Raise fuel taxes to fund needed highway investments and honor the NAFTA provisions allowing Mexican trucking companies to operate in the U.S. Those are two of the straightforward opinions offered by Transplace CEO Tom Sanderson during a wide-ranging conversation on issues impacting the trucking industry.

Taking the time upfront to work with customers on a thorough requirements analysis will prevent unwelcome surprises later and will give customers the confidence and comfort level they need to move ahead with software implementations. So says Gene Gander, vice president of sales-Americas at CargoWise, a provider of software solutions and services for freight forwarders, NVOCCs, express couriers, customs brokers and other logistics companies.

The consequences can be enormous, even catastrophic, if a supplier fails. Jim Lawton, senior vice president and general manager of D&B Supply Management Solutions, says you must have a risk-assessment plan in place at all times.

The economy has not been good to this sector, says Walt Rakowich, ProLogis CEO, but some trends in industrial real estate are very promising. First, there is growing demand for sustainable warehouses. Second, a combination of GDP spurts and natural obsolescence of buildings stimulates construction.

There is a wealth of retailer data available to help consumer products companies become demand-driven, says Rob Byrne, president and CEO of Terra Technology. But many companies clearly need help in taking advantage of these resources.

Transportation and logistics companies need to be highly sensitive to customers' needs as the economy sags, says John J. Hill, executive vice president of Pilot Freight Services. And just what are cash-conscious customers looking for in logistics providers?

So different from those of the past, today's supply chains require new strategy, analysis and planning, says Steve Martin, vice president of supply chain excellence at Ryder System. He discusses current marketplace realities and their impact on sourcing, sustainability, and inventory optimization in the midst of unpredictable demand.

Following a number of recalls due to tainted products, the government is getting involved in the process of ensuring food safety throughout the supply chain. Tom Kozenski, vice president of product strategy with RedPrairie Corp., discusses how companies should respond.

John Caltagirone, vice president of supply chain strategy with The Revere Group, traces some of the major challenges that companies face as they prepare - or fail to prepare - for a resurgence in economic activity and customer demand.

There's a wealth of valuable data flowing through any company's supply chain. But managers within each discipline need a way to avoid being inundated with information that isn't critical to their job functions, says Steve Hensley, president of Blue Sky Technologies Inc.