Oct. 31, 2007 Trying to stay ahead of the curve on green transport regulations? Look at what's going on in California, seen by many in the logistics industry as a preview of what's coming down the pike.

Its where all the newest legislation is coming from, says Diane A. Mollenkopf, assistant professor, University of Tennessee, and it will have an impact on the entire nation in the coming years.

An article in Logistics Management quotes Mollenkopf's speech at last week's Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Annual Conference, which included a green track. Noting that compliance can be costly and complicated, Mollenkopf says "the consequences of not doing so can be worse."

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed into law a series of environmental compliance regulations, such as those required by the new state global warming initiative. Mollenkopf observes that laws like the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) are an indication of things to come.

According to Mollenkopf, shippers would prefer national standards to be put in place rather than deal with state-by-state laws. The key, Mollenkopf says, is to continue moving ahead without ceding control of the supply chain.