These are exceptionally busy days in the industrial sector. Recent market reports show that on a year-over-year basis, sales volume of industrial properties continues to rise in double-digit increments, while net absorption and rent growth continue to be strong even as the pipeline of new construction remains well-filled. In fact, the vacancy rate in the big-box segment of the sector has reached an all-time low.

With a backdrop of constantly humming activity, it's an apt time to shine the spotlight on the men and women who make it happen: the industrial sector's dealmakers. The November/December issue of Real Estate Forum will present some of the most prolific leasing and investment sales brokers in the US industrial real estate sector. This biennial feature will rank the top agents throughout the country, based on a year's worth of transaction activity. It will be complemented by a special supplement on GlobeSt.com.

To provide a level playing field between nominees in varying markets, the editors of Forum have developed the following methodology: All nominees will be given a score for the three fields on the form: total number, total dollar volume and total square footage of commissionable deals closed from midyear 2016 to midyear 2017. The sum of the three scores will determine their final rank.