The freight industry is at a digital crossroads. That’s why the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.’s (NMFTA)™ Digital Standards Development Council (DSDC)™ is bringing its annual membership meeting to Manifest 2026 in Las Vegas, NV, one of the largest and fastest-growing supply chain conferences in North America.
We’ve compiled an insightful Q&A with Keith Peterson, vice president of operations for NMFTA who oversees the DSDC; Stuart Scott, chairman of the Digital Full Truckload Council and chief information officer & executive vice president for J.B. Hunt, and Brian Thompson, chairman of the Digital LTL Council and chief commercial officer for SMC3.
Read on to learn why carriers, shippers, third-party logistics providers (3PLs), and tech providers should be part of the conversation.
Q: Keith, why is NMFTA’s DSDC holding its annual membership meeting at Manifest 2026?
Keith Peterson: Manifest 2026 brings together every corner of the freight ecosystem—carriers, shippers, 3PLs, and technology providers. By hosting our DSDC annual meeting there, we put our API Standards work in front of the innovators shaping the future of freight. It’s the right environment for collaboration, because our application programming interface (API) Standards only succeed when the whole industry understands and adopts them.
Q: Stuart, as chairman of the Full Truckload Council within the DSDC, what value do you see for attendees?
Stuart Scott: The Full Truckload (FTL) Council is making real progress expanding digital standards beyond less-than-truckload (LTL). At Manifest 2026, attendees will see how our work ties into scheduling, visibility, and other high-impact APIs. It’s a chance to connect with peers who are facing the same digital transformation challenges and to share feedback that shapes where we go next.
Q: Brian, from the LTL perspective, what momentum are you seeing across the industry?
Brian Thompson: The LTL sector has made incredible strides in digitization over the past few years. What began with foundational API Standards like the eBOL is now expanding into end-to-end connectivity—from pickup scheduling to in-transit visibility. At SMC³ and through the Digital LTL Council, we’re seeing carriers and 3PLs move from pilots to production, proving that these standards drive real-world efficiency and collaboration.
Q: What can NMFTA members expect from this year’s DSDC membership meeting?
Keith Peterson: We’ll provide updates on our roadmap, celebrate key wins, and hear directly from members about their priorities. The DSDC is industry-led; it’s their council, their priorities, their meeting. Most importantly, it’s a space to engage with both LTL and FTL councils in the same forum.
Q: Why is this year especially important?
Stuart Scott: The pace of adoption is accelerating. APIs we’ve been developing are now live and impacting day-to-day operations. This year is about alignment, ensuring our standards are not just concepts but tools adopted across the industry.
Q: How does collaboration at Manifest 2026 move standards forward?
Keith Peterson: It’s one thing to publish API Standards but hearing real-world use cases—and challenges—directly from carriers, shippers, 3PLs, and tech vendors ensures what we build is practical and scalable for LTL and FTL operations. This event fosters those critical conversations.
Q: What’s your message to someone on the fence about attending?
Stuart Scott: Don’t sit on the sidelines. Digital standards are shaping the next decade of freight. By being at Manifest 2026, you’ll not only see what’s next—you’ll help define it.
Brian Thompson: I agree with Stuart. Get involved now. The standards being built today will define how freight is priced, scheduled, and tracked tomorrow. Your voice matters—especially if you want to ensure the standards reflect the realities of your business.
Keith Peterson: The companies shaping tomorrow’s freight standards are the ones showing up today. The DSDC isn’t a spectator sport—it’s about collaboration, contribution, and action.
Ready to shape the future of freight? Join the DSDC Annual Membership Meeting at Manifest 2026. Registration is open to any and all industry professionals
