Theme: "The Other Side of The Bridge" - Picking up where Pittsburgh Left Off
It's Back!
The NEARS.ORG Christmas Special returns this December! Brought to you commercial free by COWEN! This mini conference features some of the top names in the rail and trucking industry, actually this special contains more content than some conferences you may have attended!
The NEARS.ORG Christmas Special is totally FREE! It's our gift to you!
We realize you have choices, but please consider a sponsorship, only NEARS.ORG brings you Podcasts, Virtual Content and a Website that is visited by over a half a million unique viewers per year! Did you know and average new viewer spent close to 4 hrs per session viewing our videos?

Previous Conference, Now Available onDemand!
Full conference replays are available through the conference app, you were given a passcode. Any issues accessing contact scott@nears.org.


In the past 6 months, I’ve used my NEARS connections to:
§ Do reference checks on a new TMS with folks who actually use the software
§ Find a location to stage railcars near a customer to reduce our lead times and better manage inventories
§ Facilitate a transload operation
§ Ask dozens of questions on railcar maintenance, repair, and design
§ Find a specialty provider for cleaning and refitting of tank cars
§ Collect estimated costs to support multiple logistics feasibility studies
§ Help me train my employees into new roles
§ Recruit new team members
§ Locate railcar capacity for short term logistical support
At the last conference, I met:
§ 4 of my Railroad Account Managers and their Directors
§ Director and VP level executives from multiple leasing companies
§ 2 Investment Analysts who provide insight into the transportation industry as a whole
§ 20 new peers (shippers who manage rail for their companies)
§ 2 Transportation Software providers, who provide services that I am in the market for
§ 2 government officials that act as consumer advocates or shipper resources
As a result of my attendance, I got:
§ Updates on the rail market place from all the speakers and contacts I made
§ Access to a full list of attendees to be able to network with them in the future
§ Access to the presentations of the speakers and permission to contact them regarding the content that I used in
business presentations
There are many organizations to choose from, so why choose NEARS?

Our BOD represents all aspects of the shipping community. As we are a shippers organization, our bylaws restrict railroad employees from becoming officers.
2017 – Present Scott McCalla
· 2004 – 2016 Joe Gearin
· 1986 – 2003 William Donovan
· 1980 – 1985 John Morton