You’ve probably been to the store for groceries recently and noticed that things are flying off the shelves. While suppliers and shippers are working hard to keep shelves stocked, COVID-19 has certainly tested the strength and abilities of the American supply chain. And with this changing economic environment has come shifts in prioritizing certain items. Learn more about the most important shipped items and how shippers and carriers get them to where they need to be here.
Top 5 Most Important Items Shipped During COVID-19
5. Medicine
Everybody wants to stay healthy now more than ever, so the demand of over-the-counter medicines, supplements, vitamins, and more has greatly increased. The need for prescription drugs can also put many on edge out of fear they won’t be able to get their medicine due to restrictions. Luckily, nothing like that has gotten in the way of people getting their prescriptions. Still, nonetheless, the pharmaceutical supply chain needs to flow as smoothly as possible to meet increased demand.
Finding the right carrier and shipping solutions for these medical necessities is vital to move good medicines successfully. About 7 of 10 leading pharmaceutical products require temperature-controlled transportation. If you run a pharmaceutical supply chain, you must know which carriers offer this transportation service and are licensed to move your products. Developing relationships with them for effective, healthy shipping is also important. Or, even better, partnering with a third-party logistics provider (3PL) like FreightCenter can help you find these carriers more easily and secure even better rates.
4. Canned Goods
Non-perishables and canned goods are always go-to items during any sort of unexpected situation. They last a long time and can be stored easily. And there’s usually plenty in supply and a variety to choose from at the stores. When demand for these spikes, the food supply chain kicks into overdrive.
Food distributors need reliable partners in their global food supply chain network to move these items. Their partners must have attained milestones in safety, efficiency, productivity, and innovation through the global food supply chain.
FreightCenter was recently named to the 2020 Food Logistics’ Champions: Rock Stars of the Supply Chain recognition, making us the ideal shipping partner for food and beverage.
3. Disinfectants
Sanitizing wipes and sprays are also in hot demand. People are going to great lengths to keep their homes as clean and healthy of living space as possible. The CDC recommends cleaning everything we touch with disinfectants, such as Clorox and Lysol. This includes doorknobs, keyboards, and cell phones.
It’s also important to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm, soapy water. An easy way to reach that 20 seconds is to sing the ABC or birthday songs in your head. If soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer containing at least 70% alcohol and rub your hands together vigorously until dry.
2. Toilet Paper
The year 2020 will most likely infamously go down as the year of the “Great Toilet Paper Shortage,” given the state of the paper products aisles in grocery and convenience stores everywhere. The run on paper products is so severe that even Amazon has run out of toilet paper to ship. However, there is a supply chain for everything, and the toilet paper supply chain has been tested more than most in these challenging times.
Luckily, the state of the toilet paper supply chain is very strong. 83 million rolls of toilet paper are made per day, which is good news. Although their homes on store shelves are almost always empty, new deliveries to big retailers like Target and Walmart are made almost daily, only to be sold out well within the first hour of opening.
The perceived demand boost for toilet paper and paper towels has ultimately not broken the supply chain.
1. Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer led the pack by a wide margin in important items shipped during COVID-19. Much like toilet paper and paper towels, hand sanitizer has become a new form of currency. With the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommending the use of hand sanitizer, in times like these, people are gladly heeding that advice. Most hand sanitizers contain alcohol and are flammable, designating them as hazardous shipments when they need to get moving. That means shippers need a good partner to handle this type of shipment and help get those needed items out.
Again, partnering with the right 3PL can help you navigate any confusing restrictions regarding items to ship.
FreightCenter is designated as a critical infrastructure company, enabling logistics operations to keep America’s freight moving. Even in the most challenging times, we are dedicated to servicing, supporting, and helping businesses everywhere with the best practices for navigating shipping during the pandemic. FreightCenter shipped a variety of vital items during COVID-19. FreightCenter provides the safe and reliable service you need, no matter what items you need to be shipped. Talk to one of our experts at 800.7167.608 or get your online quote today.
