What will the supply chain look like in 2022? Metro Vancouver’s leader in trucking and warehousing looks into the status of the supply chain this year and what you’ve got to do to get ahead of the game.

The global and local supply chain has been a front-and-center topic for many of us for a while. From business meetings to family gatherings, the uncertainty and rapid changes in the supply chain affect us all. Shortages are more than just a disruption, a consistent flow of inventory and goods are central to business survival, success, and growth. Let’s look into what our supply chain will look like in 2022.

Playing Catch-UP

The realities of the pandemic have really brought out infrastructure and support challenges around the world. The continual lack of workers due to illness and the shut down of factories and borders in response to the virus has definitely exerted pressure on the supply of goods. As shoppers around the globe pivoted from spending money on services to goods, the small problems in our logistics and port systems have become more than just minor cracks. As e-commerce took off and the demand for goods skyrocketed, the cargo arriving at ports started to overwhelm existing infrastructure. There was simply more freight than the existing number of dockworkers and truck drivers could handle. The backlog not only affects products hitting shelves, but the empty containers that should be filled up with goods again and shipped out were also piling up.

The balancing act between the overall supply and demand of various factors will require time. Hiring professionals, expanding fleets, and building new infrastructure take time. We will all get to the sweet spot eventually, but it looks like things won’t be striking a balance this year. 

Building resiliency 

Welcome to the new era of supply chain management!

A total revamp in planning is needed for businesses to get in front of the supply chain game today. Gone are the days of just relying on inventory numbers when planning. You’ve also got to really look at the frontlines and see what your customer’s current needs are while actively identifying alternate sourcing avenues so you can reduce dependencies and pivot swiftly. Staying hyper-connected to your sources and being responsive is also key.

It’s all about teamwork!

In addition to staying on top of your game and changing things up when necessary, you’ve got to have a team of business partners that works with the same intensity as you. Shipping challenges are typical nowadays and whether you’re able to dodge the bullet means a lot to your bottom line. Having industry leaders that can foresee problems, especially local challenges, before they hit is a major plus for your business.

Having a trucking and warehousing company with decades of experience working for you definitely helps with preventing problems and unnecessary costs. From having the right documentation and paper trail on hand to assist with disputing fees for unreturned shipping containers to providing proactive services to ensure that you don’t get stuck with hefty fines, you’ll be glad you had the right team working with you.

Challenges always come with an opportunity for growth, especially if you have a solid game plan at hand. As a leading provider in transportation and warehousing with authorized access to all major ports and rails, our team is always up to date with the latest changes and developments related to shipping, trucking, intermodal transportation, and importing/exporting both domestically and internationally.
Whether you’re shipping goods within Metro Vancouver or throughout Canada, including BC, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, our LTL/FTL services and a fleet of 250+ trailers and an extensive range of trucks is here for you. Contact us today at (604)-276-9044 or info@sandhartrucking.com. We would love to chat with you about your needs and how we can help!