The walk into the grocery store was more beautiful than normal. The store had recently moved all of the remaining fall flowers along the curb and was displaying newly delivered pumpkins against the building. The path between the two helped you embrace everything that was great about fall. You were rushing into the store, however, to check two things off your Christmas list. You, like many other consumers, are already thinking about the major holiday that is still months away.
Even though consumers often are ahead of the game when it comes to holiday shopping, the reality is that freight management companies and the entire transportation industry have been scheduling the deliveries for the items that consumers want for months, and sometimes years, ahead of time.
Freight Management Software Plays an Important Role in the Economy of the Nation
With the latest load board integrations and various kinds of transportation broker software, there is an entire industry behind the products that consumers around the country, and around the world, purchase on a daily basis. Although many people think of the Christmas holidays when it comes to shopping and spending, the reality is that consumers are making purchases year round that keep the economy rolling. Without the transportation management industry, however, there would not be any products to purchase. Even in a time of increased online shopping, companies still rely on the safe and timely delivery of their products to the consumer.
Consider some of these facts and figures about the world’s transportation industry and the impact that it plays in the economy of countries around the globe:
- The value of freight moved is expected to increase from $882 per ton in the year 2007 to $1,377 per ton by the year 2040, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
- In the first three quarters of 2016, approximately 615 cargo-theft incidents were recorded by freight management
systems, according to data from CargoNet and FreightWatch International. - 23% of all for-hire freight tonnage can be attributed to retail, according to Satish Jindel, who serves as the president of the SJ Consulting Group.
- The length of overall haul has declined, also according to Jindel. In fact, public truckload carriers report that the average length of haul decreased 4% between the years 2011 and 2016.
- 12 million rail cars, trucks, locomotives, and vessels move goods across the transportation network.
- Approximately 5.9 million commercial motor vehicle drivers operate in the U.S., according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Just as the temperatures are finally cooling and there are many consumers who are enjoying their favorite fall items, the transportation industry not only has the Christmas holiday items scheduled for delivery, but they are also looking ahead to the delivery of items for next summer’s needs. Although there are many consumers who are merely happy when they think ahead enough to purchase the items that they want to give as Christmas presents, the reality is that manufacturing plants and wholesale distributors are looking months, and sometimes years, down the road to predict the needs of these consumers.
