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September 6, 2000 10:58 AM, EDT

Five years ago, Alan J. Dabbiere knew his retail distribution software business was on the verge of explosive growth. He also knew that he needed to relocate his company, Manhattan Associates, from Southern California to be closer to his major customers in the Eastern and Central time zones.

His choice of Atlanta was not surprising given the city’s history as a regional transportation hub.

But Dabbiere had another, less obvious, reason for picking Atlanta: the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Motor carriers and other companies involved in freight movement are finding it increasingly important to recruit not only able bodies to do the jobs, but also able minds to accomplish their business goals. In this sense, higher education is earning a larger place in the transportation industry. For example, the number of logistics executives with graduate degrees has climbed from 32% in 1980 to 55% in 1999, according to the Logistics Research Group at Ohio State University.

For the full story, see the Sept. 4 print edition of Transport Topics. .