Sales and marketing executives in the trucking industry have a new place to go for continuing education and networking. The former Sales and Marketing Council of American Trucking Associations has changed its name and location. It is now called the Transportation Sales and Marketing Assn. and is affiliated with SMC3.

John Rader, director of industry education services for SMC3 and the new executive director of TSMA, said the new group continues the work of the old. Its mission is to provide a forum for continued leadership, training and networking for sales and marketing executives, he said.
SMC3, based in Peachtree City, GA, is the descendant of one of trucking’s major rate bureaus, the Southern Motor Carrier Rate Conference. Following trucking deregulation in 1980, the conference recast itself and now provides pricing, data and technology services to its members. It is a non-profit organization.
The Sales and Marketing Council’s move out of ATA was prompted by the association’s decision to downsize and focus on national advocacy for trucking, Rader said. He said it was SMC’s leadership who sought out the alliance with SMC3.