More Than Just Fireworks
Published on July 3, 2019
With the 4th of July upon us, you’ll see the increase of hot dogs, burgers, and watermelon at your local super market.
Plans have been made to watch the local firework display, and neighborhoods are gearing up for the block parties!
Or perhaps you are packing up the car for the annual camping trip, or taking to the skies to visit grandma and grandpa in Orlando.
This year marks America’s 244th birthday, bringing record high numbers for travel and expected delays across the country.
According to the AAA Report, 49 million people will take the road this Independence Day. That means there will be 1.9 million more people joining your holiday commute from last year. The reason? AAA says, it is due to the strong economy, lower gas prices and the holiday falling on a Thursday.¹
That being said, with a record high number of people traveling this week, you can expect record high delays. The worst days and times will vary from region to region, with the heaviest volume of traffic on the 3rd of July.
Right now, in the United States, there are 3.5 million truck drivers, an all-time high. However, to keep up with demand, the industry still needs approximately 50,000 more drivers.² With increases in vacation time, the persisting shortage, and the demand – the 4th of July holiday can be difficult for trucking companies and for logistics companies like us.
Safety is our number one priority and we encourage all the truckers to take extra caution during the four-day holiday stretch! Starting July 3rd @ 6:00 pm EST and ending July 7th @ 11:59 pm, the National Safety Council suggests, fleet drivers drive defensively, buckle up, avoid distractions and get plenty of rest.⁴
Here at Audit Logistics, we specialize in hotel or roll-out type projects, which often require just-in-time deliveries and expedited shipments so installers can efficiently turn rooms. Rooms “out of service” result in revenue loss. This time of year can be a challenge when it comes to meeting those deadlines.
Rates are inflated, vendors close down for the week, and warehouses are HOT! And we mean HOT!
Our operations team understands that our clients have project schedules regardless of holidays. It is our fiduciary duty to plan ahead to avoid roadblocks and delays. Historically, we see increased rates, less trucking capacity due to vacations, vendor and warehouse closures and increased costs for drivers to hold the freight over the holiday weekend if need be. Clients should always rely on their logistics company, to plan-around these potential issues so they can enjoy their holiday with peace of mind.
Currently, we have 122 Active Projects and 44 open warehouses. All 44 warehouses are closed on Thursday the 4th, 20 of which will also be closed on Friday the 5th. This has potential to affect the flow of our projects, getting FF&E delivered when needed and turning rooms according to schedules. We prepare contractors, clients, vendors and warehouses by anticipating these hurdles and providing viable solutions where needed.
Audit Logistics provides freight, warehouse and installation management for any of your logistics needs. In addition, we offer expediting and pre-routing services. These services are in place to secure timely and quality deliveries. Our expediting team works diligently around a projects install schedule, in the weeks and months prior to renovation. This informative connection with purchasing agents and vendors early on, has proven time and time again to put us ahead of our competition, especially during the holidays!
From our Family to Yours, we wish everyone a fun and safe Fourth of July weekend!
