CLDA Magazine - Summer 2017 CLDA_SUMMER17-Online | Page 25

F E AT U R E 25 changing to keep up with that. They have to bend and flex based on demand. Those companies that do just one thing won’t last in today’s supply chain environment. There have been several pivotal moments in transportation and this is one of them. Today, we’re no longer just picking up a box and moving it from Point A to Point B. We are managing data and that’s almost more important than the box that has to be moved. Our customers want transparency in their shipments. They want to know where they are from the time they are picked up to when they are delivered. That’s all about leveraging technology. There is an insatiable appetite in the consuming public to buy items on-line. The limiting factor on that is not the capacity of the ecommerce giants or the big national delivery companies. What the public wants from an ecommerce standpoint is only limited by the size of the pipeline to deliver it. The Big Guys are tapping out on their capacity to do that alone. They are reaching out to smaller regional entities to enlarge that pipeline. If that pipeline were larger, I believe ecommerce would double and maybe even triple. The number of people who want to order toilet paper or dresses or anything they consume is limitless. Right now what’s limiting us is our ability to handle that demand; to keep up with that appetite. Transportation companies like our members are the key to getting on top of that. We are the keys because of our industry’s ability to flex and adapt. That’s what positions us well to service that need because that’s what we do. It’s what we’ve always done.” WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE ASSOCIATION “If we as an industry continue to keep our ear to the ground and stay ahead of what the market requires us to do, we will prosper. That’s where the education and networking opportunities that CLDA provides fit in. We are uniquely positioned to help members see and adapt to what’s next. We’ve been doing it for 30 years and we intend to do it for 30 more. The opportunities for this association and the industry it serves lie in our ability to keep our members informed and on top of best practices; to help them see what’s coming before it hits the horizon. We continue our dedication to stay in front of trends and to make sure the membership knows how they can lever- age them. It’s all about supporting innovation and leveraging the advantages those in our industry have. I see a very bright future of this association and the members it serves if we work together; maintain a common voice; keep a vigilant eye on the changes in the market and continue to stay open to opportunities they present.” Customized Logistics and Delivery Association | Summer 2017