California’s Assembly Bill No. 5 – better known as AB 5 – originally prompted to provide protections for gig employees faced challenges immediately after its passing in 2020. Following a lengthy court challenge and appeal that was struck down, it is now widely interpreted to also apply to California’s independent owner-operator drivers. With its hasty implementation, there are no certainties for the long-term impact that AB 5 carries for the trucking industry.  

The world of trucking transportation is an $830 billion industry. AB 5 has implications that can affect an estimated 70,000 independent owner-operators based in California. Nothing will happen overnight, and much is still set to play out in the courts, but we’re starting to get a clearer picture of what we’ll be seeing first and where we’ll see the industry moving. 

What Does AB 5 Do?

As it was originally envisioned, AB 5 was directed at carving out protections for gig workers, specifically those working for companies like Uber, Lyft, Postmates and Instacart. As worker rights and conditions have come into greater focus, it’s clear that these workers who often picked up driving and delivery services for supplementary income may have faced dangerous work conditions, undisclosed fees, less than minimum wage, and no avenue for recourse. 

The intent of AB 5 was to build protections for these workers by reclassifying them as employees and not as independent contractors. These protections included things like minimum wage, worker’s compensation, overtime pay, and unemployment insurance. Most agreed that the issue involved the practices of these gig-economy companies while also extending to janitors and domestic workers who are historically underrepresented and taken advantage of, and not the independent contractor model of running one’s own business. 

Short-Term Implications of AB 5  

While there’s no way to guess how the implementation of AB 5 will play out over the next few years, we are already seeing short term impacts that are adding complications to an already overly extended industry. Coming after three years where the trucking industry and supply chain channels saw major upheaval, this bill is set to only add challenges. 

After the Supreme Court denied hearing challenges to the bill, major transportation industries scrambled to figure out updated practices in compliance with AB 5 while still maintaining arrangements with owner-operators. Most of these decrees have indicated that owner-operators could relocate out of California, not haul in California, or join an operating authority as an employee and continue to haul in California. Each of these options carries major life upheaval for owner-operators who were simply following an entrepreneurial path. 

In the works now is the idea of a “two-check system.” As John D. Schulz explains in his piece for Logistics Management, a few California-based trucking companies are considering a new system to pay formerly independent contractors. Under this practice, truckers would now be hired as employees, but then issued a check to lease their equipment back to the company. This hasn’t been put in place yet, but it speaks to the magnitude of creativity the industry is using to try to protect its owner operators, so an overtaxed supply chain system isn’t dealt another huge blow. 

Earthquakes in the Trucking Industry 

The trucking industry has been facing a driver shortage for years now with projections that it will only get worse before it gets better. The workforce is largely over the age of 60 and headed toward retirement with not nearly enough young and qualified drivers entering the field. The industry itself has implemented changes to attract more and younger drivers, but these efforts are being hindered by expanding regulations. 

Trucking is an absolutely essential mode of transporting goods around the country, and because of that, there is an undeniable environmental impact. But the industry on a whole has proven to be in line with becoming greener and more sustainable, working with lawmakers towards reasonable and impactful updates to equipment and operations. 

AB 5 and the Trucking Industry

The primary intent for AB 5 was not to affect traditional companies that have a long-standing tradition and working model for using independent contractors. And when looking at the history of working together, California governmental agencies and the legislature have most often worked closely with trucking and trucker organizations to draft legislation that creates progress in the industry while also being attainable and non-disruptive to the national supply chain. 

That hasn’t happened with AB 5, and while trucking companies who contract with owner-operators are busy ironing out new methods to continue working together, it’s the owner-operators themselves who are facing uncertainty, heavy new costs, and possible major life changes. It seems in some sense that the state of California has drawn a line in the sand about the independent contractor model of doing business and designating that certain industries who employ this model are fine to do so, but others must reorganize. 

We will not know what this looks like in the long term for quite some time and it’s almost guaranteed that there will continue to be court challenges that will reshape how AB 5 is implemented. What is clear right now is that solutions are ongoing and relief from higher shipping costs will be pushed back. In the end, AB 5 will for now produce reduced capacity and shipping choices, ultimately affecting shippers with higher rates and consumers with higher prices. 

