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The Final Mile Forum is more than an annual event. It’s a gathering of leaders, innovators, and partners who shape the future of last-mile delivery. FMF26, happening February 18–20 at the Austin Downtown Marriott, brings together a community where connection is the new currency and where the relationships you build can elevate your business long after the conference ends.
Whether you’re a seasoned attendee or joining us for the first time, a little preparation goes a long way. Here are practical, high-impact tips to help you get the most value from your time at this year’s Final Mile Forum.
FMF26 is packed with sessions, panels, networking events, and exhibitor opportunities. Reviewing the agenda before you arrive helps you stay focused and intentional. Identify:
• Sessions that align with your company’s goals
• Speakers you want to learn from
• Times when you can explore the exhibit hall
• Moments to recharge so you can stay fully engaged
A clear plan helps you make smarter decisions onsite while still leaving room for spontaneous conversations that often become the most rewarding part of the Final Mile Forum.
The FMF26 exhibit hall is one of the most valuable spaces at the conference. It’s where new tools, technologies, and partnerships come to life. Don’t just browse. Engage.
• Ask exhibitors what business challenges their solutions help solve
• Look for partners that can strengthen your service offerings
• Share your operational goals so exhibitors can match their insights to your needs
Remember, this is a community-driven event. Every exhibitor is here because they serve your industry’s challenges, growth, and evolution.
FMF26 is built on the idea that who you know is how you grow. Before arriving in Austin, make a short list:
• People you want to reconnect with
• New partners or peers you’d like to meet
• Companies you want to learn more about
Make a point to introduce yourself, ask questions, and exchange contact information. Even a brief interaction can lead to long-term partnerships. In the final mile world, relationships build ROI, and the Final Mile Forum is the ideal place to invest in them.
This year’s event is in the heart of downtown Austin, one of the country’s most vibrant and innovative cities. Use the surroundings to maximize your experience:
• Host a coffee chat with a new connection at a local café
• Explore Austin’s food scene after sessions wrap
• Take a walk around Lady Bird Lake or South Congress to reset before another full day
Austin’s creativity and energy are the perfect setting for fresh ideas and dynamic conversations.
FMF26 is interactive by design. During sessions, panels, and discussions:
• Ask questions
• Share your perspective
• Provide insights from your company’s experience
You play a role in shaping the event’s value. The more you engage, the more you’ll take away.
Your FMF26 experience doesn’t end when you leave Austin. Strengthen new connections by following up within a few days:
• Send a brief note or message
• Share a resource or idea you discussed
• Offer to continue the conversation
This simple step turns quick introductions into lasting business relationships.
Once you’re home, share what you learned. Consider:
• A short team presentation
• A recap email
• Recommended next steps based on event insights
FMF26 can spark new ideas, but real transformation happens when you bring those ideas back to your organization.
The Final Mile Forum is a unique space where industry knowledge, innovation, and relationships intersect. It’s where leaders challenge assumptions, explore new solutions, and build the kind of partnerships that push our industry forward.
By preparing with intention, showing up with curiosity, and engaging fully, you’ll walk away from FMF26 not just informed but inspired.
Registration is open now for the 2026 Final Mile Forum, taking place February 18–20 in Austin. Early bird discounts end December 31, 2025, and discounted flights and hotel rooms are available through the CLDA event block.
Secure your spot today and make FMF26 the most impactful final mile forum of your year.
Before attendees arrive in Austin for FMF26, we want to give our community a glimpse into the city that will host the industry’s premier Austin final mile conference February 18–20. Understanding the spirit of a destination helps set the tone for meaningful conversations and stronger connections, and Austin is a place where history, innovation, and culture all come together. This look at Austin’s story offers a sense of what makes the city special and why it’s the perfect backdrop for the relationships and growth that define the Final Mile Forum.
Austin’s rise from a quiet riverside settlement to one of the nation’s most dynamic innovation hubs is a story rooted in resilience and creativity. It’s a city known for big ideas, bold thinking, and a culture that fuels collaboration. As the 2026 Final Mile Forum heads to the Austin Downtown Marriott, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore the history, personality, and fun facts that make this destination unforgettable.
Long before Austin became the thriving capital we know today, the region was home to Indigenous peoples including the Tonkawa, Comanche, and Lipan Apache. They settled along the Colorado River, drawn to the natural springs and abundant resources of the area.
In the 1830s, settlers arrived and founded a small community called Waterloo. Its scenic hills and central location quickly drew the attention of leaders of the Republic of Texas, who selected it as the new capital in 1839. The town was renamed Austin in honor of Stephen F. Austin, the Father of Texas. Even then, the area’s promise was clear. It was a place built for new beginnings and steady growth.
