Logistics Management regrets to report that longtime contributor of features and columns and good friend to LM, William J. Augello, passed away Nov. 19 at his home in Arizona. He was 80.

Bill practiced transportation law for over five decades and is known throughout the transportation world as an authority on transportation and the law. He served for many years as the executive director of the Transportation Consumer Protection Council. He was best known for his role in defending shippers against the practice of "undercharges," where bankrupt motor carriers attempted to revise invoices and collect additional payments from shippers.

He received many honors including: The Harry E. Saltzberg Honorary Medallion (Syracuse University), National Transportation Man of the Year (the Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Fraternity), a Distinguished Service Award, (Transportation Lawyers Association), and the Outstanding Educator of the Year Award (Colorado Transportation Community’s Operation Stimulus).

Bill authored several books, including Transportation, Logistics and the Law and co-authored Freight Claims in Plain English with George Pezold.

Bill received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology from Dartmouth College and a law degree from Fordham University. He was also on the faculty of Denver University’s Intermodal Transportation Institute and the Institute of Logistical Management, having served on both Boards of Directors. For the past several years, he was an adjunct professor of law at the University of Arizona.

Mike Reagan of Tranzact Technologies interviewed Bill several months before his passing. To hear this interview, click here.