The Effect of E-Commerce on the Trucking Industry

The immense growth of the e-commerce industry has impacted related sectors. And one of them is trucking. Shopping online has become the preferred method for consumers thanks to its convenience. The growth of the industry has imposed various challenges for trucking companies. Businesses will require precise truckload shipping quotes to calculate their costs. In addition, we explain how e-commerce impacted the trucking industry.

The immense growth of e-commerce

Many years ago, consumers were obligated to go to physical stores to buy the necessary goods. The process takes time and effort, so some might find it inconvenient. The mainstream use of the internet has implemented changes in the shopping process. Consumers can buy with a few clicks or taps on their mobile devices. Buying and selling have become so easy. 

With the popularity of e-commerce, physical stores were forced to close or join the new trend. Many big-name retailers offer online shopping experiences, despite the traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Online shopping has increased the need for trucking services. Customers want to have their goods shipped promptly while paying less money. 

The impact on the trucking industry

The rise of e-commerce as a preferred buying method has brought many benefits to the trucking industry. But at the same time, it imposed various challenges. The popularity of e-commerce has impacted how the products are shipped, packed, and delivered to the consumer.

Prompt delivery is highly requested in the e-commerce world. Therefore companies are looking for innovative solutions to be more competent in the market. For example, Amazon is constructing warehouses in urban areas. 

The promise of fast shipment has impacted the trucking industry. Unfortunately, this is referred to as a negative aspect. For example, the high demand for shipping caused driver shortages and problems with employee retention in the industry. Driver’s health and well-being were also compromised due to the high volume of orders. 

Fast shipping

Customers want their goods delivered promptly and without high charges, which puts pressure on the trucking industry. Fulfillment centers help speed up the delivery process, while intraregional and last-mile truck trips get higher demand. 

For truck drivers, e-commerce has changed their work process. Delivering products to the final consumer has them working in their local region. Therefore the truckers can work locally and return home for the night without being away from home for weeks. The inter-regional driving jobs have been replaced with a higher volume of local trucking jobs. 

Driver shortage

The trucking industry faces various challenges due to the increase in e-commerce. The driver shortage and retention are certainly on top of the list. By 2040, over 51,000 truck drivers will be needed to handle the volume. However, the increase in orders can be beneficial for solving this problem. We already explained that local delivery allows drivers to return home every day instead of the few-week truck tips. A stable working schedule is ideal for people with families that want to be home every day. Therefore, this will increase the popularity of the truck driving job and decrease the turnover rates. However, it is expected that local driving jobs to worsen the problem with the shortage of long-haul drivers due to its benefits.

Final take

The trucking industry needs to answer the dynamic changes in the e-commerce world. The need for speedy and timely delivery is on the rise. But on the other hand, the trucking industry itself faces challenges such as driver retention and shortage. 

James Ewen

James is the head of marketing at Tamoco