NEWARK, NJ--The environmental movement has hit the worldwide transportation and logistics sector in a major way, and industry leaders are feeling the pressure to make their operations environmentally "sustainable," reports The Journal of Commerce in its 16th Annual Review & Outlook, published this month.
That sentiment was echoed by many of the more than 200 trade and transportation executives from around the globe who were invited by The Journal of Commerce to comment on the state of the industry,
projections for the year ahead and the issues likely to be confronted.
A number of areas addressed in the 220-page edition-the largest
ever-were familiar from past years, but this year, environmental issues
received unprecedented attention. "How do we continue to accommodate growth
in global trade and secure our facilities with limited financial resources,
and at the same time, minimize the impact on the environment and nearby
communities?" commented contributor Michael A. Leone, port director of the
Massachusetts Port Authority.
Other hot-button topics of concern include freight rates, fuel costs
and carriers' surcharges, West Coast port labor negotiations and the
nationwide introduction of the Transportation Worker Identification
Credential (TWIC).
The Annual Review & Outlook also features an analysis of the defining
issues of 2007 and comments on this year's outlook by veteran Journal of
Commerce editorial staff members, including:
-- How carriers, shippers, intermediaries, warehouse operators and
technology providers are responding to the environmental movement.
-- An in-depth look at continuously evolving transportation security
measures, including the TWIC and the "10+2" data-reporting program-two
of the most influential government security mandates since the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks.
-- The supply-demand outlook for ocean, rail and air-cargo industries and
the impact that such economic trends as the housing slump, subprime
mortgage crisis and skyrocketing fuel rates will have on the U.S. and
global economies.
-- The race by ports to stay ahead of global trade growth and avert the
congestion that has plagued supply chains in recent years.
-- How this year's U.S. West Coast longshore negotiations could
dramatically affect supply-chain strategies.
The Journal of Commerce
www.joc.com
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