Congestion, Infrastructure Shape Discussion Moderated by Transport Topics During MC&E
This story appears in the Sept. 29 print edition of Transport Topics.
Top executives and industry experts plan to explore ways business leaders and government officials can work to relieve congestion along the country’s aging transportation network during a panel discussion Oct. 4-7 at American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.
The panel, hosted by Transport Topics and featuring the American Transportation Research Institute, will look at gains made by trucking companies in addressing congestion concerns.
Panelists also will touch on ways infrastructure projects aimed at improving traffic flow could be funded through grants and public-private partnerships, or P3s.
In May, ATRI concluded that congestion along the interstates cost the trucking industry more than $9.2 billion in operational spending last year. ATRI determined that California was the leader in congestion costs at $1.7 billion, with Texas second at $1 billion. Among metropolitan areas, Los Angeles tops their list at about $1.1 billion. New York City came in second just shy of $1 billion.
“Our goal is to better educate attendees on congestion issues facing the industry by illustrating real-world examples from motor carriers, shippers and state and federal officials, said Jeff Mason, ATA’s executive vice president of communications and public affairs.Mason will moderate the panel, which consists of Tracy L. Rosser, senior vice president of transportation and supply chain services at Wal-Mart Stores; Kevin P. Knight, CEO of Knight Transportation Inc.; John Esparza, CEO of Texas Trucking Association; Jim Ward, CEO of D.M. Bowman Inc.; Mark Watts, legislative advocate of Transportation California; and Rebecca Brewster, president of ATRI.
Before the panel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy is scheduled to speak about the roles of sustainability and alternative energy in the freight sector. She also will distribute awards to firms that have demonstrated a high level of energy efficiency.
The panel, sponsored by Freightliner Trucks, will convene Oct. 7. Readers may tweet questions prior to the event using @TransportTopics.
