06/17/05
If you care about your company's bottom line - Read on . . .
If you do care, then you need to know how to protect your company against the surprises and pitfalls in doing business with freight carriers, forwarders and intermediaries in today's deregulated environment!
In deregulating the surface transportation industry, Congress has sent a message, but most shippers have either not heard it, or do not comprehend it. THE MESSAGE IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NO LONGER SPENDING MONEY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST!
The DOT recently stated in its report on cargo liability, that "The clear Congressional intent in ICCTA [the ICC Termination Act] was to limit government involvement in regulation."
The Transportation Consumer Protection Council has accepted the challenge of filling the void left by the sunsetting of the ICC. We can help your firm, however, only if you join the Council, or at least subscribe to our monthly newsletter, TransDigest.
When we question non-members why they have not yet joined the Council, the excuses generally fall into one of several categories:
Excuse #1: "We're too busy to read your material…"
Response: Our newsletters are written for the busy transportation professional in plain English, and indexed to facilitate speedy reference to information of interest to shippers and receivers. There is no faster way to keep current with important developments in this deregulated environment!
Excuse #2: "We've been downsized, so we no longer have a person in transportation..."
Response: It is difficult to believe that no one is responsible for your transportation dollars! If true, you should hire a transportation consultant, and insist that they join TCPC so that you can be certain they know how to protect your interests in today's marketplace.
Excuse #3: "We have merged with (or been acquired by ) another company..."
Response: Be certain that the parent company or one of its affiliates is a member of the Council, and routes our material to all other affiliates. We have a reduced membership dues structure for multiple memberships from the same corporation.
Excuse #4: "We are too small, and don't ship enough to warrant joining…"
Response: Small shippers are the least sophisticated in transportation, and can benefit the most by receiving the Council's TransDigest and other educational materials. Our latest publication, for instance, is a manual on shipping and receiving, designed to help small firms avoid costly errors in dealing with carriers.
The "bottom line" is that there really is no excuse for not joining the Council or subscribing to our newsletter, TransDigest! Membership is not an expense, it is the least costly way to protect your company's bottom line.
A membership application and order form for our educational texts and publications are enclosed for your convenience. Start the new year with a sound investment in transportation knowledge - it may be the best investment you firm will make in the coming year!
Click for an Application for Membership