Commentary

Collaboration will be the theme for the container steamship lines this year.

Knowledge of the goods movement industry is a key element in the success of an industrial commercial real estate professional.

Perhaps the most pressing issue facing the Surface Transportation Board this year is how to provide more meaningful access to rail shippers who challenge rail rates, particularly when the shippers have limited transportation options.

The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 reached an important milestone last August when the 30th nation necessary for its coming into force ratified it.

Calls for a national freight strategy reached receptive ears this past year.

With the national election behind us, 2013 is an opportunity to roll up our sleeves and work with our federal and state officials to develop a freight infrastructure plan that will secure a stronger economy for generations to come.

If you enjoy roller coasters, 2013 should be your year.

The outlook for 2013 is unpredictable, even with the presidential election behind us.

In our 2012 outlook, we concluded that despite the global economic “soft patch,” 2012 would bring economic growth and an improvement in the demand for global industrial real estate. We were right.

The most important logistics factor for 2013 isn’t what has changed, but what hasn’t: the high cost of fuel.

As we enter 2013, we see technology permeating every sector of the economy and all facets of our professional and private lives. Innovative logistics service providers are launching service offerings for transportation planning and execution using next-generation transportation management systems, a trend we expect will gain momentum in 2013.

The re-election of Barack Obama, the approach of the fiscal cliff as these words are written and the fate of the global economy will have something to say about the U.S. government and economy, but when all is said and done, regulation will increase, federal expenditures will rise more slowly, more federal employees will retire, and the workload for those left behind will continue to swamp the bureaucracy.

Growing pressure on retailers to shift their business models to fulfill last-minute orders, combined with the ongoing increase in e-commerce amid a slow-growing economy, make it critical for companies to have a flexible supply chain that can handle fast shipments seamlessly.

The key to a recovering world economy and the health of our industry lies more than ever in the hands of the U.S. this year.

2013 marks yet another move forward on the environmental front for the maritime industry, with the implementation of new MARPOL regulations that prohibit the discharge of all garbage into the sea.

As we begin 2013, we are again faced with a dominant issue that impacts all of us: the world economy.

Strong leadership enables us to face today’s challenges and prepare for the future.

The changing and expanding role of the customs broker and the Automated Commercial Environment will be two of the challenges customs broker face in 2013.

The largest impacts to the logistics industry in 2013 will focus on how the political parties work together in Washington to provide businesses with a greater level of confidence, and how they govern the country.

The biggest change we will see in our industry this year is the changing role of the customs broker in 2013.

Logistics and transportation companies doing business with the government and military will face significant challenges in 2013.

Setting aside all of the negative connotations associated with the number “13,” I believe 2013 will be a year in which we make a positive move forward in the U.S. economy and in the U.S. political system. The two are related.

I find it hard to put my finger on which way the economy is going.

The retail industry continued to be a barometer for the U.S. economic recovery throughout 2012 while facing numerous challenges.

As the supply chain management discipline evolves in response to a more complex, interdependent business environment, professionals must complement their technical knowhow with “soft” managerial skills. Educators must rise to this challenge in the coming year.

The logistics market continues to evolve, and 2013 will be no different in terms of change and challenge.

2013 needs a champion or champions for U.S. freight transportation, logistics systems and processes.

In the complex world of container shipping, two things are certain: it’s a rough time for carriers — and it will be for the foreseeable future.

Sparked by the eurozone crisis, we have had enough of a gloomier picture of the global economy presented by IMF and others, forecasting a sluggish 3 to 4 percent growth in 2013. International trade must be sustained as a lifeline, of which ports are a vital link.

As we enter 2013, the world economy is likely to continue its overall recovery, with growth and stabilization taking place at varying paces in different markets.

In the shipping business, any strategic plan must include a strong operational focus and, above all else, a comprehensive understanding of — and commitment to — the needs of our customer.

With Europe expected to remain stagnant for 2013, the global economy will rely on the remaining markets.

This coming year we will continue to see substantive new benefits for the trade community and our economy as a result of the ongoing transformation of U.S. trade facilitation.

One initiative the NCBFAA has worked on for the last several years that will continue into 2013 is the ongoing co-development with Customs and Border Protection of the functionalities needed to make the Automated Commercial Environment a practical operating system.