The Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) was founded in 1987 with the objective of achieving Shipping Act reform to allow U.S. ag exporters to be more competitive in the international market. Although we now handle many other issues of concern to ag exporters, ocean shipping issues continue to be our priority.

The AgTC monitors government and commercial activity on ocean shipping and other transportation issues and keeps AgTC Members up-to-date on how these will impact their business.

The AgTC lobbies the Congress when necessary to change laws that would harm agriculture interests, or to support laws that will benefit agriculture. We report on any and all issues in which our members have an interest. Finally, we assist AgTC members on an individual basis with transportation-related problems.

Following is an overview of the services which the AgTC provides for its Members.

AgTC Updates
Probably our most useful service is our faxed/e-mailed updates on late-breaking transportation developments. When decisions are made that impact ag shippers, we notify our Members immediately. This way, our Members know what´s going on before they read about it in the newspapers or hear about it from the carriers (or have a shipment delayed or rejected). As we constantly monitor transportation issues, we can sometimes predict activity before it is announced. And the sooner our Members are informed, the better equipped they are to make sound transportation decisions.

Voice of Ag Shippers
Not only do we provide our Members adequate time to adjust to new policies and decisions, we often take part in the policy making process. By providing comments to Congressional committees and Executive Agencies, agriculture shippers have a voice in many of the important transportation decisions that are made at the Federal level. The Journal of Commerce dubbed the AgTC “the principal voice of agricultural exporters in US transportation policy."

Information Resources
Another valuable service we provide is response to individual Member inquiries as they arise. Members know that if they have a question regarding ocean transportation, we can often provide them with an answer by the end of the day. If we don´t have the information readily available, we usually know where to find it.

AgTC Annual Meeting and Regional Roundtables
The AgTC’s Annual Meeting allows shippers and carriers get together to discuss transportation issues in a friendly and open forum. No other shipping conference assembles as many ag shippers, which is why carriers like to attend. Ag shippers like the top-notch speakers who address the critical issues, followed by our famous “Shippers Only” session--no press, no carriers. The 2008 Annual Meeting will take place on June 12 & 13, 2008 in downtown San Francisco. We also host regional meetings throughout the country to discuss current transportation issues in a roundtable forum. These events are for shippers and forwarders only, and provide an excellent opportunity for ag shippers, for candid discussion of concerns, as well as to develop AgTC positions and agenda items.

AgTC Network
Many of our Members value the exposure they get to other transportation managers throughout the United States. During our "Shippers Only" sessions at AgTC meetings, they have a chance to learn what other companies are doing to resolve similar transportation problems. For example, through the AgTC, smaller exporters have learned contracting "how to´s" from DuPont, a founding member of the AgTC and one of the most savvy negotiators in the transportation industry. Between meetings, the AgTC office in Washington, D.C. acts as a clearinghouse for information, which our Members can easily access.

AgTC Consulting Services
Finally, through our AgTC offices, we are able to assist Member companies and associations with specific transportation problems which are outside the scope of the AgTC´s usual activities. For example, your company may be involved in a dispute with an independent ocean carrier and may need legal advice. The AgTC staff can help analyze and identify options, and recommend the necessary assistance.

We hope you will join the AgTC. Contact AgTC at 202-783-3333 or Email us.