In the Cab with Anthony: How to Weather Uncertainty in Bulk Liquid Transport
Know those common phrases: “business as usual,” or “getting back to normal”? I’ll let you in on a little secret: as a chemical transportation company with over 45 years of trusted service in this industry, we’ve learned something and it’s that there is no such thing as “business as usual.”
What’s usual is change. What’s normal is uncertainty. Resilient, wise leadership knows that. In our decades doing bulk liquid transport, we’ve seen all sorts of business disturbances, whether as regulation changes, pandemics, shortages, supply chain disruptions, and other business interruptions.
Turns out, when you’ve weathered storms often enough, you get steady in the face of them. You start to know how to navigate uncertainty in all its forms with clarity, strength, and adaptability. It’s important for companies to focus on their ability to stay the course while adapting to new situations. And we’re here to help you do the same.
Staying Alert to Changes: Practical Advice for Customers
If you’re in the chemical transportation industry long enough, you’ll see your fair share of business disruptions, and each one your business will face will have its own unique challenges to navigate. Depending on the nature of the disruption, certain industries get impacted more than others. Knowing the nature of the changes helps you assess the likely impact to your business, whether positive or negative.
When regulation or policy changes surface, dig into the details of whatever it is you’re facing.
- Identify your pivot points. Uncertainty calls for adaptability. Bulk liquid trucking companies that can’t adapt to changing contexts won’t make it for the long haul. So, take an honest look at your business offerings: where might you need to pivot from a stagnant strategy or service? Maybe tank leasing makes good business sense now where it didn’t in the past. Where could you introduce some diversification? Perhaps you can leverage bulk liquid chemical storage services to your advantage while waiting for events to play out a bit more.
- Understand how it impacts your business and your business ecosystem. Connect with your customers to learn how they may be impacted by recent changes. Uncertainty in the market may affect decision-making for your company, your customers, and your vendors.
- Stay connected, and stay informed. Business disturbances call for coming together: sharing knowledge, resources, and strategies to weather the storm. At All Chemical, we’ve developed a deep bench of bulk liquid transport professional associations and memberships that we can draw on when we need. Organizations like Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) and National Tank Truck Carriers provide advocacy outreach, workshops and resources we use to stay informed of industry changes and strategic responses at our disposal. Take stock of your networks and start tapping into them!
The Big Picture for Chemical Transportation Companies: Steer by Your Values
Change happens. It’s the one thing we can all count on; yet most chemical transportation companies panic when there’s change approaching. As a growing organization, All Chem aims to avoid moving too fast when changes are occurring at a fast pace.
At All Chemical, we know there’s nothing abnormal about change, including rapid change, on the horizon. We’re constantly navigating weather changes, like summer surges and the hazards of winter driving, customers’ intricate and complex hauls, and the changing landscape of government regulations for trucking companies and the chemical industry.
In addition to our business operations know-how, we also rely on our company values during times of uncertainty. For us at All Chemical, it’s all about the people. We’re loyal to our customers and our team: always have been, always will be. Because we care about our employees, our customers, and the communities we serve, we hold to safety as our top priority, and we bring an unparalleled level of customer service to all our operations.
Because we’ve invested in our people over the years, in times of business disruptions, our team stays strong. We’ve seen a low turnover rate because treating our team well is a core value at our company, and that results in a loyal retinue of highly-skilled truck drivers who are less likely to leave.
And remember, when business changes happen, turn to a company you can trust. Call us today to discover how we can support you and your company in the midst of business disruptions.