Logistics Management

Michael Regan

I Don't Get It
December 14, 2007

Having attended the recent TransComp Annual Meeting, I was struck by a sobering thought: If seeing is believing, then what is happening with transportation and logistics professionals isn’t too encouraging.  There were an estimated 2,000 representatives from shippers and carriers in attendance; there should have been at least twice that!  

TransComp is held in conjunction with the NIT League’s (“the League”) Annual meeting. It’s the only time that the League’s Committees, which include the Air, Rail, Ocean, and Highway/Motor Carrier sectors, all meet in one location. Additionally, there is a Security Committee to address initiatives that will impact how shippers move freight. Personally, the Committee meetings are invaluable in helping me understand the important issues in transportation - but that’s me.  What about you? What are you doing to keep yourself up to date on the issues that are affecting the transportation industry?

How would you respond if your CEO walked in to your office and asked: “What are the critical transportation issues that could affect our company in the next 12 months? Could our company be affected by the recently enacted 9/11 Legislation?” If these are challenging questions, let me ask you: Where are you going to go to get help? Groups like the NIT League, NASSTRAC, CSCMP, ATA, TIA, and AST&L can be invaluable resources to help you understand what is happening in the industry, which is why I wonder why events like Transcomp, or CSCMP’s annual conference don’t draw bigger crowds.

For example, recently I attended a NITL Highway Committee meeting. Thousands of companies use motor carriers, but less than 200 people can find the time to attend this meeting. I don’t get it! I attended a fabulous Security Committee meeting, received great information and had a chance to interact with outstanding people. And I had plenty of time to interact because there were only fifteen people in attendance! If import or export activity is important to your company, then you need to understand the implications of the 9/11 Legislation.

Perhaps industry professionals are getting their information elsewhere, but in truth, they may not be getting it at all. Over the last sixty days, I have given speeches to representatives from over four hundred companies. When I have asked for a show of hands from people who have read, or are familiar with this 9/11, or Homeland Security Legislation, less than 10 people raised their hands! I don’t get it – especially since I’d see 100% of the CEO’s expressing concern that their import/export activity could be shut down for two to four weeks, if there is an incident at the ports.  

So we have a “disconnect.” Your CEO is looking to you to be the expert on transportation issues, but you may be too busy or distracted to meet their expectations. Based on what I am seeing at the industry meetings, far too many professionals are failing to take advantage of the resources that are available in these industry associations. I don’t get it!

Everyone likes to believe that their careers are important and that they are taking steps to stay at the top of their game. But let’s look at what is really happening. Whenever I mention this during my talks, people invariably come up afterwards and tell me: “You just don’t understand.” They give me a litany of reasons why they can’t invest in their careers but the number one reason is that they don’t have enough time. Look, we all have the same amount of time, 86,400 seconds each day to be exact. The issue isn’t time; its choices and priorities.

Here is the real point of this Blog: If you are a transportation or logistics professional, you have a decision to make. Is it important to take advantage of resources to keep you informed about what is happening in the industry, and how it will affect your company? No one else can make that decision. You need to decide how much of a priority it will be for you to invest in your career. That’s why I like to remind people that “It’s personal.”

TranzAct Technologies, Inc.

Posted by Michael Regan on December 14, 2007 | Comments (2)