As an independent Landstar agent, Pride Logistics is backed by one of the largest capacity carrier networks in the country. We’re dedicated to remaining at the forefront of responding to the impacts of AB 5 so that our operations for customers are unaffected. As owner and CEO Jose Sherman notes, “we knew this was a possibility and have been making adjustments according to AB 5 requirements. Because of this we’re expecting no interruption of services, and little to no impact on our capacity availability.” If you have questions about how to keep this legislation from impacting your supply chain, we’re here to help provide solutions. 

The Covid-19 pandemic brought the national global supply chain front and center in everyone’s lives and it hasn’t left since. Major shifts in buyer behavior, the readiness and availability of goods, as well as rapidly changing product demands created a vastly different picture than was present even a few years ago. 

Now, the transportation industry is facing a crisis of circumstances from within – a shortage of truck drivers. We’re already seeing this shortage impact the piling up and movement of goods, but is there anything to be done?

Truck Drivers in the U.S.

Around 71% of products in the U.S. economy are moved across the country by truck drivers. The shortage we’re now facing has been developing for a long time. Since the early 1990s, population growth and expansion of cities and towns has meant a steady rise in the number of goods transported across the country. However, as the number of goods has risen, the number of drivers to move those goods has stayed roughly the same.

Truckers can make up to around $100,000 per year, but it can often be a grueling way to make a living. Drivers are on the road for most of their life, meaning that family and friends may not be seen for months at a time. Holidays and special occasions are often missed. They may also be responsible for the cost of gas, carrying insurance, and conducting maintenance on their rigs.

Drivers By the Numbers

The majority of truck drivers are of the baby boomer era, born in the two decades following World War II. Currently, 31% of drivers are aged 55 or older – over one-third of that entire workforce. Much of that generation has already reached retirement age, or will be reaching retirement age in the coming years. As greater numbers retire, the number of younger individuals joining the ranks of truck drivers has not met the requirements to replace the number leaving.

As it stands in 2022, an estimated 80,000 more drivers are necessary to meet the needs of the industry right now. That number could stay constant or get worse in the coming few years, and is expected to surpass 160,000 by the year 2030. It’s a perfect storm situation of higher than usual freight volume that is not expected to subside, large amounts of retirements, and lack of new drivers to fulfill open roles.

Additional Challenges

The industry on a whole has been pursuing a range of solutions to this problem. Raising pay was the primary method enacted by carriers. Estimates put the rate increase at up to five times the historical average, with average weekly earnings for long-haul drivers up more than 25% since 2019. Unfortunately, this hasn’t yet had the desired effect of attracting new entries to the profession and instead has created more competition between carriers for the limited pool of current drivers.

Driver retention and new driver acquisition also rely heavily on quality of life factors that are even harder to address for the profession. Life on the road can be physically and mentally grueling. On top of that, to meet safety standards within the industry, it’s an expensive and time-consuming process to teach someone how to drive an 18-wheeler through inclement weather and treacherous snow and ice.

Working on Solutions

Turning to technology is one way that the industry is attempting to ease the situation. Since truck driving carries some safety risks, many in the industry want to incorporate emerging technology to make truck drivers’ lives safer and easier. Driver-assist technologies like collision mitigation and auto-emergency braking have a lot of support within the industry that will have a positive effect if implemented.

Self-driving trucks have been in discussion for quite some time with some versions being actively tested. In 2017, the now defunct company Otto spearheaded the self-driving big rig with a 132-mile drive across Colorado to deliver beer. Many companies are looking at a possible hybrid model where self-driving trucks are used for a majority of the haul with human truck drivers taking on sections that would benefit from more on-site thinking.

While technology can help alleviate some of the need for new drivers, it’s likely only going to be able to lower that number, not entirely get rid of it. To combat that, attracting young drivers from a variety of diverse backgrounds is at the forefront of the industry’s priorities. Many see that as starting at what current drivers have been asking to have for years. This includes bonus opportunities depending on the trip, better benefits and healthcare, more physical comfort on the road, and making it easier to get a CDL (the licensing required to operate large trucks).

