October finds us smack dab in the middle of another conference season. Based on what I witnessed at NASSTRAC's Fall Conference and the annual Council of Logistics Management event—and judging from reports I received from staff attending the tech-heavy Frontline Solutions and EPC Global conferences—it appears that logistics managers are eking out a few extra bucks to invest in educational travel.

The buzz that's beginning to build as attendance climbs on show floors and in conference sessions is a positive sign for a market that's always been information-starved but cost-sensitive. Given the complex challenges mounting on the shoulders of U.S. shippers—increasing rates, capacity crunches, regulatory restrictions, outsourcing conundrums, RFID decisions—I'm betting that buzz will get even louder in the coming year.

If you haven't been able to get back on the conference circuit just yet, relax; there are educational alternatives that won't cost your travel budget a single dime. In fact, you won't even have to leave your desk. On October 20 and 21, Logistics Management, in partnership with sister publications Modern Materials Handling and Supply Chain Management Review, will be presenting the 2nd Annual Global Supply Chain Conference. This virtual event will kick off with a keynote address entitled "Reengineering the Supply Chain," presented by Dr. Michael Hammer, author of the paradigm-shifting book Reengineering the Corporation: A Manifesto for Business Revolution.

Dr. Hammer's stage-setting keynote will be followed by sessions on three track topics—logistics, materials handling, and supply chain management—all of them geared toward helping managers master the challenges mentioned above. Topics and speakers are too numerous to list here, but I encourage you to go to www.scmr.com/gscc for complete details.

And while I'm hammering away at the issue of low-cost logistics education, you may want to continue turning the pages of this month's issue—perhaps the least expensive, most convenient educational option shippers have.

This month, Managing Editor Toby Gooley tells how import/export software is helping shippers better manage the complexities of international trade (Page 53); Executive Editor James Cooke takes us inside the trend-bucking transportation decision made by Best Buy, NASSTRAC's Shipper of the Year, (Page 32); and shippers making their first foray into Alaska get a thorough explanation of the cold, hard basics on Page 45.

If you're out and about this fall, I look forward to seeing you. If not, sit back and take advantage of the low-cost educational alternatives that are right at your fingertips.