Shippers must explore alternatives to traditional transit routes to move cargo into and through North America to avoid further disruptions in the supply chain. The US logistics system as we know it is not capable of handling the recent surge of imports, nor the disturbances that may be on the horizon. Dependence on specific, already-overloaded ports, railroads, and roadways is a systemic problem that needs to be addressed, because this is not the last time this issue is going to be front and center.
The Panama and Suez canals, for example, are open for business and provide alternative routes to less congested ports on the East Coast that have available capacity and room to grow.
To thrive, the industry needs to rebuild the supply chain workforce by encouraging vocational skills in trucking and cargo handling.
Federal, state, and local governments must work together and commit to investing in strong capital programs that build or improve connections to our seaports and major distribution centers.
An increase in production of goods in the United States would be ideal, but shifting production from Asia to Latin America could also reduce supply chain issues.
Florida has made — and continues to make — major investments in transportation infrastructure connecting its seaports to highways and railroads that can move cargo from the state’s southernmost limits to inland markets in the middle of the country. At Port Everglades, the Florida Department of Transportation has invested in three new super post-Panamax gantry cranes and a historic project to add new container berths by the end of 2022. The state has also committed significant funding to deepen and widen the ports’ navigation channels to allow for larger container ships.
The past two years have taught us that shippers and supply chain enterprises must have a Plan B for congestion along traditional routes. Establishing partnerships now will pay great dividends in the future.