A group of University of Wisconsin-Superior students from the Transportation and Logistics Management Club, along with their adviser, Daniel Rust, professor and chair of the School of Business and Economics, recently traveled to central and eastern Wisconsin for a series of industry tours and transportation museum visits.
The first stop on the three-day trip was the Menards distribution center in Eau Claire. Students Joel Lembke and Gus Schauer shared insights from the tour.
“I was highly impressed by the level of automation incorporated throughout the facility,” Lembke said. “One detail that stood out was that their automated forklifts are nearly nine years old and still operating exceptionally well, which speaks to the quality and reliability of their systems.”
Schauer also reflected on the experience.
“Getting an up-close look at an automated warehouse at Menards was a special experience,” he said. “Many companies are starting automation systems from scratch, so hearing what Menards had to do to build its system was meaningful. What I found especially insightful was the emphasis on safety. The automated robots on the warehouse floor are equipped with cameras and sensors on three sides that allow them to detect obstacles and track their surroundings.”
The group then visited the Experimental Aircraft Association Museum in Oshkosh, which Lembke said was his favorite stop.
“As someone who is a huge World War II history enthusiast, seeing the aircraft up close and learning the stories behind them was incredibly fascinating,” he said. “I also enjoyed connecting many of the exhibits to topics Dr. Rust has discussed in class, particularly the history of aviation.”
Dillon Rust said he especially enjoyed the hands-on activities and demonstrations that highlighted physics concepts related to flight.
The group continued to Schneider National’s headquarters in Green Bay. Rik Somerville, a member of the first graduating class of UW-Superior’s transportation and logistics management program in 2000, provided a behind-the-scenes tour of the corporate campus, including the company’s newest building, known as “The Grove.”
Students were impressed by the eco-friendly design aimed at encouraging creativity and collaboration. The building features solar-powered lighting and furniture made from recycled materials.
After a brief stop at Lambeau Field, the group toured the National Railroad Museum. Gary Ortiz said it was his favorite stop of the trip.
“My favorite part of this year’s club trip was visiting the National Railroad Museum,” Ortiz said. “I’ve been a railroad enthusiast since I was very young. Seeing the front ends of famous named passenger trains from the golden age of railroading was incredible. The most amazing artifact was the only British locomotive in an American railroad museum—the LNER A4 6008 Dwight D. Eisenhower, named after the president following World War II.”
The Transportation and Logistics Management Club’s spring 2026 trip provided students with an engaging and educational experience. The tours and museums expanded students’ understanding of the transportation industry and its history while also strengthening friendships. Club leaders encourage more students to participate in future trips to transportation-related sites across the upper Midwest.
Written by UW-Superior
Link to original story: https://uwsuper.edu/about/news/from-automation-to-aviation-uw-superior-students-tour-wisconsin-transportation-sites/