I. Introduction As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic swept into the United States this spring, the impact on businesses of all types was immediate and acute, whether they were deemed essential or not. The extraordinary stress COVID-19 shutdowns placed on supply chains affected all manner of transportation operations, from ocean shipping to parcel delivery. Less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers and their customers were no exception. In fact, thanks to their dependence on networks of terminals, dock workers and truck drivers, they were often more exposed to risk. Each time a shipment changed hands in transit, the potential existed — and still exists — for exposure to the virus.

“Each time a shipment changed hands in transit, the potential existed – and still exists – for exposure to the virus.”

In September, The Journal of Commerce surveyed nearly 100 LTL shippers to gain insight into their experience with LTL motor carriers as the COVID-19 pandemic first led to business shutdowns and a deep recession and then a rapid recovery in freight demand in the second and third quarter. That recovery was complicated by widespread supply chain disruption as companies reopened only to find suppliers and customers were still shut down, had changed shipping and receiving locations, or were operating at reduced productivity rates because of COVID restrictions and a reduced labor force. The ripple effect from that disruption is still with us in the fourth quarter of 2020. The 91 LTL shippers surveyed by the JOC — more than 40 of which have more than $1 billion in annual revenue and a third of which have transportation budgets in the $100 million to $500 million range, revealed serious problems that required significant action in their survey responses. Those actions include the “firing” and replacement of LTL motor carriers that were unable or unwilling to correct service problems that led to serious sales and production issues for the shipper’s customers. The results indicate where shippers and LTL carriers need to focus to succeed in this quarter and 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect global and domestic shipping.

The COVID-19 pandemic unearthed fault lines across shipper supply chains, including the LTL portion of their U.S. transportation networks. Because of the nature of its business, the LTL trucking sector came under greater pressure from the virus than perhaps any freight transportation sector except the parcel and air express industries. That led to service breakdowns and failures that put stress on other aspects of shipper supply chains and imperiled shippers’ service to their customers, whether retailers or manufacturers.

When shippers could not resolve problems with their LTL carriers, they replaced them. However, they also added more LTL companies to their carrier portfolios to ensure they had the truck capacity needed to get freight to their customers.

 

 

Dubai Movers TGM LLC offers packing services can carry out a full pack of your household or office items successfully.  With this option, we are accountable for properly packing all of your belongings to ensure a safe move.  Our trained professionals will only use the best packing materials available, to not only protect your items, but increase competence and the time it will take to complete the move.  Your items, such as dishes and glassware will be protected by being wrapped in the proper material (whether its newsprint or bubble wrap) and densely packing into heavy corrugated dish packs.  Not only is densely packing the items smart because it reduces the room for movement or items shifting in their box (which is what causes the most damage in your move), but it will also save you money in the fact that you will be able to have a smaller truck for your move. The “fragile items only” or partial pack option from our professional packing services is great when customers want to spend less or have plenty of time to prepare before their move and want to do some of the work on their own.  We will pack the more difficult, fragile items that require special care and transport.  We welcome the opportunity to provide as much or as little packing services as desired.  Either way, we want to make sure that all of your items arrive safe and sound.