There has been no shortage of global shipping challenges to round off 2021 and the effects are still very real as we step into the first month of 2022. From unprecedented volume entering the Port of Vancouver to extreme weather that cut off major roads and rails, importers are constantly faced with tough choices and sudden surprises. Successfully navigating these challenges and keeping costs low can be done with proactive services provided by experienced trucking companies that know the industry inside and out.

Why is there still a backlog?

Our global community has weathered through over two years of the pandemic and we’re all probably wondering why the shipping backlog still plagues our industry. Here’s a brief breakdown.

• Commerce around the world was suddenly halted at the beginning of the pandemic in the first quarter of 2020. All industry partners, from manufacturers, import/export businesses, shipping companies, etc, came to a standstill in order to figure out the situation as Covid was new.
• As leisure travel ceased and people hunkered down in their homes, they shopped and contributed to the massive boom of online sales. Businesses raced to keep up.
• Backlogs continued to pile up as the manufacturing and shipping industry tried to fill previous orders and new orders while pandemic protocols continued to add to the time needed to transport goods. 
• Man-made (Suez Canal blockage) and natural disasters (floods that cut off roadways and railways in BC) also contributed to the supply chain slowdown
• Existing infrastructure (ports, docks, machinery, warehouses, trucks) and manpower has remained relatively at pre-pandemic levels, but demand for goods and cargo has experienced exponential growth
• Larger than ever seen ships are avoiding American ports in Seattle and Los Angeles and opting for the Port of Vancouver

Where’s the blacklog?

Backlogs experienced throughout the supply chain include:

• Carrier ships waiting to dock at the port
• Containers waiting to be cleared at the port
• Truck drivers experiencing long lines when picking up containers and exiting the port
• Empty containers unable to return to the Port of Vancouver due to a lack of space, resulting in shipping lines asking trucking companies to store empty containers  

What can be done if you are a business owner?

We can’t stress enough that having experienced industry leaders working with you is extremely important in this shipping landscape. As a business owner, you’ve worked around the clock to grow your business and attend to your customers. Staying on top of the latest changes in the shipping industry is challenging. This is when your team of industry experts comes in. From custom brokers and freight forwarders to trucking and warehousing companies, they are the ones that you can count on to help you save time, money, and grief.

As a leader in the trucking and warehousing industry in Metro Vancouver with over three decades of experience, Sandhar Trucking has helped their clients navigate this ever-changing logistics puzzle by:

• Providing proactive services to ensure customers don’t get stuck with hefty fines
• Helping clients stay on top of their cargo and save on storage fees
• Giving clients lots of notice so they can better prepare and inform their customers and shipping lines
• Supporting their customers with a paper trail to assist them with disputing fees for unreturned shipping containers

We are one of the few companies in Canada that offers seamless import/export, warehousing, and transport services across the country. With an approximately 100,000 square feet warehouse that is bonded by the Canada Border Services Agency, we are able to conduct intact container examinations. 

Whether you are importing or exporting goods or seeking LTL or FTL trucking services, our decades of experience will ensure that you receive all the best care. Contact us today at (604)-276-9044 or info@sandhartrucking.com to learn how we can help.