The acceleration of trade flows, security concerns, infrastructure requirements, and the aging of the transportation workforce, coupled with changing political dynamics, require us to refocus our priorities and look for common foundational elements and linkages that will enable us to address these issues rapidly and effectively. The three shaping forces of 2018 will be technology and its impact, the changing nature of our workforce, and the targeting of infrastructure investment support to achieve outcomes tied to specific business needs.
Regarding technology, optimizing system performance in maritime/logistics operations is essential. The CMTS National Strategy focuses on this as one of its five priority areas. The ports of Los Angeles’ and Hamburg, Germany’s chainPORT initiative is one example of how to employ leading edge technologies in port operations to meet the expectations of customers looking for efficiency and transparency in the supply chain.
At the same time, we must ask and answer hard policy questions about what these new technologies, especially vehicle automation in terminals and on our roads and railways, mean for our workforce. The definition of what it means to be a longshoreman or a vehicle operator might change, but technology should enhance those positions so that these jobs remain viable and attract new workers with critical skills.
Finally, we must strategically invest in infrastructure to relieve bottlenecks and improve system reliability. With fewer federal dollars available, states, local communities, and business leaders are working together to target investments to projects with clear payback. While earmarks may be gone, vital support to leverage funding can be successful.