Thinking differently than we have in the past was a central theme of our annual Industry Issues Roundtable as we brought prominent shippers and carriers together to discuss the challenges of navigating their companies through what is expected to be a long and deep recession. In Part I of our roundtable (see our Nov/Dec 2008 issue) our panelists looked ahead to the eventual recovery and how different shipper-carrier relationships would be for the survivors. In Part II they focus specifically on the thorny issue of fuel surcharges and whether there is a better way to approach them. Watch also for video clips of their comments on many other issues in special installments of our Web TV show Transportation Matters, available on www.trucknews.comand www.ctl.ca.

BIG Transportation Media, through its ownership of both motor carrier and shipper publications, is in the unique position of being able to see issues from “both sides of the fence.” We consider it our mandate to foster dialogue between buyers and providers of transportation services.

Our third annual Shipper-Carrier Issues Roundtable, which is published in both our carrier and shipper publications, is a step towards that goal. It allows buyers and providers of transportation services across the country to gain a more well-rounded understanding of the issues at hand.

This roundtable would not have been possible without the support, once again, of Shaw Tracking and I wish to thank this highly respected industry player for its support. I would also like to thank all the roundtable participants who took time out of their hectic schedules to make this roundtable a possibility. As with past participants, these individuals were specifically chosen because of the high-esteem with which they are held within the transportation industry and their insightful and honest contributions certainly showed why.

Lou Smyrlis