Each year we face challenges in the roofing industry. Weather, pricing, competition, the economy and the list goes on and on with the challenges we face. I have been in the roofing business now for over 20 years and for the first time trucking and delivery of our materials will be one of the biggest challenges this year and for the foreseeable future. Many manufacturers are beginning to publish documents sharing this information with their customers. Duro-Last I am sure will soon follow the trend and be notifying our customers of the many issues nationwide. Until you dig into the statistics it is hard to understand and once you read the facts the severity of the trucking shortage is mind blowing. As recent as last year the trucking shortage had gotten to the point that there were 18 available loads for every flatbed truck in America. This Spring Carlisle sent out a Bulletin to their contractors informing them that the shortage had now grown to the point there are 111 available loads for every flatbed truck. In a more recent publication from the trucking industry truckstop.com has reported there are now 140 available loads for every flatbed truck and 40 available loads for every enclosed truck in America. What this means to the construction industry are delays and increased shipping costs. Now that truckers have so many options they are choosing the more desirable and profitable loads. Deliveries that are set up and scheduled can now be dropped when truckers find a more desirable shipment. Monday and Friday deliveries that may keep a driver away from home on the weekend are now even harder to fill. So the challenge is here and is not going away any time soon. The predictions from the shipping industry are grim as there are few drivers entering the industry even with salaries now climbing into the 6 figures. There are currently more drivers retiring from trucking then new ones entering the industry so the future is not promising. In reality the only thing that solves this problem is a lessened demand for trucking and that would only come from a downturn in the economy and a decline in the construction market. Flatbed trucks are mainly used for the hauling of construction materials, so we will be the ones to struggle from this trucking shortage.
So what can you do and what can we do? Order with as much lead time as possible so we have time to find carriers for the loads. Combine as many loads as possible to maximize the space used for each load which will help minimize your shipping costs. Enclosed trucks are easier to find and cheaper right now so if possible see if your load can be shipped in an enclosed truck. Be patient and please know we are very aware of this issue and working to try and find solutions. With the demand there are certainly issues with on time arrivals and drivers that are less than spectacular, so be patient and let us know when you have problems so we can help resolve the issues. Thanks in advance for your patience and understanding as we work to get through these logistics problems.
http://www.trucker.com/news/spot-rates-rise-may-shipper-demands-increase