IAMC is fully engaged in many of the issues of the day both strategically, e.g. Professional Forum themes, and tactically, e.g. the "Get Some Help" initiative. I continue to be exceedingly impressed by and appreciative of the many ideas and solutions that come through our group. One of the best ways for all our members to get value from IAMC is to fully engage with one of our committees. It provides more frequent contact, the opportunity to build relationships and allows you to put your stamp on the organization and its agenda. Our leaders are very responsive and they are focused on delivering value.
      This issue of Site Selection highlights changes in logistics. It's a topic that has been part of the IAMC Professional Forums since the very beginning. While it is not asset management directly, it can drive location decisions and asset utilization. While it may not be obvious to the average citizen, there are fundamental changes taking place in how we move freight.
      Federal, state and municipal officials around the country are reaching out to "get some help" themselves. They recognize the deficient condition of our transportation infrastructure against the forecast of a 50-percent increase in freight traffic over the next decade or so. They have a problem unless something changes. That problem will affect your work force commute, the reliability of your freight delivery and your costs. This year I have attended several sessions on the subject, including a Symposium on Transportation at MIT with the logistics leaders from major industry including retail. This is a big deal.
      While attention has now been focused on the problem, the solutions are not yet clear and significant investment will be required. The big question is whether there will be a significant change in our public policy and investment in driving more freight toward fuel efficient, safe modes. As usual, private industry is agile and drives markets to respond quickly with solutions, ranging from new intermodal conveyance of long-haul traffic to longer port hours.
      The longer-term solutions will evolve around land use issues and connectivity to multi-modal terminals. That is where the location of distribution centers or plants (and their economics) will start to be affected by these logistics changes. The closer you are to a major intermodal terminal, connected to major freight hubs, the better your service and cost will be. This is a reversal of the dispersion of industry and distribution centers that the Interstate Highway system has promoted for the past 50 years. No, it won't change overnight, but our assets have a long life. So next time you're in the cross-functional meeting at your company talking about site location drivers, ask your logistics people some good questions.
      Meanwhile, I'll see you at Corpus Christi to continue the forum.

Charles McSwain