For all that’s changed in this pandemic year, the things that have remained the same stand out to me. We still depend on farmers to grow the food we put on our family tables. We still need building products to improve our cities and towns, consumer goods for our homes, and groceries to stock our pantries. As a result, the ships, trucks, and trains that carry these goods have had to maintain their state of perpetual motion.
More people than ever before recognize that the people who move goods across North America and around the world are essential workers. Their hard work has helped to feed the world and sustained us all through the struggles of 2020. I have had the pleasure of working in a group of railroaders with a conviction that they would deliver in the face of whatever challenges arose. Their ongoing success testifies to their grit and determination. I’m certain others in the transportation industry have seen this among their employees. It’s something we should continue to celebrate.
Leading into 2021, we must persist in listening to public health authorities and putting their guidance into practice. We must clearly communicate our actions, plans, and measures with others in the supply chain and with our employees to ensure they understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. In doing this, we protect our employees and their families, we protect our businesses, and we strengthen the bonds that hold us together. If we’re successful, those bonds will remain long after COVID-19 retreats from our everyday lives.
The pandemic has proven the resilience of the supply chain. We need to remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver for each other, our customers, and our communities and carry this momentum into 2021 and beyond.