Mental Health and the Dark Side of the Supply Chain
Hello, Karen Sage here, and I’m here to help you ship like an otter!
As a logistics expert, I know that shipping can be a pain. But it doesn’t have to be. That’s why we created The Otterly Informed Shipper, Shipwell’s monthly LinkedIn #newsletter.
Remember, in each issue, I’ll share my take on the most relevant topics in supply chain #logistics, plus thoughtful feedback and commentary from our community. I’ll also give you tips, ideas, and strategies to roll with the punches to keep things moving and maybe have some fun along the way.
This month's newsletter covers a wide range of topics, from #mentalhealth challenges in the #supplychain industry to lighter topics, such as #automation in the #settlementprocess and #consumertrends around #sustainability. It is important to cover a variety of topics in our newsletter, as we want to provide our readers with valuable information and insights that they can use to improve their own #logistics operations.
Let me know if you would like to contribute an article to help our community!
So whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting, thank you for joining The Otterly Informed Shipper and our journey to make shipping easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
Best regards,
Karen Sage?—?CMO, Shipwell
This Month’s Topics
The dark side of the supply chain
Mental health matters in transportation
Few industries hold as much responsibility for upholding the economy as the supply chain. The products we use every day, the houses we live in, the food we eat, lifesaving medicines… everything that we depend on is only made possible by the movement of product, parts, and materials that the supply chain enables. And yet, the supply chain hides a dark side.??
Despite being critical to society and the economy, the workers who keep supply chains running are often underappreciated and face demanding and hazardous working conditions that can lead to serious mental health issues. From safety concerns and poor labor practices to worker exploitation and the impact of technology and automation, these issues can lead to PTSD, stress, anxiety, depression, and countless other mental health issues.?
Safety concerns and the lack thereof
Truck drivers are at high risk of experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression due to long hours on the road, traffic congestion, adverse weather, and tight deadlines, and with one-third or more of truckers involved in violent road accidents during their careers, PTSD is a serious risk for them. However, truck drivers are not alone in having their safety concerns ignored — warehouse workers handling heavy loads and operating machinery, and port workers loading and unloading cargo from ships, are also exposed to significant safety risks that can lead to physical and emotional trauma.
Overworked (and underpaid) employees
The transportation industry's poor labor practices, including worker misclassification as independent contractors, which denies them job security, benefits, and protections afforded to traditional employees and can lead to financial stress, anxiety, and depression. Seen in multiple positions from port workers to warehouse operators, the impact of misclassification can be particularly harmful to truck drivers who are often also expected to cover their expenses like fuel and insurance. However, poor labor practices can also impact workers even in white-collar positions within the supply chain, with transportation managers experiencing subjected to increased levels of stress and burnout due to the heavy workloads, tight timelines, and budget constraints they face daily.
Worker exploitation and the abuse of power
The transportation industry is known for its exploitation of workers, with some companies even going so far as to lure desperate or foreign workers with false promises, forcing them into debt and overwork. But even without extreme examples, workers at all levels often face the choice to either accept long hours, low wages, and unrealistic schedules or unemployment — making it a lose-lose situation for many where stress, anxiety, mental and physical exhaustion, and depression are considered a part of the job. The consequences of exploitation can even impact those in positions of power, such as transportation managers who may witness exploitation occurring within their organization, yet find themselves unable to speak up out of fear of reprisal and leaving them with feelings of guilt and powerlessness that can put their own mental health at risk.
The ever lurking fear of displacement
From automated trucks to supply chain management software, the transportation industry's technology advancements often raise concerns about issues ranging from job displacement and wage reduction to their impact on job satisfaction. Transportation managers overseeing automated systems, warehouse workers witnessing positions being replaced by slick new robots, truck drivers seeing companies promising a future of autonomous delivery, and anyone else watching as technology promises ever-increasing efficiency may experience job insecurity amidst fears that their positions will either become redundant or unfulfilling.?
