Shipper concerns about capacity are easing but even if there is slight improvement in the short term, the capacity crunch will prove a long-term issue, Transportation Media editorial director Lou Smyrlis informed shippers and carriers attending Transpo 2006 in March.

The annually held Transpo is put on by the Canadian Industrial Transportation Association. Truck News’ sister publication, Canadian Transportation & Logistics, is the media sponsor.

Smyrlis said although there are a variety of factors that may improve capacity in the short term, there’s equally strong evidence – consolidation and the driver shortage chief among them – that point to a long-term capacity crunch. Also at Transpo, Smyrlis presented the Distribution Executive of the Year Award to Matt Mucciacito, vice president, transportation, at Canadian Tire Corporation. Mucciacito is responsible for one of the largest private transportation fleets in Canada and manages freight from all over North America as well as 26 different countries around the world. Smyrlis also spoke about industry rate, surcharge and capacity trends at the Cold Chain Management and Temperature Control Summit in Toronto in March. Canadian Transportation & Logistics was the media sponsor for the event as well as for the Infonex Customs Compliance and Supply Chain Security Conference in late February.

Coming up Apr. 24, sister publication Motortruck will be sponsoring the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transportation ‘s Transportation Outlook Conference in Ottawa. Later that month Smyrlis will be participating in a cross-country speaking tour to explore the issue of fuel price volatility and the impact on carriers and shippers.