Benefits of Membership

Why join the Express Carriers Association?

The answer is easy. Membership brings very tangible benefits that positively impact your business.

The Express Carriers Association defines three diverse member-groups:

Benefits for Shippers

Shippers are companies that outsource transportation for their products, or companies that arrange for that transportation on behalf of another entity. The ECA is the greatest resource for locating quality regional transportation firms to meet those needs now, or in the future.

Shippers of products in today's increasingly competitive marketplace have myriad reasons to seek new transportation alternatives whether it's price, service, expanded territories, inflexible and/or impersonal vendors. The ECA has created a way to simplify and expedite your search. Imagine if your firm's transportation manager could, after defining his needs, meet face-to-face with numerous handpicked carrier candidates in less than two workdays! Here's how it works: ECA Members meet annually at the Marketplace. Shippers are guests of the ECA, and are given the opportunity to set 15-minute appointments with carriers of their choosing. Of course, there's golf, banquets, and entertainment, but this is NOT your run-of-the-mill convention. Everyone attends with business in mind and ready to close a deal.

Plan now to join us in Chicago, IL, April 14-16, 2009 at the Drake Hotel for Marketplace 2009.

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Benefits for Vendors

Vendors produce goods or services that are of interest to the transportation industry. Through the ECA, they gain access to a targeted audience of decision-makers within the industry. Vendors have found the ECA an unparalleled opportunity to increase visibility and sales.

If your firm markets to the transportation industry, you've likely been to many trade shows and conventions over the years. These shows can be great fun. However, because the underlying goal of the attendees is often R & R, your display booth may attract only browsing spouses looking for a door prize rather than a serious buyer. The ECA has cultivated a reputation as a working event rather than a social one. Your potential customers are involved in two days of intense face-to-face deal making, where you are provided the opportunity to interview prequalified carriers in 15 minute blocks of time.

Vendors now can enjoy some of the unique features of the ECA Marketplace including one-on-one interviews with Carriers or Shippers that have selected your firm as having interest in your services." These are private appointments based on interest from our members upon a selection process before the Marketplace begins.

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Benefits for Carriers

Carriers are companies that provide transportation to meet the needs of Shippers. Carrier members must meet guidelines regarding geographic coverage, licensing and insurance. The ECA is an unrivaled resource for finding new clients and nurturing existing relationships.

Carriers who survive in the transportation industry for any length of time must learn to take care of existing clients, find new ones, and keep abreast of constant changes in methods and technology. The ECA has created an affordable and hugely popular way to facilitate these tasks. If you had the opportunity to meet current customers and show appreciation for their business, introduce your firm to new shippers who didn't know you existed, network with your peers, check up on your competitors, and explore the latest tools to make your business smoother, would you take it? Well, that's what the ECA is all about. The annual Marketplace offers all of this and more. You spend two days in fifteen minute, one-on-one interviews with shippers who are looking for companies like yours. You further have the opportunity to interview with vendors of products and services which your competitors are using. Don't imagine that this is the standard social event, cocktail party and golf outing you've been to before. Sure, we have some of that, but this event is about getting you in front of CUSTOMERS and vendors in a hard working three-day event. Chances are you'll leave with more than a mild hangover and a light wallet — you'll leave with more business!

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Benefits of Membership

Each group receives great benefits unique to their category.

Annual Membership Dues are $550. Shippers and Vendors do not have to be members to participate in the ECA Annual Marketplace but it is greatly appreciated when our shippers and vendors can support the organization through membership dues that allow us to make this a better experience for all our attendees. Thank you for your support!