Global Ocean Transportation Roundtable

Virtually all supply chains are global to some degree. Whether your firm is focused on importing finished goods from the Pacific Rim, exporting agriculture products to Europe, or anything in between – you are most likely managing a complicated transportation network that crosses several borders, uses multiple modes, and involves a variety of third party companies.

As part of this one-day conference we will present results from the MIT Global Transportation Reliability Initiative. Additionally, we will build on last year's roundtable discussion and discuss how shippers currently do and, more importantly, how they should design, procure, and manage their global transportation networks; to include the landside transportation as well as port operations.

While there are many issues concerning global transportation, this one-day roundtable will focus in on reliability. Some questions that we hope to address during the day include:

• Should shippers use forwarders or work with carriers directly?
• What is the business case for using more reliable carriers?
• What is the best way to manage chassis pools?
• When is translating worth pursuing?
• How does throughput variability differ between ports?
• How do multi-year contracts with indexing work?
• How should inventory levels be set given a level of transit reliability? 
• What systems should we use to better manage and monitor carrier performance?

MIT CTL roundtables are designed to be highly interactive with all attendees sharing their opinions and insights. Shippers (importers and exporters), carriers (ocean, rail, and truck), as well as third parties (forwarders, 3PLs, software vendors) will attend and participate.

Please note: This event is designed as a roundtable discussion.  MIT CTL roundtables are highly interactive and to facilitate the discussions at this event the number of attendees will be limited to 24, so reserve your place as soon as possible.

FAQs

What is the cost of this roundtable?

Where is the roundtable being held?

When does the roundtable officially begin and end?
Are accommodations provided?
Where should I stay?
Where is the nearest airport?
What is the best way to travel from the airport to MIT?
Should I rent a car?
If I drive, how do I get there and where can I park?
What should I wear?
What if I have a dietary restriction or allergy?

What is the cost of this roundtable?

This roundtable will be free of charge.

Where is the roundtable being held?

The roundtable will be held at the MIT Faculty Club - 6th floor, located at 50 Memorial Drive (building E52). You can locate building E52 by using MIT's interactive campus map.

When does the roundtable officially begin and end?

Check-in and informal networking will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 29, 2012, and adjourn at approximately 5:00 p.m..

 When booking your return flight, take into consideration the following recommendations for travel time and security checks at Logan: allow two hours for a domestic flight and three hours for an international flight.

Are accommodations provided?
No, each person is responsible for his/her own accommodations.

Where should I stay?
Guests are responsible for their own hotel accommodations. We do not have a block of rooms reserved. However, the hotel property most conveniently located to the campus is the Marriott Cambridge Boston.

Marriott Cambridge Boston
Two Cambridge Center
50 Broadway
Cambridge MA 02142
617-494-6600

For additional accommodation listings, please see Visiting CTL; however, please note that the room rates do not vary greatly for those hotel properties in proximity to MIT.

Where is the nearest airport?
Boston's Logan International Airport.

What is the best way to travel from the airport to MIT?
To get to MIT from the airport, we strongly suggest taking a cab. Direct the driver to MIT - specifically Memorial Drive @ Wadsworth Street near Kendall Square. The trip will take anywhere from 15-30 minutes, and the fare is roughly $30-35. The cab fare from Logan is always a bit more than the return, because a surcharge at the airport and a tunnel toll add approximately $5 to the total fare.

If you live locally and prefer public transportation, take the MBTA Red Line to the Kendall/MIT stop. It is a short three block walk from the T.

Should I rent a car?
We do not recommend renting a car. The expense on top of poorly marked streets and lack of available parking makes having a car more of a nuisance than a convenience.

If I drive, how do I get there and where can I park?
If you are renting a car or will be driving, MapQuest and Google Map offer excellent mapping services to get you from your doorstep to MIT.

The nearest self-parking garage is adjacent to the Cambridge Marriott. Rates are approximately $20/day. This garage is not owned or operated by the Marriott.

What should I wear?
Appropriate attire is business casual; no ties or suit coats are necessary.

What if I have a dietary restriction or allergy?
If you have a dietary restriction or allergy, please email CTL Events Coordinator, Nancy Martin, nlmartin@mit.edu to let her know.