Transportation & Logistics Council

What Transportation & Logistics Council does

The Transportation & Logistics Council, Inc. (TLC) is a New York-domiciled not-for-profit corporation founded in 1974 that serves the U.S. shipping community through education and industry representation. The Council is open to all segments of the transportation and logistics community, including shippers, freight brokers, third-party logistics providers, carriers, freight forwarders, transportation attorneys, insurance professionals, and cargo inspection/surveying firms. It generates revenue primarily through recurring annual membership dues (Regular Member $395, Associate Member $345, Multiple Subscriber $200), supplemented by one-time publication sales, paid workshops and seminars, TransDigest newsletter advertising, and website and event sponsorships. The Council does not sell software; rather, it operates a portfolio of membership-based services including the monthly TransDigest publication, an expert-vetted Q&A forum, a members-only resource library, the Annual Conference (now in its 52nd year), bi-annual seminars on Freight Claims and Contracting topics, and 90-minute virtual workshops.

TLC's commercial offering is anchored by a small catalog of branded, long-running reference publications: Freight Claims in Plain English (4th Edition, first published 1979), Q&A in Plain English (Books I–XI, with Book XI containing 275 questions), and Shipping & Receiving in Plain English, which is given as a complimentary onboarding incentive to new members. The Council co-sponsors the Transportation Arbitration Board (TAB), an arbitration channel for smaller motor carrier loss-and-damage claims established in 1974, and the Certified Claims Professional Accreditation Council (CCPAC), providing exclusive dispute-resolution and certification pathways. Distribution is digital-first via a WordPress-based website with full e-commerce functionality, supported by a LinkedIn presence, monthly TransDigest email delivery, and periodic in-person conferences rotated across U.S. cities.

The Council is led by Executive Director George Carl Pezold and General Counsel Raymond A. Selvaggio, both affiliated with the transportation law firm Pezold, Smith, Hirschmann & Selvaggio, LLC, with Editor Stephen W. Beyer overseeing TransDigest and two administrative staff handling operations. The organization is independently governed by its membership, with no parent company, equity backing, or institutional investment structure, and reports no publicly disclosed financials. Enterprise members include ABF Freight, C.H. Robinson, GEODIS, Hub Group, Landstar, Old Dominion, TQL, Nestlé Purina, Home Depot, HP, Goodyear, Markel, and Land O'Lakes, spanning transportation/logistics, food and agriculture, retail, manufacturing, and insurance verticals.

Name

Transportation & Logistics Council

Legal name

Transportation & Logistics Council, Inc.

Website

https://tlcouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Transportation & Logistics Council is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1974 that educates and represents the U.S. shipping community through membership dues, the TransDigest newsletter, industry-standard publications, seminars, and an annual conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services for Transportation & Logistics

NAICS

Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Truckload (TL) Freight Brokerage (TLADAMAB)

Keywords

• Freight claims education
• Transportation law
• Shipping education
• Logistics publications
• Transportation advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide the primary recurring revenue stream. Regular members pay $395/year, Associate members $345/year, and Multiple Subscribers $200/year. Members receive TransDigest subscription, Q&A forum access, discounts on publications and events, and access to the Members Only resource library.
2. Publications Sales: Sale of educational textbooks and reference materials including Freight Claims in Plain English (Member $199, Non-Member $229), Q&A in Plain English Book XI (Member $60, Non-Member $70), and Shipping & Receiving in Plain English (Member $70, Non-Member $90).
3. Seminars and Workshops: Revenue from educational programs including the 8-hour Contracting Seminar ($625 members, $725 non-members) and 90-minute Virtual Workshops ($50 members, $75 non-members). Also includes recording sales for past workshops.
4. TransDigest Advertising: Monthly publication accepts full-page and half-page advertisements. Full page: $325/issue, $880/quarter, $3,120/year. Half page: $225/issue, $610/quarter, $2,160/year.
5. Website Sponsorship: Annual website sponsorship at $300/year places company logo on the TLC website with a direct link. Virtual Workshop sponsorships available at Gold ($1,000), Silver ($750), and Bronze ($500) levels for 5 virtual workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TLC is a not-for-profit membership trade association that delivers education, publications, and advocacy services to the shipping and logistics community. Its offerings center on the monthly TransDigest newsletter, in-depth reference publications on freight claims and contracting, virtual seminars and workshops, an attorney-staffed Q&A Forum, a Resource Library of statutes and forms, and co-sponsorship of the Transportation Arbitration Board for dispute resolution.