At Shipwell, we understand that our success as a company is directly tied to the well-being of our employees and those in the industries that we serve. So while we are committed to providing a safe and supportive work environment for our employees, we are equally committed to extending that support to everyone in the supply chain industry.
To read more about the issues that put the mental health of those in the supply chain at risk — or to access resources available to those affected — click the link below.
And remember, it's always okay to ask for help.?
Cast your vote in this week's poll
From voice assistants and autonomous vehicles to personalized recommendations and predictive analytics,?#ArtificialIntelligence?is shaping our world in remarkable ways. But while some view?#AI?as an incredible tool that enhances?#efficiency, enables?#innovation, and improves our lives, others remain doubtful — and still more feel it brings more #danger than good. So we want to know, where do you stand?
Sustainable spring cleaning
A battle of the brands
With the spring season in full swing, it's time for many households and businesses to roll up their sleeves for the annual spring cleaning. But now, the age-old choice between big brands and smaller, eco-friendly ones has taken center stage — and the battle has never been fiercer.?
While consumer confidence in big brands has been shaken by high-profile recalls of millions of bottles of Colgate-Palmolive brand Fabuloso products and scented Clorox brand Pine-Sol cleaners, even green products aren't immune to recalls, as evidenced by the recent (significantly smaller and less publicized) recall involving the natural and biodegradable detergent brand, The Art of Green. However, while poor quality control can strike brands both big and small, the fall of these previously trusted brands may turn the tide in favor of those smaller sustainable options.
The good news? More and more consumers are willing to pay extra for sustainable products. In fact, two-thirds of Americans are willing to pay more for eco-friendly cleaning products, believing that they're healthier for them and their families. It's like a modern-day Goldilocks story, with consumers seeking products that are not too hot, not too cold, but just right. And as a result, the sustainable cleaning product industry is growing twice as fast as the overall cleaning product market and is now projected to reach $398.05 billion by 2027.?
But that's not all – the battle for sustainable packaging is also heating up. Refillable containers and waterless 'tabs' or 'sheets' of cleaning products are becoming increasingly popular for their waste reduction and carbon footprint shrinking qualities. And with more than 90 percent of a typical bottle of cleaning product being water, having consumers add it themselves can reduce volume, weight, fuel, and carbon emissions associated with shipping, and even reduce the amount of global disposable plastic packaging waste by an estimated 20 percent or more.?
Whichever way the battle turns this spring cleaning season, businesses are taking notice and responding to changing consumer demand by incorporating more sustainable practices into their supply chains, sourcing eco-friendly raw materials, optimizing transportation routes, and investing in recyclable or reusable packaging. And Shipwell is here to provide the tools and insights needed to help businesses meet their sustainability goals, reduce costs, and adapt to shifting consumer demands.?
For more information on how this spring cleaning season’s Battle of the Brands is shaping up — and to learn more about how Shipwell can help your business to come out a winner — click the link below.
Waking up from the settlement process nightmare
The settlement process can sometimes feel like the stuff of nightmares for shippers, with late payments, disputes, and inefficient processes leading to unhappy carriers, higher costs, and even refusal of services. But what if we told you there was a way to wake up from that nightmare and step right into the settlement process of your dreams?
In this three-part series of articles, Shipwell’s Senior Product Manager, Dave Mathias provides step-by-step guidance to help shippers navigate their way out of the darkness and towards a more efficient and effective settlement process. From setting expectations and establishing metrics to turning the settlement process into a competitive advantage, we will cover all the essential elements that shippers need to consider in order to create the ideal situation for both shippers and carriers.?
Maximizing your settlement potential
10 best practices to follow
From unhappy carriers and accounting errors to being buried beneath mountains of paperwork every month, settlement inefficiencies can be a nightmare. By adhering to these 10 best practices, shippers can maintain better relationships with carriers, keep employees focused on what really matters, and deliver better insight and expectations on cash flow to their businesses.