Takeaway

Lowering hurdles and making the profession more appealing and rewarding could go a long way in attracting new drivers to the industry. Reaching out to audiences that are traditionally overlooked could also be beneficial. And while technology can be revolutionary, it’s unlikely to ever completely change the model. No matter where we go, or with what combination of features, supply and demand dictates that there will absolutely be change that we’ll need to adapt to for the future of truck drivers.

Shortly after the historical flight by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk in 1903, those who believed in aviation began searching for other lucrative uses for the airplane besides moving people. These were the seeds of air cargo – an industry that today moves millions of packages around the world daily. With its illustrious beginning, air travel was bound to revolutionize multiple industries. But the Covid pandemic has taken a toll, and it remains to be seen how air cargo freight in the U.S. will manage these challenges. Despite this, let’s see how the industry has been so successful and where it’s headed in the future.

Technology & Speed

The first practical demonstration of air cargo freight took place in 1910, a mere seven years after the first flight. Philip Parmelee flew 65 miles from Dayton to Columbus, Ohio, delivering a package containing 200 pounds of silk for the grand opening of a retail store. The flight was officially timed at 57 minutes – a world speed record at the time and the very first ‘cargo only’ flight. It was also the first example of multimodal air transport, since the silk was transported from the plane to the store by an automobile.

This success was sidelined by the First World War beginning in 1914. Aerial warfare played a massive role in this war and changed the face of modern warfare forever. This was also a time when a number of entrepreneurs understood that aircraft could move high value/low volume consignments faster than railroads, shipping companies and parcel delivery companies.        

Efficiency

When other modes of transporting goods presented new challenges for shippers in 2020-2021, and with ongoing, pandemic-driven supply chain disruption impacting transportation networks, companies turned more and more to air freight for help moving their cargo quickly and efficiently. 

Air cargo freight also has the unique position of being able to capitalize on not only dedicated cargo planes, but also belly-hold capacity on passenger aircraft. This opens up the flexibility and various types of air transportation, thus expanding capacity. Routes between cities also provide the ability to search for availability that could satisfy efficiency, cost savings, or time savings depending on the priority needs of the shipper.

E-Commerce

The rise of e-commerce has had the greatest impact on the air freight industry. Companies like Target, Walmart, Amazon and eBay allow customers a few shipping options when they shop. Some of the most popular are two-day and next-day delivery. This movement of goods from one country to another, around the world, and ultimately to the buyer, with such speed usually requires the use of air freight.

The introduction of the Boeing 747 transformed the air cargo industry by allowing full pallets to be transported within the cargo hold of the wide-body aircraft. What followed was the launch of dedicated service providers for all-cargo airplane fleets. This contributed greatly to the increased volume of air freight and continues to move the industry toward fulfilling larger and larger volume of shipments.

Freight Volume

With freight volume expected to grow 50% by the year 2050, there is going to be an incredible amount of freight that will require infrastructure and supply chain to support it. As freight volume increases, freighters in airplane fleets will increase in numbers by necessity. Passenger airplanes simply cannot meet the needs of the world air cargo industry. Most passenger belly capacity doesn’t serve key cargo trade routes nor meet shipper timing needs. They’re also limited in the type of cargo, not being able to service palletized freight or hazmat.

And with the increased number of freighters needed, there is a compulsory increase in needs for pilots as well. The commercial airline industry has been facing a pilot shortage for years, and with a global freighter fleet expected to grow more than 60% over the next two decades, pilots are going to be in even heavier demand.

Critical Services

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic that directly affected the supply chain, air cargo freight continued to play a crucial role with critical services. Life-saving medical equipment and PPE was rapidly transported exactly where it was needed, sometimes in mere hours or up to a day or two. 

As the coronavirus vaccines were developed, air freight played an invaluable role in transporting the equipment needed to deliver vaccines from the vaccine itself to glass vials, needles, and syringes to administer the shots. While it was often trucks and vans performing the last mile delivery, these materials that saved countless lives only made it where they were needed with the aid of air freight cargo.