Product overview

The Transportation & Logistics Council is a not-for-profit membership organization serving the shipping community through education and industry representation. Rather than a unified software platform, the Council offers a portfolio of membership-based services including the monthly TransDigest publication, educational publications (Freight Claims in Plain English, Q&A in Plain English books, Shipping & Receiving in Plain English), virtual seminars (Contracting for Transportation & Logistics Services), and 90-minute Virtual Workshops on topics including freight claims, cross-border operations, bills of lading, AI in transportation, cybersecurity, and insurance. Members also receive access to the Q&A Forum, Resource Library with statutes/regulations/articles/forms, and discounts on educational programs. The Council co-sponsors the Transportation Arbitration Board (TAB) for dispute resolution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TransDigest: Monthly newsletter publication containing current practical information on developments in all modes of transportation - truck, rail, air, ocean, and multimodal.

Products and services

• Membership Programs Company-based membership tiers providing access to the TransDigest monthly newsletter, attorney-reviewed Q&A Forum, Members Only Resource Library, and member discounts on publications, seminars, and workshops. Designed for shippers, brokers, 3PLs, carriers, freight forwarders, attorneys, consultants, and insurance professionals in the U.S. transportation and logistics community.
• TransDigest Monthly digital newsletter (with optional $100/year printed USPS edition) providing current practical information on developments across all modes of transportation — truck, rail, air, ocean, and multimodal. Includes recent Q&A forum responses and is the primary recurring member benefit. Archives available from 2018 onward; available to non-members via a one-year introductory subscription.
• Freight Claims in Plain English (4th Ed.) Comprehensive two-volume soft-cover reference text on freight claims for transportation and logistics professionals. Often referred to as the industry standard 'Bible' on freight claims.
• Transportation & Logistics Q&A in Plain English Book XI Eleventh volume in a series compiling 275 recent questions submitted to the Council's Q&A forum and published in TransDigest. Authors include George Carl Pezold and Raymond A. Selvaggio. Member price $60, Non-Member $70. Earlier volumes (Books I–X) are also available.
• Shipping & Receiving in Plain English - A Best Practices Guide Best practices guide covering freight claims, freight charges, legal disputes, and transportation and logistics procedures. Provided as a complimentary onboarding copy to new members. Member price $70, Non-Member $90.
• Contracting for Transportation & Logistics Services Seminar 8-hour intensive virtual seminar delivered over four Zoom sessions covering the practical and legal aspects of contracting for transportation and logistics services. Addresses contractual relationships among motor carriers, shippers, brokers, and 3PLs. Member $625, Non-Member $725.
• Virtual Workshops 90-minute interactive virtual workshops covering transportation and logistics topics including freight claims, cross-border operations (U.S./Canada/Mexico), motor carrier bills of lading, cold chain, insurance, international trade, AI in transportation, and cybersecurity. Member $50, Non-Member $75 per workshop, with recordings available for purchase.
• 52nd Annual Conference Annual multi-day 'Education for Transportation Professionals' conference with general sessions, workshops, expert presentations, and networking events including President's Reception and hospitality suites. Optional full-day pre-conference seminars. Sponsorship tiers available (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze).
• Transportation Arbitration Board (TAB) Co-sponsored arbitration service for resolving transportation disputes, particularly smaller motor carrier loss and damage claims. Organized in 1974 through joint sponsorship of TLC and the National Freight Claim Council. Proceedings can be binding or non-binding depending on party agreement. Contact: Wally Dammann at (201) 354-9264; office at 99 West 52nd Street, Bayonne, NJ 07002.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 years of service to the transportation industry since 1974
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Transportation Arbitration Board, Inc. (TAB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1974Co-sponsored by TLC in 1974 for dispute resolution. TAB provides arbitration for transportation disputes, particularly smaller motor carrier loss and damage claims. Located at 99 West 52nd Street, Bayonne, NJ 07002. Proceedings can be binding or non-binding depending on party agreement. Contact: Wally Dammann at (201) 354-9264.
• Certified Claims Professional Accreditation Council, Inc. (CCPAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored organization providing professional certification for claims professionals. CCPAC accreditation is referenced in conjunction with TLC workshops and educational programs.
• Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association for transportation intermediaries. Listed as member and conference sponsor. TLC's member listing includes TIA and they participate in TLC conferences and events.
• Trans Audit, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWebsite sponsor and Platinum conference sponsor. Provides freight audit and payment services. Company logo featured on TLC website.
• GEODISminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWebsite sponsor and Gold conference sponsor. Global logistics provider. Company logo featured on TLC website.
• Nestlé Purina Petcare CominorGTM or Marketing PartnerWebsite sponsor. Major shipper in transportation industry. Company logo featured on TLC website.
• FreightClaims.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWebsite sponsor and Gold conference sponsor. Freight claims management services. Company logo featured on TLC website.
• Pezold, Smith, Hirschmann & Selvaggio, LLCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTransportation law firm affiliated with TLC leadership. George Carl Pezold serves as Executive Director of TLC and is a partner at this firm. Raymond A. Selvaggio serves as TLC General Counsel. Firm provides legal services to transportation industry and publishes through TLC.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA): FIATA is the global umbrella body for national freight-forwarder associations in 130+ countries. It extends TLC's forwarder/3PL education and advocacy scope to the international level, representing a comparable offering outside TLC's primarily U.S./North America footprint.
• Canadian Industrial Transportation Association (CITA): CITA is the Canadian counterpart trade association for shippers and transportation providers. Its cross-border relevance and overlap with TLC's Canadian content make it a regional peer covering the same shipper/mode-neutral education and advocacy function.

