TransComp awaits

With more than three-quarters of 2010 in the books, many of the industry events that comprise what could be called the “fall travel season” have come and gone. But one big event is now less than two big weeks away.

The name of that event? Well, it depends on whom you ask. It is sponsored by three well known organizations: the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL), the Intermodal Association of North American (IANA), and the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA). At the end of the day, many people call it TransComp. That works for me.

I attended the 2006 edition of this event in Ft. Lauderdale and 2007’s in Atlanta (the following two years I had scheduling conflicts which prevented me from attending), and both times I came away thinking that was more than worth the time and travel invested into those trips for myriad reasons. Among these reasons were the high quality of sessions, the vast exhibition/show floor, which has something for everybody, it seems, and the networking opportunities, which are as abundant as there are at any event in our industry.

I don’t mean that networking comment as a “canned” statement in any way either. What I am saying is that many other events can often be so top-heavy with sessions that it often can be difficult to just “chill” and catch up with old friends and meet new ones at the end of a beyond hectic day.

That is one of the things that makes TransComp different. I think the Monday Night Football-themed reception at the end of the first full day does not hurt either.

In any event, a look at the session itinerary for this year’s event provides a real-time view of things that are truly topical in the industry these days: CSA, green/sustainability, the post-midterm election impact and/or effect for transportation, logistics, and the supply chain, and many other hot-button issues.

A friend of mine that keeps a very close eye on the freight transportation sector told me he is attending this event for one simple reason: “to take the temperature of the industry and see what the future may hold.”

That sounds like as good as any a reason to make the trip down to Florida this year. Hope to see you there.