The meeting, "International. Intermodal. Interdependence. Transportation's Collaborative Future," which took place June 22-24 in Savannah, GA, focused on how challenges, such as capacity, infrastructure, Hours-of-Service, 2007 emissions standards, the driver shortage, insurance and fuel costs, border protection and homeland security, are driving the need for more efficient supply chain relationships created through collaboration.
"It's all for one and one for all," said William Clyburn Jr., principal, Clyburn Consulting, LLC, in his session about cooperating while competing to maximize efficiencies in the transportation network. Clyburn, a former US Surface Transportation Board commissioner, spoke of the win-win relationship shippers and carriers can have when they consider each other's needs.
Representatives from several of the nation's leading carriers and shippers presented case studies that explored successful business-to-business relationship models. Dean Wise, partner at Norbridge Inc., opened the collaboration case studies sessions with a look at how climbing carrier rates, capacity constraints, fuel prices, congestion and resource shortages are hindering equipment availability and service levels for motor carriers, railroads and ocean container lines.
John Gentle, global leader transportation affairs, Owens Corning, and Michael Newcity, director, e-systems and emerging technologies, ABF Freight System Inc., spoke about their successful collaborative relationship. They discussed how Owens Corning's electronic portal serves as an enabler, providing important information and technology tools for ABF and other carriers.
George Abernathy, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Transplace, presented a case study about shipper-to-shipper and carrier-to-carrier collaboration and focused on working with 3PLs to benefit from the development of increasingly dense shipping networks. Scott Elliff, president, Capital Consulting & Management Inc., concluded the sessions on collaboration by outlining key principles for achieving success through collaboration programs.
"SMC" meetings add strong business value and educational benefits to any attendee's understanding of our supply chain," Tom Williams, regional supply chain manager, Sysco, said.
In addition to collaboration, other important issues affecting the transportation community were discussed. Dr. Martin Moore-Ede, chairman and CEO of Circadian Technologies Inc., explored circadian sleep science as it relates to Hours-of-Service regulations. David Fare, portfolio manger and director of Citigroup Asset Management, led attendees through an informative session on understanding interest rates.
The meeting concluded with geopolitical update sessions led by some of the nation's leading authorities on economic and legislative policy. Transportation attorney John R. Bagileo, principal, The Law Office of John R. Bagileo; Professor Michael J. Economides, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston; and economic forecaster Donald Ratajczak spoke about how worldwide political factors, legislative enactments, energy costs and economic trends are affecting operations within the transportation industry.
