‘Keep Freight Moving’ Focus of Recent Port Meetings, Tours

On the heels of an informative Virginia Port Authority tour for media, Congressional and U.S. Department of Transportation staff (including Bureau of Transportation Statistics and Maritime Administration) on Aug. 3, the Port of Houston Authority (on Aug. 17) and Port Corpus Christi (on Aug. 18) each held a freight industry influencer’s roundtable and media tour last week, titled "Freight: Keep it Moving." Marking the fourth year in a row that AAPA has co-hosted these types of freight infrastructure-related programs, the back-to-back port meetings in Houston and Corpus Christi called on key thought-leaders throughout the transportation industry to explore critical issues facing U.S. seaports.

At the two Texas forums, a host of business, port and association executives, together with supply chain logistics professionals, transportation officials and academic leaders focused on discussing the increasing strain on the nation’s freight transportation infrastructure, and the challenges, priorities and possible solutions for making the most effective investments in America’s freight transportation network.

Following the Aug. 17 and 18 roundtable discussions, participants (including attending local and national media) were invited to tour various port facilities, manufacturing sites and road and rail locations to illustrate what was being discussed in their respective forum. "With manufacturers, policymakers and innovators striving to boost the U.S. economy and create jobs, the role played by America’s ports is more critical than ever," said AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle. "But today, at a time of increasing trade volumes and global competition, these critical economic engines are under threat by a lack of infrastructure investment. Participants in these two forums were part of an elite group of industry thought-leaders whose insights, ideas and solutions to the infrastructure ‘investment gap’ can help pave the way to providing much-needed solutions."

Among the influencers at the Port of Houston Authority roundtable was National Association of Waterfront Employers Executive Director John Crowley. He said that while individual supply chain participants may be very strong by themselves, when you try to link them together, they’re often mismatched and don’t fit. To illustrate, he said it’s like trying to fit together a rubber coated pipe with one comprised of stainless steel, another of bronze and another of plastic. To make the linkages work, he said we need a more global freight plan that puts people in the position to make wise decisions for the good of the entire supply chain.

At the Port Corpus Christi program the following day, Nueces County Judge Samuel "Loyd" Neal, Jr., shared a similar refrain, saying that when it comes to addressing congestion, moving freight loses the funding argument over moving people every time. "We have to re-educate the guys to who sign the checks to realize that (intermodal) connectivity is the key. Without good connections for freight, our markets are impacted and (people) don’t eat." He noted that first mile/last mile connections need to get transportation funding priority, adding that when we solve for the connectivity issues, we also solve for congestion across the supply chain.

Port of Houston Authority Executive Director Roger Guenther (left rear) and Journal of Commerce Senior Editor Joe Bonney (center) listen as Harris County Judge Ed Emmett (right) talks about the importance of ports.

Ryan Mariacher (right), Port of Houston Authority's container terminals director, explains Bayport Container Terminal operations and capabilities to tour participants.

Port Corpus Christi Executive Director John LaRue (right rear) comments on freight issues at Aug. 18 roundtable in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal (left) and Port Corpus Christi Executive Director John LaRue (right) listen as AAPA President Kurt Nagle (center) discusses freight infrastructure investment challenges for ports.