The Challenges of Last Mile Service and Truckers

Last mile service and logistics have always been subject to challenges. By definition, the last mile is the phase of the shipment journey during which the actual interaction with the customer occurs. Unfortunately, this fact presents a new problem for last mile delivery drivers. The final interaction could put the health of drivers at risk, but the demand only continues to climb. Meanwhile, final mile service is getting really complicated. It is no longer a just-leave-on-porch standard. Today’s customers have high expectations, including assembly of furniture, installation of software, removal of debris, and a personal tutorial on how to work their new item. Yes, the last mile is expanding to become much more complex, requiring more time for delivery and lessening the earning potential for drivers. However, other problems remain. The trucker shortage forms another issue in the last mile, and it is even harder to attract new drivers. As explained by American Trucker: 

“Tens of thousands of people who could have been long-term truckers have come into the industry and are put into a one-year training contract. They must pay back the training, so they can’t move. The company pays them well below market wages. They sit unpaid at docks for hours at a time. They’re on the road for weeks. A lot of them come in having been promised better wages. They’re told they can make $55,000 but end up making $34,000 and working 80 hours a week. It’s not even minimum wage. So, they decide instead of basically making $8 an hour they can go work for at least $10 and see their families.”

Without something to balance the scales of pay and demand for last mile service drivers, the whole function could snap. Fortunately, better relationships between shippers and drivers are the best way to avoid a last mile supply chain collapse.

Last Mile Success Depends on Truckers More Than Anything Else

Last mile delivery is immensely reliant on whether the delivery occurs on time, but again, what exactly is the last mile delivery driver responsible for? In short—everything. Everything leading up to a delivery is meaningless with the right amount of service in the last mile. Moreover, last mile truckers are not just there to leave packages—at least not in today’s age. However, last mile drivers are often left to age-old misconceptions and judgment. As explained by Freight Waves:

“Most people think of truckers as people who drive tractor-trailers, who may or may not be involved in loading or unloading a truck, which is usually done by people at the warehouse where the tractor-trailer ends up. The driver is really a driver primarily, and he has paperwork that the warehouse will sign for the cargo. It is not a surprise that companies are looking to automate this function.

In the last mile ecosystem, drivers do not head to warehouses to unload cargo, but rather visit the homes of people and have a lot of end customer-centric interactions as a part of their work description.”

Moreover, the rising demand for more deliveries of large, bulky items and the continued growth of e-commerce will put added strain on available last mile drivers. Fortunately, integration between systems and a mindful approach to managing the last mile can go a long way in both improving customer service and building healthy relationships with these essential drivers.

The only way forward is to recognize the value of last mile truckers and their vital role in the supply chain.

How to Improve Relations With Final Mile Service Truckers

Is it best to start giving out Participation Awards to last mile drivers? No, but it is possible to improve relations with some simple measures that rely on data and fact, including: 

1. Be clear on what the shipment delivery entails.
2. Reward positive performance with bonuses, PTO, company-wide recognition, and more.
3. Use automation to provide real-time alerts to drivers for potential delays and needs while in transit, enabling route optimization that never stops.
4. Leverage telematics to understand last mile delivery trends, such as average time to complete a delivery when it includes assembly or other services, including white-glove logistics needs.
5. Be compassionate, providing PPE and necessary supplies to ensure the safety of drivers throughout times of uncertainty, especially public health crises.
6. Customize the benefits afforded to last mile truckers to cover potential risks, such as vehicle accidents or illness.
7. WORK WITH CARRIERS THAT TREAT LAST MILE WORKERS PROPERLY.
8. Use a TMS software that automatically enables final mile service to meet the needs of demand and the preferences of shareholders without sacrificing your drivers.