Flatbed trucking is one of the most popular transportation options for many oversized goods, like machinery or building materials. Moreover, it’s a crucial part of any effectively working supply chain.
Today, in a time when the commercial world is very unstable and the transportation industry must adapt to market changes promptly, flatbed trucking also evolves, adjusting to economic shifts, consumer behavior, and trends.
Understanding the vector of flatbed trucking development and thoughtful reorganization of business to make it able to meet the future is the key to staying competitive and successful.
5 Key Market Forces Behind Flatbed Trucking Shifts
1. Industry Demand
Just like any other transportation method, flatbed trucking strongly depends on the linked industries. The demand for flatbeds rises or falls significantly according to changes in the three big market sectors:
- Automotive and Appliances: Both industries require stable and regular supplies of steel and aluminum. The more cars or appliances are sold around the world, the busier flatbed truckers become.
- Construction and Homebuilding: A strong economy causes the growing number of new buildings, whether they are commercial constructions or private homes. The growing demand for building materials boosts the flatbed trucking industry.
- Energy Sector: Heavy pipes and huge drilling equipment are necessary when it comes to discovering new deposits of oil and gas. Such a cargo can only be transported by flatbeds, which makes the energy sector and flatbed trucking connected.
2. Seasonal and Weather Effects
Demand for flatbed transportation is not stable year-round. Moreover, it may depend on weather and even some natural phenomena like hurricanes, storms, or heavy snowfalls. The warm weather creates the best conditions for building and construction.
So, the demand for flatbed delivery is the highest from March to September. Destructive weather conditions often lead to damage to buildings, which also results in a higher number of flatbed deliveries.
3. Government Policy and Funding
Being an integral and government-regulated part of the economy, the transportation system is very sensitive to changes in laws and funding.
Flatbed trucking is no exception. More infrastructure initiatives from the side of the government mean an increased need for flatbed transport. Whether the city builds a new road, repairs a bridge, or a barrage, it depends on the reliable and timely delivery of construction parts and materials.
At the same time, new safety regulations, driving hours limits, legal requirements for equipment or fuel consumption always have an effect on the trucking sector, creating new challenges for carriers.
4. Technology Advancements
New technologies are reshaping flatbed operations, providing assistance and control for many aspects. Telematics, movable sensors, trackers, smart software, and mobile applications – today, flatbed trucking companies have a growing number of tools that enhance safety, efficiency, and reduce paperwork.
New regulations introduced by the government stimulate these changes, as some of the modern devices, like ELD, are now obligatory to use in many states. The future of the industry is connected to hi-tech development, and those businesses that are making their steps towards digitalization are ready to meet.
5. Driver Shortages
A shrinking pool of qualified drivers is a growing threat to the whole transportation sector and flatbed trucking, particularly.
The number of young workers entering the industry is critically low – more than 30,000 trucking vacancies are staying unfilled, and their number may increase dramatically very soon.
Add here a workforce aging (the average age of a trucker is 55), and you’ll understand how challenging the employment market becomes.
Final Thoughts
Flatbed freight is influenced by construction, manufacturing, regulations, weather, and workforce trends. To stay competitive, carriers have to monitor even the tiniest changes on the market and react immediately.
High flexibility paired with fast digitalization and a trained ability to adjust are gaining more and more importance when it comes to staying competitive for flatbed trucking businesses.