Takeaway

A globalized economy makes air freight an essential component in any sort of movement of goods around the world. As air freight is expected to play a larger role in the transportation industry in the coming years, focusing on labor shortages and regulatory disputes – especially internationally – is going to play a major role in how smoothly the air freight industry grows and adapts to its ever widening role. 

The U.S. Railroad dates back to the year 1830 and has been a mainstay to move people and things around the country ever since then. It has played a central role in the country’s history and economy, and today, the U.S. has some of the most profitable railroad businesses in the world with upwards of billions in profits. So what makes the U.S. freight railroad system so successful and where is it headed in the future?

Geography

The geography of the United States is largely responsible for freight railroad and the freight network being far superior than that in other countries. Railroads traditionally depended on both agriculture and mining. These materials typically originate in the center of the country and need to move outward to the coasts where population is heavier. 

This disbursement of population coupled with the natural geography of where these commodities are found and grown, made railroad a natural solution to move them about the country. Especially during longer hauls throughout central America. The flat land of central America and the plains region also created an ideal situation for laying track, with population centers booming as the railroad was built.        

Rise of E-Commerce

The rise of e-commerce has made intermodal containers some of the biggest shipments for railroad freight. Intermodal containers can move seamlessly from a ship that has crossed an ocean, to a train to move through vast amounts of land, to a truck for more pointed last mile transport – all without ever having to be unpacked.

One intermodal freight train carries upwards of 200 containers. That’s 200 trucks worth of goods moved by one train. It is highly efficient and environmentally friendly, producing about 25% of the amount of carbon emissions that trucks do. With e-commerce only expected to expand on its dominance, freight rail and intermodal shipments are likely to become more popular and useful for supply chains.

Freight Volume

Freight volume is expected to grow 50% within thirty years by the year 2050. That’s an incredible amount of freight that will need the infrastructure and supply chain to support it. A typical railroad freight may travel on average 1,100 to 1,800 miles in the western U.S. and 400 to 600 miles in the eastern U.S.

Intermodal units represent approximately half of railroad unit volume. This has replaced coal, which was the king of rail freight volume for a very long time. Moving along the freight railway system are essential industrial products, chemicals for medicine and food packaging, disinfectants for treating water, animal feed, crop fertilizer, energy supplies, and critical household items.

Technology

In recent years, rail freight has taken a more aggressive approach to deploying artificial intelligence-based technologies that boost safety, performance, and productivity. With methods like drones inspecting bridges and sonar checking track that spans the country, technology is leading freight railroads into the future.

Today, a single train has a network of people and technology constantly monitoring its status and performance. When combined with data analysis, these tools provide an additional layer of oversight and allow human operators to identify issues before they arise.

Efficiency

The best thing that railroads have going for them is their inherent efficiency. And that’s across land usage, energy consumption, or cost of moving goods. Where they lack is convenience. Trucks have always cornered the market on convenience. 

Railroads also cannot be as flexible or responsive to sudden changes like trucks and planes. It is a complicated network, but focusing on improved transit times and consistent reliability are key to the long-term railroad industry viability.

Freight railroads have all the building blocks to take advantage of advancing technology and their inherent strengths. Demand in the U.S. is only going to continue to grow, so investment in these areas will be crucial for long-term success.

Earlier in November, President Biden signed into law the largest spending bill in U.S. history that is aimed at transportation infrastructure, including improvements to ports, bridges, and roadways. The bill earmarks the spending of $1.2 trillion over the course of 10 years to tackle these many issues and create more than 700,000 jobs, with more than 100,000 new jobs in the transportation industry alone. So what’s in it?

Spending Allocation

The $1.2 trillion bill includes new spending that represents the most significant investment in infrastructure in U.S. history. Some key features:

$110 billion to fix roads and bridges

$16 billion to improve ports and waterways

$49 billion to fund public transit initiatives

$66 billion to boost freight and passenger rail

$25 billion to improve airports

Aside from the specific amounts above, the bill also sets aside $1 billion per year for nationally significant freight and highway projects through the year 2026. This can include an array of projects, but significantly, any project that the DOT chooses for the grants will be addressing the impacts of population growth on freight and people movement.

