Container drayage hauliers are shifting to driving for Amazon. It’s a clear economic case— they can make more per shift driving for Amazon, and with easier work.
Of course it is the holiday season, and there is plenty of Amazon work. That may not be true after the season is over.
But it shows the line of thought independent trucking firms follow. And the same would be true for owner drivers. They are tired of being jerked around by container shipping firms.
Cargo movers need to start being sensitive to the drivers’ concerns.
Nordstrom and a number of other retailers are starting to keep more inventory, by buying larger lots and holding some. The fact that retailers are publicizing this means that they are starting to recognize that inventory shortage is a substantial issue. With sources of supply bottlenecked, stuff can’t be moved to the US as quickly.
Does it make sense to place larger orders earlier? Devotees of the bullwhip effect will say that’s counterproductive. Perhaps, in the long run with perfect coordination with suppliers. But when you have near-disaster conditions in the supply chain for, say, clothing manufactured in Vietnam, and ocean carriers blanking just about every other sailing, you need to take some action. That may mean committing to larger purchases and saving some of it against future demand rather than trying to sell it all at once.
We’ll see if the policy works, and how quickly it damps out. Especially if the ocean supply chain begins to normalize. Inventory is expensive, and the expense is both highly visible and easily tracked, unlike the lost business due to shortages on the floor.
One thing that captured my attention in this nice article by Max Garland is the increasing use of 53 foot containers for imports to the US. This is a natural development, too long in coming as long as the US imports so much stuff. It saves the transloading step in SoCal once 40-foot containers get here; they can be moved immediately. A 53-foot container has 30% more cargo per truck move, and can be taken straight to a destination. No longer a reason to transload.
Another interesting point highlighted in the headline is FedEx’s offer to transport cargo in the new containers they are having built in China. I understand 53-foot containers are often being moved on refitted bulk ships rather than standard container ships which have slots for 40-foot containers. And these ships would move outside standard liner routes, which means they can choose where to drop off the containers. Perhaps they can go to ports that would avoid high congestion points. Often they are smaller as well, and take a shorter time to unload.
The article also discusses the jawboning that is taking place to get players in supply chains to move cargo quicker. Apparently the move toward 24-hour service in the supply chain has not gone too far, but some big players are already adopting the idea of it. Maybe the port terminals in LA and Long Beach won’t be able to do it, but the warehouses, trucking firms, and gate access points can, and even that will improve the flow of goods.
When people understand the whole problem and put their heads together, the congestion will abate. And they will figure out how to share the cost pain of doing so. It’s a lot more costly when you don’t have goods for sale on time.
