The Year Ahead: Transportation costs keep rising

Trucking industry rates have gone up 10 to 20 percent over the last year or so, with rate increases occurring nearly every quarter. The reasons range from ELD fallout and delays to too few drivers and leaving empty space in trailers.

“The cost and availability of transportation is an issue we’re all concerned with,” says Ed Treacy, vice president of supply chain efficiencies for Newark, DE-based Produce Marketing Association. “We have to get better at making sure our trucks are full running down the road.”

Mary-Scott DeMarchis, sales manager at FresH2O Growers in Stevensburg, VA, says transport costs are certainly up, but so are the inputs—which of course will lead to higher pricing.

Amy Childress, vice president of marketing and planning for cargo solutions at Emerson in Jupiter, FL, agrees.

“The rising costs are going to hit the consumer eventually,” she says, which is why it’s so important to monitor shipping and avoids all manner of complications.

Emerson’s Locus Traxx tracking devices can help with scheduling issues, delays, and unexpected problems during transport.

“If it’s tracked and monitored, the margin for error is less,” Childress says.