The Tire Industry Association (TIA) is excited to unveil an impressive agenda for the upcoming 2025 Off-the-Road Tire Conference, set to take place from February 19-22, 2025, at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino in San Juan. This year’s event promises to be a landmark gathering, focusing on the advancement of knowledge and collaboration within the global off-the-road tire community.

Attendees can expect a robust lineup featuring nine general educational sessions, a keynote address, and interactive breakout discussions. The conference will dive into key topics such as training, economic forecasts, professional development, and government affairs, along with a live OTR Tire Service demonstration.

TIA CEO Richard "Dick" Gust expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming conference, stating, “We look forward to uniting the global off-the-road tire community for the 70th annual OTR Tire Conference in Puerto Rico. With strong pre-show registrations, sold out sponsorships, and a lineup of compelling educational sessions, this year's conference will be outstanding.

The full schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 — Maximizing Growth Through Training

“5 Things That Help Your Service Truck and 5 Things That Hurt,” presented by Stellar Industries and Fleet Equipment Corporation (FEC), will discuss the top five things that dealers can do to help their OTR service trucks last longer and then contrast it with the five things operators do that reduce the life of the truck. The discussion will include the compressor, crane, handler, and other components vital to servicing OTR tires and rims.
“Live Demonstration,” presented by TIA’s Director of Tire Service, Matt White, has taken the audience to various places for topics like wheel torque and chain installation. This year, it will be a little closer than normal, but the subject has a direct impact on technician safety.
“Earthmover Tire Service Training,” will discuss what to expect from the new Basic ETS program and the role that it will play moving forward. Presented by TIA Chief Technical Officer, Kevin Rohlwing, this session will set the stage for the future of training and education for the technicians who service the world's largest and heaviest tires and rims.

Thursday, February 20, 2025 — Maximizing Growth Through Industry Insight

“US Economic Forecast,” Kevin Rohlwing, Chief Technical Officer, will use an array of resources, references and reports, to provide an economic forecast for the mining and construction industries for 2025.
“Canadian Economic Forecast,” Carol Hachu, President & CEO of The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC) will provide an economic forecast for Canada nationally and individually by province.
“Autonomous Trucks and Tire Wear,” Jeff Kurtz, Sr Communication Market Consultant from Caterpillar, will share experiences with autonomous trucks and tire wear so the industry will know the impact of this technology. Caterpillar has been a leading earthmoving and mining equipment manufacturer with autonomous trucks in operation for years. Driver input has always been a major factor in tire wear and autonomous vehicles remove that variable.

Friday, February 21, 2025 - Maximizing Growth Through Professional Development

“Attracting & Retaining Top Tire Industry Talent” Join Mike Cioffi, founder of Tire Talent, for an insightful discussion on current employment trends featuring data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other key sources. By the end of this presentation, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the current market conditions and explore strategies that companies can use to attract and retain talent in 2025 and beyond. The presentation includes macro employment data, tire employment overview, and improvement opportunities.
“Leading Through Change & Disruption – Exemplary Leadership Practices,” Mike Evans is an award-winning author/speaker and has developed a unique perspective from 20+ years of working alongside a star-studded list of world-renowned thought leaders. In this presentation, he will provide leadership practices to help you lead through change and disruption.
“Ensuring Relevance in a Changing Industry,” Shawn Rasey, Director of Global Business Development Earthmover, and Matthew Futrelle, Head of Business Field Earthmoving Business Area Specialty Tires with Continental Tire, will use examples of companies that did not stay relevant and some that did to demonstrate what it takes for companies to succeed in a changing world. Their stories will frame a discussion on the mining and construction industries, talent acquisition and retention, tire industry consolidation, and TIA itself, including the annual OTR Tire Conference with a long legacy since 1955.
“Embrace Uncertainty to Ignite Opportunity,” Dave Sanderson is a nationally recognized leadership speaker, accomplished author, and inspirational survivor of what is known as "The Miracle on the Hudson." As the last passenger off US Airways Flight 1549, which had to ditch into the river, he took the lessons he learned from that profound experience in the frigid water. He emerged from the wreckage with a mission to encourage others to do the right thing and share coping skills to address any adversity you may face.

In addition to the general sessions, TIA is excited to bring daily safety tips from Al Klinge, CEO and Managing Director of KLINGE, as well as three engaging breakout sessions on Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Attendees can look forward to topics such as "Truckers Against Trafficking: Educate, Equip, Empower, and Mobilize," "Increasing Your Throughput, Efficiencies, and Profits with Robotics," and "Sustainability in the Tire Business: Yes, We Can Make Business Great Again!" Best of all, these sessions are free to attend, making it a fantastic opportunity to further enhance your knowledge.

The OTR Tire Conference is the premier gathering for professionals in the global earthmover tire, retreading, and service industries. Alongside the educational sessions, the conference will offer numerous networking opportunities, tabletop exhibits, and a leisure program featuring a Golf Tournament, El Yunque Rainforest Hiking Experience, Lagoon Fishing Experience, Horseback Riding, and an ATV Nature Adventure.

The room block for the conference closes Jan. 10, 2025, and is 68% full, with pre and post-dates limited. To find the schedule with session descriptions, visit https://www.tireindustry.org/events/otr/schedule/.

Conference registration is required prior to reserving a room, with no exceptions. A special reservation link will be provided once registration is received, and payment is processed.

For additional questions, contact otr@tireindustry.org

Tagged: Tire Business Education

TIA Announces Lineup of Educational Sessions for 2025 OTR Tire Conference