As Austin grew throughout the nineteenth century, it took shape around Congress Avenue and what would become the downtown core. The Texas State Capitol, completed in 1888 and still one of the most iconic buildings in Texas, symbolized the city’s rising prominence. Its pink granite façade and commanding presence highlighted Austin’s role as the political heart of Texas.
Even as railroads expanded and commerce grew, Austin developed a personality all its own. Its creative spirit, independent thinking, and open-minded culture became defining elements of the city’s identity.
Today, Austin is known for its booming tech economy, but music remains one of its strongest cultural pillars. The roots of Austin’s music scene stretch back to the early twentieth century, but it was the 1970s that truly put the city on the map. Venues like the Armadillo World Headquarters helped build a thriving environment for live performance, fostering community and creativity among musicians and fans.
By the early 1990s, Austin had more live music venues per capita than any other city in the country. It earned the title Live Music Capital of the World, a name that still shapes the city’s energy today. Visitors can find music playing in coffee shops, bars, restaurants, outdoor stages, and iconic venues every night of the week.
For FMF26 attendees, that means there’s no shortage of spots to explore after a day of sessions, conversations, and networking.
Austin’s evolution into a global tech and innovation powerhouse is one of the city’s most remarkable transformations. The phrase Silicon Hills first emerged in the 1990s as established and emerging tech companies began planting roots across the region. Today, Austin is home to leaders in software, logistics, energy, and advanced manufacturing. It regularly ranks among the top U.S. cities for startups and business growth.
The city is built on innovation and forward thinking, offering a natural backdrop for conversations about logistics, technology, customer expectations, and the future of last-mile delivery. FMF26 attendees will find themselves surrounded by a city that shares their passion for efficiency, ingenuity, and continuous improvement.
One of Austin’s most enduring traits is its people. The city thrives on diversity, creativity, and collaboration. Its unofficial slogan, Keep Austin Weird, started as a grassroots effort to support small businesses. It has since become a rallying cry that celebrates individuality, authenticity, and local pride.
That same spirit of community reflects the values at the heart of FMF26. Connection is the new currency, and Austin is a place where conversations spark ideas, where partnerships grow naturally, and where people discover new ways to elevate their work.
Austin’s culinary scene is a standout in its own right. From food trucks offering global flavors to legendary barbecue joints like Franklin Barbecue, the city invites visitors to explore, taste, and enjoy. Tex-Mex, tacos, southern comfort food, craft coffee, local breweries, and upscale dining all blend into one unforgettable experience.
But food is just the beginning. Austin’s cultural landscape is filled with public art, murals, museums, outdoor installations, and creative neighborhoods. Visitors can explore the Blanton Museum of Art, walk the trails at Lady Bird Lake, relax in Zilker Park, or wander through the shops and restaurants of South Congress.
And for anyone looking to truly experience Austin, don’t miss the famous Congress Avenue Bridge bat flight at sunset, one of the most unique natural scenes in the country.
Here are a few memorable facts to bring up during a coffee break or networking session at FMF26:
• Austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America, with over 1.5 million bats living under the Congress Avenue Bridge.
• The Texas State Capitol is actually taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
• Austin was the first city in Texas to launch curbside composting.
• Barton Springs Pool is fed entirely by natural springs and stays around 68–70 degrees year-round.
• Austin FC, the city’s MLS team, has one of the most passionate fan communities in the league.
• Austin’s food truck culture is one of the biggest in the world.
• South by Southwest, now a global gathering for film, tech, and music, began as a small local event.
Each fact adds another layer to the story of a city that’s both dynamic and deeply rooted in creativity.
Hosting the 2026 Final Mile Forum in Austin makes perfect sense. The city mirrors the forward momentum of the final mile industry and represents the power of community. Austin fosters innovation, celebrates collaboration, and thrives on meaningful connection. It’s a place where who you know is how you grow, and where relationships build ROI.
As the industry gathers to discuss trends, tackle challenges, share success stories, and build new partnerships, Austin provides the ideal backdrop. Attendees will leave inspired by the city, by the people they meet, and by the ideas exchanged throughout the event.
FMF26 takes place February 18–20, 2026 at the Austin Downtown Marriott. Registration is open now, and early bird discounts run through December 31, 2025. Discounted hotel rooms and flights from Delta, Southwest, and United Airlines are also available.
Make Austin part of your story. Register today for FMF26 and join us at the premier Austin final mile conference where new connections fuel lasting growth.
