As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt life and businesses across the globe, the world of logistics hasn’t been immune to disturbances. As other industries struggle with mass closures, logistics has been ramping up and revolutionizing. It’s become increasingly clear that winning the war against COVID-19 will be a battle of logistics.
The mission for transportation companies is clear- get the right equipment and supplies where they’re needed most, when they’re needed most, before moving them to the next hotspot. That has been easier said than done. This global pandemic has put a life-or-death pressure on the industry, made even more difficult by a rapidly changing landscape that presents new challenges daily.
Unlike a traditional war, this is one being fought on the front lines by a dedicated and tireless army of medical workers, grocery store employees, and first responders, on top of average citizens who have played a crucial role in slowing the spread by staying home.
And they all need supplies. With a strain on both supply and demand, as well as the widespread disruption to international freight shipments, meeting these needs hasn’t been easy. Logistics firms have been scrambling to discover solutions and re-establish vital connections.
Politicians might be the ones calling for supplies and discussing which hotspots need them, but the task of sourcing these supplies and delivering them in a timely manner falls on the shoulders of logistics firms. Without logistics, hospitals would be without ventilators and personal protective equipment, and stores would be out of food and household goods.
It’s unknown how much longer the fight against COVID-19 will wage on. We do know that without logistics it would already be lost. Next time you go grocery shopping or hear about another COVID-19 patient recovery, remember to thank the workers and drivers behind the scenes that made it possible.
