The greatest wisdom in logistics comes from its frontline workers. Ask a customer service representative (CSR) in the morning what lessons were learned from this past year, and they will tell you.
As Marcie Hillyer, a five-star CSR at IMC Companies for over 30 years, put it, “I’m so burned out on all the excuses being made about this problem. I heard someone griping in the store about empty shelves and was compelled to give her a quick lesson on intermodal trucking. ‘Stop complaining about your burned biscuits and make a new batch.’”
To put it another way, if a system is broken, wouldn’t it be better to try doing things differently? The US freight transportation industry should think about more inland hubs; relays for smaller, more nimble vessels; short-haul options by rail to optimize driver and chassis capacity; peel-off piles and short-term storage of containers at terminals; chassis interoperability and fair market access; collaborating on empty equipment return; and hiring the next generation of diverse leadership in an industry that is begging for change.
The outlook and opportunity for US trucking is strong. The outlook is also met with concerns over driver count; according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, commercial drivers’ licenses have fallen 5 percent from pre-pandemic levels. The translation is pretty straightforward: Truck capacity will be precious.
The risks for all trucking and intermodal providers include labor shortages and equipment imbalances. US trucking and rail will struggle as this wave of freight moves in and out. Effective and intentional balancing of equipment will be critical. Loads must be met with evacuation of empties at our ports and rail terminals.
The balance of these assets is a critical component in freeing up chassis and space, and the result is greater driver efficiency and rail fluidity.
Shippers value the critical need for drivers and the urgency to have freight on shelves. They have been diligently working to secure capacity, offering to sign multi-year contracts, and seeking innovative ways to partner going forward.