University of Wisconsin-Superior transportation and logistics management students recently traveled to southern Wisconsin for several industry tours. The trip was sponsored by the Transportation and Logistics Management (T&L) Student Club and the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA). Daniel Rust, associate professor of transportation and logistics management as well as T&L club advisor, helped plan the trip and accompanied the group.

An interactive tour of Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s materials lab in Madison gave the students a new appreciation for WisDOT’s efforts to make sure the state has roads built and maintained for the benefit of all. Besides showing how asphalt and steel materials are tested, lab personnel performed a test of a concrete sample for the students.

“As part of my personal favorite tour of the trip, the test involved a hydraulic press capable of applying hundreds of thousands of pounds of pressure on the concrete until failure to determine how the material would likely perform as part of future infrastructure,” said Luka Dragovic, a transportation and logistics management senior.

Students also had the opportunity to explore the state’s two vans equipped with sensors for analyzing pavement conditions on highways throughout Wisconsin. Several students later mentioned that they had never considered working for the DOT, but they are now open to the possibility after the tour.

The trip continued for a late evening tour of the United Parcel Service’s air cargo facility at Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport. They witnessed the rapid transfer of packages from trucks to aircraft by a large team of employees dedicated to keeping on schedule.

“Seeing the operation at this facility was great, but being able to climb around inside of a giant Boeing 767 was one of the greatest and most unique experiences I’ve ever had,” said Kyle Weinschenk, T&L major and club president. “It was truly fascinating to see how UPS air cargo operations work.”

The next day included a tour of Port Milwaukee, hosted by the port’s Trade Development Representative, Korey Garceau, a former T&L club president who graduated in 2023 with a T&L degree. After providing an overview of the port’s function, regulations, historical background, economic importance and governance, Garceau drove students around the port to see the many types of industries and activities.

“It was incredible to see the scale of operations at the port, from cargo handling to distribution. Understanding how goods are moved was both eye-opening and inspiring,” said UW-Superior student Valentina De Larrea.

The students then traveled to Oshkosh to experience the Experimental Aircraft Association Aviation Museum. The museum houses a wide variety of aircraft, including a replica of “The Lark of Duluth,” the world’s first airliner. Students learned about the rapid pace of aviation technological advances through many hands-on exhibits.

“Learning about the evolution of aircraft and how aviation has transformed global commerce reinforced the significant role air transport plays in logistics today,” said De Larrea. “The experiences on the trip provided me with a deeper, more practical understanding of the field and allowed me to connect classroom knowledge with real-world operations.”

“As a sophomore in T&L at UW-Superior, I decided to join this trip because I wanted to learn more about my major and understand how I can improve my skills to meet the needs of companies,” said Luiza Magalhães. “The trip not only helped me achieve this goal, but also showed me that I am on the right path. It gave me a chance to see myself working in a field I truly enjoy and value.”

“This was the best educational field trip I have participated in. It broadened my horizons, and it gave me an insight into possible jobs and related opportunities that exist in our transportation industry,” Luke Dragovic said.

Rust and the students who participated wish to thank to everyone who hosted the group at Wisconsin DOT, UPS, Port Milwaukee and the EAA Museum. A special note of thanks to UWS Student Affairs Director Allison Garver for making travel arrangements and to IANA for financially supporting this outstanding learning experience.