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Supply Chain Resilience Requires Cleveland Trucking Services With High Standards
“Resilient supply chain” is not a new catchphrase in the logistics world. It is, however, one that has taken on new importance in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cleveland trucking services like ours recognize that streamlined transportation is essential to resiliency. Delivering goods as promised is pivotal for businesses involved in goods production and transportation.
It’s always been important to our team at On Time Delivery & Warehouse to avoid unwanted disruptions, bottlenecks and delays, whether we’re handling imported/exported freight or carrying out same-day deliveries.
In this current climate, we know that building customer confidence is critical. Now more than ever, business reputations are riding on the service and quality standards of their transportation and logistics firms.
We know our clients have many Cleveland trucking services to choose from. But none stay in this business long if they aren’t offering clients invaluable services and flexibility. On Time Delivery & Warehouse offers a one-stop-shop for streamlining supply chains: Warehousing and distribution, shipping, trucking, transportation and third-party logistics.
Optimizing Cleveland 3PL Warehousing Improves Supply Chain Efficiency
One of the best ways to boost supply chain efficiency – and reduce your costs – is to optimize your warehousing options. On Time Delivery & Warehouse offers Cleveland 3PL warehousing services that are optimized, streamlined and tailored to meet your needs.
Warehouse optimization is a process by which we use the time, space and resources in our warehouse as efficiently as possible through careful planning, automation and improvements in customer experience and satisfaction.
We recognize that the drive for low-cost sourcing, outsourcing, customization and globalization can result in substantial complexities in a supply chain. Companies cannot afford to gloss over warehousing optimization – especially when a single mistake or delay could impact your business’s reputation and revenue stream.
E-commerce has completely upended virtually every supply chain, not only with respect to how customers find what they want but also how those goods make it to customers. Warehousing and fulfillment has largely become decentralized to meet last-mile delivery needs. Cost effective, timely solutions are in demand. Our Cleveland 3PL warehousing team delivers.
Cleveland 3PL Services Offer Ways to Go Green – and Save Green
As Cleveland 3PL (third-party logistics) providers, we understand that what’s good for the environment is also good for overall supply chain sustainability. Partnering with a dedicated 3PL provider in itself can help companies make the most of transportation and warehouse capacity while also reducing adverse environmental impacts. That’s because we can streamline processes and resource usage.
Although eco-friendly practices sometimes have a reputation for being pricier and more time-consuming (at least in the short term), the reality is that more sustainable strategies in packaging, warehousing and transportation often have the added benefit of lowering your costs and time investment. Some of the economic goals that improve environmental outcomes include reducing the aggregate distance traveled by each unit, eliminating the unnecessary use of resources, moving inventory faster and being as responsive as possible to customer demand.
The logistics sector in general has long been on the cutting edge of green innovation because economy and efficiency go hand-in-hand with minimizing waste. Companies that nurture a sense of sustainability can often find a great deal of common ground between greater social responsibility and lowered expenses.
Greater Port Terminal Efficiency Can Improve Cleveland Trucking Delivery Times
Supply chains have been unquestionably disrupted by the novel coronavirus, but issues with U.S. port terminal efficiency didn’t start there. The crisis merely cast these problems into stark relief. One silver lining in all this is that some port terminal operators are seizing this opportunity to streamline their operations with digital and self-service options to improve transparency and visibility. More efficiency at maritime ports would only serve to improve Cleveland trucking delivery times, allowing us to provide increasingly faster service.
It’s not likely to happen overnight, though.
Last month, the CEO of the Association of American Port Authorities testified before the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and revealed that significantly reduced freight volumes are unlikely to bounce back before the end of 2020. The year-over-year volume drops in March were estimated to be about 18 percent and in April and May between 20 to 25 percent.
On the one hand, this could cause some ports to halt any planned investment in capital improvement projects – including digitization. On the other hand, stronger competition may provide greater incentive to address some of the longstanding issues that have led to bottlenecks and other headaches at some ports for years.
Our Cleveland Trucking Company Navigates Pandemic-Driven Complexity
There is no question the coronavirus pandemic threw the logistics and trucking industry for a major loop – and we’re not entirely out of the woods yet. But our Cleveland trucking company is proud to have been part of a wheelhouse that has kept America moving during this crisis. We are emerging stronger for it, leading the way in navigating both market and regulatory complexities and helping our customers as they regain ground and keep their edge.
The fact of the matter is that to be successful in the trucking industry in the first place requires the ability to nimbly adapt to change. COVID-19 certainly presented more changes and challenges than usual. But we have worked to ensure the delivery process would continue to be as frictionless and safe as possible. This has allowed our clients to not only stay afloat, but to thrive.
Can Flexible Cleveland Warehousing Improve Supply Chain Resilience?
