Developing mutually beneficial relationships guarantees your partners will be there for you – in good times and bad.
By Gary Wollenhaupt
I n times of crisis, you learn who your real friends are, as the saying goes. That has never been more true as pandemic-driven supply chain disruption tested relationships among partners across the industry. The pandemic fostered challenges like the surge in e-commerce shipments, new safety protocols, falling capacity and uncertainty. Shippers and logistics providers learned which relationships withstood the stress test and which did not. As the supply chain has begun to stabilize, partners have learned to adjust to the new normal. Shippers and carriers have long memories about who stood by them when times were tough and who chased after new relationships for a few cents per mile in either direction. Technology plays a part in making those relationships more efficient. But there’s no substitute for respecting the people who drive the trucks, book the loads and work the docks. Shippers and providers have learned new lessons about building mutually beneficial relationships during this crisis and the next.
January 2022 • Inbound Logistics 205
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