MARS Winter Meeting Features Top Rail Experts Discussing
How Shippers Can Drive Change in 2017
CHICAGO, Illinois—December 14, 2016 (James Street Media Services)—Freight shippers, Class 1 railroads, transportation management, and rail finance experts will be on the agenda for the 248th meeting of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) to be held January 10-12, 2017 in Oak Brook, Illinois.
"Rail Shippers Driving Change in 2017" is the theme of the Winter Meeting, and MARS President Mike Jones says attendees will be looking for information about continued rail service improvements.
"Shippers are eager to work with railroads to keep enhancements from last year moving forward, but they also want to see more change," said Jones. "The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported that total U.S. rail traffic increased a bit in November. The AAR called it 'a glimmer of hope.' As shippers, we want to build on that glimmer to achieve greater utilization of efficient and reliable rail service."
The MARS Winter Meeting traditionally attracts more than 600 representatives from rail customers across all commodity groups, Class 1 railroads, short lines, and governing agencies. In addition to keynote presentations and panel discussions, there are educational breakout sessions.
The lineup of keynote speakers include: Carl Ice, president and CEO of BNSF; David Gardner, vice president, North American supply chain, Ingredion; and Clarence Gooden, president, CSX Transportation. Other presentations and panel sessions include:
• "The Economy 2017—Enough Gas in the Tank?" with Eric Starks, chairman and CEO of FTR Transportation Intelligence;
• "State of Intermodal" with David Yeager, CEO, Hub Group;
• "Keeping the Go In Chicago" with Danielle Renner, CSX representative to the Chicago Transportation Coordination Office (CTCO), and William Thompson, chief engineer for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program;
• "A Rail Customer/BNSF Sweet Success Story" with representatives from United Sugars, A&R Transport, Burlington Junction Railway, and BNSF;
• "The Transportation Market—Making Sense Out of the Unknown" with Lawrence Gross, FTR Transportation, Anthony Hatch, ABH Consulting, and Jason Seidl, Cowen Company;
• Plus, updates on the Surface Transportation Board (STB), rail equipment, transportation legislation, antitrust issues, and safety.
The educational breakout sessions for this meeting include Railroading 101 and 201, Intermodal 101, Transloading 101, Railcar Fleet Management, and Transportation Management Systems. There is no charge for the educational seminars and it is not necessary to attend the conference to attend a seminar. Anyone interested is welcome.
A complete agenda and registration information can be found online at www.mwrailshippers.com.
