Logistics Issues and Uncertainty is Killing You

I have a theory… uncertainty is the most common cause of stress in our lives. It would be natural to think that stress is caused by bad news or a bad situation, which is in part true, but I believe the greater source of stress is caused by not knowing what the result will be.

I spend far more time thinking about what could go wrong than I do worrying about the things that did go wrong. When I am uncertain about a situation, the lack of control is stressful. I feel as if I need to plan for every contingency and outcome, which creates stress. On the other hand, when something actually does go wrong, I know I have control over how I respond, which is stress relieving.

Here are some everyday examples of how stress is caused by uncertainty.

Stressed about going to the dentist = uncertainty about what the dentist might find

Stressed about politics = uncertainty about how the policies will affect you and your family

Stressed about your child’s poor grades = uncertainty about their future opportunities

Stressed about a relationship = uncertain if this person is a good match for you

You get it. We are surrounded by uncertainty. In the freight industry, the cause of stress is no different. As a logistics, shipping, procurement, or project manager, uncertainty defines your job.

The stress of your supply chain begins with the freight quoting process. When you receive a truckload rate, can you be sure that your provider will actually have a truck available when you need it, or follow the project plan as scheduled? Did they consider all the factors and requirements before they quoted? Will the rate change last minute?

Then, once the shipment is coordinated, the stress of waiting begins. Will the trailers show up on time? Will your broker proactively send you updates, or will you have to chase them down for information? Will the driver have all the proper equipment for my needs?

After a shipment is picked up, you are faced with uncertainty around tracking and transit. How will you know if the truck is running behind? Will your broker go silent if something goes wrong? Is the product going to be safe during transit?

Finally, the ultimate uncertainty is regarding your customer’s experience. Will the broker contact your customer to schedule a delivery? Will the shipment deliver on time to the project site? Will the driver be a good representation of your company?

These uncertainties are just a small fraction of the unknowable that can make managing your supply chain stressful. The connection between uncertainty and misery in your project is obvious, so the question is what can you do about it?

That’s where we step in. I believe that your best defense against stress is finding the right third party logistics partner. I know what you are thinking, “This is the part of the article where the author begins selling me on why my processes are broken and how they can fix them. Next article.”  

Hold on! Before you move on, hear me out.

All of these uncertainties you face are manageable, if you work with someone who actually cares about doing quality work. In fact, some of these uncertainties are entirely removed if your broker is an excellent communicator.

In 2012, Chad and I founded Stream Logistics with a mission to remove the uncertainty in transportation. From Day 1, we have been evolving every process and system to remove uncertainty. We have an office full of caring people who want to make your life stress-free. We will always have room for more progress, but we are getting better every day. So, what certainties can you expect from Stream?

• An actual person will answer the phone when you call.
• We will actively push information and updates to you. If you have to ask us for an update, we failed you.
• We will only work with reputable carriers. We love our carriers and treat them well.
• The rates we provide will be honored. If we are unsure about the future rate, we will work with you on a reasonable quote range so you can plan accordingly.
• We will not commit unless we know for certain we can provide a truck.
• If something goes wrong, we will be the ones to let you know and we will work with you until the situation is resolved. We will never dodge your calls or emails.
• We will respond to emails immediately. Our average email response time is less than 5 minutes.
• We care. Your business means more to us than it does to anyone else.
• We will make the shipping process stress-free and enjoyable for you because we can have fun and get shit done at the same time.
• Your experience with us will only get better with time because we are committed to an eternal state of improvement.

All of these standards are designed to eliminate the uncertainty that defines your job. Once you hand us the details of a shipment, you will never have to worry about it again. Sit back, relax, and receive all the updates you need.

Sound too good to be true? Give us a call and find out!