The Three Biggest Challenges Facing Shippers and Carriers in 2024

The new “State of Transportation” report issued today by Wisconsin-based Breakthrough, a provider of fuel and freight solutions for shippers, addressed myriad components of freight transportation and logistics impacting shippers and carriers, including volatile weather, sustainability and emissions reduction, and over-the-road capacity, among others. 

The report findings were based on feedback from 500 transportation stakeholders, including 350 shippers and 150 carriers, throughout the United States, from January 2 through January 8. This is the second annual edition of the report. 

Weather impact

The report found that the top transportation challenge in 2024 is extreme weather events, including things like the ongoing Panama Canal drought, intensifying winter weather across the United States, unprecedented flooding from atmospheric rivers in California, and an active hurricane season. Breakthrough found that 39% of respondents pointed to extreme weather events as the top challenge in 2024.

Breakthrough COO Jenny Vander Zanden said it was somewhat surprising that extreme weather events were the top transportation challenge.

“As supply and demand get more into equilibrium, we are starting to see more of a new normal in operations,” she said. “These weather disruptions are highlighting these moments where you are not in control anymore. It reinforces these moments where the unknown creates a need for visibility. And disruptions, whether they are weather- or event-driven require that need for visibility and being one step ahead and having the right tools to navigate changing networks and environments.”

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