The weather impacts many aspects of our lives. It affects what we wear, how long it takes us to get places, and even how much money we spend on groceries. Weather impacts the entire supply chain of a company and can change the landscape of an industry. Even companies who have never considered their supply chain may find that it’s impacted by weather. The ability to brainstorm solutions before the storms can give an organization a competitive advantage.
The weather also has a huge impact on logistics! Here are four reasons why the weather matters to logistics.
Delays in Transit Can Lead to Missed Deliveries
Weather can create delays in transit which can lead to missed deliveries. Snow, heat waves, and heavy rains are among the many weather-related delays that logistics workers have had to contend with in recent years.
Missed deliveries can cause customers to delay or cancel orders, impacting the company’s bottom line as well as your reputation within a tight customer base. In addition, warehousing facilities need to be prepared for extreme temperatures to risk their inventory being damaged by freezing conditions during the winter months.
Weather Impacting Packages
It doesn’t only rain on delivery day! Weather-related factors such as heavy winds or flooding can wreak havoc during transportation time. This can cause packages to get wet due to water seeping into transit vehicles through open windows or damaged tarpaulins from rough road conditions.
They may also be exposed by being left outdoors after loading onto trucks for extended periods awaiting departure.
In addition, moisture-sensitive goods need special packaging considerations to withstand the elements and still be delivered to their destinations in good condition.
Weather Impacting Drivers
Regular stops for food, beverages, or rest are important for driver health and safety on the road. This is especially true during extreme weather events such as snowstorms, which may impact drivers’ ability to operate safely due to slippery roads, lowered visibility (due to fog and ice), and increased vehicular accident rates.
The best way a logistics company can protect its drivers from these hazards is by making adjustments that include carrying extra water, ensuring break time at appropriate intervals over long distances, or installing sensors that alert them when they must take breaks based on regulations set forth by their local governments.
Weather-related conditions also affect fuel consumption through engine use, which can change with temperature and humidity.
Weather Impacts Supply Chain Operations
Weather impact on supply chains is dependent on what type of product and how it is delivered. For example, a driver who has to drive slower due to ice or snow will not meet his schedule commitments, delaying deliveries as he works through other areas that are easier to travel in.
There might also be delays if there was a storm during the time trucks would have been loading up a warehouse with inventory for distribution. But this doesn’t just happen at your facility – suppliers could experience their own shortages because they can’t get into delivering goods when needed!
The more severe a storm, the greater the logistical impacts it has on an area of operation. In turn, these events often lead companies to incur costs such as overtime pay for employees who work longer hours or fuel surcharges imposed by suppliers because they need additional resources – like trucks with four-wheel drive capabilities – during inclement weather conditions. That means businesses end up spending more money than normal when there is bad weather!
