SC&RA COMMENT
INTERNATIONAL
ANDSPECIALIZED TRANSPORT
■
MARCH 2015
55
According to
Bloomberg Business Week
, the IMF
projected three years ago that the world economy
would be back on track by 2015, growing at 4.8 %.
While the USA has basically met such expectations,
the disappointments, laments the IMF, have been Brazil, Russia,
India, and China – as well as parts of the Middle East, Europe,
and Japan. Thus, the IMF forecast for 2015 global growth has
been reduced to around3.4%.
The USA will continue to grow, but the expansionary phase
will show signs of maturing. The most pressing unknown for
the USA is whether this year will be the year the Federal Reserve
raises the federal funds rate, which has been locked in at zero to
0.25% since the endof 2008.
Though it is high compared to other nations, China’s 7.1 %
projected growth would be the country’s lowest in 15 years. The
disproportion in growth rates among the big four economies – the
USA, China, Japan, and Europe – is what has economists around
theworld concerned.
Global economic research organisation, The Conference
Board, says theUSA can expect to grow at around 2.6% in 2015–
relying on its strength in tech progress to accelerate productivity.
Europe is projected to grow at around 1.6 % – almost double
that of 2014 – in large part because of a boom in housing prices.
The question remains: can the UK shrink the real estate bubble
without deflating the economy?
InAsia-Pacific the outlook is, again, challenging inChina, but
rather positive elsewhere. The region actually remains the leader
for global growth. China and India together are projected to grow
at 5.5 % from 2015 to 2019. Conversely, economic conditions
in Latin America are unlikely to improve rapidly in 2015, with
regional growth at only 1.8%.
Overall, downsides to the global outlook relate to intensifying
political and economic risks, while upsides relate to the ability
COMMENT
JoelMDandrea
of policy and business to invest in people, raise productivity, and
rebuild trust and confidence, which is as good a time as any for
the lifting and specialized transport industry to insert itself.
Our industry has, and will continue, to move and lift the
world. We do it through innovation, collaboration, and sound
business principles and practices: operational efficiency – from
the boardroom to the jobsite. In times like these, the success of
this industry relies on the strength of companies to both produce
their own success, and come together in the spirit of advocacy.
SC&RA’sWorld Crane & Transport Alliance is a perfect place
to start for many international companies. Celebrating its 5th
anniversary this year, members of this alliance continually strive
to advance safety, productivity, and profitability for their own
members throughout the world. The member organisations also
agree to foster efforts to promote industry safety, harmonisation
of standards, common understanding, industry best practices,
fair trade, and any other pertinent endeavours to further
the industries they serve. Regardless of new challenges and
opportunities that may arise, all partners to this alliance agree to
work together for the common good.
Attending SC&RA events is another productive way for
companies to enhance their networks, build on their awareness
of governmental practices, and access the newest products
and information frommember companies around the world.
Hopefully many of you were able to experience the benefits
of SC&RA membership at the Specialized Transportation
Symposium, inAtlanta, Georgia (USA), earlier thismonth.
SC&RA events remaining for 2015 include:
■
The SC&RAAnnual Conference, 14 to18April inCarlsbad,
California,USA
■
Lift&MoveUSA, 16&17 June inChicago, Illinois,USA
■
TheCrane&RiggingWorkshop, 23 to25September in
Denver, Colorado,USA.
■
Membershipmore important thanever
WHO’SWHO
SPECIALIZEDCARRIERS
&RIGGINGASSOCIATION
EXECUTIVEVICEPRESIDENT
Joel Dandrea
5870TrinityParkway, Suite200
Centreville, Virginia, 20120, USA
Tel: +1 (703) 6980291
Fax: +1 (703) 6980297
CHAIRMAN
RonMontgomery
IntermountainRigging&HeavyHaul
Salt LakeCity, Utah, USA
PRESIDENT
AlanBarnhart
Barnhart CraneandRigging
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
VICEPRESIDENT
BruceForster
RiggingGearSales
Dixon, Illinois, USA
TREASURER
DelynnBurkhalter
Burkhalter
Columbus,Mississippi, USA
ASSISTANTTREASURER
JohnMcTyre
McTyreTrucking
Orlando, Florida, USA
ALLIED INDUSTRIESGROUP
CHAIRMAN
EddyKitchen
, KitchensCrane&
Equipment, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA
CRANE&RIGGINGGROUP
CHAIRMAN
LarryCurran,
JJCurranCrane
Company, Detroit,Michigan, USA
LADIESGROUPCHAIRWOMAN
KarenWood,
Wheco
Richland,Washington, USA
TRANSPORTATIONGROUP
CHAIRMAN
JayFolladori,
Landstar
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
SC&RFOUNDATION
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT:
RobertMoore
NBIS
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
VICEPRESIDENT:
StephanieBragg
BraggCompanies
LongBeach, California, USA
TREASURER:
JimSever
PSCCrane&Rigging
Piqua, Ohio, USA
