Socrates said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”
Looking to 2018, change is the only certainty throughout the supply chain. With the implementation of ELDs, the impact from tax reform, the ongoing need for sustainable infrastructure funding, and increasingly heated rhetoric concerning US trade policies, it can feel like sand is shifting beneath our feet. Both navigating the current environment and preparing for a future focused more than ever on electrification, mobility, and increased information transparency can be challenging.
We have always found ways to push the boundaries on supply chain efficiencies beyond what was deemed reasonable, and 2018 will be no different. ELDs will accelerate improvements in shipping inefficiencies. Aging infrastructure needs to be addressed, and significant capital needs to be reinvested in the roads we travel every day to move America’s goods. The trucking industry is ready to pay its share for an infrastructure package that is fair and future focused.
Trucks are the backbone of the nation’s economy, delivering more than 70 percent of the freight across North America. Trade and trucking are synonymous. The North American Free Trade Agreement is at the forefront of nearly every mainstream conversation, and our hope remains that any changes are focused on an uncompromising commitment to do no harm. The future is upon us, and it is incumbent on everyone to maximize its potential.
In this ever-evolving landscape, we need to discuss our collective futures, our obstacles to reinvestment, and our commitment to mutual success. This industry is stronger, more efficient, and less disruptive when we work together to eliminate inefficiencies. We must commit to savings through waste elimination to mitigate a volatile rate environment and maintain focus on the professional drivers and the value they deliver as they keep America moving.