Graphic that says Delivering Global Access FreightWeekSTL St. Louis Missouri May 22 to May 26 2023

A Look Back at FreightWeekSTL 2023

Thank you to everyone who joined us for FreightWeekSTL 2023 this year. Every May, FreightWeekSTL brings together freight and logistics experts, business leaders, international shippers and carriers, and other key industry stakeholders together to share ideas, collaborate and highlight new developments and advancements in the nation’s ever-growing freight industry.

This year’s FreightWeekSTL 2023 offered insightful discussions on the innovations, technologies and partnerships that are shaping the future of the freight and logistics industries, as well as the St. Louis region’s role in those efforts, with sessions on autonomous rail, container-on-vessel services, infrastructure investment, inland ports and more.

Check out all of our FreightWeekSTL 2023 sessions, press releases, discussions reports and more below.

Monday, May 22 | Innovation Day

Image saying Monday, May 22 Tracking the Progress of Autonomous Railcars

Tracking the Progress of Autonomous Railcars
Monday, May 22 | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Session Details: St. Louis start-up Intramotev Autonomous Rail continues to make advances in the development of an autonomous, zero-emissions railcar that would be able to operate without the use of a locomotive. Get the latest details on their progress toward commercial launch of a new solution that has the potential to make the U.S. rail system more efficient and sustainable, while also expediting the supply chain process.

Speaker: Timothy Luchini, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Intramotev Autonomous Rail
Press Release: Click Here

 
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Image stating Monday, May 22 Digitalization of Global Waterways

Digitalization of Global Waterways
Monday, May 22 | 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Session Details: Be among the first to learn about Israeli-based DockTech’s “Digital Twin” technology and data analysis that creates a virtual representation of the seabed of ports and waterways providing valuable insight for a variety of maritime stakeholders, delivering greater visibility, predictability and empowerment, and helping to improve freight movement through the global port system.

Speaker: Uri Yoselevich, Founder and CEO, DockTech
Press Release: Click Here

 
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Image stating Monday, May 22 Supply Chain Information Highway with St. Louis Ties

Supply Chain Information Highway with St. Louis Ties
Monday, May 22 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Session Details: Learn about a St. Louis-based company’s partnership with the Port of Long Beach and the role they are playing in helping to create a supply chain information highway with the ability to access, analyze and integrate data regarding the movement of freight through the nation’s largest ports in a way that helps improve in-transit visibility.

Speakers:
Jason Carter, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, UNCOMN
Noel Hacegaba, Deputy Executive Director/COO, Port of Long Beach

Press Release: Click Here

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Tuesday, May 23

Image stating Tuesday, May 23 St. louis Regional Ports Investing for the Future

St. Louis Regional Ports Investing for the Future
Tuesday, May 23 | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Session Details: Learn about the continuing investments underway at four ports in the St. Louis region, recent infrastructure funding wins, and how the improvements being made will help support continued growth in traditional barge services and intermodal operations in the Ag Coast of America, while helping to prepare for the arrival of innovative new Container-on-Vessel service in the Midwest.

Speakers:
Dennis Wilmsmeyer, Executive Director, America’s Central Port
Susan Taylor, Port Authority Director, St. Louis Development Corporation
Ed Weilbacher, Port Director, Kaskaskia Regional Port District
Jim McNichols, Executive Director, Jefferson County Port Authority
Press Release: Click Here
 
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Photo of riverboat's red paddlewheel

Ag Coast of America Riverboat Cruise
Tuesday, May 23 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Session Details (In-Person Event): Hosted by the St. Louis Regional Freightway, this special cruise will highlight key freight assets and opportunities that position the St. Louis region as a thriving freight and logistics hub with global access. This curated tour will provide an up-close look at critical elements of the region’s multimodal freight network, including roads and bridges; rail and barge facilities; multimodal freight transfer services; and the ports and infrastructure that have made this section of the Mississippi River the Ag Coast of America. Hot and cold lunch options will be available for purchase. During registration, you also have the opportunity to purchase a riverboat cruise ticket for a college or high school student interested in a career in manufacturing, logistics or a related career field.

Speaker: Narration by Susan Taylor, Port Authority Director at St. Louis Development Corporation

 

Wednesday, May 24 | 2023 Freight Summit

Graphic with image of cargo ship and text 2023 Freight Summit

2023 Freight Summit
Wednesday, May 24 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Session Details (SOLD OUT): Don’t miss this opportunity to gather again in-person for a Freight Summit featuring the release of the 2024 Priority Projects List, a valuable tool used to advocate for support and funding for critical infrastructure improvements that strengthen the St. Louis region’s position as a world-class freight hub, with associated remarks by representatives of both the Illinois and Missouri Departments of Transportation. The event will also feature a keynote address that will spotlight the East Coast’s largest container import gateway – the Port of New York & New Jersey – while highlighting its rail connectivity to the St. Louis region.

