FedEx Freight’s Logue Urges Improvements in Freight Movement
HOUSTON — FedEx Freight President William Logue stepped beyond his role in less-than-truckload to open the convention of three trade associations here by urging attendees to redouble their efforts to overcome barriers to infrastructure, regulatory and technological barriers that slow domestic and global commerce.
Logue spoke at the joint meetings of the Intermodal Association of North America, National Industrial Transportation League and the Transportation Intermediaries Association. He urged attendees to learn what can be done to improve infrastructure, remove barriers to productivity and simplify commercial processes.
“Companies have become more competitive and agile through supply chain management,” Logue said, blending praise for advancements in transportation with pleas for more attention to what he called barriers to further improvement.
In the infrastructure arena, he said emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil still are being held back by infrastructure shortfalls, while he particularly cited the importance of improving U.S. and cross-border infrastructure to capitalize on so-called “near-shoring” as more businesses expand in Mexico.
“The U.S. freight system has been a success story”, he said, citing historic advancement such as interstate highways and the Erie Canal. “To ensure the next chapter is a success, we must invest in infrastructure in every mode.”
In the regulatory arena, he said, “We must address these barriers to free trade,” citing slow customs handling in many countries, increased duties, inspections and other fees.
