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October 4, 2000 10:34 AM, EDT

NEW ORLEANS — Leaders in the freight industry insist that the advent of new technology will not negate the need for a large and productive workforce.

Officials representing freight carriers in different segments of the industry made the assessment during a session at the Council of Logistics Management meeting Sept. 26 in which they were asked to predict the future of transportation.

Donald Schneider, president of Schneider National, a truckload carrier in Green Bay, Wisc., said the advent of products that help companies optimize efficiency will result in a workforce that is more sophisticated, but it will not “eliminate the need for personal relationships and contacts.”

“Employees will be equally or more important,” said Doug Fisher, vice president of marketing with Emery Worldwide. “There is no substitute for thinking. Companies will use technology for support, but you have to continue to understand and think about what is going on.”

For the full story, see the Oct. 2 print edition of Transport Topics. .