Trucking Industry Impact

All this spending and potentially vast improvements spell good news for the trucking and freight industry to innovate and accelerate change. The industry employs more than 8 million Americans and more than 70% of the country’s freight is moved along the nation’s roads, with more than 3.5 million truck drivers transporting that freight through the country’s infrastructure every single day.

The bill also features initiatives to grow the trucking workforce with public service campaigns to increase awareness of the career paths in transportation. This could open huge opportunities to expand the amount of qualified drivers on the road and possibly attract younger drivers through an apprenticeship program.

Along with these, the bill focuses on improving emissions and safety initiatives through ongoing studies. The DOT is tasked with determining causes and contributing factors in various situations with an eye toward instituting changes to improve the industry in these regards.

In the end, this bill is a massive step forward to improving an entire sector of the country that has never seen an investment of this kind. In the years ahead, we will hopefully be seeing an incredibly positive ripple effect through the transportation industry as infrastructure improvements and innovation take center stage.

The Tokyo Olympics, postponed for a year, have commenced with an exciting first few days of surprises, upsets, and a series of new world records. Pulling off an Olympic Games is always challenging, but this year in particular has been marked by added levels with the ongoing pandemic. And as the games go on, a surprising story is beginning to take shape, one that places the intricacies of last-mile delivery at the heart of a successful operation.

Tokyo Olympics: By the Numbers

More than 11,000 athletes have descended on Tokyo to compete in 339 events in 33 different sports across 40 venues as well as over 80,000 coaches, trainers, support staff, journalists, and media personnel. But it’s not just the people from 205 separate nations now calling Japan home for a month – thousands of tons of equipment and supplies are joining them.

Multiple hundreds of containers have been arriving at the ports of Tokyo and Yokohama with more shipments coming by air. All of it must be unloaded and transported to the right place at the right time, unscathed, and ready to be immediately used whether it’s equipment, uniforms, or food.

But this is where the challenges of last-mile delivery arise. It’s calculated that 30 percent of costs and upwards of 70 percent of issues in transportation occur in the last mile. That takes some serious supply chain planning to get around.

Movement on the Ground in Tokyo

In Tokyo, more than 37 million people live in the metropolitan city center making traffic congestion the most difficult part of the puzzle for Olympic logistics. The Olympic Village – where most of the equipment and people will head – is 18 km from the airport, 7 km from the Port of Tokyo, and 35 km from the Port of Yokohama. For the venues, 28 are within 10 km of Olympic Village and 14 are farther away, some up to a 75 km distance. 

So what does planning for the smooth transport of all people and freight look like? 

Increased traffic restrictions have been imposed around competition venues to limit unnecessary movement and crowded streets. Additionally, dedicated lanes and priority lanes to transport athletes and delegations will operate for the duration of the games. Expressways are also seeing limitations to usage to try to slow the flow of passenger vehicles to make way for all transportation related to the Olympics.

Getting Horses to Tokyo

One amazing feat of transportation that was accomplished with these games was moving 247 show horses for the Olympic Games, and an additional 78 horses for the Paralympic Games taking place directly after the Olympic Games. 

In a 6,000 mile trip from Belgium to Toyko, the first group of 36 dressage horses made the inaugural journey. Flying Emirates Sky Cargo Boeing 777s, the horses moved to Tokyo over eight separate flights, traveling two to a stall inside custom-made pallets. With snacks of hay and water, and sleeping standing up, all horses successfully made the over 20 hour journey.

It’s safe to say that the Tokyo Olympics have showcased a standout moment for logistics ingenuity in practice. The next time you watch your favorite event, take a moment to think of all the supply chains that made it happen!

The majority of professional truck drivers get through their entire careers without ever being involved in major accidents despite truck driving being one of the riskiest jobs in the United States. Although drivers are skilled in transporting loads using specialized equipment, and are safety conscious, road design is out of a driver’s control. And when that’s combined with bad weather, the result can be some of the most dangerous U.S. highway stretches for truckers. These are the top five that truckers try to avoid whenever possible.

