The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently published a report outlining freight and logistics supply chain vulnerabilities and listing actions needed to speed up the movement of goods.
“Decades of underinvestment in our infrastructure, unprecedented consumer demand amid our strong economic recovery, and continued pressure from the pandemic have all put immense strain on our supply chains,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “This report lays out critically important steps we can take — both right now and in the years ahead — to help strengthen our supply chains, create good-paying jobs, and ensure that Americans can affordably and efficiently access the goods they rely on.”
The report lists steps governments and private companies can take to improve the supply chain in both the short- and long-term and how to reverse decades of disinvestment and consolidation. The department plans to begin the recommendations immediately.
Two solutions are already underway: the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force and Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) Grants.
The task force has gathered stakeholders to discuss strengthening the trucking workforce, increasing freight rail service, reducing long-dwelling containers sitting on the docks, and moving ports toward round-the-clock operations.
A total of $450 million will be made available to ports for infrastructure upgrades.