ACT Expo will open its 2026 conference with a keynote from one of the most influential leaders in North American freight.
John Smith, incoming president and CEO of FedEx Freight, will deliver the opening keynote at ACT Expo 2026, scheduled for May 4-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. His address will kick off four days focused on the technologies, strategies, and investments shaping fleet performance across the commercial transportation sector.
Smith oversees North America’s largest less-than-truckload network, a division that generated $8.9 billion in revenue in 2025 and operates across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. With nearly 40 years in the transportation industry and more than two decades at FedEx, he steps into the spotlight at a time when freight markets are navigating demand volatility, shifting trade flows, and rapid digital transformation.
“John leads one of the most sophisticated surface freight networks in North America,” said Erik Neandross, president of TRC’s Clean Transportation Solutions group, producers of ACT Expo. “ACT Expo is where progressive fleet leaders come to plan what’s next. Hearing directly from an operator managing complexity at this scale will give attendees real insight into how technology, network strategy, and disciplined execution translate into competitive advantage.”
Smith’s keynote, scheduled for Monday, May 4, will focus on the accelerating evolution of freight operations, emerging technologies reshaping network performance, and strategies fleets can use to compete in an increasingly dynamic market. His remarks also come just weeks before FedEx Freight is set to stand as a separate public company this June, offering attendees perspective on scaling operations while balancing customer expectations, cost management, and service quality.
“The LTL industry is being reshaped by rising expectations for speed, reliability, and visibility, and at FedEx Freight, we know a lot of that starts with the truck,” said Smith. “We’re continually refining our operations and working towards a safer and more efficient fleet. I’m eager to share what we’re learning and where we see opportunities for the industry as a whole at the ACT Expo.”
During the session, Smith is expected to address how large-scale LTL networks are leveraging data, predictive analytics, and automation to improve capacity management and service reliability. He will also discuss how major carriers are balancing cost discipline with investments in digital systems and lower-carbon fleet strategies to meet rising customer expectations.
Additional mainstage speakers at ACT Expo 2026 will include RJ Scaringe, founder and CEO of Rivian, who will discuss the company’s expanding role in commercial transportation and large-scale EV deployments, and Stephen Roy, president of Mack Trucks and chairman of Volvo Group North America, who will focus on global technology shifts, digital vehicle integration, and strategies for optimizing uptime and total cost of ownership.
The keynote sessions are part of ACT Expo’s broader educational and peer-to-peer program designed to help fleet decision-makers evaluate the business case for emerging technologies and adopt solutions that drive uptime, efficiency, safety, and financial performance.
