If you’ve been in supply chain for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed how many people have an alphabet soup of letters after their names: CLTL, CSCP, CPIM, CLTD, CSSBB, and more. Certifications are everywhere. But here’s the thing: not all of them make a real difference.
There are over a million credentials out there in the U.S. alone, yet research shows only about 12%* lead to meaningful pay increases. That means most professionals are spending time and money on credentials that don’t move the needle. The real question isn’t “Should I get certified?” it’s “Which certification is actually worth it?”

For shippers and third-party logistics providers (3PLs), effective communication is central to orchestrating complex supply chains and ensuring reliable shipment lifecycle management. In today’s fast-paced logistics environment, every connection matters: whether you’re managing thousands of shipments or coordinating with a diverse network of carriers and partners, aligning different systems and protocols is essential for success. Whether it’s Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or Application Programming Interface (API) messaging, the goal remains the same: seamless, secure and efficient data exchange.

In the first session of SMC³’s LTL 204 Online Education Hybrid Series, “Outside the Washington Beltway,” industry veterans Randy Mullett and Mike Kelley dug into how laws and regulations actually land on the dock. Moderated by Joe Tillman, with co-moderator Karl B. Manrodt, Ph.D., CTL, the conversation remained practical- focusing on outcomes, local engagement, and […]

In our recent LTL 203 Session 3 “Reduce Invoice Surprises” discussion with Karl Manrodt, CLTL Instructor, and Scooter Sayers, director business development at Cubiscan, we unpacked the practical reasons these surprises persist—and, more importantly, how to eliminate them. Today’s post distills that conversation into four action‑oriented lessons you can apply before your next shipment leaves the dock.

Back when I managed my first dock, I assumed every piece of freight rolling through the doors would look like a glamour shot in a packaging catalog. Then the forklift dropped off a single tractor tire—no pallet, no wrap, just attitude—and my pricing world tilted. That experience is exactly why Karl Manrodt (Professor of Logistics, Georgia […]

The final day of SMC³’s Connections 2025 conference wrapped up three days’ worth of conversations around LTL, AI, and the evolving pressures reshaping global logistics. From evolving shipper strategies to the ethical use of AI and the implications of NMFC reclassifications, Day 3 offered attendees a mix of boots-on-the-ground insight and forward-thinking predictions. A shifting […]