no truck left behind

During presidential campaigns past, candidates have shouted themselves hoarse telling voters where they stood on everything from Iraq and the economy to taxes and stem cell research, though not logistics. We've heard a candidate vow to be the "education president," but have listened in vain for a pledge to be the "supply chain president." So it's no real surprise that several months after his re-election, President Bush has yet to offer any clues as to what his re-election means for the supply chain or logistics executive.When he outlined his priorities for the next four years at a news conference shortly after the election, President Bush ticked off a long list: Social Security, Iraq, tax reform and the economy. But not a word about making sure no truck was left behind.

The more's the pity. The distribution environment is nothing if not challenging right now. How is anyone supposed to guarantee—or provide for—the speedy delivery of merchandise at a reasonable cost in the face of spiking fuel prices, road congestion, port logjams, a truck capacity crunch, soaring transportation rates and labor shortages?

Given politicians' inclination to shift positions whenever the wind changes, there's no sure way of predicting what Bush's re-election means for logistics operations. But based on the president's previous actions, I'll risk some educated guesses:

• First, though some have hinted that it's time to consider re-regulation, that won't happen. The administration is not favorably disposed toward regulation, and, if anything, will reduce government intervention in business, particularly transportation.
• Though we're nowhere near the point where 100 percent (or even 10 percent) of incoming ocean containers are being inspected, it's highly unlikely we'll see much tightening of cargo security rules and regulations. The administration believes that its current plans are adequate.
• Energy, however, matters to President Bush. A longtime proponent of ethanol fuels, he's already committed almost $2 billion to hydrogen-fuel research as well. Expect the legislature to pass an energy bill that will offer significant credits for the purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles. Perhaps it was coincidence, but it was interesting that the price of oil dropped $2 a barrel the day after he was re-elected …
• The truck driver hours-of-service issue no doubt will see resolution in 2005. The court that stayed the new rules last year left no doubt as to how they should be handled in the future, however, which means there will be very little room for the administration to manipulate them.
• Perhaps the most important matter currently on the table is the highway bill, which has languished in Congress for far too long. (The spending program expired in 2003 but was extended through May 31.) Though various factions are at odds over the amount of money to be spent, lawmakers will have to deal with this plan to reduce congestion and increase spending on the nation's highways sometime soon. It's interesting to note that the Transportation Department wants to include in this bill tax-exempt "private activity bonds" that will make funds available for private sector intermodal projects.

Meanwhile, the states and counties aren't waiting around for something to happen. An astonishing number of projects to reduce road congestion appeared on state ballots in November. Voters in 11 states approved 23 of 31 measures to start or improve bus and rail lines, to the tune of over $40 billion. In California and Missouri, voters passed measures to stop state governments from using highway funds for other purposes. Not to be outdone, Sonoma County, Calif., citizens voted in a sales tax increase to fund bicycle and pedestrian paths to keep cars off the roads.

Now it's the federal government's turn. Our industry needs help. Let's hope our president shares that view.