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September 27, 2000 10:22 AM, EDT

BALTIMORE — Shippers, carriers and logistics companies all claim to want long-term business relationships with each other. But somehow, the goal remains elusive as irritation and self-interest often manage to trump understanding and trust.

Representatives of the three big sectors in transportation got together here Sept. 17-19 at the fall meeting of the National Small Shipments Traffic Conference. They spoke, Oprah style, about their needs, hopes and fears — both for themselves and for each other.

The meeting offered participants several noteworthy success stories about how companies within the three sectors managed to forge an alliance to move lots of freight long distances in a short amount of time, all while turning a profit. Yet, there was also talk of how the overworked people performing these feats while under great stress manage to annoy each other.

“What really concerns me is that I’ve got to worry if I’ve been misled by a carrier so that I’ll give him some business,” said the vice president of a national third-party logistics firm who did not want his name used.

For the full story, see the Sept. 25 print edition of Transport Topics. .