01/27/2016
SMC³ celebrates collaboration with Jump Start 2016
ATLANTA – SMC³’s Jump Start 2016 conference wrapped up Wednesday in Atlanta after three days of sessions highlighted by speakers like XPO Logistics CEO Brad Jacobs and Francisco Miguez of the Panama Canal Authority.
The event also featured the inaugural Logistics Technology Summit, where attendees learned about emerging IT trends from John Fox of Load Delivered Logistics, Llamasoft’s Jeff Metersky and others. Michelle Livingstone, vice president of transportation for The Home Depot, opened the event as the honorary chairman of Jump Start 2016.
Jump Start 2016 stands as SMC3’s largest conference to date, with a record attendance of more than 500 carriers, shippers and supply chain professionals. Conference participants benefitted from more than 32 hours of transportation content and 20 hours of dedicated networking opportunities.
Participants at Jump Start 2016 heard discussion of the Panama Canal, the 2016 economic outlook both on a national and global level, and the latest developments in offshoring and nearshoring trends. Political analyst Larry Sabato and motivational speaker Steve Gilliland each gave keynote speeches. Guests that attended the one-day Logistics Technology Summit explored how to prioritize IT dollars, simulation technology and the role of new tech trends as a disruptor in the supply chain.
During Jump Start, SMC³ and media partner Logistics Management unveiled the winners of the fourth annual Alliance Award. Schneider, Dow, Estes Express Lines, XPO Logistics, and Day & Ross; Unyson Logistics, Hub Group, and Ascena Retail Group, Inc.; Birdsong Peanuts, Cordele Intermodal Services, and Georgia Ports Authority were recognized for a commitment to collaboration in the supply chain. The winning cases studies will be featured in Logistics Management over the course of 2016.
“It was overwhelming to see the audience response to the content offered during Jump Start 2016 and the Logistics Technology Summit. This year is, without a doubt, our most successful conference yet,” stated SMC³ CEO Jack Middleton, who will be retiring from the organization at the end of February.
The conference also featured a celebration of SMC3’s commitment to industry collaboration throughout the organization’s rich history and the release of “Long Haul Legacy,” a book by F. Martin Harmon that details the evolution of motor freight and the role SMC³ played in shaping the industry.
About SMC³
SMC³ is the leading provider of data, technology and education as an integrated solution to the freight transportation community. SMC³ delivers its core competency – LTL pricing expertise – through collaborative pricing technology that supports end-to-end, ongoing predictability in shipper/3PL-carrier relationships. Best known for its CzarLite®, Bid$ense® and RateWare® solutions, the company serves more than 5,000 customers throughout North America, including shippers, carriers, logistics service providers and freight-payment companies. The company also partners with leading transportation software developers for complete interoperability. For more information about SMC³, visit www.smc3.com.
Media Contact
Beth Malik
Director of Marketing
SMC³
Office: (770) 486-5823
bmalik@smc3.com