Others

• American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI): AAEI is a U.S. trade association focused on export/import policy and compliance. It connects thematically with TLC through cross-border shipping education (Mexico/Canada workshops) and shared regulatory-advocacy interests, though it is a trade-policy association rather than a freight-claims educator.

Direct peers

• NASSTRAC (National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council): NASSTRAC is a shipper-only association focused on truckload procurement, contract negotiations, and transportation policy. Its shipper-advocacy and education mission closely mirrors TLC's role for shipper members, particularly around contracting and freight-cost management.
• Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA): TIA is the national association for freight brokers and 3PLs, directly overlapping TLC's core broker/3PL membership base. TLC already lists TIA as a member and conference partner, underscoring the close functional overlap on education, advocacy, and industry representation for intermediaries.
• National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA): NCBFAA represents customs brokers and freight forwarders — overlapping TLC's freight-forwarder members and cross-border shipping content. Both organizations provide education, advocacy, and a member forum on customs and forwarding compliance.
• National Industrial Transportation League (NITL): NITL is a 501(c)(6) shipper association focused on rail and truck transportation policy, education, and rate/service advocacy. Like TLC, it serves enterprise shippers on freight-claims, contracting, and regulatory issues and competes for the same shipper-member attention and dues.

Broad incumbents

• Truckload Carriers Association (TCA): TCA is the TL-carrier segment association serving fleet operators. While carrier-side rather than shipper-side like TLC, its educational conferences, publications, and safety/regulatory advocacy target the same freight-claim and contracting subject matter that TLC addresses for shippers and brokers.
• American Trucking Associations (ATA): ATA is the largest U.S. trucking-industry trade association representing motor carriers (the carrier counterpart to TLC's shipper focus). It competes for industry mindshare, event attendance, and sponsorship dollars across the same trucking ecosystem TLC serves.
• Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP): CSCMP is a larger, broader supply-chain professional association offering education, networking, and research. It overlaps TLC on education and community but serves a much wider supply-chain audience beyond TLC's freight-claims/legal niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TLCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/transportationandlogisticscouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/transportation-logistics-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Transportation & Logistics Council