Anyone who has been following the news in the last few years have surely noticed an uptick in the number of references to issues with supply chains around the world. Some of the results of these issues are particularly devastating such as a recent story reported by the NY Daily News about a baby formula shortage occurring throughout the country:
A shortage of baby formula due to the shutdown of a key factory is worsening, causing borderline panic among some parents.
During the first half of 2021, the rate for being out of stock was 2% to 8%, CNN reported Monday, but from November 2021 to early April 2022, it went to 31%. Since then it has risen to 40%, CNN said.
This sense of alarm is justified as so many people find themselves reliant on baby formula to help feed their young ones. When supply chain issues cause problems like this, it really hits home for a lot of people just how important logistics carriers really are.
What Is a Logistics Carrier?
You have seen the trucks of a logistics carrier on the road before and probably didn’t even realize it. Logistics carriers are simply the companies that haul goods throughout the country from point A to point B to ensure that everyone has the supplies that they require in their local grocery stores and beyond.
The carriers logistics are a rather complex process that they have to go through to figure out how to get everything that needs to be delivered to exactly where it needs to go. They have to run systems that inform them about the most efficient way to move goods throughout the country so they arrive where they need to go with as little expense as possible.
The complex dance that logistics carriers and their customers do every day is nothing short of magnificent. The fact that all of this work can be coordinated so effectively is the only way that our modern economy continues to function as effectively as it does.
What Does Logistics Mean In Trucking?
Logistics is a complex but necessary process in the world of trucking, and that is why the trucking industry hires so many people to work in its various logistics departments. The companies understand that the best way to achieve the kind of results that they need is to have a strong and talented workforce of people who are willing to figure out what steps must be taken to get freight where it needs to go.
Some examples of the types of logistical issues that many trucking companies see include:
- Shipping Destination Determinations – Employees must take responsibility for getting the supplies to the correct final address, and that means checking up on the shipping destination to ensure that it matches up with where a specific shipment is being hauled off to.
- The Urgency of a Shipment – How quickly a shipment needs to arrive at its next destination is incredibly important. Expedited shipments need to be handled differently from other types of shipments, and that is why logistics professionals must balance out the urgency of various shipments that they are tasked with handling.
- Working on Existing Relationships – Trucking companies can sometimes cut deals with customers based on existing relationships that they have with those customers. Logistics professionals may be asked to work on those relationships to ensure that they are solid and stable going forward. They may also negotiate the deals that are to be made with existing customers.
- Department of Transportation (DOT) Regulations – Coordinating the routine maintenance of trucks in order to remain within the various regulations handed down by the Department of Transportation (DOT) is a critical part of the logistics process that must not be forgotten. Compliance with those regulations is a requirement to help keep trucks on the road.
These are just a few of the multitude of things that logistics professionals work on all the time. If you know people who work in logistics, make sure you take some time to thank them for all that they do. There is no doubt that the heavy lifting that they do for the industry is greatly appreciated, and the end result of their work benefits all of us greatly.
