Circumventing the transportation industry isn’t for the faint of heart. Just ask Neal Page in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.”  

Fortunately for the soybean and grain transportation industry, the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) isn’t afraid to tackle transportation and trade issues affecting the Midwest – which is exactly what happened during Transportation Go! March 12-13 in Minneapolis. 

“We all understand that transportation is essential to our industry,” said SSGA Chair Bryan Severs, an Illinois corn and soybean farmer. “It’s the crucial link that connects our fields to end users worldwide. We also know that this vital component faces its share of challenges and complexities. That’s why Transportation Go! addresses these issues head-on.” 

The event brought together the industry’s top stakeholders, from boots-on-the-ground commodity growers and organizations to traders and shippers of specialty crops. With in-depth discussions on the global supply chain and how it affects the vital movement of agricultural products domestically and around the world, Transportation Go! attendees interacted and networked with key industry players. 

“You don’t realize how strong you are as a group or how many people listen to you as a group,” said Surface Transportation Board Member Robert Primus, who gave a national freight rail network update.  

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Growing together 

The event’s agenda was stacked with distinguished guests offering their expertise and advice on an array of transportation topics. Kicking off with Hapag-Lloyd Senior Vice President Hardy Pearson and Paul Lesnefsky, senior account executive for Ocean Network Express, the collaborative atmosphere meant that speakers gained insight along with attendees.  

“As we grow, we want to grow with you all,” said Lesnefsky, who highlighted opportunities for ocean carriers alongside Pearson.     

An emphasis on revitalizing trade on the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway resounded throughout the two-day event, with updates from the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, Port Milwaukee, Ports of Indiana and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.  

“This conference brings together all elements of the agricultural transportation chain – growers, shippers, exporters, port authorities, logistics and shipping lines – to talk about the state of transportation in the U.S. and globally to get different perspectives,” said SSGA Executive Director Randy Duckworth. “It’s important to hear from officials at the St. Lawrence Seaway about what’s happening in government and transportation.” 

Unsurprisingly, trade policy was one of the burning issues addressed during the conference. Luckily, attendees had plenty of opportunities to ask Daniel Maffei with the Federal Maritime Commission and Robert Primus with the Surface Transportation Board the questions they’d been itching to ask. Furthermore, they were able to talk amongst themselves and learn how other key industry players are navigating the rough waters.  

“It was interactive, and the questions were robust,” said SSGA Director of Transportation and Regulatory Affairs Gary Williams. “That’s one of the unique things that I think is important with Transportation Go! – the accessibility and the minds and the influencers that we bring into the room.”  

By the end of the conference, attendees may not have solved all the issues plaguing the transportation industry. But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and SSGA is in the transportation game for the long haul. The conversations nurtured at Transportation Go! lay the foundation for a strong future. 

“Transportation Go! is about more than just presentations,” Severs said. “It’s about fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge and building a stronger, more efficient supply chain. We have to work together to navigate the challenges, seize the opportunities and ensure the continued success of agriculture.”