Commentary

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.

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

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.

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.

What’s remarkable about the latest twists in the longshore labor negotiations for East and Gulf Coast ports is the muted

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.