Highway 550 in Colorado (The Million Dollar Highway)

Back in the 1880s, the stretch of highway from Ouray to Silverton in Colorado cost one million dollars to build – that’s how it got its nickname ‘The Million Dollar Highway.’ Today, this 25-mile section is one of the most dangerous for truckers to travel.

Aside from its many twists and turns through mountains that ascend up to 11,000 feet, the lack of shoulders or guardrails and the steep drop of the cliff can make for a harrowing drive. Add to that the erratic weather this region of the country can experience – from frequent snow, ice, and high winds during several months of the year – and you have a recipe for a potentially experience.

Highway 2 in Montana

This 760-mile section of Highway 2 stretches from the Washington state line on the western edge of Montana to just east of Bainville. The highway runs through extremely rural areas situated far apart from each other.

Winter weather conditions can make the road particularly hazardous as the region is prone to high winds, blizzards, and black ice. Population is sparse, there isn’t much traffic, and people tend to drive fast, something that is quite scary considering that emergency response time for ambulances can average up to 80 minutes.

Dalton Highway in Alaska

Also known as Alaska Route 11, this 414 miles of road winds through mountainous terrain, has only one fuel stop, and very little access to emergency services. This is the main road for truckers to get from Fairbanks to the northern areas of the state.

Dalton Highway routes through the mountains of the Brooks Range, where America’s lowest temperature of 80 degrees below zero was recorded in 1971. Making the icy driving conditions worse, the highway was opened to tourists in 1994. Today, helicopters patrol the area looking for troubled motorists twice a day.

Interstate 10 in Arizona

Interstate 10 is America’s fourth-longest interstate highway and stretches from the west to the east coast of the country. Arizona’s portion of Interstate 10 totals just over 360 miles and consists of long stretches of flat, desolate desert.

This area of the highway features high traffic volume and a lack of median barriers, making it a visually crowded route for drivers. There’s only one fuel stop on the whole route, and the 150-mile span from Phoenix to the California border is among the nation’s most dangerous highways.

Interstate 95 in Connecticut

One of the nation’s oldest highways, Interstate 95 runs for more than 1,900 miles from Houlton, Maine to Miami. It’s the longest north-south interstate in the country.

It runs through numerous heavily populated cities, especially in the Northeast, and is responsible for many fatalities each year. The majority of accidents occur on an 8-mile stretch through the city of Norwalk, Connecticut. Tractor-trailer accidents are highly susceptible to the winter storms, springtime heavy rains, and random high winds.

From major trucking companies to small independent shippers, operators in the freight industry are taking steps to reduce their emissions. The transportation industry as a whole accounts for 28% of emissions in the United States, with trucks making up 23% of that.

But the global automotive industry has been shifting towards eco-friendly solutions for years, and that movement is finding its way to trucking. The industry has made tremendous strides at lowering its environmental impact and is not slowing down. Let’s take a look at what we’ve seen accomplished so far.

Optimized Route Planning

A greater emphasis on hyper-efficient route planning has been a resounding trend in the transportation and logistics industry. By not planning routes, each shipment can lead to higher fuel consumption in several ways. But it’s not just about planning to take the shortest route.

Events like traffic and adverse weather can slow down any truck. Drivers stuck in traffic or forced to drive in lower gears because of rain or snow will use more fuel. Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are now utilized to predict weather and traffic to avoid these situations.

And since the route that was the best one time won’t necessarily be the best route the next time, these AI systems continually learn and gather data. They indicate best routes using sophisticated pattern tracking technology.

Reducing Empty Miles

The latest statistics indicate that empty miles accounted for about 17% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. By ensuring that truckloads are full and minimizing empty miles, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced in one of the simplest ways.

Since full truckloads (FTL) are also the most cost-effective for customers, it’s a win-win scenario to also be able to dramatically help the environment. This is where there’s great benefit to working with a trusted carrier service to reap these benefits.

Eco-Friendly Fuel

Many businesses are trying to move away from fossil fuel powered vehicles altogether or at least find ways to hybridize trucks. Since most trucks use diesel gasoline to power their trucks, opting for biodiesel has helped companies reduce their environmental impact.

