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The last 20 months or so have really tested the world’s supply chains, transportation networks and logistics systems. The earliest pandemic-driven shutdowns and restrictions on air travel boiled over into major supply chain issues throughout 2020 and then into 2021.
There were some opportunities to be found during this turmoil, but for the most part North American supply chains faced challenges that they’d never been put through in the past. From lumber shortages to a lack of semiconductor chips to ongoing disruption across many other product categories, consumer demand for goods was so high that many manufacturers simply couldn’t keep up. The truck driver shortage, massive uptick in ecommerce sales, capacity constraints and port congestion only added fuel to the fire.
This blog is committed to keeping you updated with the latest insight and information. Here’s a rundown of our top-ranked blogs from 2021:
5 Tips for Navigating Global Port Congestion and the Ocean Container Shortage
If 2020 was the year for pandemic-driven disruption for organizations around the globe, then 2021 is the year when those interruptions trickled down into the world’s supply chains. From product shortages to port congestion to an ocean container shortage, the number of obstacles standing in the way of an easy shipping experience seem to be mounting almost daily.
The truck driver shortage and overall labor market isn’t making things any easier for shippers that are trying to get their shipments from origin to destination in the fastest and most economical way possible. Combined, these challenges are forcing companies to get creative about how they send and receive their freight during this period of continued uncertainty.
VoloDrone: The Drone You Should Know
Just a decade ago, toy drones took the world by storm. Today, we are sure that their larger siblings – heavy lift cargo drones like Volocopter’s VoloDrone – will do the same with the logistics industry. From agriculture to business logistics, drones are reshaping the way we think about transporting products to their destinations. As we said before, drones promise fast, cost-efficient and sustainable deliveries with a wide field of applications. So, we are collaborating with one of the most advanced electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) developers in the industry to showcase and develop this technology.
Freight Cost & Transportation Capacity Outlook for 2021
With a worldwide vaccine distribution effort underway, the global pandemic still impacting most regions of the world, and supply chain disruptions persisting, the transportation environment remained unpredictable as we moved into 2021. These uncertainties may continue at least through the first half of the year, with shippers feeling the impacts across most modes.
Regardless of specific mode, the warehousing and distribution environment appears to be a common issue for many freight operators right now. In its recent Outlook 2021, JOC describes how this persistent labor shortage—particularly for warehousing and distribution—combined with social distancing requirements is slowing supply chain and logistics activities.
Top Air Freight Trends to Watch in 2021
Coming off the worst year for air cargo demand since the International Air Transport Association (IATA) began tracking such trends in 1990, the commercial air freight industry is slowing beginning to emerge from the debacle that was 2020 and find its way in the “new normal” operating environment.
Hit hard by global lockdowns, limitations on travel, labor shortages, and other problems that surfaced as the COVID-19 pandemic impacted countries around the world, the air cargo sector saw volume decrease by 10.6% in 2020 compared to 2019.
5 Ocean Shipping Trends to Watch in 2021
Container shortages, capacity constraints, higher shipping costs, and ongoing impacts of the global pandemic all placed new challenges in front of ocean shippers last year.
Those roadblocks have yet to be removed in 2021, although some early signs of relief are beginning to surface. The problem is that the shortage—among other forces—is driving shipping rates up across many routes at a time when global organizations are trying to realign their supply chains after a rough year in 2020.Here are five trends that all shippers should be keeping an eye on.
Happy New Year. We look forward to bringing you new insight and information in 2022.
