MIAMI—The ongoing evolution of supply chains is a key driver inthe US industrial real estate market expansion.Businesses are looking to distribute goods across the country asquickly and efficiently as possible, but are faced with anationwide shortage of truck drivers that poses a risk to existingdistribution chain strategies.

Of course trucking plays a large role in the distribution ofgoods across a supply chain. But a new CBRE reportalso points to higher costs stemming from the truck driver shortageas a factor pushing users to turn to other land transport means,such as rail.

“Rising transportation costs, particularly those associated withtrucking, are forcing supply chain users—manufacturers, importers,and exporters—to devise blends of warehouses and distributioncenters that will most efficiently service the need for port accesswhile enabling quick delivery to end users in densely populatedmetropolitan areas,” says Scott Marshall,executive managing director of Industrial Services for the Americasat CBRE. The report highlights a demand for warehouse anddistribution space in markets that feature a significant intermodalcomponent has been a strong indicator that users are choosingaccess to the rail network as a solution to some portion of theirlong-haul transportation needs.