The final mile is changing fast and staying ahead requires more than hard work and operational know-how. It takes insight, collaboration, and the ability to learn from the leaders who are navigating the same challenges you are.
That’s why the 2026 Final Mile Forum (FMF26) is built around one core idea:
Connection is the New Currency.
This year’s program brings together shippers, carriers, and solution partners for three days of education and networking that’s practical, forward-looking, and grounded in real-world experience. Whether you’re focused on growth, optimization, or delivering exceptional customer service, FMF26’s lineup will give you the tools and the relationships to make it happen.
Hear directly from the shippers who shape expectations across the final mile. FMF26 shipper connections are the name of the game! These panels are designed for their honesty, energy, and insight by offering an unfiltered look at what customers really want and how providers can deliver. The What Shippers Want panels are:
Because in the final mile, who you know is how you grow — and understanding the shipper mindset is essential.
FMF26 offers a curated mix of sessions that address the trends shaping last-mile delivery, including:
More sessions are being finalized so stay tuned! Every session is built to deliver value you can bring home and use immediately.
Some of the most valuable moments at FMF26 happen around the roundtable. In Carrier Roundtables, peers dig into the real issues, including workforce, operations, technology, customer demands, and walk away with solutions they can use immediately. In Shipper Roundtables, shippers and partners sit down together for open, honest discussion you won’t find anywhere else.
These sessions deliver education, clarity, and connection all at once — proving that who you know is how you grow and your network is your net worth.
And with Austin as our backdrop, inspiration comes easy. Expect an event filled with education, music, culture, and connection — all designed to fuel your next stage of growth.
🎯 Join us in Austin for FMF26, February 18–20, 2026. Early Bird registration is open through December 31, 2025.
👉 Secure your spot now.
Register now!
February 18–20, 2026 | Austin Downtown Marriott | Austin, TX
In the final mile, connection isn’t optional — it’s everything. That’s why there’s no event quite like the 2026 Final Mile Forum (FMF26). Hosted by the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA), FMF26 brings together carriers, shippers, technology providers, and industry leaders to share ideas, solve challenges, and strengthen the partnerships that move our industry forward.
This year, we’re heading to Austin, Texas, where innovation and energy meet opportunity. Over three powerful days, FMF26 will spark collaboration, deliver insight, and connect you with the people who are shaping what’s next in last-mile delivery.
Unmatched Networking: From receptions and roundtables to golf and Go-Karts, FMF26 offers countless ways to connect. Because who you know is how you grow.
Industry-Leading Education: Dive into shipper panels, general sessions, and discussions that explore trends, technology, and strategies driving the final mile.
Hands-On Access: Meet the partners, solutions, and innovators helping companies streamline operations and scale smarter.
The Austin Experience: Enjoy live music, world-class dining, and the vibrant energy of one of America’s most exciting cities.
FMF26 isn’t just about what you’ll learn — it’s about who you’ll meet. Every handshake, every conversation, every idea shared in Austin is an investment in your business. Because in this industry, your network truly is your net worth.
Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a CLDA veteran, you’ll leave FMF26 with actionable ideas, lasting relationships, and a renewed sense of possibility.
🎯 Join us in Austin, February 18–20, 2026.
Early bird registration is open now through December 31, 2025. Secure your spot today!
As we reach the midpoint of the year, we’re excited to share a few highlights from an active and impactful spring season for CLDA and our members.
This spring, we expanded awareness of CLDA and its member companies at key industry events. In April, Mark Cossack, Board member and Government Affairs Committee Chair, and Harold Boyett, Board member, presented CLDA’s vital advocacy efforts at the ECA Marketplace, encouraging attendees to get involved and help strengthen our industry voice. We also had a strong presence at Home Delivery World in its new location in Nashville, where CLDA President, Joel Pinsky, joined a panel discussion and connected with potential affiliate partners. In June, Harold Boyett represented CLDA at TEANA’s Annual Conference to continue elevating our advocacy work.
This outreach is part of CLDA’s broader mission to foster collaboration across the final-mile industry and highlight the essential work of our members.
On the regulatory front, we are continuing to coordinate feedback from our IAC (Indirect Air Carrier) members to ensure the final-mile sector’s voice is represented in conversations with the TSA. This follows a productive set of meetings between CLDA members and TSA officials in Washington, D.C., earlier this year at our annual fly-in.
We’re also proud to report strong engagement through our CLDA Connect events. Our most recent gathering in Austin, Texas brought together nearly 60 final-mile professionals for an evening of networking and community-building. Special thanks to GigSafe for hosting us at their headquarters! If you’re interested in hosting a future Connect event, we’d love to hear from you.
