Transportation Operations and Sourcing

Acquire foundational understanding, learn common terminology, and discover methods to effectively manage and optimize transportation operations. Learn how to analyze freight needs and competitively source carriers and third-party providers to improve service levels and reduce transportation costs.

Short Course

Transportation Operations and Sourcing

Overview

Acquire foundational understanding, learn common terminology, and discover methods to effectively manage and optimize transportation operations. Learn how to analyze freight needs and competitively source carriers and third-party providers to improve service levels and reduce transportation costs.

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Current Offerings

Start

Mar 04, 2025

End

Mar 06, 2025

Schedule

March 4-6, 2025: 8:30-11:45am Eastern

Location

Live Remote

Fee

Start

Jul 08, 2025

End

Jul 10, 2025

Schedule

July 8-10, 2025: 8:30-11:45am Eastern

Location

Live Remote

Fee

Who Should Attend

  • This introductory program is for managers and directors who are new to the transportation field, new to managing transportation-related staff, or anyone looking to brush up on current transportation issues and strategies.
    • Purchasing and Inventory Manager
    • Contracting Officer
    • S&OP Manager
    • Strategic Sourcing Director

Program Benefits

  • Improve your ability to effectively:
    • Discuss the importance of transportation in the supply chain
    • Explain the dynamic environment of the transportation industry including economic and regulatory issues
    • Decide what modal options make the most sense for your company and its products
    • Explain how carriers price their service
    • Negotiate and arrange for your freight needs to lower costs and increase service

Note to Government Professionals: This program fulfills much of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) required for Senior Executive Service.

Program Content

  • Trends in Transportation
    • Domestic transportation
    • Economic trends and issues
    • Legislative/regulatory trends and issues
    • Global transportation
  • Transportation Modes and Background
    • Parcel and air
    • Truckload (TL)
    • Less-than-truckload (LTL)
    • Railroad
    • Ocean/International
  • Methods to Manage Transportation Operations
  • Technologies to Help Optimize Transportation
  • Transportation Pricing
    • Demystifying transportation pricing
    • Components of transportation cost
    • How carriers approach the bidding process
  • The RFI and RFP Processes
    • Identification of potential providers
    • What is a Request for Information (RFI) and what is included?
    • What is a Request for Proposal (RFP) and what is included?
    • How to evaluate responses
    • Comparing “apples to apples” in responses and rates
The strategies for doing RFP's and general market conditions were both well explained and very useful for me.
Matthew Smith, Logistics Manager, North American Hoganas

Value For You and Your Organization

Transportation is one of the costliest and most volatile pieces of your supply chain. This course covers practical methods for best-practice management of your operations to: a) lower overall transportation costs or, b) maintain current rate levels in an increasing freight-cost environment.

The Executive Programs Short Course Experience

All of our transformational learning experiences provide the right environment for you to quickly develop and apply new capabilities.

Pre-work

You'll have access to a personal learning portal where you will obtain pre-program assignments, travel support (if applicable), and a list of fellow participants. Pre-work prepares you to immediately engage in content and learning allowing for a more effective application of knowledge.

Practical Content

Our learning experiences pair practical action learning and coaching with new knowledge, tools, and perspectives. We'll explore current, real-world examples of how organizations around the globe address critical challenges and how it may relate to yours.

Led by Experts

Plug into our network of thought leaders. Our award-winning teachers, researchers, consultants, and practitioners understand today's leaders and the critical challenges they face. They will work with you to offer guidance before, during, and after each program.

Peer Networking

You'll learn as much from your peer cohort as you do from the instructors! The value of different perspectives coming from different organizations and their challenges are immeasurable.

Faculty

Expert executive faculty who have led significant change within the private and public sectors will provide models and frameworks to help you transform vision into and action plan for results.

Customize This Program

All programs can be tailored to your organization and team, and be delivered to groups of 10 or more. Contact us about custom program possibilities. Customize Request Info 800-311-6364
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Additional Details

Our Learning Solutions Associate will be happy to hold a seat for you in this program. A reservation does not commit you to the program until you submit the registration form online. To reserve your spot, click the ‘Save my Seat’ button next the program’s offering, listed above.

Discount Rates

  • 10%: Live Remote delivery

Eligibility

Tuition discounts are available for:

  • DoD or government employees
  • Penn State alumni
  • Individuals who commit to earning a Professional Certificate
  • Teams of three or more attending from the same organization
  • CSCR Corporate Sponsors and other affiliated groups (with valid discount code)

After registration, you will receive access to your personal learning portal. There you can find the following information:

  • Pre-program assignments, which prepare you for the program before the start date
  • A list of program faculty and fellow registered participants
  • Travel coordination and support, if applicable

Transfers

If an accepted Penn State Executive Programs applicant finds it necessary to transfer to another session of the same program, one transfer will be allowed with no charge if arranged more than six (6) weeks prior. Additional transfers, transfers to a different program, or transfers arranged less than six (6) weeks prior incur a charge of 10% of the current program fee.

The sponsoring company may identify a replacement candidate, but the replacement candidate must be accepted for the program through an admissions review.

Refunds

The following refunds will apply for withdraws if Penn State Executive Programs is notified in writing within the time period stated:

  • Full refund with notification received more than six (6) weeks prior to start of the program
  • 50% refund with notification received between two (2) and six (6) weeks before the start of the program.
  • No refund with notification received two (2) weeks or less prior to the start of program.

Note: The registered participant or their agent must confirm all notification of withdrawals, transfers and substitutions in writing. If written notification is not received, the full program fee will be assessed.

Cancellations

The University may cancel or postpone any course or activity because of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a program is canceled or postponed, the University will refund registration fees but cannot be held responsible for any other related charges, or expenses, including cancellation/change charges by airlines or travel agencies. In the case of postponement, as an alternative to a refund, program fees may be transferred to another session of that program.

If you have any questions or concerns about our cancellation policy, please contact us to discuss further.