The past couple of years has been challenging for almost every business in every industry. The COVID-19 virus didn’t leave anyone out as it swept over the entire world. Shortages and production troubles hit all sectors of the shipping industry almost simultaneously. This led to lower sales, price hikes, and chaos throughout society.
One of the many industries that suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic is auto shipping. Automotive companies in the United States reported a seven to 30 percent decrease in sales since the pandemic started. This is likely due to the travel restrictions during the two years that COVID-19 posed a huge threat to society.
While the shipping industry has yet to recover fully from the turmoil of the past three years, businesses are seeing promising signs of progress on the horizon. To get ahead of the competition, having a solid grip on the latest updates and trends is essential.
Steer your business in the right direction and get insights from the top auto shipping trends of 2022:
Greener Shipping Options
Surveys show that around one-fifth of global CO2 emissions are from the transportation industry. With the world slowly focusing its eyes on sustainability, auto shipping businesses had no choice but to roll out solutions to help reduce their carbon footprint.
Expect to see more detailed emissions regulations in the shipping industry. You’ll also see more accurate matches between cargo and trailer sizes. If this plan from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is successful, the shipping industry should be able to save two billion barrels of oil. Additionally, they’ll be able to lower CO2 emissions by 1.1 billion metric tons.
Lowered Prices for Secondhand Cars
Prices for used vehicles skyrocketed during the past years—a consequence of the lowered vehicle inventories that happened from 2020 to 2021. At some point, prices for used cars were either equal to or more than that of brand-new vehicles.
As vehicle production picks up, prices for used cars are anticipated to level out throughout 2022. It’s expected to reach normal pricing equilibrium by the fall season.
Increased Use of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)
Electronic logging devices (ELDs) have been in use in the shipping industry since 2019. This piece of tech is used by shipping companies to log the driving time of commercial vehicles, e.g., trucks, cars, trains, etc.
ELDs are mainly used to record the Hours of Service (HOS) rendered by commercial vehicle drivers. It’s regulated by the federal government and is in place to protect workers from exploitation and overwork.
Most shipping companies are now required to use ELDs in their operations. It keeps you compliant with FMSCA HOS regulations and keeps your employees protected from possible injuries or illness.
More Internet-connected Vehicles
The further technology advances, the more integrations people can do on their vehicles. Internet-connected devices are predicted to be more commonplace in shipping. This allows drivers to access live weather updates, road conditions, and speed limit regulations.
This can help increase the safety and effectiveness of auto-shipping businesses. It can prevent shipping delays and errors from happening. Additionally, it may help customers track their orders in real-time, giving them peace of mind.
Use of More Autonomous Vehicles
China and Germany now allow level four driverless vehicles to take the road. These are vehicles that operate completely autonomously, so passengers don’t have to do anything but sit back and relax. In 2022, more autonomous vehicles are expected to join the auto shipping industry. This is believed to improve the industry’s mobility and sustainability.
Healthier Shipping Practices
Drivers interact with a variety of people and cargo every day. The chances of them getting in contact with contagious illnesses is high. Businesses have made it a priority to train their drivers and carriers in proper hygiene and health practices. This protects not only their employees from sickness but their customers as well.
The Bottom Line
The COVID-19 pandemic has opened people’s eyes to a reality that’s been unfolding right under their noses. While auto-shipping has certainly come a long way, there are still areas where it can improve.
As more people realize the importance of sustainability and efficiency in society, businesses are pushed to create newer, cheaper, and easier ways to run operations. To stay ahead of the game, maintaining a certain level of quality and following trends is a must.
Figure out a way to offer green auto-shipping options for your clients. Protect your drivers’ health and legal rights with ELD integration and compliance. Finally, streamline operations with autonomous vehicles and programmable internet-connected gadgets.
