Renewed Commitment

WELCOME TO 2021. While we can see the light at the end of the tunnel on COVID-19, we just don’t know how long the tunnel will be. We at TIA are looking forward to some sense of normalcy and a return to in-person events. They may look different, but they will still have the most relevant speakers and presentations and the best networking at the most professionally run conference and exhibition.

If you have not yet responded to our membership survey regarding attendance at the April 2021 Capital Ideas Conference & Exhibition, I encourage you to do so. It is helpful as we plan the event to get the most accurate gauge of attendance possible. This year’s conference is intended to be a hybrid event, allowing for in-person and virtual components.

Our hope, to the extent possible, is to have as many people as possible join us in-person for the industry’s flagship event. However, understanding that some may not be able to travel—for whatever reason—we still want to be able to provide content so no one misses out on this incredible event.

Also, as part of the membership survey, we asked what your company’s return to work plans are, whether you have already returned to work or still have most of your employees working from home. We intend to publish the results of the survey in an effort to broaden awareness and knowledge of how each company is handling its workforce, and to provide some insight into common practices shared by our members. Thank you to Bob Biesterfeld of C.H. Robinson for his good suggestion; we are all tackling a new world and can learn from one another!

One area where COVID-19 hasn’t slowed us down is in our educational offerings. So many of our courses, webinars and instructor-led trainings translated well to an online platform and have enabled a wider range of logistics and brokerage professionals to take TIA courses in a way that works for their schedule. Thanks to Cindy Amos, and her Education team of Jonathan Baker and Sean Tucker for their effective transition into virtual learning!

We are excited about this year’s offerings, and we renew our commitment to you to provide content that will improve how you run your business and thereby enhance your bottom line. There will always, of course, be advantages to learning together in an in-person classroom setting: it provides an invaluable opportunity to develop relationships and share experiences. We are eager to return to the classroom when our members feel safe and ready to do so.

When I think of our members, your commitment to safety stands out. You facilitate the efficient and economical movement of goods, but you also ensure that they move safely. You do it by maintaining relationships with trusted carriers, advocating for due diligence requirements in the selection of motor carriers, and by seeking a shift to data-driven standards in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) safety rating process. Because of this commitment, shared by all our members, the nation’s supply chain is secure and protected. We at TIA are proud to represent member companies that expect the best of themselves and their transportation partners.

Thanks as always for all you do for TIA and for this industry. We couldn’t do it without you, and we will continue to strive to show you how your TIA membership improves your businesses’ bottom line.