Dachser USA has established desks of logistics professionals to assist retailers with weathering changes in how customers purchase holiday items during the coronavirus pandemic and the disrupted supply chain.
The freight forwarder noted that ocean freight capacity is tightening and landside transport gridlock is already on the horizon as the U.S. heads toward the post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping period at the end of November.
“This is a make-or-break time for some of our customers,” said Guido Gries, Dachser America’s managing director, in a statement. “Capacity issues across the supply chain and last-mile challenges are creating implications that could seriously impact delivery dates.”
Gries said the new customer service desks, which are located in Atlanta and Los Angeles, are in “constant contact with customers and is working tirelessly to develop solutions to tackle drayage capacity, transit delays, unloading issues and potential demurrage charges.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged many U.S. retailers to switch from traditional in-store purchases to online orders and deliveries.
According to Salesforce’s 2020 forecast, global online sales are expected to increase 30% year-over-year to $840 billion this holiday season, compared to 8% growth in 2019.
“Retailer promotions are starting earlier than ever before in an effort to mitigate the risk of last-minute crowds in the stores,” Dachser USA said. “To adhere to pandemic guidelines, retailers are adopting new approaches by offering curbside pickups, limiting the number of customers in stores, encouraging online shopping, as well as not opening doors on Thanksgiving Day.”
Click for more FreightWaves/American Shipper articles by Chris Gillis.
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