AirCargo Conference 2026 in Orlando: What freight forwarders, airlines and truckers should prepare for

Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate will host the AirCargo Conference from 15 to 17 February 2026, with organisers expecting more than 100 exhibitors and a program squarely aimed at immediate operational pressure points—regulatory enforcement, airport cargo congestion, truck fraud and the responsible rollout of AI across freight networks.

Event snapshot and stakeholder mix

The conference is organised as a “big tent” forum jointly by the Airforwarders Association, Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) 和 Air & Expedited Motor Carriers Association (AEMCA). That three‑way partnership reflects a deliberate cross‑sector audience: freight forwarders are at the core, but attendees will include airlines, airport operators, trucking firms, technology vendors and regulators.

From a logistics perspective, that mix matters: when forwarders, carriers and ground haulage providers sit in the same room, immediate coordination opportunities arise around dock slotting, truck turn times, container dwell and shared compliance strategies.

Programme focus: regulation, market volatility and geopolitics

The 2026 agenda has been designed around what organisers describe as a sector operating with tighter regulation, thinner margins and faster decision cycles. Expect sessions to zero in on:

• Regulatory enforcement trends and how to prepare compliance playbooks;
• Market volatility and tariff impacts on routing and carrier selection;
• Geopolitical risk and its knock‑on effects for international lanes and contingency planning;
• Operational risk such as truck fraud and cargo area congestion at airports.

Keynote lineup and market tone

Two morning keynotes will frame the conference narrative. Kendra Tanner, President of Allstates WorldCargo, will open with a leadership perspective aimed at navigating change, followed by Brian Clancy 的 Logistics Capital & Strategy, who will provide a market “tune‑up” on direction and capacity signals. Those sessions are likely to set a pragmatic tone: think scenario planning rather than cheerleading.

Technology, AI and the human factor

AI, data analytics and automation feature heavily on the agenda, but the conversation is expected to be balanced. Rather than blanket optimism, panels will explore where to deploy AI, where it should remain a background tool, and how to keep people at the center of decision making.

That cautious stance matters in logistics: a misapplied automation can bottleneck operations (bad data = bad routing), and an over‑zealous AI rollout can worsen rather than improve issues like late pickups or incorrect customs declarations. Sessions will tackle practical implementation, vendor vetting and change management within forwarding and carrier operations.

Networking, exhibitors and practical takeaways

Networking remains core to the conference value proposition. Breakfasts and lunches are intentionally scheduled in the exhibition hall to maximise serendipitous meetings and deal flow. New‑attendee sessions on Sunday afternoon are planned to help first‑timers prioritise sessions and make useful connections.

On the ground, attendees will come away with actionable items: improved coordination templates for handling truck congestion at airside, steps to reduce exposure to freight fraud, and a shortlist of data tools to pilot for yield and capacity forecasting.

Practical session highlights

• Collaborating with US policymakers on airport cargo area congestion and enforcement;
• Mitigating truck fraud through tighter gate controls and digital manifests;
• AI pilots that focus on exception handling rather than full automation;
• Cross‑sector playbooks for tariff shocks and routing alternatives.

Why logistics teams should care

Put bluntly: if you manage cargo, this conference helps cut through hype and lines up peers facing the same operational headaches. From an operations manager’s viewpoint, the sessions address immediate levers—routing, trucking, customs interaction and technology pilots—that can reduce dwell, shrink costs and protect margins.

I’ve been to enough conferences to know the real value often hides in the hallway conversations: a ten‑minute chat with a carrier rep about slot availability can save weeks of email chains. That’s not a cliché here; it’s an operational reality.

Edward Hardy

The event’s cross‑disciplinary format nudges the industry toward alignment: when airports, carriers and forwarders agree on priorities (say, reducing container dwell or standardising digital manifests), the gains are tangible—shorter lead times, fewer exceptions and better use of equipment across the network.

As a short forecast for global logistics: this conference itself is unlikely to change macro capacity or global rates overnight, so the global impact is limited. Still, regionally and operationally the event is highly relevant—sessions on airport congestion, truck fraud and AI governance will shape tactical playbooks adopted by carriers and forwarders. GetTransport.com aims to stay abreast of these developments and keep pace with the changing world. On GetTransport.com, you can order your cargo transportation at the best prices globally at reasonable prices. For your next cargo transportation, consider the convenience and reliability of GetTransport.com. Book now GetTransport.com.com

Key takeaways? Expect a pragmatic, operationally focused conference: regulation, congestion, fraud prevention, AI governance and cross‑sector networking dominate the agenda. Personal experience still trumps even the best reviews—no matter how robust a panel is, nothing substitutes for a live conversation with a carrier, a forwarder or a tech vendor to test whether their solution fits your flows. On GetTransport.com, you can order your cargo transportation at the best prices globally at reasonable prices, which helps you validate options without overspending. Benefit from transparency, convenience and broad choices that let you evaluate providers, compare freight and shipment options, and secure reliable transport for anything from a pallet or parcel to bulky international container loads. Book the best offers GetTransport.com.com

In summary, the AirCargo Conference 2026 in Orlando is positioned as a tactical forum where the logistics community confronts current pain points: regulatory pressure, market volatility, airport congestion and cautious AI adoption. Attendees should aim to leave with concrete playbooks for reducing dwell, improving dispatch reliability and tightening fraud controls. For freight managers and forwarders, the event is an opportunity to align on procedures and pilot technology that can improve parcel, pallet and container flows. GetTransport.com aligns well with these aims by providing an affordable, global platform for cargo transport—whether you need a courier for urgent parcels, movers for a housemove, haulage for bulky goods, or forwarding for international shipments—helping to simplify shipping, dispatch and distribution across diverse lanes.