Photo: Erik McLean/Unsplash
041420 Covid 19 Erik Mclean Unsplash 5e95abb52b1bb

Adjusting to the new reality of COVID-19

April 14, 2020
Even as trucking continues to push forward, the adjustment period of the novel coronavirus is just beginning.

These past several weeks have been tough for all of us as we adjust to what has become the new reality. Many states are under stay-in-place orders, many employees are now working remotely, and non-essential businesses are closed. The goal of these efforts, of course, is to limit the spread of COVID-19 so that things can return to some sense of normalcy. That said, I think we are headed for the “new normal.”

Through it all, the trucking industry has continued to operate making sure that grocery, bread, and dairy shelves are restocked as people laid in supplies for a few weeks. We’ve made sure pharmacies, hospitals and other essential businesses receive what they need as well.

Those of us in transportation and logistics have known all along that what we do is essential work, I think that view is now shared by the rest of the community. 

But it has not been business as usual for the industry. Many fleets have seen a slowdown in freight if they typically deliver to businesses that are now closed because they are not considered essential. In some cases, we have been able to redirect these assets and labor to other accounts that are experiencing an uptick because of the nature of the essential services they provide.

Those of us who are still hauling freight are taking precautions to keep our drivers and our customers safe. Whether it is wiping off steering wheels, door handles, seats and shifters; providing masks and gloves, antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers to the managers, techs and drivers; or limiting congregating in dispatch or break rooms, we have changed standard operating procedures.

Within our own operations — as is true for many other fleets — we are learning as we go. There is no handbook that tells us what we need to do to keep our drivers, technicians, other employees and customers safe. Sure, we can have non-customer facing staff work remotely, but drivers, technicians and warehouse personnel need more than a laptop and internet access to do their jobs.

Each of us is making decisions based on the information we have and what makes sense given our unique operating models. One thing COVID-19 has shown is that we can be nimble and adapt to rapidly changing conditions.

No one knows when we will return to normal or what that new normal might be, so we will continue to adapt our policies and procedures to make sure everyone is safe. I feel strongly that when this is all over, that we shouldn’t dispense with ­­­all the lessons we learned from the way we responded to this pandemic. I am certain we can use many of them to make our businesses even more efficient than they were before.

In the meantime, be safe out there. 

About the Author

Joseph Evangelist

Joseph is a seasoned transportation executive with domestic and international experience in sales, operations, mergers and acquisition with heavy emphasis on post-acquisition assimilation planning to maximize new growth and business combination opportunities.

He joined Transervice in 2007 and currently serves as executive vice president with sales, operations and staff responsibilities. He is also heavily involved in new business development and account management.

Previously he was president of LLT International, Inc., an international transportation consulting firm with operations in the U.S. and the Far East. He oversaw the maintenance and fleet management of a 2,000-vehicle cement distribution fleet in Indonesia.

Joseph was also president and CEO of Lend Lease Trucks Inc., a truck rental, leasing and dedicated carriage firm with operations throughout the U.S.

He also was vice president/general manager of The Hertz Corporation – Truck Division, a subsidiary of The Hertz Corp. While there he participated in the acquisition and successful integration of the Canadian licensee operations.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Seasonal Strategies for Maintaining a Safe & Efficient Fleet Year-Round

Prepare your fleet for every season! From winterizing vehicles to summer heat safety, our eBook covers essential strategies for year-round fleet safety. Download now to reduce...

Streamline Compliance, Ensure Safety and Maximize Driver's Time

Truck weight isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when considering operational efficiency, hours-of-service regulations, and safety ratings, but it can affect all three.

Improve Safety and Reduce Risk with Data from Route Scores

Route Scores help fleets navigate the risk factors they encounter in the lanes they travel, helping to keep costs down.

Celebrating Your Drivers Can Prove to be Rewarding For Your Business

Learn how to jumpstart your driver retention efforts by celebrating your drivers with a thoughtful, uniform-led benefits program by Red Kap®. Uniforms that offer greater comfort...