In this book, Baluch examines logistics innovations in great projects of the past, analyses the challenges of today's freight logistics industry, and shares his vision for its possibilities in the future.

Transport Logistics: Past, Present and Predictions has garnered praise from a number of industry leaders, including Bruno Sidler, President and CEO of Panalpina. "The well-researched references to the various historical cases make for interesting reading they aptly demonstrate to the layman and the specialist alike the importance of logistics in the development of civilization," Sidler said.

Ram Menen, Senior Vice President of Cargo at Emirates Airlines, has said that "Issa must be commended for his analysis of these major historical events, bringing to light the evolution in logistics, and for highlighting the present and future of the industry from a freight forwarder's perspective."

Baluch is well positioned to explore the challenges of the logistics business. This 32-year industry veteran is credited with having pioneered the thriving sea-air combined transport freight business that operates in the United Arab Emirates. In 1989, he founded Swift Freight International in Dubai. Today Swift is among the top freight logistics providers in the UAE, with a network of 32 offices in 17 countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Baluch also served as President of FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders' Associations) from 2003 to 2005.

Transport Logistics meets a great need for accessible resources in the transport logistics industry.

"My foremost aim has been to put some pride back into the profession of freight logistics, so that today's practitioners can see themselves as part of a rich history," Baluch said. "This book discusses a number of great transport logistics projects, some successful and some failures. We can trace our roots to these historical logisticians, who engaged their talents and their know-how to achieve tremendous success."

Baluch also expressed his desire to attract the next generation and show them the importance of the profession. He hopes that these stories of innovation in transport logistics will help the new generation carry the freight logistics profession toward further innovation and progress.

The first part of the book presents ten case studies of historical projects that demanded careful transport logistics management, some of them successes and some of them failures.

Part II examines various aspects of today's dynamic freight logistics industry, including the changing role of the freight forwarder. With the development of IT-based supply chain integration and value-added service offerings, the freight forwarder is being forced to evolve, or else risk extinction.

An examination of the freight logistics industries of Egypt, China, South Africa, India, and Dubai provides some perspective on the varied environments in which forwarders operate and illuminates the need for trade and transport facilitation as a means to economic growth.

Finally, Baluch looks at the future of transport logistics, which will continue to evolve and pose new challenges as a result of globalization, the digitalization of information, security concerns, new technologies, rising energy costs, and changing trade patterns.

He also presents railways as the eco-friendly freight solution of the future, especially in the Middle East and Africa. Transport Logistics concludes with an emphasis on the importance of training and the role of national and international associations in developing a culture of quality, security, and innovation in the freight logistics profession.

According to HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman of the Emirates Group, "Issa Baluch clearly has a vision for the possibilities that the future holds for global trade and transport; therein lies the great value of Transport Logistics: Past, Present and Predictions."

More information is available online at http://www.transportlogistics.com/