Let’s Meet in 2026: Descartes at Leading Logistics Industry Events
Logistics industry events continue to play an important role in how organizations stay competitive, informed, and connected. As final-mile expectations increase and operational complexity grows, these gatherings provide an opportunity to step back from daily execution and focus on strategy, innovation, and long-term performance.
In 2026, transportation and delivery leaders are navigating tighter margins, evolving regulations, workforce challenges, and rapid advances in data and automation. The most effective organizations are not just reacting to change. They are learning from peers, comparing approaches, and refining their strategies in real time.
Why Logistics Events Still Matter
Even in a digital-first environment, in-person logistics events provide value that cannot be replicated through reports or webinars alone. They create space for direct conversations, practical problem solving, and shared insight among operators facing similar challenges.
For fleet and distribution leaders, these events offer practical advantages. Attendees gain clearer visibility into regulatory developments, operational best practices, and technology trends influencing routing, asset utilization, and performance management. They also leave with a stronger understanding of how to apply new ideas within their own organizations.
Most importantly, logistics industry events help teams move forward with alignment. When operations, IT, safety, and executive leadership engage with the same industry insights, the result is better coordination, more confident decision making, and measurable operational improvement.
Events Driving Final-Mile Conversations in 2026
Distributors are increasingly turning to automation to offset the global labor shortage. But automation can do much more than reducing manual work.
Systems can collect and interpret information in the background to learn, adapt and improve future plans.
Foodservice distributors are using delivery execution insights to enhance route planning logic. Software can pull from real performance data such as precise drop-off locations (the actual dock, not the street address) and service times to more accurately build future routes.
Food Shippers of America Conference
March 1 - 3 | Orlando, FL
Industry: Food Distribution
Celebrating its 70th year, the Food Shippers of America Annual Conference is a premier forum for leaders shaping the future of food logistics. With this year’s theme, “Together We Win,” the event brings food and beverage industry professionals together to exchange insights, strengthen partnerships, and tackle the supply chain’s most pressing challenges.
New York Propane Gas Association Spring Conference
March 24-25 | Albany, NY
Industry: Bulk Gas
Propane and gas distributors operate in a highly regulated environment where safety, compliance, and legislative awareness directly impact daily operations. The NYPGA Spring Conference focuses on the regulatory and operational considerations shaping the propane sector, offering insight into evolving safety standards, legislative developments, and best practices while creating opportunities to connect with peers and strengthen operational readiness.
Modex
April 13 - 16 | Atlanta, GA
Focus Area: Supply Chain
MODEX examines the technologies, automation strategies, and operational models shaping modern manufacturing and supply chain performance. Covering everything from material handling and warehousing to robotics, software, and systems integration, the event offers practical insight into building more resilient, efficient, and scalable supply chain operations across evolving production and distribution networks.
NPGA Southeastern & International Propane Expo
April 19 - 21 | Nashville, TN
Industry: Bulk Gas
The NPGA Southeastern and International Propane Expo brings together suppliers, distributors, and industry leaders for focused education, collaboration, and innovation. As a major annual gathering for the propane sector, the event offers opportunities to explore emerging technologies, gain insight into regulatory and advocacy developments, and strengthen business relationships that support operational efficiency, safety, and long-term growth.
NBWA Legislative Conference
April 19 - 22 | Washington DC
Industry: Beverage Distribution
The NBWA Legislative Conference brings beer and beverage distributors to Washington, D.C. to engage directly with policymakers on issues that shape the regulatory and economic landscape of distribution. The event helps attendees strengthen advocacy skills, gain insight into federal policy developments, and communicate the value distributors provide to their communities, supporting more informed planning and decision making in a highly regulated industry.
NPTC Annual Conference and Exhibition
May 9 - 11 | Orlando, FL
Industry: Last-mile
The NPTC Annual Conference connects private fleet leaders from across the country to share best practices, benchmark performance, and address the operational and regulatory challenges unique to private motor carrier fleets. Through educational sessions, peer discussions, and industry updates, attendees gain practical insight into improving safety, compliance, efficiency, and long-term fleet performance in a rapidly evolving transportation landscape.
Eastern Energy Expo
May 17 - 20 | Uncasville, CT
Industry: Bulk Gas
The Eastern Energy Expo serves wholesale and retail fuel distributors, propane providers, and HVAC service professionals focused on navigating the operational and regulatory demands shaping the energy sector. Through business-focused sessions, technical education, and peer exchange, the event highlights practical strategies for improving efficiency, maintaining compliance, enhancing safety, and positioning energy businesses for sustainable growth in a complex marketplace.
Home Delivery World
May 20 - 21 | Nashville, TN
Industry: Last-mile, Retail
Home Delivery World focuses on end-to-end retail logistics, from inbound transportation and warehousing to routing and last-mile execution. The event provides insight into improving network coordination, cost control, service consistency, and scalability while addressing the operational complexity that defines modern retail delivery.
IFDA Solutions Conference
September 13 - 15 | San Antonio, TX
Industry: Food Distribution
The IFDA Solutions Conference focuses on the operational, workforce, and technology priorities shaping foodservice distribution. Designed to support cross-functional alignment, the event offers insight into transportation and warehouse performance, modernization strategies, sales growth initiatives, and workforce development, helping organizations strengthen coordination and drive measurable business impact.
Descartes Innovation Forum
October 6 – 8 | Chicago, IL
The Descartes Innovation Forum welcomes customers, partners, and logistics leaders to an in-person event focused on getting more value from logistics, fleet, and supply chain technology. Attendees gain practical insight through real customer experiences, hands-on learning, and discussions around emerging capabilities such as AI-driven decision support, real-time visibility, and data-led performance improvement, with a focus on improving planning accuracy, execution consistency, and long-term operational outcomes.
NBWA Annual Convention
October 11 – 14 | Orlando, FL
Industry: Beverage Distribution
The NBWA Annual Convention brings together beer and beverage distributors, suppliers, and industry leaders to explore trends shaping the future of beverage distribution. Through education sessions, technology showcases, and peer networking, attendees gain insight into market developments, emerging innovations, and practical strategies to strengthen operations and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.
Connect with Descartes in 2026
This year’s logistics industry events reflect a shift in priorities. Delivery operations are being measured not only by cost and speed, but by reliability, visibility, and the ability to adapt as conditions change. From routing and optimization to mobile execution and performance management, organizations are focused on building delivery networks that are resilient and easier to manage at scale.
If you are attending any of these logistics events, we invite you to connect with the Descartes team. These conversations create space to discuss operational priorities, compare approaches with peers, and explore practical ways to improve efficiency, strengthen compliance, and support long-term growth.
To see where we will be throughout the year, visit our events page.
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