The year 2016 is here, and with it the trucking industry faces uncertainties because of the presidential election and potential softening of the economy. All freight carriers, and less-than-truckload carriers specifically, will have to determine how to manage their networks to run optimally within their capacity.
If you are a carrier and have been historically making the proper investments in your people, process, technology, infrastructure, equipment, real estate, culture and brand, then navigating a potentially uncertain horizon will be easier. “Battlefield” decisions to react to situations, rather than being proactive, will take less of a toll on the overall organization. At OD since 1997, we have continually invested in these areas and have been successful in taking care of our OD Family, our shareholders and, importantly, providing premium service for our customers for the long-term.
Service is a competitive differentiator not just in our company, but all carriers and other categories. The last thing you want to do is disappoint your customers with a bad service experience and worse yet damage goods that are intended to keep a customer’s supply chain tight. Moreover, if the economy becomes soft, customers will see the value of premium service as each shipment becomes even more critical. Any damage or disruption will have negative consequences in terms of the hard costs of remaking, shipping the items and soft costs of the emotional quotient and an employee’s time spent filing a claim and the bad brand experience.
Companies that maintain these investments for their company will in turn provide long-term dividends and return on investment with their customers. This will create greater loyalty, grow relationships and will “Help The World Keep Promises.”
David Congdon, President and CEO, Old Dominion Freight Line