Overcoming Stress in the Transportation Industry

Move More & Reduce Stress?

April is National Stress Awareness Month, and at Sparrow, we are shining a light on the uncharted areas of the stressors as a shipper. Now more than ever, shippers are experiencing stress with increasing responsibilities to get goods out to their customers while being on time and within budget. The last two years have showcased the stages of panic buying, intensified shifts toward online shopping, shortages of drivers, vaccine logistics, and so much more. These challenges continue to disrupt the supply chain and have put to test the relationships between shippers and freight brokers across the industry. ?

Relationships Matter: ?

Developing mutually beneficial relationships guarantees that your Freight Broker partner will be there for you—in good times and bad. In an industry where lack of communication with clients and carriers is still tolerated, the Sparrow Logistics team believes that honesty, transparency, and positivity are the recipe for providing an incredible experience - every time. For the last couple of years, many challenges have surfaced in the logistics and supply chain industry because of increasing e-commerce shipments, new safety protocols, falling capacity, and uncertainty. ?

Why Shippers are feeling the brunt:

The stress in logistics and supply is a common factor: due to non-availability of materials, components, disruption in production, transportation, shipment of goods at the right time to meet the target of production. The common issues in supply lead to stress for the management. Now more than ever we are seeing the correlation between stress and communication affecting shippers’ working environment.?

Here are 10 ways to help relieve stress as a Shipper:?

1. Partner with an exceptional Freight Broker Team to handle your shipping needs?
2. Respect the driver to build a better relationship?
3. Embrace technology as part of the onboarding process with brokers?
4. Utilize brokers that have multiple communication outlets?
5. Communicate your pain points, needs, and goals.?
6. Work ahead – plan out your needs in advance with guidance from ?
7. Ask for help when you need it!?
8. Take a break – go on a walk, out golfing, or confide in someone. ?
9. It’s OK to not be OK – reflect on all you’ve overcome to get here, it’s worth celebrating.
10. Invest in you. Learn a new hobby, take a class, meet up with a friend. (life is more than just work)?

Less Stress, More Success?

Managing your stress at work or at home can be a lot to handle, but we're in this together. Work-related stress in the supply chain industry is often overlooked but it should be a top priority for every company in the industry. When shippers and freight brokers partner together to accomplish business goals, we are able to supply insights and solutions on how we can most effectively move your freight. There are many brokers out there but having one that you trust and shares your values is key to eliminating stress from broken promises.??

Our Team is Paving the Way!??

At Sparrow, our foundation is built on honesty, respect, positivity, and the integrity to follow through on our promises. These values are consistently embodied in our leadership and extended to every person who comes alongside us, including our clients, vendors, and employees. We believe that each person we work with is far more than a one-and-done deal – it’s a relationship always worth our time.??

Our culture is to always be the calming, reliable, active presence in the storm. Tell us what you need, and we’ll take care of the rest. We are a brokerage that you can always count on. You can trust that we’ll give you straight answers backed with experience and to do everything in our power to help you when needed. ?

?At the end of the day, our ultimate goal is to redefine what a transportation broker is. That’s a heavy order, but hey – we’re off to an awesome start. Are you interested in partnering with our team? Let’s get moving today! ?