For release March 3, 2006
Contact: Maggie Miller
Manager, Marketing
voice (301) 982-3400, ext. 350
fax (301) 982-4815

Dates Set for 2006 IANA Intermodal
Operations & Maintenance Seminar

Intermodal Industry’s Largest Event for
O&M Professionals Slated for May 2-3

Calverton, MD, March 3, 2006 – The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) is pleased to announce that its 2006 Intermodal Operations & Maintenance Seminar will be held May 2-3 at the Oak Brook Hills Resort in Oak Brook, IL. The seminar serves as North America’s largest gathering of intermodal operations executives, terminal personnel, field representatives, and front line managers, offering unique educational and networking opportunities.

This year’s seminar will offer attendees opportunities to learn about intermodal tools, techniques, and trends, while sharing ideas and networking with peers in metropolitan Chicago, America’s intermodal hub. Scheduled general sessions and workshops include:

Terminal Operating Equipment—Economics and Opportunities
This workshop will focus on the yard “hardware” and the economic tradeoffs involved in utilizing different types of devices and operating models.

International Chassis Pools
Steamship lines and terminal operators have been making significant progress in establishing chassis pools. Panelists will consider the results from both the perspective of operating efficiency as well as free market entry and exit.

Domestic Chassis Pools
Despite heroic efforts by many, a national domestic chassis pool still seems more hope than reality. This workshop will examine success stories as well as the case for proprietary fleets.

Tire Failure Analysis
After years of anecdotal evidence and intra-industry finger pointing, objective, quantitative analysis on the causes of tire failure is now available. This session will present the results and let the “facts speak for themselves.”

Capacity Through Velocity and Visibility
As intermodal volume grows, terminal operations must be increasingly robust, resilient and reliable. Panelists will address how terminals are accommodating these requirements by adapting solutions such as technology, security, marketing and process improvement.

The seminar will also feature the second annual Intermodal Innovation Symposium, in which Supplier Division members will provide short vignettes on new technologies of benefit to the intermodal industry. Networking opportunities for attendees include the “Early Bird” Reception on the evening of May 1, and the Welcome Reception on May 2.

The U.S. DOT’s intermodal Freight Technology Working Group (IFTWG) Spring Meeting will be held in cooperation with the seminar. The IFTWG is a public-private partnership focused on the identification and evaluation of technology-based options for improving the efficiency, safety, and security of intermodal freight movement.

Early registration for the 2006 Intermodal Operations & Maintenance Seminar, through March 30, is $300 for At-Large members, $350 for Regular members, and $400 for non-members. For additional seminar details and program development, please visit the IANA website at www.intermodal.org.www.intermodal.org.

IANA is North America's leading industry trade association representing the combined interests of the intermodal freight industry. IANA's membership includes railroads, water carriers and stacktrain operators; port authorities; intermodal truckers and over-the-road highway carriers; intermodal marketing and logistics companies; and suppliers to the industry such as equipment manufacturers, intermodal leasing companies and consulting firms. IANA's associate members include shippers, academic institutions, government entities and non-profit associations.

Intermodal Association of North America, Suite 1100, 11785 Beltsville Drive, Calverton, MD 20705 http://www.intermodal.org/