Settle in for success
8 steps to streamlined settlement onboarding
After you’ve explored and identified how to maximize the potential in your settlement process, it’s time to navigate your way to success. These 8 steps to streamlined settlement onboarding outline everything you need to know about putting Shipwell's settlement tools and capabilities to work in simplifying your workload and saving time and money for your businesses.?
Everyone’s a winner
7 steps to a winning settlement process
What’s better than a settlement process that benefits a business? A settlement process that benefits everyone involved. Discover the 7 steps to take to establish a process that delivers better service, more favorable rates, and a positive reputation in the freight industry, and sees everyone come out a winner.
The importance of strong partnerships in a TMS
When it comes to transportation management systems, the importance of strong partnerships cannot be overstated. Without them, it’s like trying to fly a spaceship to the moon without a co-pilot or a NASA team back on Earth, while weak partnerships mean you may find yourself floating out in the void before you realize ground control left the intern in charge of life support. Sure, you might make it, but the chances are slim and the risks are high. That's why shippers should ensure that any TMS they select has prioritized the building of partnerships with companies they know and trust.
Strong partnerships mean that your TMS provider has taken the time to get to know your business and understand your unique supply chain needs. They've built relationships with carriers, brokers, financial management providers, load boards, performance managers, and other logistics providers to ensure that your shipments are in good hands and that you're getting the best rates possible. Plus, with strong partnerships in place, you can rest easy knowing that if something does go wrong, your TMS provider will be there to help you sort it out.
At Shipwell, we know that strong partnerships are key to success in the world of logistics. That's why we've built a TMS that prioritizes collaboration and transparency. With Shipwell, you can rest easy knowing that we've got your back every step of the way. So why settle for a TMS that doesn't prioritize partnerships? Come fly with us and experience the difference a strong partnership can make!
Check out some of our latest partnership announcements below:
Community topic highlight
How to pick the perfect TMS
We’ve talked to a lot of transportation managers, and if there are two things they all agree on, it's that 1. They don't get enough sleep, and 2. There are too many TMS options out there. And frankly, we agree! Everyone deserves a good night's sleep, and nobody should have to trial dozens of TMS options — which coincidentally would free them up so they could finally get that rest they need.
So we decided to do something about that! We've created a comprehensive checklist of 20 questions that will help you evaluate potential TMS solutions and make it easy to pick the one that works for you. Our checklist is designed to guide you through the process of assessing different TMS options and determining how well they align with your specific needs.
We cover all the important stuff, from understanding the scalability and customization options of a TMS to considering its ease of use and customer support. We know that you're busy (and just, so incredibly tired), so we've made it easy for you to make informed decisions that will ensure a smoother transition and more successful outcomes over the long term.
Have a question? A topic you think worth discussing? Something you’d like us to focus on? Leave a comment and we may feature it right here in the next issue!
We’d love to hear from you!
As always, the discussion about the supply chain doesn't stop here. Every month, the conversation continues right here with new and exciting topics, and we know that a lot of you have interesting ideas and valuable insights that we can all benefit from, so if you're out there, don't be shy! Leave us a comment or send us a message about what you'd like to see us discuss next!
Let us know what's on your mind. Share your tips, articles, industry initiatives, or just any feedback you might have on the newsletter itself. Whether it's via the comments section or a direct message — your opinion matters! Of course, at the end of the day our goal is to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to supply chain issues and upheavals so let's keep it going and make that happen. Stay tuned for next month's newsletter!
Meme of the month
All jokes aside, mental health issues are not to be taken lightly. The stresses and challenges that come with working in such a high-pressure industry place many of those in the supply chain at higher risk, and it’s important to seek help if you find yourself struggling.?
If you or someone you know is facing burnout, anxiety, financial stress, ethical concerns, or other issues that are straining their mental health or your own, check the resources listed here to reach out.?