Manifest 2026 lived up to its reputation as the “Super Bowl of supply chain and logistics” as Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics, recently described it in a blog.
This year’s show brought together 7,500 supply chain professionals from innovators to operators to C-level leaders from across freight, transportation, and supply chain technology. The energy was unmistakable—hallways buzzed with conversation, and major trends from artificial intelligence (AI) to automation were everywhere.
The National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.® (NMFTA)™ has been attending this event since 2023 and in year’s past hosted a panel discussion on cybersecurity, but this year, Digital Standards Development Council™ (DSDC)™ was on full display.
We hosted a panel discussion at 12:00 pm PT on Monday, February 9: “Standardizing the Future: How APIs Are Powering the Digitization of the Transportation Industry.”
This panel drew a standing-room-only crowd—a signal that the topic is resonating not just with technologists, but with decision-makers across the ecosystem. Special thanks to Estes Express Lines’ Todd Florence, Uline’s Angelo Ventrone, and NMFTA’s Joe Ohr and Keith Peterson for their involvement.
Unlike flashy product announcements or demos, the API standards discussion dug into something far more foundational: the plumbing that makes modern digitization scalable and sustainable. Panelists shared how standardized APIs reduce fragmentation, lower the cost and time of integrations, and unlock the interoperability the industry needs to accelerate automation, visibility, and real-time collaboration.
That’s why so many stayed beyond the scheduled end time—leaders recognized that standards are not abstract ideals, but practical enablers of measurable business outcomes.
Additionally, the DSDC also hosted its annual membership meeting on Tuesday, February 10 at 7:00 am PT. NMFTA’s Keith Peterson, staff liaison for the DSDC, and C.H. Robinson’s Greg West, council member and an early adopter of the API standards, joined him on stage.
If you missed it (or want to revisit the Monday panel discussion), the full panel recording is available here: https://vimeo.com/1164748096.
Manifest’s broad agenda also highlighted how the industry is evolving. From AI-enhanced cold chain solutions to discussions on cargo crime and operational risk, the conference underscored that freight is navigating rapid change.
On that front, The Loadstar interviewed Joe Ohr, chief operating officer for NMFTA, on site about how risk itself is changing in a digital age. Cargo crime is no longer just physical theft at truck stops—it’s digital-enabled fraud and AI-driven exploitation of systems.
During the in-person interview, he explained that carriers and shippers must choose digital partners wisely and build systems that include security as a core design principle—not an afterthought.
That theme—balance between ambition and resilience—was echoed throughout Manifest. Leaders want to push freight forward with innovation, but they also want frameworks that help them scale safely and collaboratively.
What became clear in each packed session and hallway exchange is this: the future of freight will be defined not just by powerful technologies, but by shared standards that enable them to work together. And in that future, open API standards are not just important—they are essential.
Learn more about our open source API standards today: dsdc.nmfta.org.
During Manifest, NMFTA announced the planned launch of SCAC Verified™, a new initiative designed to strengthen the integrity of the Standard Carrier Alpha Code® (SCAC™) and help protect the freight industry from fraud. SCAC Verified will officially launch on February 26, 2026. Read more below:
