
Logistic Nomad at OOCL
20 January 2022
An inside look at a Saturday morning from Logistic Nomad
25 November 2022The logistics industry is subject to change at all times. Not only internal factors play a role, but external factors also had their impact. Such as the current economic situation, the war in Ukraine and the past covid crisis. All factors that inhibit innovation in the industry. You simply cannot think about the future if you are only concerned with putting out today’s fires. Yet, innovation is essential for standing out, not just as a company but also as an industry. What other issues could be preventing innovation? Find out in this expert article!
Staff shortage
The first problem may come as no surprise: there is a significant shortage of staff. Skilled and sufficient personnel are scarce in the transport and logistics sector. The demand far exceeds the supply, resulting in a lack of workforce to focus on major logistical challenges. This also leaves little time for strategic issues, as most of the day is taken up by tasks that are higher on the priority list. It’s a shame, because this will ultimately lead to stagnated growth.
Sickness absenteeism
The staff shortage is not only caused by a shortage of personnel, the sickness absenteeism is also high. In quarter one of 2022 alone, absenteeism in road transport was 7 percent. This rate is 2 percent higher than the average for the past decade.
Searching for solutions
Simply presenting problems will not get us anywhere as a logistics industry. We have to look for solutions. One option to combat absenteeism in general is to have good conversations. As an employer, it is important to be aware of what is going on among your employees, to know how people are feeling and how the workload and work atmosphere is perceived. Prevention is better than cure, and an important tool in this is communication. It can’t stop all absenteeism, but good communication can ensure that as an employer, you are aware of any dropout in a timely manner and can bet on how you as an employer can improve the workload and atmosphere.
How are we going to address this as a logistics industry? How is your company addressing this problem? And what does the future look like? Share your knowledge, all are welcome!