- 8800 Grant Ave. Overland Park, KS 66212
Just over a year ago, the World Health Organization declared the end of pandemic. While the public health emergency may have ended, pet food companies have yet to see the end of supply chain challenges.
Jennifer Barnett Fox explains in an article for Pet Food Processing that we’re continuing to see issues related to aging infrastructure and port congestion, but there is also the challenge of increasing e-commerce demands. The popularity of online shopping has added to transportation logistics challenges, including driver shortages which the American Trucking Association projects will worsen.
Jennifer reports that there are still delayed arrivals and departures at ports, inconsistent container availability and regular West Coast port slowdowns that require companies to find backup plans. However, the infrastructure of ports appears to be in relatively decent shape compared to our roads and inland waterways. Jennifer noted that in 2021, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the U.S. a collective grade of C- for 18 categories of infrastructure. This included the following grades:
The article also explains that transportation companies are using data applications for real-time updates that help improve communication and efficiency. That is, as long as the amount of data doesn’t become overwhelming.
Click here to read the full article, “Transportation challenges causing a ripple effect in the pet food supply chain,” including how trade and labor disputes and legislation are affecting the supply chain.
We can help manage supply chain challenges by looking for new trans-loading locations and opportunities, including converting bulk rail to bulk truck, totes or bags. We can also consolidate multiple ingredients into one shipment to reduce lead time and allow you to better manage inventory levels. Give us a call today!
