2011 NITL Policy Forum Draws Top People in Freight Transportation

The National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) and the Journal of Commerce (JOC) have teamed up once again in presenting the Washington Freight Transportation Policy Forum that will be held on March 28-29, 2011 at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA.

We are pleased to announce that the Honorable Polly Trottenberg, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation, has accepted our invitation to be a keynote speaker. The Assistant Secretary's remarks are likely to signal the Administration's views on a number of topical issues including prospects for a surface transportation authorization bill. Also confirmed to join us this year will be the Daniel Elliott III, chairman of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board; Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr., chairman of the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission.; Al Engel, vice president for high speed rail of AMTRAK; Joshua Schank, incoming president and CEO of Eno Foundation; and, Emil H. Frankel, director of transportation policy for the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington.

Understanding the direction of where freight transportation is headed and how it will influence the critical decisions transportation professionals must make is precisely why this program is offered. This year's Forum will cover prospects for a new multi-year surface transportation bill; productivity impacts of the new proposed Hours of Service (HOS) Rules impacting commercial vehicle drivers; as well as developments regarding rail competition in both the U.S. Congress and Surface Transportation Board (STB). The program will also address new revenue sources for financing infrastructure, the impacts of high speed rail to freight and the priorities of the STB and the Federal Maritime Commission.

NITL President Bruce Carlton said the Forum "has become a traditional gathering where industry professionals and government policy-makers can openly discuss the important freight transportation issues confronting Washington's leaders. It's a great listening and learning session that pays dividends for everyone."

"Transportation policy may be undergoing the biggest upheaval in Washington since the deregulation era," said Paul Page, Editorial Director of The Journal of Commerce. "Along with a new Congress and new regulations, issues such as the administration's focus on intermodalism and consideration of a new surface transportation bill will have a very real and long-lasting impact on supply chains. This policy forum brings the decision-makers in these and other issues together in one place."

To view the preliminary program as well as register, go to: https://www.nitl.org.

For meeting registration and details on the Washington Freight Transportation Policy Forum, click here: https://www.nitl.org.

Special rates have been arranged at the Key Bridge Marriott. However to take advantage you must make hotel reservations no later than March 12, 2011. On-line hotel reservations can be made here: https://www.nitl.org.