I recall learning early in my career an important saying about the liner business: You make money on shipping — not in shipping. While much has changed in our industry over the years, this has not.

In early March, the industry will gather once again in Long Beach for JOC’s TPM20. Over the past two decades, this event has become the industry gathering spot. As with many major industry conferences, the network effect prevails. There are probably more non-payers outside the sessions than paid attendees inside.