Industry leaders honestly about the prospects in 2022. They list the greatest opportunities and threats for transport and forwarding

1. What are the greatest opportunities for the transport and shipping industry in 2022?

Fedir Yurkevych - CEO at Hegelmann Poland

Currently, the transport industry is at a constant peak and the demand for transport is insatiable. Further development of e-commerce will result in an unwavering demand for efficiently operating transport services and an increase in employment in the industry. That is why we train our staff as part of the Drivers Academy, thanks to which we are sure of their competences. We also develop social and service facilities dedicated to drivers by building a complex in Żarska Wieś. We also see and follow this trend that transport is turning towards sustainable development, which is why we forecast further development of intermodal transport using railways and increasing the share of LNG-powered tractors in road fleets.

Marcin Turski, director of sales and customer service, Fresh Logistics Polska

2022 will undoubtedly bring the development of digitization and digitization in the transport industry. Already today, customers expect real-time information about what is happening with their goods during storage and transport. Supply chain actors will certainly invest heavily in larger scale data analysis and processing platforms. Another area of ​​changes will be the further automation of processes. And it is not only about warehouse and transport processes, but also about physical processes and robotization of office processes.

Adam Godawski, vice president of Omega Pilzno

Combining a strong offer of domestic and international transport with warehouse logistics, it is winning today on the market. After the experience of interrupted supply chains, companies have learned that today it is worth building up inventory. Those who were ready for it were able to respond to customer demand. Also, more and more factories are moving to Europe, and thus an increase in the number of transported loads. Therefore, the development opportunities for the TSL industry are very large, especially for those who are building a comprehensive offer. As Omega Pilzno, we are optimistic about the coming year.

Juliusz Skurewicz, secretary of the Council of the Polish Chamber of Forwarding and Logistics

Increased demand for transport services will allow companies in the industry to meet financial goals, such as those related to sales and revenues.

Decarbonisation, the necessity to replace energy carriers and fuels, the need to find new ways of delivering goods as part of urban logistics, will bring those companies that are the first to introduce new ecological solutions, a "novelty" bonus and additional profit in the form of undoubtedly increased demand for their services. Regarding the digitization process, the introduction of artificial intelligence, new data exchange systems, autonomous and electric cars, those companies that survive will receive bonuses in the form of reduced operating costs and better market conditions.

With regard to the Mobility Package, as in the case of every challenge and threat - also here you can find an opportunity. Many of the solutions adopted in the Package have long been postulated by drivers. So, will the fulfillment of their demands not result in the creation of stronger ties between drivers and the companies employing them?

2. What are the greatest threats to the transport and shipping industry in 2022?

Fedir Yurkevych - CEO at Hegelmann Poland

Recent years have been an extremely interesting and at the same time difficult time with which the transport industry has been dealing with success so far. However, it is one of the sectors of the economy that will be most severely affected by changes in the economic and regulatory environment, both nationally and internationally. The biggest challenges include: the Mobility Package, an insufficient number of drivers, which grows disproportionately to the market needs, and an increase in fuel prices and wages.

Marcin Turski, director of sales and customer service, Fresh Logistics Polska

The following will have a huge impact on the provision of services: high inflation, low unemployment rate, limited access to warehouse infrastructure and, above all, the lack of human resources - especially drivers. Taking into account the above factors, the demand will exceed the supply, which will be a huge challenge for producers, recipients of goods and logistics operators. This will translate into an increase in the prices of services, while fighting for the availability of resources. Not the price, but the ability to ensure continuity of supply, will become a key decision-making factor for customers.

Adam Godawski, vice president of Omega Pilzno

Today we can see that the problem for many carriers is the expansion of the fleet. One has to wait a long time for the ordered vehicles. The producers are missing the goods. The truck tractor ordered today will be delivered to the company in a dozen or so months. In an industry that has to reckon with time, it's a very long time. As a consequence, many companies are unable to develop and cannot provide the service to potential customers. So they go to the competition, which is a big problem for many.

We are fortunate enough to have placed our orders at the right time, we also now have a large fleet and select new vehicles successively.

Juliusz Skurewicz, secretary of the Council of the Polish Chamber of Forwarding and Logistics

The challenge for the entire industry is, of course, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its current impact. After the practical halt of global supply chains at the beginning of 2020, last year was characterized by an increased demand for transport services. This situation will also continue this year, which will result in a further increase in transport prices and a lack of space for means of transport. As in 2021, this will cause serious disruptions to supply chains.

The second basic industry-wide challenge is the entire sphere of tasks resulting from environmental protection and activities undertaken for this purpose by groups of countries - such as the European Union - and individual countries individually.

It is similar with another set of issues, which are directly related to environmental protection. I mean, among other things, the replacement of trucks with not only electric, but autonomous ones. This operation will cost a lot of shipping companies.

Another challenge is the Mobility Package, the fundamental provisions of which will enter into force this year and the following years. 2022 will see some of them, mainly related to the increase in operating costs, and more specifically drivers' salaries.