December 28, 2021 – Shipping rates are expected to climb further in 2022 as consumer spending in the U.S. pushes ongoing strong freight demand and the supply chain crunch, according to the Wall Street Journal. Operators with deep resources like Home Depot Inc. and Walmart Inc. have taken steps like chartering ships, something midsize and smaller companies cannot draw on.
Companies are facing 2022 rate increases across all modes of transport and are seeking ways to make themselves more attractive to shippers to ensure goods are moved as needed. That includes smaller companies getting truck drivers in and out of their facilities quickly and not tying up carriers’ equipment. One company preloads its trailers for UPS Inc. to minimize wait times and aims to get truck drivers back on the road in 30 minutes or less.