TAKEAWAYS
WHO’S MORE OPTIMISTIC: SHIPPERS OR CARRIERS?
Syfan_Publisher_NewDesign.pdf 1 8/14/24 12:16 PM rates and tighter capacity: only 38% declare feeling optimistic about 2025. • At a macro level, respondents to the survey (both shippers and carriers/3PLs) name economic conditions (56%), geopolitical events (50%), and environmental regulations (36%) as the top three factors that will shape the industry in 2025. The struggles of the manufacturing industry in Europe and the United States, global inflation, slow economic growth, and regional conflicts mean that uncertainty and risk will continue to prevail. • While global shippers rank AI as the fourth-biggest trend that will shape the industry in 2025, it emerges as the second-biggest for carriers and 3PLs. Responding to key developments expected to shape the transportation and logistics sector in 2025, shippers and carriers seem to hold dierent mindsets about what lies ahead. Shippers and carriers show dierent levels of optimism about next year’s transportation market, according to the annual Transportation Pulse Report from global freight network platform Transporeon, a Trimble Company. The report finds: • Carriers and 3PLs on both sides of the Atlantic show strong optimism (75%), likely due to the increased freight demand and rates, coupled with a gradual capacity reduction. • Shippers, however, seem less confident as the current trends forecast increased
When asked about their top priorities for 2025, shippers and carriers both highlight maintaining and increasing profitability—but again, at dierent levels: • Cost reduction is the top priority for the majority of all respondents surveyed (61%) and is particularly significant for shippers, at 76%. • Market expansion surpassed cost reduction for carriers/3PLs: 58% highlight it as their key focus, likely reflecting a desire to capitalize on anticipated market condition improvements following a downturn. • Supply chain digitization garnered 51% of the total votes, with European respondents showing a greater inclination (59%) than their U.S. counterparts (39%). • Sustainability initiatives secure 44% of the votes, signifying their growing importance in the sector. European executives value sustainability the highest, reflecting a more advanced implementation of sustainability-related regulations and emissions standards. “This year’s survey reflects a broader concern for the global economy and geopolitics beyond transportation and logistics,” says Philipp Pfister, chief customer experience ocer at Transporeon. “Carriers and 3PLs especially see opportunities for technological innovation and growth, balancing optimism with caution. While digitization won’t be the answer to everything, companies recognize the benefits and aim to use digital tools to control costs, better manage customer expectations, and further sustainability practices.”
42 Inbound Logistics • January 2025
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