The next step that has developed over the past few years involves a shift toward electric vehicles. With the use of batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, and renewable natural gas, alternative fuel vehicle technology is becoming more accessible to the freight industry.

Improved Aerodynamics

While changing how the trucks operate is important, changing the actual trucks themselves also plays a role in a more environmentally-friendly future in trucking. Putting greater emphasis on the aerodynamics of a truck means it will experience less drag and thereby be more efficient.

Traditionally, the typical freight truck is not very aerodynamic. Studies have shown that there’s an aerodynamic loss in key design areas. Manufacturers have seen a lot of success with redesigned tractors, shorter gaps between truck and trailer, and improved bumper shapes that have all positively impacted aerodynamics. 

All of these changes, while great for the environment, they’re also showing a positive impact on the industry itself. By implementing changes like these, the carbon footprint of trucking is reduced, and improved delivery times result from the added efficiency. As we look ahead, there should only be more ways that the transportation industry can take a leading role in creating  a more sustainable future.

As a year unlike any other ends, many of us are wondering what we can expect for the transportation and logistics industry in 2021.  Drawing on nearly six decades of experience, our own Richard Thorne provides insights, optimism, and a strategy for how to prepare for 2021 and beyond. 

 

Transportation and logistics is such a core element of how the economy functions, it doesn’t seem like there’s a way that it can ever go away. It’s the only way that products get to people, when it comes down to it. It’s all in the people that move the products across the country and around the world. But, it’s certainly going through a period of change and adaptation.

Well, I don’t think transportation at its core has ever changed. The only thing that has changed within the transportation industry is the tracking and tracing we can do with the advent of computers. Transportation is still about getting a single package from point A to point B. Going all the way back to the Pony Express and passing off mail bags without ever slowing down their horses. Then the invention of airmail where you had like a football stadium and a string between two goalposts. A bag would hang from it, the plane would come down with a hook and pick that up and bring it up to the top of the plane. And then they fly it from point A to point B, come down and drop it and then they hook up another one. 

Logistics today is not so different at all. We go in, pick up a full trailer load and get it from point A to point B. This is all people driven – getting people what they want. Today, they want to know that their package was picked up in Seattle at 8am in the morning, on November 17. And they want to know each day where their package has moved, even if they’re not going to get it until November 23. They still want to know every day where their package is and how it’s going to get to them. That’s the change of logistics today – the immediacy of information. And whomever provides the best information and the most accurate information to the customer will win. 

 

And we’ve seen more and more challenges this year with accurate tracking information being available and meeting delivery expectations. Where do we go from here?

So the million dollar question: Where are we going next year? My philosophy has always been one of ‘he who hesitates is lost.’ It is our job. It is our job to figure the problems out. How are we going to do it? My theory is we are not going to sit and wait for somebody else to tell us what to do. We’re going to be ahead of the game and we’re already starting. We want to know the truckers better and become partners with them in their small trucking company. We want to help them. They’ve got five trucks? Let’s get them to 10 or 15 trucks. Now we’re working in a partnership. We’re building them up as we’re also expanding our resources. So our theory is to grow. But we’re going to do it as planned, intelligent growth.

We’ll take each step as what’s given to us, but we’re working on building a strong foundation for this time. And as long as you have a strong foundation of people in your organization, you can build anything. 

 

So it really seems like the focus is on one of the tenets that everyone at Pride Logistics talks about, that it all comes down to relationships, that’s what makes every gear work.

Absolutely.

 

And looking at the values and the way that the company operates, even in this time, your growth and forward movement will continue to be based in fostering those relationships.

Without relationships where you’re working with people and satisfying their needs,  you don’t have anything a person really wants. You have to be able to extend yourself to be part of what that company wants. And when you get in there, then you’re going to actually work for that company. 

You have to be able to understand the customer’s needs. Once you understand the customer’s needs, you can work with them and become a partner. And once you’re a partner, then you can work together and help them lower their transportation costs and give them the service that best suits their needs. And both of you can then grow together to come up with new ideas to be creative, to save money, and never sacrifice a great level of service. That’s what it’s all about. That’s how you survive tomorrow.

