Why "Last Mile Delivery" is a Trucking Industry Trend Worth Knowing About
As consumers become increasingly comfortable buying appliances and other large items online, the trucking industry has been presented with a rapidly expanding opportunity in the form of last mile delivery services. E-commerce merchants are anxiously seeking companies and truck drivers who can deliver their large and heavy products to consumers – the ones that small package delivery companies, like FedEx and UPS, aren't built to handle.
The key lies in having fast and dependable last mile delivery logistics, and many trucking companies are already hard at work.
What is Last Mile Delivery?
Last mile delivery fills the void between package transportation hubs and consumers, typically those at residential addresses. The demand for this service has increased along with the comfort that online shoppers have in buying large products sight unseen, such as dishwashers and outdoor grills.
Opportunity in Last Mile Delivery
In 2018, last mile delivery service was an 8.9-billion-dollar market. That's a 10-percent increase from 2017 and makes the growth rate of last mile delivery significantly larger than regular freight. Experts say the growth is expected to increase for many more years given the comfort that Millennials have buying their goods online.
That's why trucking companies like J.B. Hunt have invested heavily in last mile delivery logistics. They recently shelled out a sizable amount to purchase Cory 1st Choice Home Delivery, a company well equipped to deliver large items to consumers through their 14 warehouses and more than 1,000 independent contractors across the U.S.
In an interview with Bloomberg a J.B. Hunt executive, Corey Tisdale, explained how having these drivers on their payroll allows for consistent training on specialized deliveries, such as appliances that need to be hooked up in homes they're delivered to.
Other companies, like XPO Logistics Inc. and Ryder Systems Inc., are also busy making acquisitions in order to build a network of local carriers and further the growth of their last mile delivery programs.
The First Chapter of the Last Mile
As trucking companies invest heavily in the development of last mile delivery logistics and look to pioneer solutions to the challenges of last mile delivery, the trucking industry once again finds itself on the cutting edge of a brand new economic opportunity. Connecting e-commerce businesses both large and small with consumers across the country and advancing the future of online shopping.
It's the Wild West of
The potential is seemingly endless but, don't forget, the work is there now.
Gear up for Last Mile Delivery Service.
US Cargo Control has the trucking equipment and moving supplies that last mile trucking companies need. Items as large as hand trucks and E-track systems, or as small as wheel chocks and tie down straps, can all be purchased online directly from our website.
