Freight Trade Groups to Gather in Anaheim for TransComp, IANA’s Intermodal Expo
This story appears in the Nov. 2 print edition of Transport Topics.
Three freight trade groups will gather Nov. 15-17 in Anaheim, Calif., in search of fresh perspectives on key transportation industry issues, including financial, economic and market conditions.
The meeting of the Intermodal Association of North America, the National Industrial Transportation League and the Transportation Intermediaries Association coincides with the NITL’s TransComp and IANA’s Intermodal Expo trade shows.
Freight industry officials are gathering as congressional progress toward a new surface transportation reauthorization is unclear at best, cargo volumes continue to slump and environmental issues ensnare carriers.
Four meetings in a “town hall” format have been slated, starting on Nov. 16 with presentations by three financial analysts representing Dahlman Rose, J.P. Morgan and RBC Capital Markets to evaluate how quickly the industry will recover.
The most recent sign of any positive direction was the Association of American Railroads report last month that September intermodal traffic hit the highest level since November 2008. However, truck-rail shipments were still 15% behind the rate for last year.
Other freight indicators, including American Trucking Associations’ tonnage index and the Cass Freight Index, also have declined.
Also scheduled for Nov. 16, federal maritime, ocean carrier and shipper representatives will assess international trade and economic trends. The panelists include Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Richard Lidinsky Jr.
International intermodal freight has sagged this year as the global recession has deepened, but domestic rail-truck shipments re-cently posted modest monthly gains, according to IANA.
The program the following day features an evaluation of motor carriers’ prospects, with representatives from Schneider National Inc., Swift Transportation and Landstar System.
A panel discussion closing the session program will include five railroads, a shipper and representatives of Ryder System Inc. and J.B. Hunt Transport Services. The program promises an assessment of capital spending, legislative and environmental issues that affect carriers and shippers alike.
In addition, TIA has scheduled workshops on Nov. 15 to assess third-party issues, such as carrier screening, sales and marketing and a 2010 forecast.
As part of the trade show, five events targeting transportation and logistics students have been scheduled, including intermodalism in China, equipment inspections and environmental issues.
According to a statement by the groups, more than 3,000 visitors are expected to attend, and more than 250 exhibits will be open.
Board and committee meetings for all three groups also are included in the event.