Looking ahead, the Final Mile Forum Reimagining Task Force worked hard to shape what promises to be the most dynamic and engaging FMF yet. Mark your calendars for February 18–20, 2026, in Austin, Texas! The FMF Committee is focused on the future, including the future of the event, of your business, and of our industry. Stay tuned for updates as details are finalized.
Finally, we’re thrilled to welcome almost 100 new carriers, affiliate partners, shippers and drivers as members to the CLDA community! As our industry continues to evolve, your engagement with CLDA ensures you stay connected, informed, and ahead of the curve.
Thank you for being an essential part of the CLDA community. We wish you a safe and enjoyable summer and we look forward to continuing our work together in the months ahead.
As we wrap up an exciting year for CLDA and the final mile industry, I’m proud to highlight some of the key ways we’ve supported our members through education, networking, and advocacy. Together, we’ve made meaningful strides in strengthening our industry and providing resources to help our members succeed.
At the 2024 Final Mile Forum, we welcomed professionals from across the industry for unparalleled networking and business-building opportunities. The energy, insights, and connections forged during FMF exemplify the value of coming together as an industry. We look forward to continuing this momentum at the 2025 Final Mile Forum in San Diego, where we aim to provide even more opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Our advocacy efforts were elevated in March through our Washington, DC fly-in, where members met with policymakers to discuss issues impacting our industry. These efforts are crucial in shaping the legislative and regulatory environment to support the success of final mile logistics companies. Your engagement in these initiatives amplifies our collective voice and ensures the industry’s priorities remain front and center. We couldn’t do this without your donations to the Advocacy Fund. Thank you to everyone that has donated this year.
CLDA members’ input through our membership survey has been instrumental in guiding our strategic direction. We’re using your feedback to develop collaborative initiatives with related organizations, such as ECA, Manifest, and Home Delivery World. We are strengthened and adding programs that deliver value to members. We continue to identify opportunities to meet the evolving needs of our members. These insights shape our focus for 2025 and beyond, ensuring that we continue to provide education, networking, and advocacy tailored to your priorities.
We enjoyed coming together for our first CLDA Connect event in September held in Atlanta. This opportunity allowed us valuable facetime with members and volunteers. We look forward to hosting more networking events on location in 2025.
We recently completed our Board of Director election, reflecting the dedication of our members in shaping the future of our association. Your votes contribute to creating a Board of Directors that represent the diverse needs and aspirations of our industry.
None of this could be possible without members volunteering their time and talents to CLDA. As we continue to grow, we encourage members to volunteer for a committee or work group to help shape CLDA and the programs and benefits that serve our Association membership.
Thank you for your ongoing engagement and support. Together, we are building a stronger future for CLDA and the final mile logistics industry.
As we head into the final quarter of 2024, I want to share some exciting developments within our association and future opportunities for your companies.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our membership survey. Your invaluable feedback helps shape our future initiatives. You expressed a strong desire for more access to industry-specific resources to help you stay competitive in the ever-evolving final mile landscape. You also want more networking and peer-to-peer opportunities to learn from each other.
The CLDA Board of Directors and team are already working hard to implement new programs and enhance existing offerings to meet those needs. At the end of September, we had the first CLDA Connect in Atlanta. This networking event brought together industry leaders, board members, local carrier companies, and drivers to meet and network, expanding their opportunities. Don’t worry if you missed it; we are planning more events like this in 2025.
To support the continuing development of your teams, we are launching a digital on-demand series later this month to provide more education tailored to foster your company’s growth. This series offers opportunities to improve your operational efficiency and increase your bottom line. As a CLDA member, you gain free access to these valuable resources.
Speaking of opportunities, our 2025 Annual Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and time is running out. These sponsorships offer year-round exposure to a highly targeted audience and will close on December 31, 2024. If you want to enhance your visibility and position your company as a leader in the final mile space, I encourage you to secure your sponsorship today.
Additionally, don’t miss out on the chance to showcase your brand at our premier event, the Final Mile Forum. Both Exhibit and Sponsorship Opportunities are available for this must-attend event with the best and brightest in our industry. Whether you want to network, generate leads, or increase your presence in the final mile sector, the Final Mile Forum is the prime platform to achieve your business goals.
As always, our mission remains steadfast. As we plan for 2025 and adjust our strategies to meet your needs, CLDA will continue to provide you with the education, advocacy, and networking necessary to succeed in the final mile logistics industry. Together, we will continue to grow and thrive in this dynamic community.
Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement, and I look forward to what’s ahead!