 

Do you think that’s one of the biggest lessons to be reinforced this year – to be helpful and creative in your solutions? 

Yes, yes. We have to be creative. We’re going to have to work with the customers and work with them as a partner, and we have to be willing to change. There will continue to be multiple ways to do everything. 

So sit, listen, and create a partnership with the customer. Working as a team, within your company and with other companies, is a total success. And being a real team member, not just this ancillary group that comes in to fulfill a purpose, instead making it very clear that we’re actively involved in wanting to better the way that our clients can do their business.

If you want your business shipping and logistics to run smoother in 2021, contact the experts at Pride Logistics today.

 

One of our favorite things to do on cold, wintery nights, is to grab some hot cocoa or hot cider and head out to view holiday lights. All across the country, there’s something especially magical about exploring fantastical and breathtaking light displays created just for the holidays. It really brings to life the cities and gateways through which millions of freight shipments pass throughout the year.

So kick back and enjoy as we bring you the 9 most dazzling holiday light extravaganzas in the United States. Hopefully one is in a city near you and you’ll be inspired to venture out to enjoy the spectacle firsthand!

Hershey Park’s Sweet Lights

Hershey, Pennsylvania

At this annual display in Hershey Park, you can drive through two miles of pathway littered with almost 600 illuminated and animated displays. It takes up to an hour to get through the forest trails and includes special Holospec glasses that make it appear that it’s snowing.

Mission Inn Festival of Lights

Riverside, California

For almost three decades, the Mission Inn Festival of Lights has been a favored holiday tradition in Southern California. During the holiday season, no corner of the historic hotel is left untouched as five million lights adorn the grounds, along with over 400 animated angels, elves, carolers, and reindeer. 

WildLights at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

Palm Desert, California

With over a million lights transforming this desert zoo into a lighted nighttime oasis, it’s sure to be a memorable experience. Life-sized light animals line all areas of the zoo and garden grounds along with a light and music tunnel.

Illumination at Morton Arboretum

Lisle, Illinois

This award-winning light show is truly unlike any other on this list! Throughout the entire 50 acres of the arboretum, visitors are welcomed by a one-of-a-kind light show with swirling light projections and music creating an all-encompassing holiday light experience.

ABQ BioPark Botanical Garden’s River of Lights

Albuquerque, New Mexico

The BioPark Botanical Garden’s River of Lights takes a unique spin on holiday light shows. In this special display, you’re taken into a colorful underwater ecosystem as it comes to life with marine animals, other wildlife, and millions of sparkling lights.

Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights

Wheeling, West Virginia

This Festival of Lights features a six-mile drive through 300 acres of twinkling lights. Beginning in 1985, the experience has grown into one of the nation’s largest holiday light shows with 90 lighted attractions and over a million lights.

Candy Cane Lane

Woodland Hills, California

For over six decades, local homeowners have teamed up to create what has now grown into an eight-block holiday light extravaganza affectionately termed Candy Cane Lane. Year after year, home displays get bigger and brighter as competition and ideas grow.

Bentleyville Tour of Lights

Duluth, Minnesota

Featuring over four million lights displayed throughout a 20-acre park sitting on the shore of Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota, the Bentleyville Tour of Lights is a breathtaking walk or drive-through light extravaganza. Making it extra special is all the light reflections off the waters of Lake Superior (if it’s not frozen).

Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Las Vegas, Nevada

On this 2.5-mile holiday lights drive through the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, visitors experience a completely redesigned area of tunnels filled with twinkling lights. Showcasing various themes and every color you can think of, it’s an impressive holiday light show.

The Legendary Lights of Historic Clifton Mill

Clifton, Ohio

For over 30 years, the Clifton Mill has illuminated the mill, the gorge and the surrounding riverbanks, trees, and bridges with over 4 million lights. There’s even a 100-foot waterfall of twinkling lights along with a synchronized lights and music show on the old Covered Bridge.

Hopefully one of these spectacular holiday light extravaganzas is in a city near you and you’ll be inspired to venture out to enjoy it firsthand!