Before you start reading, try answering this question: Is truck capacity up or down, and by what percentage? Now, hold that thought!
They say that life is all about perspective–even the sinking of the Titanic was a miracle to the lobsters in the ship’s kitchen. John Le Carre wrote: “A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world.” And fellow author Dan Brown wrote: “Sometimes, all it takes is a tiny shift of perspective to see something familiar in a totally new light.”
It can be a challenge to get up from behind one’s desk and undertake the effort and expense of traveling to an industry conference, but in the end, it’s worth it! At the end of last week, our Project Manager, Tammy, and I attended the TIA’s annual conference. On Monday morning, I was back at my desk feeling rejuvenated, energized, and optimistic as I turned my extensive notes into a huge To Do list.
The conference is designed to promote a sharing of ideas, strategies and insights on everything from global industry trends to specific tips on fraud prevention. What I find most valuable, however, is the opportunity to connect with others who love our profession and have experienced the same ups and downs whether they operate an 8-person or an 800-person company. Hearing about their challenges and successes helps to put my own into perspective.
Speaking of perspective, there were a few facts that really caught my attention and caused me to shift my thinking:
- Contrary to what you might think truck capacity is up 36% since February of 2011. Why does it seem so hard to find trucks? Because freight volume is up too – far more than truck capacity!
- The current national driver shortage is 35,000. By 2022, that number is projected to by 239,000! We’re going to have to work smarter than ever to find and retain the best carriers in our industry.
- There are roughly 79 million Millennials in the United States – 25 percent of the population. These are our future workers. But, Millenials are far more interested in quality of life and lifestyle success than their parents were. We’ll have to find ways to get drivers home on the weekends and make the job more appealing to this generation.
- Large carriers are “firing” customers and brokers, turning instead toward dedicated freight, which is more profitable and less volatile. This means that there are lots of customers out there needing the services of smaller, quality brokerage firms.
- Ten years ago, no one had a smart phone. Today, there are two billion people with smart phones who can buy goods from their phones and have them delivered almost anywhere. That means that freight volume will continue to skyrocket!
Is this good news or bad news? Well, as this smart phone illustrates, it all depends on your perspective:
Change your point of view this weekend,
~Bob
