The Atlantic hurricane season that began June 1 and continues through November is expected to be above normal in storm activity, although not as record-breaking as in 2020. Forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predict a 60% chance of a hurricane season above normal in the number of storms.
With a 70% confidence, NOAA expects a “likely range of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 5 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher).”
As CJ Logistics proactively communicates with customers and as sources like Business Insider remind us, the storms could pose problems for supply chains already dealing with issues such as product shortages related to the global pandemic, scarcity of truck drivers and other workers, congested ports, and the after-effects of the Texas freeze, Suez Canal blockage and oil pipeline shutdown. And, as an article on weather.com points out, other disasters, like drought and wildfires in the West, could also impact supply chains that are “stretched thin.”
All of this means, of course, that strategic transportation providers like CJ Logistics are preparing for a potentially destructive storm season by focusing on capacity, visibility and business continuity.
To enable faster responses as markets impacted by weather shift quickly, CJ Logistics continues to invest in new tools. The tools increase the speed of carrier sourcing capabilities, including leveraging digital freight matching (DFM) applications. This allows the company’s transportation team to connect available loads to available trucks in specific markets, increasing capacity.
CJ Logistics has invested in a new visibility solution, FourKites, to further improve connection with carriers, and information to customers. This new tool, in addition to the company’s existing visibility solutions providers, enables faster response times, proactive at-risk load identification and real time tracking available to customers.
“The pandemic has driven a rethinking of the supply chain as well as risk management to facilitate business continuity.” said Brad Nuffer, VP, Transportation Operations. “In conjunction with our customers, we are working to build structural changes into their networks – in modes, locations and processes, for example – that will help mitigate the impacts of major weather events in the future.”
As a lead logistics partner (LLP), third-party logistics provider (3PL) and supply chain consultant with a continuous improvement and innovation mindset, CJ Logistics provides global integrated supply chain solutions that strengthen customers’ supply chains, making them ready to weather storms and other challenges.
