Impact of COVID-19 on Ohio Trucking Services

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Ohio trucking services depends largely on the size and capacity of the trucking company, the kind of goods typically hauled and their diversity of services.

Motor carriers moving things like groceries, medical supplies and some retail goods have been busy. Those serving manufacturing industries have slowed following closures of non-essential factories. Overall, freight volumes are down, but capacity is up for spot market trucking services (one-time, inconsistent load volume orders for specific origins and destinations) and hot shot trucking (single-customer, expedited hauls that reduce downtime and often lower costs). Low spot market prices have reduced demand and volumes for longer-term contract trucking.

Businesses are doing what they must to survive. Our team at On Time Delivery & Warehouse offers a broad range of competitively-priced Ohio trucking services that can be quickly on-boarded and tailored to your needs – whether that’s now, three weeks from now or next year.

Trends in Ohio Trucking Services

As some states prepare to reopen their economies, the timing and speed of economic restart and recovery will impact how soon Ohio trucking services “get back to normal.”

Supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 have resulted in great cross-industry volatility. Demand forecasting and securing last-mile delivery (moving goods from a warehouse or transportation hub to the final delivery destination) has proven an increasing challenge for many suppliers.

It doesn’t help that production of new trucks has slowed. Trucking companies, anticipating a capacity crunch have been retaining and refurbishing some of their older fleet (particularly box trucks and vans) that they might otherwise have sold.

Truck companies have also stepped up their truck cleaning efforts. Many are providing hand sanitizer to drivers and arranging for limited-contact and no-contact deliveries wherever possible.

Some suppliers have tried wading into the unfamiliar territory of handling their own last-mile delivery. Many are quickly recognizing this isn’t a viable, long-term solution. Third-party Ohio trucking services and logistics are often much more efficient and affordable – because this is what we do. Given this and the fact that consumer expectations of delivery times has adjusted, 3PL trucking services route that offer transparency may be the better option.

Even prior to the virus’s march across America, the trucking industry was facing a driver shortage. As the illness proved a growing threat, social distancing guidelines and temporary DMV closures were hurdles to training and licensing new drivers. The federal government did step in with unprecedented action to relax commercial licensing requirements, allowing those with learner’s permits to operate for at least three months (with proof they have passed the CDL driving skills test). That waiver doesn’t apply to some of the larger, more dangerous rigs like double-trailers and those hauling hazardous material.

Hours of service regulations have also been eased for the first time ever, and road congestion is at an all-time low. Those won’t last forever, but at least for now, the combination has helped reduce travel times and crash risks.

Trucking and logistics have always been dynamic sectors. Now, for better or worse, virtually all Ohio trucking services have been affected in some way. The trucking firms best suited to weather any storm – and help ensure clients’ goods are consistently delivered intact and on-time – are those with:

Experienced, committed and innovative staff prepared to adapt.
Strong tech support to maximize supply chain transparency.
Diversity of services, supply chain connections and fleet options to offer flexibility and workable contingency plans.

As unprecedented as the challenges posed by the pandemic, On Time Delivery & Warehouse has spent more than 30 years navigating significant and often abrupt supply chain issues. We remain committed to our mission of on time, intact deliveries.

If you have questions about our Ohio trucking services, contact On Time Delivery & Warehouse by calling (440) 826-4630 or send us an email.

Additional Resources:

COVID-19 Poses Uneven Challenges for Commercial Truckers, April 13, 2020, By Ed Garsten, Forbes Magazine

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