Tips to Optimize Loading and Unloading Freight

Over the past ten years, the explosive growth of online shopping and the move toward two-day  delivery by some retailers has put an exceptional strain on logistics managers and distribution centers. As a result, speedy and efficient loading and unloading freight has become more important than ever. Enormous warehouses and distro centers have sprung up across the country, placing an even greater strain on employers, who have had little time to hire new staffers and even less time to train them. The National Pandemic put an even greater challenge on the supply chain system as, at first, manufactured goods were in scarce supply. Globally, production gradually ramped back up, yet demand did not decrease. Those consumers who had ‘discovered’ the convenience of shopping online for everything from their groceries to gift items, electronics, and clothing, did not completely abandon this practice when regulations eased, and they could, once again, return to shopping at their local stores. As a result, an increased amount of goods must reach a greater number of consumers faster than ever before. 

Just prior to the Pandemic, in 2019, the American Trucking Association reported that the trucking industry in the United States had generated $791.7 billion in revenue that year, by moving 11.84 billion tons of freight. Estimates for 2023 fluctuate, but most indicate a return to these general metrics after a whirlwind couple of years during the Pandemic. However, what has changed in this industry is the number of companies that include freight unloaders as full-time staff, as well as firms that provide skilled labor to perform loading and unloading freight. So the issue has become, who can logistics overseers turn to expect the type of services and dependability that this important supply chain link requires?

In this posting are several tips to optimize this process, but here is the most important tip: 

Tip 1: Partner with Labor Loop to provide the on-demand, seasoned support staff needed for loading and unloading freight. 

Tip 2: We provide experienced, skilled support staffers. This means that less time spent loading and unloading freight by untrained or unskilled staffers who have been diverted from their assigned tasks whenever a shipment arrives. This process also translates into cost-savings for operations managers who do not have to provide benefits to our workers.

Tip 3: Our teams are OSHA-trained and certified. It is a fact, using unskilled labor increases the probability of an accident causing injury to themselves or other workers. It also raises the possibility of a Workers Comp and/or liability claim(s). Neither are beneficial to any company’s bottom line.

Tip 4: Labor Loop’s teams can be swiftly deployed, even on short notice. We are there when you need us. The team then performs loading and unloading freight using the proper equipment and tools using the best methods for loading and unloading any type of cargo. We perform the assigned task, and then we are gone until the next time you require our services. This reduces your payroll and our services may even be classified as a business deduction! 

Want to learn more about how you can face increased supply chain challenges without breaking any links? Contact Labor Loop to learn more about our on-demand lumper services today!