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 […]

After a packed opening day of SMC³ Connections, day two grabbed the baton and kept the momentum going with standout leadership talks and expert panels covering everything from supply chain resilience to AI innovation and the evolving dynamics of global trade. As LTL and logistics professionals gathered for another round of revealing discussion and fresh […]

Every year, SMC3 Connections provides an opportunity for LTL and logistics professionals to gather, connect, and share insights that will, inevitably, define the future of the industry. This year is shaping up to be no different. The first day of this year’s conference featured an address from our keynote speaker, Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, […]

If you’re new to the world of less-than-truckload (LTL), it can feel like pricing is a mysterious alchemy—half data science, half wizardry. I’ve been there. Early in my career, I knew my products and customers, but the rules behind what made freight cost what it did? That was a black box. To kickoff Summer LTL Hybrid series focused on SMC³’s LTL 203 Freight Pricing course, Kevin, Karl, and I broke that box open. Here are three insights that will help any early-career logistics professional gain confidence and clarity in navigating LTL pricing.