ITLC 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibit

Noël Perry is the rare economist to specialize in transportation and logistics.  He has followed his passionate interest in the way freight moves over a forty-year career, beginning on a loading dock and culminating in his role as a leading industry consultant.  In private practice Noël continues his strategic work on customer logistics, economics, North American transportation demand, carrier competition and ground-breaking research on truck driver supply and demand.  His innovative work in freight demand modeling, modal price competition and driver labor economics are in wide-spread use.  He also maintains his extensive relations with the logistics analysis community, from security analysts to analytical vendors to trade associations.

Before founding Transport Fundamentals Noël served for thirty years in senior research positions at Schneider National, Cummins Engine Company and CSX.  That gives him a uniquely broad perspective on the market, covering three modes: rail, truck, barge and the supplier sector.   Frequently published, he is a member of the Transportation Research Board, the Transportation Research Forum, the National Business Economists’ Issues Council, the Council Of  Logistics Management and, in his spare time, the Society For American Baseball Research.

Noël holds degrees in Architecture from the University Of Pennsylvania and City Planning from Harvard University, where he earned honors and wrote cases for the Harvard Business School.  He is also a graduate of Girard College, a unique primary and secondary school in Philadelphia.  He was a veteran of the Viet Nam war.  There he navigated KC135 air refueling aircraft.  In his spare time he is a gardener, singer, golfer and amateur World War II historian.  He and his wife, Ginny, live in Cornwall, Pennsylvania. 

Trucking companies and third party logistics providers are moving towards a more interdependent relationship as both groups clamor to meet the efficiency demands of todays just in time supply chain.

The American Trucking Association and the Transportation Intermediaries Association have both developed model carrier- broker contracts, but what do they mean for everyday business transactions? Beyond the written contract, what factors are important in developing ethical, workable and technology- compatible processes on both sides of the broker/ carrier relationship?

In this session, ITLC will provide a multi-dimensional view of the integrity issues that exist between carriers and brokers. Listen to representatives from fleets, freight brokers and the FMCSA discuss this integral relationship, and join other ITLC members in voicing your opinion as we take the first step in developing a carrier-broker industry best practice.

As security and supply-chain visibility issues become more important to shippers, consignees and federal regulators, trailer tracking applications have grown more sophisticated and are playing an increasingly central role in the transportation industry.

However, for the average trucking company, the need for increased visibility is clear, but the details surrounding the technology implementation and cost of meeting such a demand is not.

In this session, we’ll hear from trailer tracking experts, trucking company executives and a Department of Defense official as we answer questions such as: What is trailer tracking technology?

If a supplier demands that a carrier use trailer tracking for their freight, can the cost of that technology be shared by the shipper? Which commodities require tracking, and which commodities do not?

The trucking industry is set to face new regulations in 2009, as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration considers a wireless roadside inspection program and prepares to implement its final rule addressing the use of electronic on-board recorders.

This session will provide a comprehensive update on the wireless inspection program, EOBR rule, hours of service, hazardous materials compliance and more.

Commercial GPS devices have flooded the market in recent years, but their mainstream popularity should not be confused with effective operation in the transportation industry. Join us at this session to hear about what you, the carrier, should look for in a GPS device. From hazardous materials and weight restrictions to visibility and traffic limitations, some devices have you covered, and others don’t.

Our panelists will be talking about various efficiency boosting features across the GPS market – including back office data integration and real time information – as we set the groundwork for an ITLC industry best practice.

ATA recognizes the importance of forming alliances with similarly related technical organizations, and one important goal in that effort is to work with technology standards committees to develop mainstream business practices that can be used across the transportation industry.

In this session, our panelists will give an update on current technology standards as well as new, emerging standards. ITLC members will also have the opportunity to discuss which business processes they think should be adopted in order to ease business relationships across the supply chain.

Fuel cost is the most pressing issue facing trucking companies these days, and avoiding a financial loss is no longer as simple as monitoring fuel surcharges or taking the shortest route possible.

Carriers must now answer questions such as: Which mileage measurement should be used for billing? How will the definition of fuel economy change as shippers begin to measure their carbon footprints? Which technologies will be most efficient in managing fuel consumption?

In this session, ITLC will set the groundwork for a new industry mileage-measurement best practice. From actual route and shortest miles measurements to practical miles calculations, our panelists will examine every side of this pressing problem.

New logistics practices, and technologies such as GPS, routing algorithms and e-credentials, have helped the trucking industry drive efficiency.

At the same time, new devices, software and back office services are increasing the amount of transportation and trucking industry data being generated. Much of this data goes under utilized, but it can reveal big opportunities to shorten trip times, boost mileage, reduce fuel tax obligations, and identify mechanical failures.

During this session, data mining experts will talk about how they use that information efficiently to improve business, cut unnecessary costs and spot operational problems before they affect the bottom line.

In a flagging economy, new efficiency boosting technologies – including web-based applications and web-services to speed financial and operational processes – could mean the difference between survival and going out of business.

But for small and medium size trucking companies, overhauling or implementing an IT-based system to keep pace with customers and competitors can be a daunting task. In this session, our panelists will measure the return on investment for a variety of IT projects as they identify the most important upgrades a trucking company can make during difficult economic times.