The 2:00 Minute Warning

Last week I had an interesting conversation with my friend Adrian Gonzalez who publishes a great weekly newsletter called Talking Logistics. He also heads up a research team called Indago which conducts research with both shippers and carriers to understand their priorities.

During our conversation, he mentioned that in a recent Indago survey he asked shippers an important question: When it comes to third parties, what’s the most important thing they can do for you?

The answer was simple: Shippers would like third parties to be more proactive in helping them manage their supply chains. And that led to an interesting discussion between me and Adrian about why so many shippers are constantly “reacting” to issues instead of being proactive in managing supply chain issues.

We also discussed what it takes to be proactive. Being proactive requires time and we all know that time is a precious commodity. Unfortunately some shippers are being so overwhelmed with their day-to-day responsibilities, that they don’t have the time to proactively consider options and alternatives to improve their supply chains.

Being proactive also requires a willingness and a commitment to look into the future and consider/address the potential impact of the things that are coming their way. At TranzAct, through these Two Minute Warnings, webcasts, On the Record interviews and other great resources in our Resource Center, we are totally committed to helping shippers look at what is happening, what could be happening and what shippers can do to protect themselves.

So let’s take a moment and look at some of the “surprises” on the horizon. As you consider these things, TranzAct can help you proactively address what’s ahead:

CVSA Road Check 

On May 16-18 the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) will be having their road check program. Many of you familiar with this know that this is a time when many truckers decide to take a break. This reduces the truck supply and may inflate spot rates.

Potential Labor Disruptions this Summer

There are a number of negotiations underway that could result in supply chain disruptions. Here are some of the ones to watch:

•    ABF and Teamsters – Current contract expires June 30, 2023.
•    TForce Freight and Teamsters – Current contract expires July 31, 2023. 
•    UPS and Teamsters – Current contract expires July 31, 2023. Mr. O'Brien has warned UPS that his members will strike on August 1 if there is not a new contract by July 31.
•    ILWU and PMA – Current contract expired June 30, 2022 and talks are still underway.

Looking for more?

If you could use additional help planning for the future, we encourage you to get in touch. To make it easier than ever to connect, you can schedule time with us directly on Calendly.

BY MIKE REGAN, CO-FOUNDER OF TRANZACT
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