Before a global pandemic threw so many supply chains completely off-course, flexible Cleveland warehousing was an emerging trend driven by growing consumer demand for same-day and next-day deliveries. Now, flexible warehousing options are especially attractive for retailers balancing their fluctuating needs for warehouse space and demands to efficiently move inventory on-the-fly.
Flexible warehousing (also sometimes called in-demand warehousing, pop-up distribution, public warehousing or multi-client space) is a service that connects warehouse operators with businesses requiring storage on an as-needed basis. This allows suppliers to pay seasonally or as-they-go rather than be tied to a year-round contract. Many client products can be received, handled, stored and shipped out in a flexible environment, as opposed to dedicating a large space and full labor force to a single operator. Manufacturers and retailers want to position themselves closer to customers without getting locked into multiyear leases or long contracts – particularly when trade conditions and buying patterns are so uncertain right now.
But companies that only offer flexible Cleveland warehousing may fall short of what you need, especially if your bread and butter is specialized goods. Third-party logistics firms can commit a dependable workforce to store, handle and deliver sensitive goods. On Time Delivery and Warehouse stands out among our competitors because we offer both.
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.
Safe Cleveland Warehousing in the Time of Coronavirus
Warehousing has proven more critical than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic, with teams like ours responsible for delivering essential goods to healthcare facilities, businesses and individuals. While many other businesses are closed or have the bulk of their employees working from home, warehouses like ours have gone into overdrive. Keeping the supply chain moving is important, but it’s also imperative that we keep our Cleveland warehousing workers safe.
On Time Delivery & Warehouse has taken numerous measures to assure our warehouse facility personnel can do their jobs safely and that we’ve minimized the risk of infection. We’ve adopted a range of actions from implementing strict social distancing guidelines to taking worker temperatures to ensuring our facilities are frequently cleaned and sanitized. Meal breaks and shifts may be staggered. Meetings are held over the phone or via video conferencing where possible.
Keeping our valued warehouse workers healthy our top priority, and it also helps protect our customers and ensures we can meet their dynamic and rising needs.
Our Cleveland Truck Drivers Keep Supply Chains Moving
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, our Cleveland truck drivers at On Time Delivery & Warehouse have been committed to keeping the supply chain moving as quickly and efficiently as possible.
We are navigating a growing number of challenges on highways and at loading docks, working to meet the spiking demand for medical equipment and key consumer staples. Numerous truck stop restaurants have closed their doors in compliance with the orders of public health officials, though some are still offering takeout service. In some states, such as Pennsylvania, rest stops along critical logistics routes have been closed too (about a dozen were later reopened). This is problematic because these aren’t simply locations to pick up snacks and use the restrooms; they’re critical places for long-haul truckers to sleep.
We’re also working with customers who are asking Cleveland truck drivers to remain in their trucks and use paper or electronic methods for payments and signatures for deliveries and pickups. A number of receiving docks have put in place additional restrictions if they originated or traveled through states that are considered “hot zones” of the virus. Some receivers and shippers are requesting truckers sign affidavits indicating they are not experiencing symptoms.
Our Cleveland Warehouse Prepared to Weather Coronavirus
We live in a world that is interconnected. Substantial disruptions in supply chains highlight the need for resiliency, particularly from Cleveland warehouse and logistics firms. On Time Delivery and Warehouse has proven over 40 years our ability to adapt in dynamic and uncertain markets.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has presented numerous challenges, we are helping many businesses find workarounds with e-commerce and local distribution. Although there is likely to be a fair amount of volatility in the supply chain for some time, our Cleveland warehouse and logistics will help our clients navigate these new realities.
We anticipate seeing:
- Higher inventory levels.
- Continued e-commerce adoption.
- Diversification of manufacturer locations.
No matter what challenges confront our Cleveland warehouse team, we are here for our customers, and ready to face it.
Cleveland Warehouse & Supply Chain Trends
In general, supply chain managers often prefer to keep inventory levels low to reduce overall costs. However, as we’re seeing shortages of things like cleaning supplies, health products and food, those managing supply chains are rethinking optimal inventory levels and storage locations. We’re anticipating higher demand for warehouse space to handle the uptick in goods and services. Ultimately, we anticipate this is likely to help us improve resiliency against future shocks.
Although the impact of COVID-19 is arguably one of the most substantial we can recall, the fact is that within this industry, our Cleveland warehouse team is familiar with fluctuations in stockpiles and slowdowns.
If you have questions about our Cleveland warehouse services, contact On Time Delivery & Warehouse by calling (440) 826-4630 or send us an email.
Additional Resources:
Warehousing sector well-positioned to whether coronavirus disruption, report finds, March 17, 2020, By Morgan Forde, SupplyChainDive.com
More Blog Entries:
Cleveland 3PL Can Help Limit Coronavirus Supply Chain Impact, Feb. 18, 2020, Cleveland Warehouse Service Blog