Biography: Ronald H. Usem

Mr. Usem's Background & Experience:

Mr. Usem is a graduate of the University of Minnesota; a graduate of Cornell Law School; a private practice attorney; and a partner with Huffman, Usem, Crawford & Greenberg, PA, since 1995 (see law firm web site at www.huscglaw.com.). Mr. Usem's practice was in transportation issues of all types, related employment issues, and a wide variety of corporate transactions. See the recent write up of Bullet Express v New Way Logistics Inc in the NEWS section of this website.

Membership/Affiliations:

Mr. Usem is a member of the Transportation Lawyers Association; Transportation Intermediaries Association and a member of its Directors Circle; Conference of Freight Counsel; and Transportation Club of Minneapolis and St. Paul, former Member of Board of Directors; business coach, TranStrategy Partners as well as updating the Model Broker /Forwarder contract, and updating the legal section of the 2020 Certified Transportation Brokers (CTB) course.

Mr. Usem has 35 years extensive transportation experience, including:

• The representation of property brokers, freight forwarders, 3 PL's, motor carriers, shippers, receivers in the USA and Canada.
  
  
• Negotiation, drafting and analysis of complex shipping contracts.
  
  
• Risk analysis and review of insurance coverages, negotiation of insurance contracts for FMCSA authorized property brokers, and carriers, shippers and 3 PLs, and litigation of insurance claims.
  
  
• Analysis and implementation of corporate structures to minimize risk.
  
  
• Litigating freight charge and freight loss and damage claims, double brokering and double-payment issues; freight held hostage, collection issues, CSA, MAP-21 compliance issues, advising clients on carrier qualification issues, operating authority, bills of lading, and other transportation-related issues.
  
  
• Drafting, advising and enforcement of non-compete/ non-solicitation agreements, negotiation and drafting Severance Agreements, advising and drafting of Employee Manuals/ Handbooks, advising clients on difficult termination of employment issues.
  
  
• The negotiation of equipment leases, factoring, and other corporate contract matters, including mergers and acquisitions.
  
  
• Practice in state and federal courts, including Minnesota State Courts; U.S. District Court, Minnesota; U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit; and the U.S. Supreme Court and other state and federal courts in the United States on a pro hac vice basis.
  
  
• Fast response to client concerns and issues.

Mr. Usem has regularly conducted seminars and has acted as panelist at the national Transportation Intermediaries Association annual meetings, the Transportation Lawyers Association regional meetings in Chicago Illinois, Council of Supply Chain Professional Managers, and Transportation Club of Minneapolis/St. Paul, on a variety of transportation topics; is a regular contributing author of transportation law articles for "Logistics Journal" magazine of TIA as well as “The Transportation Lawyer”  magazine published by the Transportation Lawyers Association.  Some of his articles can be seen in the News section of this site.

Since 2011 TIA no longer makes Industry Advancement Awards, however Mr. Usem has remained actively engaged in the TIA Education Committee, and the updating of the TIA Model Contracts.

Awards:

• April 2015 Contributor and Author to TIA Cargo Claims Framework
  
• Transportation Intermediaries Association Industry Achievement Award April 2011
  TIA Carrier Selection Committee
  
  
• Transportation Intermediaries Association 2010 Industry Advancement Award
  Certified Transportation Broker Program
  
  
• Transportation Intermediaries Association 2010 Industry Advancement Award
  TIA Model Broker- IMC Contract
  
  
• Transportation Intermediaries Association 2007 Industry Advancement Award
  TIA Co -Broker Model Contract
  
  
• Transportation Intermediaries Association 2007 Industry Advancement Award
  TIA Motor Carrier Qualification Framework
  
  
• Transportation Intermediaries Association 2006 Industry Advancement Award
  TIA Model Broker/ Carrier Contract
  
  
• Transportation Intermediaries Association 2005 Industry Advancement Award
  TIA/NITL Broker/ Shipper Model Contract
  
  

Biography: James T. Smith

Mr. Smith's Background & Experience:

James (“Jim”) has ten years of transportation experience that has earned him a reputation for loyalty and problem solving. His national practice includes 3PL’s (transportation brokers), freight forwarders, shippers and trucking companies.

Jim understands the fast-paced and ever-changing environment facing all transportation companies in this modern century. His client-centered approach strives to keep his client’s freight moving while minimizing and mitigating the always present inherent risks.

Jim provides full-service counsel to his transportation clients, including:

• Litigation/Arbitration/Appeals;
• Contract review/drafting;
• Bills of Lading/Rate Confirmation review/drafting;
• Insurance policy review and counsel;
• Employment/Contractor/Agency contracts
• Claim Demands/Investigation Assistance;
• Compliance/Risk Assessing;
• Accident Response/Mitigation and Resolution;
• Enforcing/Defending Non-Compete and Trade Secret Matters;
• FMCSA Registration and Compliance

Membership/Affiliations:

Member of the Transportation Intermediary Association

Education:

B.A., Amherst College, Amherst College, MA
J.D., St. Thomas School of Law, Minneapolis, MN

Personal:

Jim lives in Eagan, Minnesota – a Minneapolis/St. Paul suburb proud to claim many nationally known transportation companies. Married to LeeAnn Smith, he is the proud father of three children. Jim played ice hockey his whole life, including a brief stint as a professional hockey player in France. His love of sports, history, politics and policy always welcomes good natured banter.