Speakers:
Tom Blair, St. Louis District Engineer, Missouri Department of Transportation
Kirk Brown, Region Five Engineer, Illinois Department of Transportation
Mike Bozza, Deputy Port Director, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

Press Release: Click Here
 
2024 Priority Freight Projects List: Click Here
Priority Projects Press Release: Click Here

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Thursday, May 25

Image stating Thursday, May 25 Drought and Flood Resiliency Planning along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers

Drought and Flood Resiliency Planning Along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers
Thursday, May 25 | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Session Details: With low water levels alternating with flood conditions to disrupt operations on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in recent years, those involved in creating the plans and policies to keep river traffic moving have found new ways to partner and collaborate to strengthen the resiliency of the rivers for navigation. Learn about how they are working together, what the agriculture community does when the waterways aren’t available for transport and the important role of both dredging and communications. The session will also cover the Lower Missouri River Study concept (which ties to flow in the mid-Mississippi River) and how various partners are coming together to try to set the stage for proactive flood and drought resiliency through this study.

Speakers:
Cheryl Ball, Waterways and Freight Administrator, Missouri Department of Transportation
Chris Klenklen, Deputy Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture
Lou Dell’Orco, Chief – Operations Division, US Army Corps of Engineers
Shane Kinne, Executive Director, Coalition to Protect the Missouri River
 
Press Release: Click Here

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Image stating Thursday, May 25 Why Big Manufacturing Expansion and Growth is Coming to the St. Louis Region

Why Big Manufacturing Expansion and Growth is Coming to the St. Louis Region
Thursday, May 25 | 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Session Details: This session will spotlight some of the exciting planned developments and manufacturing expansions underway in the St. Louis region, with a focus on why this activity is occurring here. Learn about Good Developments Group’s plans to develop Gateway South directly adjacent to the National Gateway Arch, and the proposed construction innovation district driven by prefabricated modular manufacturing; American Foods Group’s new beef processing plant in Warren County, Mo.; James Hardie Industries’ first Missouri facility coming to Jefferson County, and Tyson Foods plant expansion underway in Caseyville, Ill. We will explore the factors driving these decisions to invest in this region and gain insight to help continue this growth trend.

Speakers:
Alec Jadacki, Partner, Good Developments Group (Gateway South Project)
Scott Willert, CTP, President, America’s Service Line, LLC / America’s Logistics
Sean Parks, Senior Capacity Manager, James Hardie Building Products
Christopher Rogers, Plant Manager – Prepared Foods Division, Tyson Foods
 
Press Release: Click Here

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Friday, May 26

Image stating Release of the St. Louis Region's Spring 2023 Industrial Real Estate Market Report

Release of the St. Louis Region’s Spring 2023 Industrial Real Estate Market Report
Friday, May 26 | 9 a.m.

Session Details: Digital release of the latest Industrial Market Report for the St. Louis region, which focuses on bulk industrial buildings that are vital to the freight and logistics supply chain. The data highlights the latest market fundamentals in the St. Louis region, recent trends in construction and development, and the current labor figures that demonstrate readiness to meet the workforce needs of the bi-state region’s robust supply chain logistics, distribution and manufacturing industries.
Press Release: Click Here

 
Report Available: Click Here

 

image stating Friday, May 26 70 on 70 Spotlight

70 on 70 Spotlight: Inside the 70-Mile 70s Corridor Linking Missouri & Illinois
Friday, May 26 | 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Session Details: Hear firsthand from the researchers taking a closer look at this vital link between Illinois and Missouri, a 70-mile corridor that is the epicenter of the historic surge in new construction in the St. Louis regional industrial market. Over 24-million square feet of new industrial space hit the market over the last five years, and nowhere is this construction boom more evident than along the 70s corridor (including I-70, I-170, I-270, and I-370) running from Missouri to Illinois. Learn more about this major logistics corridor that is home to a wealth of national manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, with room to welcome more.

Speakers:
Doug Rasmussen, CEO and Managing Principal, Steadfast City Economic & Community Partners
Ed Lampitt, Vice Chair, Cushman & Wakefield
Matt Hrubes, Senior Vice President, CBRE

Press Release: Click Here
 
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Thank You to Our Sponsors

Last year’s FreightWeekSTL attracted solid attendance, social media interest and widespread media coverage — and we are excited to build on that success once again this year. None of this would be possible without the support of our many sponsors. Thank you for helping us deliver FreightWeekSTL 2023!

Delivered to you by

Presenting Sponsors

Logo for Ameren
Logo for Millstone Weber
Logo for University of Missouri St. Louis Business School Supply Chain and Analytics
Logo for Steadfast City
The Boeing Center logo.

Supporting Sponsors

G Hauser Group logo
The Jerry Costello Group logo

Associate Sponsors

Logo for Brinkmann Constructors
Logo with text CDI Building Stronger Communities
Logo for Alberici
SIBA / SICAP logo
Terracon logo.
Castle Contracting logo
Thank You:

Riverboats at the Gateway Arch Logo

Become a 2022 Sponsor

Thank you to our 2021 event sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring the event this year, please contact .

You can find more details about our sponsorship levels here.

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