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Trucking transportation is one of the competitive forces in business and a major player in the domestic and global economy. It is the physical act of linking industries to supply chain partners like suppliers and consumers, thus playing a key role in influencing consumers’ satisfaction with the company. What most people do not realize is that almost 1/3 of all the freights moved in the US is made by trucking transportation. This covers everything from manufacturing, waste removal, food, and medicine.
If the trucking industry is put to a halt, the nation will temporarily halt. What most people fail to realize is that if th trucking transportation stops, multiple critical industries will begin to feel the consequences within the next 24 hours. In this article, we look into the importance of the trucking transportation sector and what it is all about. We discuss the consequences that follow after the trucking transportation sector fails.
Table of Contents
What Is Trucking Transportation?
Trucks or trucking transportation begin their economic contribution by moving raw materials to the manufacturers. This includes raw materials for local businesses like quarries, farms, mines, and logging locations, to factories and processing plants that need the materials to create products. After that, finished products are again moved by trucks to retailers and wholesalers or to other transportation linkages to be shipped by air, airplane, rail, or ship. Products are then delivered to their points of destination around the area, region, country, or world.
Most trucking companies see to it that their trucks are in good running condition to be able to deliver what they promise. In case of a truck break down on the road, most truck drivers find trailer repair near me services to get an immediate solution. Here are the possible consequences that could happen if the trucking transportation fails.
Inaccessibility To Essential Products
Trucking transportation is one of the most important economic activities for a business. By delivering goods from the source to their designated locations where they are needed and on demand, transportation serves as the crucial factor connecting the company to its customers and suppliers. It is a significant activity in the functions of logistics backing the economic utilities of time and place. Time utility refers to the access of the customers when they demand the product.
Place utility, on the other hand, is the ability of the customers to have the product available at the location where they demand it. Truck transportation companies always make sure that their trucks are well maintained and well serviced to prevent problems on the road. They also ensure that they keep their end of getting the products available to customers and businesses. When an unexpected truck malfunction occurs, some drivers find trailer repair services handy when out of range of their service department.
Massive Job Loss
If the truck transportation industry fails, there will be a massive loss of jobs. There are approximately 7 million people working in the trucking sector, 50 percent of whom are drivers. In the US alone, there are over 800,000 truck drivers bringing home around $30 billion of annual earnings. In the US, 80 percent of the communities are dependent on the trucking sector in bringing to them the goods they need for their day to day activities.
Inability to Properly Serve Customers
Failure of trucking transportation is often the reason for businesses’ inability to meet the needs of its customers. Late deliveries could cause complaints and service issues. Additionally, it could damage products while in the move. OS&D, or over, short, and damaged deliveries could frustrate consumers that could result in customer dissatisfaction and a tendency to purchase their products from competitors.
Economic Implications
In a matter of 24 hours after the trucking industry shuts down due to a terrorist attack or to a natural disaster, the delivery of pharmaceutical and medical supplies will stop and hospitals will soon run out of supplies. Gas stations will start running out of fuel and long lines will start at fuel pumps. Delivery of packages and mail will stop within 24 hours if no trucking service. If all the trucks are pulled off the road, perishable goods will run short within three days, drinking water would be lost in two weeks to one month, food supplies in the hospitals would run out in 24 hours, and ATMs would run out of cash in three days.
Trucking transportation is indeed crucial in our everyday survival and in our economy. Truck owners and drivers know this role. To be able to play their part, they always make sure that their vehicles are properly serviced and well-maintained.
