Truckload motor carriers see demand picking up and are optimistic that 2010 will mark a strong recovery for the sector, says Kevin Burch, chairman of the Truckload Carriers Association and president of Jet Express.

The clean air standards for heavy truck engines that went into effect Jan. 1 of this year culminate a three-tier process that began with legislation passed in 2001. Don Kilfin, a fleet sales manager for Nalley Motor Trucks and retired Detroit Diesel executive, says the challenges for engine manufacturers in meeting these standards have been substantial and have come with a price.

Rather than take a hands-off approach to transportation, the U.S. Department of Commerce is very much involved in trying to bring efficiencies to the country's freight policies, says Joe Holecko, a global trade specialist with the department's International Trade Administration.

Steve Rubinson, director of global trade compliance at JohnsonDiversey Inc., which markets environmentally friendly cleaning products, discusses how to manage the risk of delays related to adhering to trade regulations, and how cultural differences impact global businesses.

Transportation brokers play an important role in the supply chain, but they often do not receive the respect they deserve, says Robert Voltmann, president and CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association.

Logistics and transportation companies were hit early and hard by the economic downturn. Those that survived had to adapt operations and adopt new ideas and strategies. Many of those will remain and provide competitive benefits as the recovery takes hold.