Global transportation service challenges discussed at annual Freight Transportation Productivity Summit
Atlanta — September 22, 2005 — As the global trade system becomes ever more complicated, shippers and carriers must work in unison to streamline transportation processes and systems.
That was the theme that resonated at the Freight Transportation Productivity Summit at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center on August 29-30 in Atlanta. The event, hosted by The Logistics Institute (TLI) at Georgia Tech and Schneider National, focused on the expanding global freight economy and its impact on transportation and logistics, with discussions on service challenges, supply chain complexities and how to increase productivity in the international marketplace.
"With the increased complexity of today's expanding global economy, both providers and users of transportation services must come together to help improve the overall productivity of our global transportation systems," said Chris Lofgren, president and CEO of Schneider National. "As trade barriers are reduced, the ability to provide timely, accurate and safe transportation for a continually increasing volume of goods will be a significant challenge."
More than 200 transportation and logistics professionals attended the Summit, co-chaired by Chip White, executive director of the Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech, and Lofgren. The invitation-only event featured speakers, panelists and participants from the transportation, government, academic and financial fields.
Expanding Economy
Addressing the complexities of a global economy was a recurring theme at the Summit. Speakers and panelists discussed international trade systems, the evolving role of technology in logistics and transportation, highway infrastructure challenges and the financial impact of changing dynamics in the global economic landscape.
"The transportation productivity issue is generating significant challenges for companies of all sizes as well as government organizations," said White. "This is the third year that Schneider National and The Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech have co-sponsored a Summit to bring together leaders from the industrial, academic, government and analyst communities to raise awareness of key issues and educate attendees on the expanding global freight economy."
Keynote presenters included Roger Nober, chairman of the Federal Surface Transportation Board; Lloyd Davis, senior vice president of supply chain operations at Dollar General; and David Hale, founder of Hale Advisors.
Video footage of the presentations and other Summit information is available online at http://www.tli.gatech.edu/FTPS/archive/.
Additional Articles of Interest
— Imminent terrorist attacks or no, your competitive advantage demands that you secure your company's supply chain. Read more in "Supply Chain Security: Is Your Company Complacent or Engaged?," in the February/March 2005 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
— For a look at how Tyco Fire & Security is tackling trade compliance issues in its global supply chain, see "Turning Global Trade Compliance Into a Competitive Advantage," in the August/September 2004 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
— For more information on the challenges and opportunities presented by increasingly global supply chains, see the special in-depth report in the August/September 2004 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive, which includes the following articles:
— For more information on the latest trends in the logistics space, see the article "The Analyst Corner: Fulfillment & Logistics" in the October/November 2004 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
Atlanta — September 22, 2005 — As the global trade system becomes ever more complicated, shippers and carriers must work in unison to streamline transportation processes and systems.
That was the theme that resonated at the Freight Transportation Productivity Summit at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center on August 29-30 in Atlanta. The event, hosted by The Logistics Institute (TLI) at Georgia Tech and Schneider National, focused on the expanding global freight economy and its impact on transportation and logistics, with discussions on service challenges, supply chain complexities and how to increase productivity in the international marketplace.
"With the increased complexity of today's expanding global economy, both providers and users of transportation services must come together to help improve the overall productivity of our global transportation systems," said Chris Lofgren, president and CEO of Schneider National. "As trade barriers are reduced, the ability to provide timely, accurate and safe transportation for a continually increasing volume of goods will be a significant challenge."
More than 200 transportation and logistics professionals attended the Summit, co-chaired by Chip White, executive director of the Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech, and Lofgren. The invitation-only event featured speakers, panelists and participants from the transportation, government, academic and financial fields.
Expanding Economy
Addressing the complexities of a global economy was a recurring theme at the Summit. Speakers and panelists discussed international trade systems, the evolving role of technology in logistics and transportation, highway infrastructure challenges and the financial impact of changing dynamics in the global economic landscape.
"The transportation productivity issue is generating significant challenges for companies of all sizes as well as government organizations," said White. "This is the third year that Schneider National and The Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech have co-sponsored a Summit to bring together leaders from the industrial, academic, government and analyst communities to raise awareness of key issues and educate attendees on the expanding global freight economy."
Keynote presenters included Roger Nober, chairman of the Federal Surface Transportation Board; Lloyd Davis, senior vice president of supply chain operations at Dollar General; and David Hale, founder of Hale Advisors.
Video footage of the presentations and other Summit information is available online at http://www.tli.gatech.edu/FTPS/archive/.
Additional Articles of Interest
— Imminent terrorist attacks or no, your competitive advantage demands that you secure your company's supply chain. Read more in "Supply Chain Security: Is Your Company Complacent or Engaged?," in the February/March 2005 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
— For a look at how Tyco Fire & Security is tackling trade compliance issues in its global supply chain, see "Turning Global Trade Compliance Into a Competitive Advantage," in the August/September 2004 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
— For more information on the challenges and opportunities presented by increasingly global supply chains, see the special in-depth report in the August/September 2004 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive, which includes the following articles:
- Making Global Supply Chains Work Supply and demand chain practitioners take on the challenges and opportunities of world marketplace.
- The Hidden Costs of a Global Supply & Demand Chain - Veteran industry observers warn of potential hidden costs of offshoring.
- Mastering the Complexity Challenge in the Global Supply Chain - While many companies are acting globally, they are still thinking locally.
- Ensuring Security of Supply in the Lean Supply Chain - Balancing the demands of security with the requirements of today's lean supply chains
- The World Is Enough - Making the global high-tech supply chain more accessible.
— For more information on the latest trends in the logistics space, see the article "The Analyst Corner: Fulfillment & Logistics" in the October/November 2004 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
- More articles about Georgia Tech.
- More articles about Schneider National.
