2023 Tour of Caterpillar
For Immediate Release:
November 1, 2023
St. Louis Chapter Hosts Multi-Institutional Tour of Caterpillar
St. Louis, MO. The St. Louis Chapter of the Transportation Research Forum (TRF) hosted a multi-institutional industrial tour of Caterpillar’s Peoria, Illinois Global Parts Depot and Manufacturing Plant Building SS which assembles D-6,D-10 and D-11 bulldozers for commercial and military use.
Students and faculty from St. Louis University, Southern Illinois University -Edwardsville, University of Missouri – St. Louis and Western Illinois University all participated in the tour. Dr. Honey Zimmerman, Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management at Western Illinois, organized the event along with TRF Chapter President Michael Edwards, UMSL Adjunct Professor, Department of Supply Chain and Analytics.
Twenty-nine (29) students participated in the event.
After the tours, students were treated to a lunch and presentation by Mr. Robert Sinkler, Director, Water Resources Infrastructure, Heart of Illinois Regional Port District (TRANSPort) and Tri-State Corn Belt Ports Executive Coordinating Director.
Mr. Sinkler ‘s presentation was about the creation of the Upper Mississippi River Corn Belts Ports district and the importance of Illinois and Mississippi waterways in rural transportation and logistics.
Dr. Joe Schweiterman, TRF Chicago Chapter President, joined the tours and spoke at the luncheon about TRF and complementary research regarding municipal rivers.
About TRF
The Transportation Research Forum (TRF) is an independent organization of transportation professionals founded in 1958 to provide an impartial meeting ground for carriers, shippers, government officials, consultants, university researchers, suppliers, and others seeking an exchange of information and ideas on both passenger and freight transportation. TRF conducts a national Annual Forum, and has chapters in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, St. Louis, and South Korea. www.trforum.org
The St. Louis Chapter was formed in 2018 under the leadership of Dr. Jill Bernard Bracy. The Chapter hosted the 63rd Annual Conference in 2022 and will host the 66th Annual Conference in 2025.
The Chapter Board consists of faculty representatives from the University of Missouri – Columbia, Lindenwood University, Washington University, St. Louis University, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Western Illinois University and the University of Missouri – St. Louis.
Contact:
Michael G. Edwards
TRF St. Louis President
314.516.7273
[email protected]
