Executives of Major Transportation Industry Associations to Jointly Present at SMC3 2010 Winter Conf

SMC3, a transportation industry association representing motor carriers, shippers and logistics service providers, announced today that its 2010 Winter Conference will feature a powerhouse of speakers representing some of the transportation and supply chain industry’s foremost associations. The conference, entitled, “2010 Jump Start: Supply Chain’s Look Ahead,” is scheduled to take place Jan. 19-20 at the Renaissance Concourse Hotel in Atlanta, and is part of SMC3’s enduring commitment to provide top-quality educational and networking forums for anyone involved in supply chain planning and execution.

“The commitment made by each of these association executives to actively participate in the SMC3 2010 Winter Conference shows the importance they’ve placed upon collaboration and information sharing within the supply chain,” said Jack E. Middleton, SMC3 president and CEO. “Those who attend the conference will benefit from their collective wealth of industry knowledge and connectivity.”

At the conference, featured industry speaker G. Tommy Hodges, incoming chairperson of the American Trucking Associations (ATA), will present the “Washington view” on labor, energy and greening, as well as how to become an active advocate. Immediately following Hodges’ presentation, an association executive panel discussion will convene, moderated by Rick Blasgen, president and CEO of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), and including David Bradley, CEO of the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) and president of the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA); Bruce Carlton, president and CEO of the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL); Kevin Burch, chairman of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA); and Bob Voltmann, president and CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA). Discussing their organizational perspectives and positions on the key issues facing the transportation and supply chain industries, these industry leaders will provide valuable insights to conference attendees looking to make a positive organizational impact in 2010.

“Transportation professionals who possess one or more association memberships are well equipped in many ways,” Middleton said. “These professionals do their jobs better, because they have access to the relationships, continuing education and informational inputs that foster best business practices.”

SMC3 has designed the 2010 Winter Conference to give attendees an all-encompassing view of the economic, political and general business issues that could impact them in the coming year, as well as practical solutions for identifying and overcoming obstacles to business success. In addition to the association executive presentations and discussions, the conference agenda includes an opportunity to learn first-hand how business leaders have lessened their organizational carbon footprint to green their supply chain.

SMC3 educational partners will be on hand to give updates on key business influencers such as the global economy, industry financials and U.S. politics. These subject matter experts include: John Bagileo, who has been practicing transportation law for more than 40 years; Robert W. Baird research analyst Jon Langenfeld, recognized by Forbes as a number-one earnings estimator in the air freight and logistics sector; Donald Ratajczak, Ph.D., emeritus professor of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University and consulting economist for leading businesses and governmental agencies; and Larry Sabato, Ph.D., Robert Kent Gooch professor of politics at the University of Virginia and a well-known, remarkably accurate political forecaster.

As an added value of attending the 2010 Winter Conference, SMC3 will present — at no additional cost to registered attendees — two special bonus sessions, which will precede the conference on January 18. The “Dimensional Technology and Pricing” session will present an educational viewpoint of the latest trends and technologies for dimensional-based shipment rating, and will include an exclusive facility tour. A concurrent “Indices as a Forecasting Tool” session will detail best practices for integrating the most recognized industry indices into a company’s business planning and measurement processes.

Online registration for the SMC3 2010 Winter Conference is open now at www.smc3conference.com. For additional information, including early registration and association membership incentives, go to www.smc3conference.com, phone 800-845-8090 or e-mail info@smc3.com.

About SMC3

SMC3 is the foremost provider of data, technology and education as an integrated solution to the freight transportation community. SMC3’s core competency is its pricing expertise, which it delivers through data services and technology tools that simplify processes and promote collaboration between buyers and sellers of transportation services. The company also partners with leading transportation software developers for complete interoperability.

Throughout the year SMC3 offers educational programs that focus on key industry issues and advanced learning. These well-attended events are noted for their content, speakers and networking opportunities. The company currently serves more than 5,000 customers operating throughout the contiguous United States, Canada and Mexico. SMC3’s customer base covers all aspects of freight movement, and includes shippers, carriers, logistics service providers and freight-payment companies.