STG Logistics: Navigating Port Strikes and Container Shortages
Size and scope of STG Logistics keeps supply chains moving during disruption
By Geoff Anderman, President and Chief Operating Officer
Anticipating potential disruptions to the supply chain and developing strategies to manage them are a critical aspect of logistics. We prepare for unexpected events, from rogue snowstorms in the deep South to flooding in the North. We proactively plan for road closures, route changes, and consider how global instability can impact the timely delivery of goods domestically.
Currently, there are two significant disruptions impacting the supply chain here in the United States, one potential and one ongoing: the possibility of an East Coast Port Labor Strike and the international shipping container shortage.
Currently, the International Longshoremen’s Association is threatening to strike if a new contract isn’t secured for their 45,000 members across three dozen seaports spanning the East Coast from Texas to Maine. While potential strikes are not new to our industry, they still create significant uncertainty. In response, many importers are rushing to bring goods into the United States to avoid potential bottlenecks.
At STG Logistics, our extensive size and our scope enable us to navigate disruptions with ease. We operate a nationwide footprint serving all major ports of entry, allowing us to seamlessly divert goods from one coast to another by simply moving them between STG locations. Our port-to-door service isn’t just something we say – it’s a reality made possible by our comprehensive range of solutions including intermodal, drayage, transload, and over-the-road capabilities. We’re fully prepared for a potential disruption, not only because we’ve proactively developed solutions, but also because we have the necessary capacity and infrastructure to help customers find effective alternative solutions.
In addition to potential labor issues on the East Coast, due to geopolitical disruptions shippers and their logistics service providers currently face a shortage of international shipping containers, not unlike what we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. This shortage of containers can lead to increased shipping rates and negatively impact our customers’ bottom line. At STG, our asset-based intermodal service, coupled with our robust transload facility network, provides a reliable solution when access to international container capacity to move freight inland proves challenging.
While disruptions to the supply chain can be frustrating, they are also great opportunities for learning. At STG, we believe in proactive communication with both our employees and our customers – often over-communicating when necessary. In situations like a pandemic or a possible strike, unforeseen issues will inevitably arise. In logistics the best service providers always seek to avoid problems where possible, but truly shine when they effectively manage the inevitable problems and challenges that do arise. At STG, we collaborate to avoid repeating the same mistakes, proactively communicate internally and externally, and treat our customers with fairness and respect. When challenges arise, we all feel the pressure, but by working together, we rise to those challenges.
