Logistics tradeshows and logistics conferences provide opportunities for you, your senior management team and your sales staff to meet and build relationships with other business professionals who can give you sales, referrals and more marketing opportunities. The exposure offered by transport logistics conferences can lead to new customers and suppliers for your company.

You can send key employees to transportation logistics seminars for training and to network with other logistics experts. Professionals who practice business networking attend the logistics events to do business as well so they are primed to receive your message. They also expect to find business opportunities through the relationships they build at the transport logistics conferences. Use transportation logistics conventions in a number of different ways.

1. Get a booth at logistics tradeshows

2. Sponsor transport logistics tradeshows

3. Offer your expertise for logistics seminars

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use resources wisely at logistics tradeshows

Transport logistics tradeshows offer a great opportunity to reach a lot of potential customers at one place. Rather than spending time going from office to office to talk to decision makers, let them come to you at the tradeshow. Spend the resources to make your booth inviting and provide giveaways so your visitors will remember the meeting.

I recommend: The Reverse Logistics Association holds tradeshows all over the world where you can meet up with the top-ranked logistics companies. TIA is a huge logistics organization that serves the needs of the transportation intermediaries in the industry. Participation in their annual trade show will put you in front of hundreds of potential clients.

Utilize logistics events for marketing

Whether you have a booth at the conference or are a featured speaker, your company name will make a bigger impression when it appears in the program or hanging from banners in the vendor hall. If you are a member of the association putting on the conference, you can usually negotiate better rates.

I recommend: Check out the marketing opportunities at one of the many logistics events put on by the National Transportation and Logistics Association. The American Society of Transportation and Logistics will provide you with exposure to an international group of providers who could prove useful to your business.

Speak at logistics events

As you set up your reputation as a leader in your field, you can add validity to your position by offering your services to your trade association to speak at conferences for logistics, hold training seminars and host panels of experts. Start by writing for newsletters and letting the convention organizers get to know you.

I recommend: The American Trucking Association has many logistics conferences and seminars that need speakers and trainers. logistics association with plenty of opportunities to show your expertise is the International Transportation Management Association.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Until you are recognized as an expert in the industry and invited to speak at transportation logistics events, you can always serve as volunteer on the committee putting on the event to build more industry relationships.