Editor's Note: Logistics: Key to Company and National Competitiveness
September 2010
Meanwhile, imports - which had been growing - dropped 2.1 percent to $196.1 billion. The fact that unemployment is still high (remaining at 9.6 percent as of August) contributed to weakened consumer demand. Imports of autos alone dropped $713 million, and demand for business machinery and other capital goods fell off as well. So while the economic outlook looks bleak if one considers the number of people still out of work, the outlook takes on a rosier glow if rising U.S. exports are painted into the picture.
Needless to say, the ability to move all of these exports is critical to the continued growth of this sector and the economy as a whole. This is the focus of this issue. Both Bill Luttrell of Werner Enterprises and Adam Wasserman of PortCentric Logistics Partners discuss the importance of the nation's transportation infrastructure.
Interestingly, the latest Obama administration plan attempts to tackle U.S. unemployment woes by making badly needed improvements to its infrastructure. The six-year plan to make major upgrades to the nation's roads, rail lines, and runways would cost tens of billions of dollars and create a government-run bank to finance the projects, which has been the focus of some serious debate. Nonetheless, President Obama wants to rebuild 150,000 miles of road, lay and maintain 4,000 miles of railroad track, restore 150 miles of runways, and develop a next-generation air-traffic control system.
The infrastructure bank would be part of the U.S. Treasury. It would attract money from institutional investors and then channel it to projects selected by a panel. Many believe that such projects have the potential to transform entire regions - and possibly the entire national economy - in much the same way the interstate highway system and the first transcontinental railroad once did.
Whatever plan for infrastructure improvements is finally put into motion, we cannot lose sight of the urgency of this issue. Having the proper infrastructure in place is key for an efficient, cost-effective logistics network. Such a network translates not only into a company's economic competitiveness but our nation's as well.
Project Announcements
Oldcastle APG Plans Lancaster, South Carolina, Operations
05/10/2025
Vantive Plans Deerfield, Illinois, Headquarters Operations
05/10/2025
SkyWest Airlines Plans Shreveport, Louisiana, Maintenance Operations
05/10/2025
Hissho Sushi Plans Rock Hill, South Carolina, Headquarters-Distribution Operations
05/09/2025
Nelson Brothers Expands Walker County, Alabama, Operations
05/04/2025
Kimberly-Clark Expands Aiken County, South Carolina, Distribution Operations
05/04/2025
Most Read
-
Run a Job Task Analysis
Q4 2024
-
39th Annual Corporate & 21st Annual Consultants Surveys: What Business Leaders and Consultants Are Saying About Site Selection
Q1 2025
-
The Location Economics of Advanced Nuclear
Q1 2025
-
Why Workforce Readiness Can’t Wait
Q1 2025
-
Power, Policy, and Site Selection in 2025
Q1 2025
-
Is It Time to Start Planning for Quantum Data Centers?
Q1 2025
-
Top States for Doing Business in 2024: A Continued Legacy of Excellence
Q3 2024