Cutting-Edge Industry and Technology Updates Connect
Transportation Professionals at SMC³'s Winter Meeting
Peachtree City, GA - January 26, 2004—Members of the transportation industry ramped up on the latest issues and developments impacting the transportation industry at SMC³'s 49th Annual Winter Meeting January 20-21 in Atlanta. SMC³, a leading provider of Technology Tools for Transportation®, put together invigorating speakers and transportation experts for its two-day meeting.
"I really enjoyed all of the events of the SMC³ Winter Meeting. It was very refreshing to see different details of business that we don't seem to look at in large groups," Belinda L. Crissman, account manager, Alliance Shippers Inc. in Marietta, Georgia, said.
"There was a wealth of information disseminated at this meeting," Jerry Neal, director of national account pricing, Old Dominion Freight Line in Thomasville, North Carolina, said.
The meeting, entitled Information: The Catalyst for Connecting Relationships, Technology and Communication, featured presentations on technology and communication challenges; an e-business panel discussion; and updates on legislation, the economy and energy.
"Balancing good communication with technological knowledge is one of the keys to disseminating the information our industry needs to face current legislative and economic challenges," Jack E. Middleton, SMC³ president & CEO, said. "This meeting truly provided SMC³ members and guests with the tools to accomplish this."
Keynote Speaker Roger Crawford enthused SMC³ members and guests with his speech focusing on resiliency, "How High Can You Bounce?" "This was a great inspirational way to kick off the program," Frank Wurst, logistics analyst, American Standard in Piscataway, New Jersey, said.
This year's panel discussion, "The New E-Business Model," featured the hypermediary, carrier and shipper points of view on utilizing technology in supply chain integration.
"This session was a great look into where we are and where we can go," Richard Matthews, logistics manager, Lund International Ventshade Accessories Division in Lawrenceville, Georgia, said.
The Wednesday morning update sessions focused on recent developments in legislation, the economy and energy. John Bagileo, principal, The Law Firm of John R. Bagileo, overviewed recent legislation and regulations impacting the LTL industry including the Federal Motor Carrier Administration Hours of Service Rules, the Surface Transportation Board's role in designating nationwide ratemaking authority, and the Class Action Fairness Act.
Donald Ratajczak, consulting economist, made another appearance at the SMC³ meeting to give his latest projections for the U.S. and world economies and their impact on transportation. Michael Economides, professor, Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston, followed the economic update by tying together geo-political issues and economic information for audience members to gain an understanding of the direction energy will take in the future.
"Wednesday's agenda was my favorite part of the meeting," Rick Bowden, vice president of pricing and traffic, NEMF in Elizabeth, New Jersey, said. "Bagileo, Ratajczak and Economides were all interesting and enlightening."
SMC³ holds two annual meetings - one in the winter and one in the summer. The 49th Annual SMC³ Summer Meeting is scheduled to take place June 16-18, 2004 in Williamsburg, Virginia. For more information about SMC³, visit www.smc3.com or call 1-800-845-8090.
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About SMC³
SMC³, also known as Southern Motor Carriers Rate Conference, is a leading nationwide provider of technology tools for transportation. SMC³ enables its customers to achieve greater success in the marketplace by supplying advanced technology tools, superior data management services, and smart processes that ensure the accurate and timely availability of pricing information throughout the transportation community.
SMC3 presently serves more than 5,000 customers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, and is committed to remaining at the forefront of technology and pricing intelligence through a dedicated staff and partnerships in the industry. The company is headquartered in Peachtree City, Georgia, and has a satellite office in Louisville, Kentucky.
Company keywords: Technology, Transportation, LTL, Pricing