NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 (http://www.joc.com/) to comment on the state of the industry, projections for the year ahead and the issues likely to be confronted. The Journal of Commerce, founded in 1827, is published by Commonwealth Business Media Inc. (http://www.cbizmedia.com/), a subsidiary of United Business Media plc (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/).
"The Journal of Commerce's Annual Review & Outlook is unique," said Joseph Bonney, editor-in-chief. "Each year we invite industry leaders to offer a brief commentary on what they see as the one or two top issues facing their part of the industry. We're always impressed by the perceptiveness of the responses. These are intelligent, informed commentaries by opinion shapers who know their subject, and the sample size is sufficient to provide an excellent barometer on industry thinking about the year ahead."
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.
To purchase a print copy of the Annual Review & Outlook, or to request a subscription to The Journal of Commerce, visit http://www.joc.com/, call 1-888-215-6084 (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ET) or email
