee Meeting on March 1 at the TCA Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida.

For drivers, awards like this signal an industry shift toward better-trained support teams, clearer policies, and stronger carrier leadership. When the people managing compliance and HR invest in education, drivers benefit through safer operations, more consistent standards, and a more professional work environment across the fleet.

Source: The Trucker

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