The flow of goods has lately been stagnant due to the serious shortage of human resources. It is hoped society as a whole cooperates with each other to make the nation's vital logistics infrastructure sustainable.
In recent years, the number of goods for delivery ordered via online shopping has been rapidly increasing. However, the number of truck drivers has decreased by more than 200,000 from its peak. The replenishment of personnel has not progressed as hoped. There are more than three times the number of job offerings to applicants for truck drivers, much greater than the average ratio for all industries.
The labor shortage is linked to the major increase in shipping costs. There has recently been a succession of cases in which retail prices of food and beverages have also been raised partly due to distribution costs.
There have emerged cases of people dubbed "home-moving refugees" who are unable to move on their preferred dates at the end of the fiscal year, creating a situation in which the government and the industry have been calling on the spreading out of moving dates.
Delays in the distribution of goods and soaring freight rates are feared to hinder the nation's economic activities. Measures to be taken by both the public and private sectors are urgently needed.
There are many cases in which drivers are forced to wait for a long time before unloading cargo and carry the goods by hand, placing a burden on drivers. This has made it difficult for women and senior workers to join the industry.
According to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, truck drivers' working hours are about 20 percent longer than the average of all industries. It is necessary for the industry to carry out work-style reform. To enhance the effectiveness of this policy, it is essential for the consignor's side, which is in a stronger position, to cooperate.
Change mind-sets
The transport, trade and agriculture ministries have sent written requests to about 6,300 companies, including listed firms, to cooperate in improving distribution efficiency. Under the plan, the government will publicize the names of companies that draw up their voluntary action plans based on the principle of a campaign dubbed the "white logistics movement."
The campaign presents a list of recommended actions and detailed measures to implement the actions.
For instance, because trucks unload their cargo on a first-come basis, there are cases in which trucks are concentrated in specific hours, resulting in long waiting times. If a reservation system is introduced, it will be able to greatly reduce the wait.
It is also important to provide shipment information as soon as possible so delivery companies can compile efficient transportation plans.
The campaign also introduced a case in which work hours to transship cardboard boxes by hand is reduced to less than one-third of the time by using a forklift.
It will not be easy to change long-standing practices in the industry, however. There is also the possibility that consignors will have to shoulder some of the costs. To expand the scope of cooperation, ministries are urged to give detailed explanations to companies and make persistent efforts to encourage them to do so.
It is also necessary to change the mind-set of private individuals. To reduce the number of redeliveries to homes, the use of such services as picking up parcels at convenience stores and storage lockers for parcels is encouraged. How to expand the delivery method of leaving a parcel at the entrance of each home among other such places is another issue that needs to be addressed.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 20, 2019)
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