To say that 2020 was a difficult year would be the understatement of the decade. The upheaval in our supply chain has proven two things. First, we are incredibly fragmented and fragile. We have so many vulnerabilities that are created by the competing business interests of the stakeholders in the supply chain ecosystem. Second, we are extremely resilient. Speaking for the truckers, we have the unique ability to rise to occasions that most industries would never be able to even dream of.
2021 will be a year of change. Two major issues will start to become clearer as we say goodbye to 2020. For the first time in my six years as CEO of the HTA, misclassification was not the top issue the industry must deal with, according to our board of directors. The biggest issue has been port productivity and stopping unreasonable detention and demurrage charges. Next year, we will see if the FMC can hold ocean carriers accountable and establish a more equitable and fairer playing field for detention and demurrage. We will also start to discuss whether Congress feels that the Shipping Act is in need of modernization due to the many changes in the industry since 1984. Will the ocean carriers come to the table, or will truckers and shippers pursue other solutions? This remains the biggest question that 2021 should start to answer.
For truckers in California, the effort to create a zero-emissions supply chain by 2035 looms large. While the HTA believes the best way to fight climate change is by attracting cargo to the world’s cleanest ports, the state is trying to mandate equipment that is unproven, unavailable, and lacking supporting infrastructure. Will a more pragmatic approach be implemented with a real strategy? Time will tell.